Phoenix woman gets 4 years for killing alleged abuser

3-13-15 Arizona:

About half of the people in the courtroom wore "R.I.P. Nando" shirts, many others, on the opposite side of the packed downtown Phoenix chamber wore purple ribbons to show their support for domestic violence victims. Their shirts and the sentiments expressed throughout the 2-hour hearing served as a vivid reminder of the divide over the case of a Phoenix woman who killed her alleged abuser last year.

It was Ashley Elizabeth Eide's mugshot after the February 2014 murder of Fernando Ruelas that initially drew attention to the case, with Eide's black eye courtesy of Ruelas clearly visible in the booking photo. And Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joseph Kreamer said he took that and more into consideration on Thursday when he sentenced Eide, 26, to 4 years in prison and 3 years of supervised probation for Ruelas' murder.

Kreamer said the mitigating factors – Eide's remorse, her acceptance of responsibility, her family support and most importantly the fact she was in an abusive relationship – outweighed the aggravating factors of her previous violent convictions and the harm she caused Ruelas' family.

"I do think you're sorry," Kreamer said to Eide. "The pictures don't lie – clearly there was violence in the home."

Ruelas' family members spoke to the courtroom, saying Ruelas was a "young, outgoing, loving, caring person." One of his cousins said he could light up a room with his smile. He said Ruelas was making steps toward becoming a productive member of society before he was killed.

"Words cannot convey the heartfelt pain in our hearts after the loss of our loved one," one of Ruelas' family member said.

The family encouraged Kreamer to give Eide the maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.

Deputy County Attorney James Seeger said Ruelas should have been investigated and possibly prosecuted for his actions, but he did not deserve to die.

"She went too far," Seeger said.

Eide had two previous convictions for animal cruelty and aggravated robbery, and that the pattern showed her violent history was escalating, Seeger said. He ultimately recommended 7 ½ years in prison with 4 years of probation.

Edie's defense played a police recording from the night of Ruelas' death in which Eide was alternately crying hysterically and trying to calm her 5-year-old son.

The recording begins with Eide talking to officers as they approach the scene at a west Phoenix apartment complex:

"Help him, help him," she screamed.

"My life's f------ over, my boyfriend's f------ dead."

But at some point her attention turns to her child.

"My baby, I'm so sorry," she said.

"Mommy loves you, I was trying to protect you," she said. "Please don't look at mommy right now."

Defense Attorney Nicole Hartley said Eide told her she feared Ruelas was going to kill her and her son, but she didn't mean to kill him.

"She said that night she wished she would have just kept taking the abuse," Hartley said.

Hartley said Eide's maternal instinct kicked in, and she was defending herself and her child.

Hartley asked some of the audience members to stand up, introducing them to the court as representatives from the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence. She said these people were prepared to help Eide become an activist against domestic violence.

"I think she could empower a lot of women with her story," Hartley said.

Hartley then introduced nearly 30 other people in the audience as Eide's friends, family and coworkers who were ready to be her support system and make sure she doesn't end up in similar situations.

Eide said she completely understands how Ruelas' family feels because she knows what it's like to lose a child.

"No matter how sorry I am, I know it will never bring Fernando back to them," she said.

Eide was arrested last February on suspicion of manslaughter after police said she shot her live-in boyfriend from behind after a physical altercation. Police found Ruelas dead on the staircase of their apartment and a .22-caliber gun near the doorway.

Eide told police she feared for her life and acted in self-defense. She said she didn't mean to shoot him.

Ruelas first confronted her in the early morning of Feb. 1, 2014 after the couple returned home from a night of drinking, reports show. Eide told police Ruelas pushed her down the stairs while she was carrying her child. Photos presented in Thursday's sentencing showed Eide's knees and elbows were red that night.

Eide put her child to bed and the two started arguing, she told police. She said Ruelas hit her several times in the face with a doorknob because he was jealous of a picture she posted on Instagram.

Police said Eide grabbed the handgun from a closet while Ruelas was downstairs retrieving a DVD she had thrown out the window. Eide admitted Ruelas may have been turning away from her when she shot him from four-to-six feet away.

Police said Eide was screaming hysterically when they arrived at the apartment.

Eide told police Ruelas had a history of physical violence and had hit her, choked her and held a gun to her head in the month before she shot him. She did not turn him in to police because he was on probation, and she didn't want him to go to jail, police said.

Neighbors told police they would hear arguing and fighting coming from the apartment every weekend.

Eide pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January.

After Kreamer announced the mitigated sentence, Eide's supporters applauded briefly and Ruelas' family left the courtroom.

"You can tell that you're going to have some challenges," Kreamer said. "I hope that you are able to succeed." ..Source.. by Sarah Jarvis

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Woman pleads guilty to manslaughter in boyfriend's death

A Phoenix woman has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of her boyfriend in 2014.

Ashley Eide, 25, made the guilty plea to manslaughter and weapons charges on Friday in Maricopa County Superior Court. A sentencing hearing is set for March.

Controversy arose on social media as some argued that Eide was defending herself after being brutally beaten, while others said she could have locked the door and called the police.

Eide shot Fernando Ruelas, Jr., 26, after a night of drinking on Feb. 1, 2014. Police say that Ruelas became jealous after seeing a photo Eide posted to Instagram and confronted Eide about it after she put her 5-year-old child to bed.

The argument escalated and Ruelas began assaulting Eide, something Eide said was common in the last month but was afraid to report to police since Ruelas was on supervised probation, according to court documents.

Police say that, while Ruelas went down the stairs of their Phoenix apartment to retrieve a DVD Eide had thrown, Eide went into their closet and retrieved a .22-caliber handgun. When the arguing continued, Eide shot Ruelas in the back of the neck as he stood on the stairs.

Eide told police she feared for her life and was defending herself.