A Mississippi woman, Alexandria Griste, 31, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of her boyfriend, Richard Lyles, who had returned home with McDonald’s for her and their children. Griste initially faced a first-degree murder charge after police responded to her 9-1-1 call on June 8, 2022, but the jury instead found her guilty of the lesser charge of imperfect self-defense manslaughter after three hours of deliberation.
During the trial, testimony and text messages presented in court revealed that Griste and Lyles had argued through text on the evening of the incident, reportedly starting after he left the house without informing her. The texts included Griste’s message stating that Lyles would be “dead” if he returned. Upon his return, Griste allegedly retrieved a 9mm gun and fired three warning shots, later shooting through a window when Lyles approached the door. She stated she feared for her life, mentioning he had previously harmed her, although no evidence of past abuse was presented in court.
Griste told the court that she was “protecting herself and her children” and did not intend to kill anyone. Her defense attorney, Steve Farese, argued there was no evidence disproving her fear for her life. The prosecution countered this, with District Attorney Ben Creekmore asserting that Lyles arrived peacefully with food and waited in his vehicle upon arrival, with no indication of intent to harm.
The sentencing, covered by The Oxford Eagle, is the maximum term for her conviction.
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