Judge grants Patrice Smith freedom after serving 21 years for murder, thanks to new law

Through a computer screen in a room at Albion Correctional Facility, Patrice Smith got the validation she has been seeking for two decades: the sexual exploitation she suffered as a teenager at the hands of 71-year-old reverend Robert Robinson was indeed linked to his murder in 1998.

EVIDENCE.TODAY MARKS THEFIRST DAY... OF A NEWCHAPTER... FOR AWOMAN WHO HASSPENT THE PAST TWODECADES IN PRISONFOR MURDER.PATRICE SMITH ISBEING RELEASEDFROM PRISON --AFTER JUDGE SHEILADITULLIO VACATEDSMITH'S ORIGINALSENTENCE OF 25-YEARS-TO-LIFE... ANDGAVE HER A NEW,12-YEAR SENTENCEFOR KILLING ABUFFALO MAN,ROBERT ROBINSON,WHO SEXUALLYABUSED HER WHENSHE WAS ATEENAGER.

THIS ISTHE FIRST MURDERRE-SENTENCINGUNDER THEDOMESTIC VIOLENCESURVIVORS JUSTICEACT."THE CASE IS ATRAGEDY ONMULTIPLE LEVELS.

APERSON LOST HISLIFE, A FAMILYGRIEVES, AND A 16-YEAR OLD GIRL WHOWAS RAPED ANDSEXUALLY ABUSEDGREW UP AND SPENTMOST OF HER YOUNGADULTHOOD IN JAIL.""I WILL NEVER GETBACK MY CHILDHOOD.BUT BECAUSE OF YOUYOUR HONOR I WILLLEAVE PRISONKNOWING THAT WHATHE DID TO MEMATTERED AND THATSOMEONE CAREDABOUT IT.

SO I THAYOU FOR THAT."SMITH'S ATTORNEYKATE MOGULESCUSAYS SHE IS THETHIRD PERSON TOWALK OUT OF PRISONUNDER THIS NEWLAW.

THE ERIECOUNTY DISTRICTATTORNEY HASPUBLICLY OPPOS