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A Closer Look at Alexander's Case - In the fallout over George Zimmerman's not guilty verdict in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, the focus has again shifted back to Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law and the case of a Florida woman who invoked it at trial, but was still sentenced to 20 years in prison. Last year, Marissa Alexander, an African-American woman, was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for firing a gun during a dispute with her husband. BET.com takes a closer look at her case as well as rising concerns over whether she was failed by the legal system. — Britt Middleton (Photo: Courtesy of Marissa Alexander)

Photo By Marissa Alexander

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Alexander Claims Self-Defense - Like Zimmerman, Alexander maintained that she fired her weapon in self-defense. The 31-year-old mother of three testified that on Aug. 1, 2010, her husband physically abused her at their home. She testified that she ran into the garage and got the gun, returned inside and fired a "warning shot" into a wall to protect herself. Two of Alexander's children were with her husband as she fired a shot in his direction. (Photo: Courtesy of Florida State Attorney's Office)

Photo By Courtesy of Florida State Attorney's Office

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"Stand Your Ground" Law - Alexander's lawyers argued self-defense, citing the state's "Stand Your Ground" law, which permits an individual to defend themselves with deadly force, even outside their own homes, if they have reasonable belief that "it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony." Zimmerman's defense initially planned to invoke the "Stand Your Ground" law, but later waived the right to an immunity hearing before the trial. (Photo: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholso)

Photo By REUTERS/Lucy Nicholso

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A Troubled Relationship - According to reports, Alexander's husband, Rico Gray, had been arrested twice before on domestic battery allegations. Alexander had also been charged with domestic battery four months after the shooting in separate incident with Gray. During Alexander's trial, questions arose over whether the she was justified under "Stand Your Ground" because she retreated from her husband only to confront him again with a loaded weapon. (Photo: Courtesy Newsone)

Photo By Courtesy Newsone

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Florida's 10-20-Life Law - A jury convicted Alexander of three counts of aggravated assault in May 2012. Sentenced under the state's "10-20-Life" law, her 20-year sentence was a mandatory minimum. Enacted in 1999 and credited with lowering crime rates, the law mandates that anyone who pulls a gun while committing certain felonies faces a mandatory 10 years in prison. If the gun is fired, it's 20 years, and a 25-year-to-life sentence awaits a person who kills or injures someone. (Photo: REUTERS/Rick Wilking /Landov)

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Did Anger Play a Role? - State Attorney Angela Corey, who oversaw Alexander's prosecution and who also presided over Zimmerman's case, said that "Stand Your Ground" didn't apply "because Alexander acted in anger," NBC news reported. The judge said that by returning to the house, her actions did not match those of a person in “genuine fear of his or her life. (Photo: AP Photo/Rick Wilson)

Photo By AP Photo/Rick Wilson

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Criticism - Kevin Cobbin, Alexander's attorney, added following sentencing, "The law was made for people like Ms. Alexander. They did not make it for people running around on the streets shooting people. They made it for women in their homes trying to defend themselves against abusive, mean men." (Photo: Courtesy of Kevin Cobbin)

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A Call to Action - As demonstrations around a nationwide call for civil rights charges to be brought against Zimmerman, renewed support for Alexander is growing. A number of online petitions have emerged calling for her release. A Florida judge denied Alexander's request for a retrial last May. (Photo: Courtesy of Justice For Marissa Alexdander)

Photo By Courtesy of Justice For Marissa Alexdander

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The Role of Race - Prosecutors in Zimmerman's case have denied that the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teen, was about race. However, race and racial profiling dominated the national conversation surrounding the case and continues to grow following Zimmerman's acquittal. (Photo: AP Photos, File)

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Unfairly Applying Standards - In Alexander's case, Florida Rep. Corrine Brown spoke boldly about perceived disparities following Alexander's sentencing last year: "The Florida criminal justice system has sent two clear messages today. One is that if women who are victims of domestic violence try to protect themselves, the 'Stand Your Ground Law' will not apply to them. The second message is that if you are black, the system will treat you differently."  (Photo: Courtesy of Corrine Brown)

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Pursuing Judgment - In an interview last year, Corey defended Alexander's sentencing. "When she [Alexander] discharges a firearm in the direction of human beings, the legislature says it’s dangerous,” she said, referring to the fact that the bullet went through a wall where one of her children was standing (although no one was hurt in the incident). In Zimmerman's case, however, a young man was killed. Despite this, the prosecution's case wasn't strong enough to convince a jury Zimmerman was unlawful in his actions. (Photo: AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bruce Lipsky, File)

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"Stand Your Ground" Around the U.S. - Florida was the first state to pass an overt "Stand Your Ground" law in 2005. The Washington Post reported that more than 30 states have passed some form of the law in recent years. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)