August 13th 2023.
Sybil Garbow, a 72-year-old nurse from Minnesota, is now facing jail time for what she claims was an act of self-defense. Having been a nurse for over four decades, she insists that her record does not reflect any prior issues that escalated physically - until now.
Despite her clean record, the jury found her guilty on felony charges of assault against her white work colleague. The judge sentenced her to six months in prison, with five years of probation after her release, as well as a $51,000 restitution fee.
Unfortunately, Sybil lost her job due to this case, and she believes that racial discrimination played a role in her wrongful conviction. The trial was conducted in Anoka County, an area in Minnesota where 80% of the population is white. Sybil has lived in the area since 1973, and this was the first time she felt like she had no strong position in the situation.
According to Sybil, the altercation with her white co-worker, Devlin Stitt, was initiated after he touched her first. He proceeded to push her in the chest and hit her with a phone she was using to call for help. In self-defense, Sybil hit him in the head with an aerosol can before fleeing the room. Prosecutors later invalidated her story, leading to the guilty conviction.
We Resolve, a criminal justice nonprofit in Minnesota, believes that racialized elements may have led to the extensive sentencing of an older woman with no prior convictions. Damon Drake, the organization's executive director, said that they did not entertain the thought that Sybil was attacked first and defending herself.
Sybil and her lawyer are now reviewing next steps for justice to be served. She will no doubt face an uphill battle, but hopes that her case will eventually be heard and taken into consideration.
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