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Woman Gets Clemency For Killing Pimp

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A woman who was 16 when she ambushed and killed her former pimp in a Southern California motel room has been granted clemency by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Sara Kruzan, now 32, was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for the 1994 shooting death of George Gilbert Howard. Prosecutors said Kruzan was no longer working for Howard when she killed him.

Calling it "excessive," Schwarzenegger commuted Kruzan<s life sentence to 25 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Her clemency petition to the governor, approved Sunday, cited years of abuse and psychatric reports saying she suffered from battered women's syndrome.

Sen. Leland Yee, who advocated for Kruzan, said she had turned her life around in prison and could be a role model for abused kids if released. Her case was the centerpiece of Yee's failed bill to allow reduction of life sentences for minors.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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