Battered Woman Freed After Decades in Prison
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A woman convicted of participating in the 1983 murder of her husband was freed from prison after prosecutors agreed she would have been eligible for a battered wife defense if such laws had been on the books at the time.
Marie La Pinta left the Suffolk County jail beaming and gripping a bouquet of roses sent by her three grandchildren.
She declined to say anything to reporters except “thank you.”
Freedom for the 69-year-old was especially sweet for her two sons: Anthony -- who became a lawyer in part to win justice for his mother, and Lenny, a teacher who for years lobbied in vain for a pardon from Gov. George E. Pataki and operated MercyforMom.org, aimed at winning her freedom.
Both sons have said she endured years of abuse at the hands of their father.
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