SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A woman who shot her ex-husband in a Republic city park received a 20-year prison sentence on Friday. Rachelle Morris, 29, entered an Alford plea five months ago for the death of Josh Morris in August 2008.
Investigators said the Morrises were in a dispute over child visitation. The Morrises' children were sitting in their father's vehicle near the shooting.
An Alford plea means a defendant doesn't admit guilt but concedes prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction. Last month, Morris' attorneys asked a judge to allow her to withdraw that Alford plea. Prosecutors opposed it, and defense attorneys withdrew their motion during the sentencing hearing on Friday.
Morris could have received a 10- to 30-year sentence for second-degree murder and a sentence of three years or more for armed criminal action. Prosecutors and Josh Morris' family agreed to the 20-year sentence in exchange for the Alford plea so the children wouldn't have to testify at the trial.
The case was prolonged because of questions about whether Rachelle Morris was competent to stand trial, and mental health treatments in state facilities.
