Woman Murders Partner
in Jealous Rage

Natasha Demery of Marietta, Ga., was convicted this week of murdering her lesbian partner, Aisha Florine Lea, in December 2006, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

After months of a reportedly "volatile relationship," Demery's lawyer argued, the killing had been in response to "months of physical and emotional abuse by Lea." That defense was not enough to sway a Cobb County jury from a murder conviction after five hours of deliberation over two days.

According to police, Demery called 911 following the murder and turned herself in. The argument that precipitated the killing reportedly began when Lea arrived to pick Demery up from work at 4 a.m. and saw that she had been drinking and was "flirting with a coworker."

Demery has been sentenced to life in prison plus five years; her conviction includes the murder as well as two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the murder.