Mother Sentenced to Four Years in Death of Daughter's Rapist

WMC TV - Memphis ^ | December 19, 2005 | Staff

[mcg2000]

MARYVILLE, Tenn. A mother charged in the shooting death of a man she said raped her young daughter was sentenced to four years in prison today.

Authorities say Kimberly Cunningham must serve nearly a third of the sentence before being eligible for parole, The Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

Her attorney Bruce Poston told Blount County Circuit Court Judge D. Kelly Thomas that he would appeal the sentence.

In October Cunningham was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Coy Hundley, her daughter's uncle.

Cunningham was tried on a charge of first-degree murder in April in the case, but the jury acquitted her of that charge and deadlocked on all lesser charges.

Cunningham has served about two months in jail since the October 7th 2003 killing and Poston said that would be deducted from her sentence.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press.

All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[benjibrowder]

So sad, the rapist got what he deserved, but if everythings true, she didn't. She deserves an award.

[msnimje]

The ACLU must be pleased.

[neodad]

In October Cunningham was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Coy Hundley, her daughter's uncle

Her brother?

[Zeroisanumber]

Vigilante justice cannot be tolerated. All the same though, I'm glad that they let her off light.

[benjibrowder]

No, they're whining away about how this woman should be put on 'Death Row', or wait a minute...they're whining about how this woman should be sentenced to life w/o the possibility of parole

[msnimje]

Her brother?

Or brother of first husband.

[mcg2000]

Could be brother-in-law? Hopefully ...

[benjibrowder]

Could be her father's brother.

[Natural Law]

She had bad council. She had a clear case of diminished capacity.

[ccmay]

four years in prison today... must serve nearly a third of the sentence before being eligible for parole

That's about 16 months. I must say, if someone raped my daughter, 16 months in the clink would seem like nothing next to the grim satisfaction I'd get from shooting him down like a dog.

-ccm

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Her brother?

O Brother, where art thou?

[nickcarraway]

Cunningham was tried on a charge of first-degree murder in April in the case, but the jury acquitted her of that charge and deadlocked on all lesser charges.

If the jury acquitted on one charge and deadlocked on all other charges, how can she be going to jail?

[wagglebee]

She should get a reward for doing society a favor.

[Teacher317]

And if the man did not do what she accuses him of?
How does she know?
How do we know?

Do parents get one free kill if they play the "rape card"?

[starbase]

shooting death of a man she said raped her young daughter

Well since he was executed I hope he was actually guilty, the "she said" part is disturbing. Maybe he did it, but I'd like the courts to take care of this sort of thing.

[mcg2000]

Could just be her brother?!?

[benjibrowder]

So you're saying that we should drop the death penalty against every murderer for the fact that they may not have done it despite the evidence against them?

If I saw my daughter being raped, I would pull a gun on that rapist and blow his brains onto the wall.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I don't think I could have voted to convict. I have 4 daughters and would do the same as this lady to anyone who made them cry.

[Fido969]

I wonder if the judge and/or DA just didn't like the jury's result. Double jepordy?