For nearly three years, 24-year-old Cherelle Baldwin has been locked up on a $1 million bail for allegedly killing her abusive ex-boyfriend, Jeffery Brown, by mowing him down with her car. Well, the Connecticut woman will soon see freedom, as Thursday she was found not guilty of charges stemming from the May 2013 auto incident in Bridgeport. According to reports, 12 jurors (seven women and five men) deliberated less than two days before agreeing on the not guilty verdict.
Baldwin’s troubles began when she was just 21. According to statements, she claimed Brown, with whom she shares a son, was very controlling. He stalked her, took her credit cards and money, and regularly assaulted her. Baldwin soon got a court order barring Brown from threatening, harassing and assaulting her during his visits to see their son.
Brown, though, wouldn’t be stopped. After sending Baldwin threatening text messages, Brown reportedly climbed through a window at Baldwin’s home, choked her with his belt and threatened her after the court order was enacted. When Baldwin escaped, Brown followed Baldwin to her car and continued to choke her. Understandably, Baldwin’s memories are blurry after that. By the time police arrived, Baldwin had a broken leg and Brown was dead, pinned between the front of Baldwin’s car and a garage wall. Baldwin was arrested and charged with murder. She faced 60 years in prison if found guilty.
In an interview with “Democracy Now’s” Amy Goodman, Cynthia Long, Baldwin’s mother, said, “You know, it’s been a very difficult time for me and my family. It’s been a very hard struggle, and especially for Cherelle, because she — you know, she’s innocent. She’s innocent. She was home. She was in her own home. She was minding her own business. He had no business there.”
The Huffington Post reports that Baldwin cried and collapsed after learning she’d been found not guilty. She cried, “My baby! … My baby will have his mommy back!”
