Nicole Addimando
Nicole "Nikki" Addimando (born November 19, 1988)[1] is an American woman who, in self defense, shot and killed her domestic partner in Poughkeepsie, New York in September 2017. Originally sentenced to 19 years to life, Addimando's term of imprisonment was reduced on appeal to 7.5 years.[2] She was incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women.[3]
Addimando said that her partner, Christopher Grover, had physically and sexually abused her for years,[4] and she provided photographs and other materials she said documented this abuse.[5] She further claimed that she shot Grover while he sat on their couch after he had threatened her with the gun.[4] Grover's family disputed Addimando's abuse claims,[5] and prosecutors argued that Grover had been shot while he was asleep.[4] Addimando was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a handgun.[4][6]
Background[edit]
 | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (February 2023) |
The couple met in 2008, when Nicole was 19 and Christopher 21, at a gym where they were both employed as gymnastics teachers. In 2012, after Nicole became pregnant, they moved in together in Salt Point, New York. In 2013, Nicole alleges, Christopher began to force Nicole to have sex with him, and if she refused, he would attack her violently. A second child was born in February 2015, and according to Nicole, Christopher continued to violently abuse her. She also alleges that he filmed the abuse and uploaded the videos to PornHub without her consent. In November 2015, Family Services contacted Jason Ruscillo, a detective from Hyde Park. In preparation for the meeting, Sarah Caprioli of Family Services prepared an affidavit describing the abuse Addimando had told Caprioli about, but Addimando did not sign it.
In September 2017, Addimando told a police officer that she tried to run away from Grover, but he threatened to kill her. There had been a fight, and Addimando shot and killed Grover.[4][1]
Sentence reduction[edit]
In 2019, New York passed a law—the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act—that authorized reductions in sentences for domestic-violence survivors when the abuse they suffered "was a significant contributing factor to the defendant's criminal behavior."[7][4] Judge Edward McLoughlin originally ruled that Addimando's case did not meet the requirements of a reduced sentence because, according to the judge, she could have left her abuser.[6][1] An appeals court disagreed and reduced Addimando's sentence to 7.5 years.[8]
Upon our extensive review of the evidence, we reject the County Court's methodology, approach, application, and analysis of the three factors . . . set forth under [the DVSJA]. . . .
. . . .
Basically, the court premised its analysis on a presumption or notion that the defendant could have avoided further abuse at the hands of Grover. We will not engage in any such presupposition. The evidence, which included a detailed history of repeated sexual, physical, and psychological abuse by Grover against the defendant, expert testimony regarding the impact of that abuse on the defendant, and the defendant's testimony regarding the events prior to the subject shooting, established that the abuse was a significant contributing factor to the defendant's criminal behavior.— People v. Addimando, New York Court of Appeals[7]
Clemency effort[edit]
In November 2021, Addimando filed a clemency application, attaching a petition in support of application with 30,000 signatures.[5] A separate petition supporting Addimando's clemency push amassed 579,000 signatures.[5]
Release[edit]
Addimando was released on January 4, 2024.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Judge denies use of DVSJA in Poughkeepsie murder trial – The Miscellany News". February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ Mike Randall. "Nicole Addimando's sentence reduced under Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act". Poughkeepsie Journal.
- ^ Ali, Saba; Wilson, Geoffrey (November 20, 2020). "Nicole Addimando murder case to be featured on CBS' '48 Hours' Saturday". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Snyder, Rachel Louise (December 20, 2019). "When Can a Woman Who Kills Her Abuser Claim Self-Defense?". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Bellamy, Lana (January 22, 2023). "Nikki Addimando wasn't granted clemency last year. What's next?". The Times Union.
- ^ a b "Two Women Shoot and Kill Their Abusers Claiming Self-Defense. They Face Decades in Prison". The Takeaway (WNYC Studios). February 26, 2020.
- ^ a b People v. Addimando (People v. Addimando July 14, 2021), Text.
- ^ "New York Appellate Court issues landmark ruling on DVSJA in the case of Nicole Addimando". July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Nicole Addimando released from prison, convicted of killing her alleged abuser". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved February 3, 2024.