State v. Hanks

Betsy Marie Hanks (defendant) and Matthew Albert were romantically involved for eight years and had four children together. In 2009, Hanks met LG. Hanks began spending time with LG while Albert was away on construction work. On October 19, 2009, Albert allegedly tried to hit LG with his car after discovering Hanks had been spending time with him. Albert then decided to move out of the family home, but Hanks’s father persuaded him to stay. The following day, Hanks shot Albert and fled to her father’s house to hide the gun. When Hanks returned to the house, she realized Albert had survived and called for an ambulance. Albert was transported to the hospital but died later that day. Hanks was investigated and repeatedly changed her story about the shooting. Hanks told investigators that she shot Albert to make things right but that the shooting was not premediated. Hanks also told investigators that the gun was discharged accidently when she had tried to take it away from one of the children. Later, Hanks claimed that she had shot Albert because he asked her to. Eventually, Hanks told investigators that she shot Albert because she wanted her children to have a better father. The State of Minnesota (plaintiff) pursued charges. Hanks was indicted for first-degree premediated murder and second-degree intentional murder. Hanks was prepared to introduce an expert witness at trial to testify on battered-woman syndrome. The state objected, arguing that the testimony was irrelevant because Hanks had not shown she was a battered woman. The trial court ruled that the testimony was inadmissible under Minnesota law. Hanks was convicted of the charges. Hanks appealed.