Cyntoia Brown, who was sentenced to 53 years to life in prison for first degree murder for killing Johnny Mitchell Allan, has recently made the news despite already spending more than ten years in prison.

Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Lebron James and Rihanna have lit up social media with calls for her release. Both Rihanna and another celebrity, Snoop Dogg, posted their support on social media as well with a hashtag, #FreeCyntoiaBrown. This hashtag has been a petition urging Tennessee’s governor to consider reopening the case. The petition received over 4,000 signatures and is growing.

Kim Kardashian took to Twitter to raise awareness for Brown’s case. She posted, “The system has failed. It’s heartbreaking to see a young girl sex trafficked then when she has the courage to fight back is jailed for life! We have to do better & do what’s right. I’ve called my attorneys yesterday to see what can be done to fix this. #FreeCyntoiaBrown”
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian)

Brown was sentenced to life in prison after she killed her customer, who took Brown back to his house and began to show her multiple firearms. At one point Allan reached under his bed and Brown thought he was reaching for a gun so she pulled out her own and shot him. She, then, robbed him.

Prosecutors say that robbery was the true motive of this killing. Brown’s attorney, Charles Bone, countered the prosecutors by stating it was instead a case of self-defense.

“When she was in his home, where she had been bought for sex, he showed her a number of weapons that he owned and she thought she was about to be killed in addition to being raped by this man,” said Bone in defense of his client.

Cyntoia Brown was also diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome disorder and organic brain damage due to her birth mother being an alcoholic. This also resulted in Brown being put into a foster home which she eventually ran away from right before she was taken and put into prostitution.

Brown has already been in jail for over 10 years. She was sentenced as a minor at 16 years old and despite this  was charged with aggravated robbery, first degree felony murder, and first degree murder, and then sentenced to life.

All of that being said, in 2012 the Supreme Court banned mandatory life without parole for juveniles, and therefore has given Brown, her lawyer, and those who support her some sort of hope that her sentence will be reduced.   

Brown’s attorney is arguing for a new trial stating that under the new Tennessee laws, Brown would be charged at the most with second degree murder, which would allow her to be considered for parole because she has already served more than 10 years.

These attempts have so far gone unnoticed although there is still hope with the petition going through the federal government.   

Brown is currently trying her best to be a normally contributing citizen and while in prison has acquired her associates degree and is currently working towards her bachelor’s degree. She hopes to use her education to help other inmates.

“I myself can create opportunities to help people [behind bars],” in an interview with WZTV,” said Brown from prison.