Celebrities back campaign to free sex woman jailed for killing the man who abused her

Cyntoia Brown was sentenced to life imprisonment when she was 16
Alexandra Richards22 November 2017
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Celebrities including Rhianna, Cara Delevingne and Kim Kardashian are demanding justice for a woman who has been jailed for killing a man who paid her for sex.

​Cyntoia Brown was jailed for life after shooting Johnny Michael Allen dead when she was 16.

She was found guilty of first degree murder and prostitution.

During a trial in 2004, the court heard that Miss Brown had gone back to Mr Allen's house in Tennessee in 2004.

She told the court that she had felt nervous of him and said that when he touched her inappropriately she had panicked, grabbed a gun and shot him.

Brown, now aged 29, has served 13 years of her sentence.

Her case has recently come under public scrutiny after filmmaker Dan Birman shared footage from a documentary following Brown’s time in prison with US television channel Fox 17.

In the documentary, Mr Birman said that Brown came from a long line of women who had been abused and added that she had been abused by a pimp called "Kutthroat".

He explained how the continued abuse she experienced led her to become paranoid.

In 2011, Mr Birman’s work helped to change a Tennessee law to prevent anyone under the age of 19 being arrested for prostitution.

High profile celebrities have now shared Brown's story on social media with the hashtag #FreeCyntoaiaBrown.

Singer Rihanna’s wrote on Instagram: “Did we somehow change the definition of #JUSTICE along the way?? cause..... Something is horribly wrong when the system enables these rapists and the victim is thrown away for life!”

Other celebrities were quick to voice their support. Cara Delevigne added: “The justice system is so backwards! This is completely insane #freecntoiabrown."

Kim Kardashian and singer Lauren Jaurgui also posted about the case.

Jauregui posted on Instagram: "How and WHO in their right mind would convict this child for life and take away any hope of recovery or understanding that none of this was her fault. The system fails our women; the victims of sexual violence and sex trafficking should NEVER be penalized for the methods used to escape their tragic reality."

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian wrote: “The system has failed. It's heart breaking to see a young girl sex trafficked then when she has the courage to fight back is jailed for life!

"We have to do better & what's right. I've called my attorneys yesterday to see what can be done to fix this."

Almost 200,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Brown's release.

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