CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Cuyahoga County judge on Tuesday sentenced a Cleveland woman to life in prison with parole eligibility after 24 years for killing a man in 2023.

Manija Downey, 30, was convicted in September of murder and felonious assault in the April 29, 2023, death of Cynquan Leggett. A jury rejected her claim that she shot Leggett, 27, in self-defense.

Common Pleas Judge Mollie Ann Murphy handed down the sentence Tuesday afternoon. During the trial, which included unusually lengthy deliberations, jurors sought additional guidance from Murphy in navigating the self-defense issue.

Both prosecution and defense experts found Downey suffers from battered woman syndrome, a subcategory of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by chronic abuse. However, experts said the condition is no

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