This is absolutely heartbreaking.
I hope to GOD that this woman’s brave testimony serves in obtaining justice for her untimely, tragic death…
..Though no legal justice will serve to bring her back.
And here’s a little more about Judy herself: (I promise these are different videos. They source just chose the same title image for both.)
According to the Daily Mail:
A woman who died in hospital after being doused in gasoline and set on fire by her boyfriend will testify at his murder trial in a videotaped interview that was recorded before her death.
Judy Malinowski, 33, died in August 2017, two years after being set on fire by her boyfriend Michael Slager outside a gas station near Columbus, Ohio, in June 2015.
Ugh… my heart absolutely ACHES for this woman and her family… especially her two young daughters.
Slager is now standing trial for her murder and in a rare court occurrence, the judge allowed testimony which Judy gave prosecutors from her hospital bed to be played in court and considered by the jury on Friday.
She wanted her voice to be heard. I’m glad she gets that chance, even if in death.
She suffered burns to 80 percent of her body and clung to life in hospital for two years. Slager was immediately charged with assault and was due to go to trial.
It was for that trial that his victim recorded her testimony from her hospital bed.
His attorneys tried to block it by citing a legal technicality, claiming it was improperly obtained by prosecutors.
The judge allowed it on the grounds that it is an unprecedented case where the victim is able to give evidence after their own death.
If the testimony was legal for the first trial, would it not be legal for the second?
I don’t really know all the details or all the rules here… but the judge seemed to agree.
Malinowski also spoke to the media from her hospital bed before she died.
She could barely speak but was mustered the strength to give a few scathing words, saying: ‘I never knew that a human being could be so evil. He just stood there and did nothing.
‘God please, please help me,’ she said.
TRUE evil…
Slager has always maintained that he set her on fire by accident when he lit a cigarette. He had run up from behind to cover her in gasoline.
YEAH F-ING RIGHT. What a POS.
After her death, Ohio passed Judy’s Law which added six years onto the sentence of anyone convicted of an assault which permanently maimed their victim.
Her legacy will not only serve to keep this monster locked up where he belongs… but to bring justice for OTHERS who have been similarly assaulted.
Absolutely heartbreaking… but I hope her family finds some solace knowing their Judy WILL make a difference.
Judy lost both of her ears and two fingers in the attack and was left with open wounds on her back and buttocks.
She underwent 56 surgeries before she died. Doctors wanted to perform on her but she was too weak to withstand another procedure.
Slager’s trial continues. In January, he tried to have it moved to a different court, claiming that he would not be given a fair trial due to the high profile nature of the case.
He pleaded guilty to felonious assault and was sentenced to 11 years in jail for it before her death.
Now, given the more serious charge, he faces life imprisonment.
He is evil incarnate…He deserves that, and more.