Memphis, TN -- Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Thursday that a jury convicted a Shelby County woman for shooting and killing her husband in 2005 in the couple’s back yard.
The jury found Linda Abbott, 40, guilty of voluntary manslaughter for the shooting death of Gary Abbott. Abbott faces three to six years in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2009.
On September July 23, 2005, fire fighters responded to the couple’s home located on River Bluff Road in Shelby County after Linda Abbott called 911 to report her husband was trapped inside his burning pick-up truck. She reported that Gary Abbott had been driving in the back yard in circles and crashed the vehicle. A day later, the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide when a bullet was found in the victim’s head.
The Shelby County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Linda Abbot for second degree murder, which is a charge covered under the D.A.’s “No Deals” policy on violent crimes. Exceptions are made to the policy for legal and ethical reasons.
Assistant District Attorneys Michael McCusker and Alexia Fulgham prosecuted this case.
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