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Sarah Boone was sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted her unanimously of second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, who was zipped inside a suitcase, taunted, and left inside until he suffocated.
During her December sentencing hearing, Boone took the stand and delivered a 20-minute screed against the judicial process, allegations of abuse against her boyfriend, the man she was convicted of killing, Jorge Torres, the internet, the press, and others. You can watch her testimony in the video above.
Before taking the stand, Boone noted that her statement was a shortened version. On Dec. 6, Boone sent a 28-page handwritten letter to Judge Michael Kraynick, which was uploaded to her court file on Dec. 11.
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"I am enclosing please my complete statement to you and the world as I partially read during my sentencing hearing," Boone said in her letter. "By my reserving particular parts of my very true and meaningful statement, I was hoping to have been graced with your forgiveness, understanding, and consideration in any level or degree."
"For me, unfortunately, and regardless of when I had speak on my behalf, or the number of, your ignorant mind was already made up," Boone wrote, referring to Judge Kraynick.
Watch: Sarah Boone sentenced by judge
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Content warning: These are Sarah's words. We have not redacted them. There are allegations of abuse. Some may find it disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
In the remaining pages, Boone writes: "I am not a murderer. I am a survivor."
She said she plans to appeal her conviction and alleges she was not given a fair trial, never was, and that the prosecution and judge made several "judicial errors."
The rest is much of what she read during her sentencing hearing. She details alleged abuse by Torres, praises and laments herself for staying in the relationship, asks Torres and his family for forgiveness, and that his death was not "intentional," something she told detectives during her initial interrogation.
Boone was offered a 15-year plea deal prior to her trial. She declined.
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