A woman accused of shooting and killing a man outside a southwest Miami-Dade strip club last year had a second-degree murder charge dropped Friday under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Rodolfo Ruiz granted the motion to dismiss the charge against Kimberly Matthews, who had been arrested in the April 20, 2014 shooting of 25-year-old Terrence Henderson outside The Office Gentlemen's Club.
“Based on the totality of the circumstances as they appeared to Matthews when she acted, a reasonable and prudent person situated in the same circumstances, knowing what Matthews knew, would have similarly discharged a firearm in self-defense," Judge Ruiz said in his ruling.
Matthews, 32, had claimed she opened fire to protect her brother and herself after a fight broke out in the club's parking lot. She had been facing up to life in prison if convicted.
"We're very pleased with the court's ruling, this was a long time coming," attorney Michael Grieco said. "This is not about celebrating the death of anybody, this is about saving a life, in this case my client's."
A two-day hearing was held last month. Surveillance video of the fight was used in court to support Matthews' claim of self-defense.
Prosecutors could still appeal the judge's ruling but for now, Matthews has no criminal record.
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"For now, she's a free woman and we couldn't be happier," Grieco said.
