State attorney details Marissa Alexander case for lawmakers

Document causes controversy among lawmakers, activists

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.Three pages of information were sent by the State Attorney's Office to the Northeast Florida delegation, detailing their case against Marissa Alexander.

The document lists all of the reasons why the State Attorney's Office believes Alexander should be charged for firing shots at her estranged husband, Rico Gray, while his two children were present. The documents lists the facts surrounding the case against Alexander. 

The document reads that before firing shots at Gray, Alexander said, "I've got something for you, (expletive)." 

It also reads, "Ms. Alexander had ample time and opportunity to leave the home. When Gray saw her put a round in the chamber, he yelled ‘No' and tried to scoop his two boys under his arm to protect them."

The document says after the argument Alexander "walked through the kitchen, through the laundry room, and then into the garage, where she retrieved her 9mm handgun." The State Attorney's Office wrote, "Ms. Alexander had ample time and opportunity to leave the home."

Sen. Audrey Gibson, one of the 13 lawmakers the email was sent to, is not happy about State Attorney Angela Corey's actions.

"The state attorney has someone on her staff send emails to the Duval delegation members. I don't know where else they sent them to. She herself made no contact, no phone calls. And certainly, I didn't ask for what she sent," said Gibson.

Gibson said she thinks the case needs to be tried in a courtroom, not in public. 

"I think it's a travesty and just horrible that she's trying to try a case on two or three pieces of paper. If she has a case then take it to court," said Gibson. 

Attorney Gene Nichols told Channel 4 Tuesday night that there's a reason why Corey's office sent the document out while the Florida Legislature is looking at changing the "stand your ground" law.

"The State Attorney's office clearly wants to send a signal to Tallahassee that what the facts are, that they believe in this case, and the legislature should know in this case," said Nichols.

Another widely reported issue about this case is Gray's history of domestic violence. The document does not dismiss Gray's past, but states that in 2006 Gray pleaded no contest to domestic battery with another woman and received probation. In 1994, the document states Gray also pleaded no contest to domestic battery in an incident that involved a fight with his brother. 

The document also addresses reports of past abuse between Gray and Alexander. Gray was arrested in 2009 on a charge of domestic battery against Alexander, but that charge was later dropped. After that, Gray and Alexander had a "no violence" court order against each other, which was a mutual nonviolence order that allowed them to contact each other. 

Channel 4 shared the information with the Florida New Majority's Angie Nixon. Florida New Majority supports Alexander's release. 

"We feel this State Attorney's Office is cherry-picking which facts they want to present to the general public," said Nixon. "The State Attorney's Office has not told everyone what Rico Gray has in fact stated in his sworn deposition, as well as conflicting testimonies children gave."