This story is free to read.

Woman sentenced to life when she was a teen gets court date

In this Dec. 18, 2015 photo, inmate Cyntoia Brown of the Tennessee Prison for Women delivers a commencement address before receiving her associate degree from Lipscomb University. When Brown was 16 she recieved a life sentence for the murder of Johnny Mitchell Allen. Brown’s life sentence, and the practice of sentencing young people to a lifetime behind bars for even the most heinous of crimes, has drawn increased scrutiny in Tennessee and nationwide. (Ricky Rogers /The Tennessean via AP) In this Dec. 18, 2015 photo, inmate Cyntoia Brown of the Tennessee Prison for Women delivers a commencement address before receiving her associate degree from Lipscomb University. When Brown was 16 she recieved a life sentence for the murder of Johnny Mitchell Allen. Brown’s life sentence, and the practice of sentencing young people to a lifetime behind bars for even the most heinous of crimes, has drawn increased scrutiny in Tennessee and nationwide. (Ricky Rogers /The Tennessean via AP)

By Associated Press May 1, 2018 1 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Attorneys for a woman who killed a man when she was a 16-year-old prostitute say she was a sex-trafficking victim afraid for her life – but prosecutors say she killed the man to rob him.

Both sides will make oral arguments next month in her appeal of her sentence of life without parole.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals set a June 14 court date for the case of 29-year-old Cyntoia Brown in front of a three-judge panel in Cincinnati.

Brown has been in prison since 2004, when she was convicted of killing the 43-year-old man who had solicited her.

She cannot be paroled until she’s at least 67.

Celebrities including Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West have called for her release.