Tennessee Division of Corrections/christiansells obituary
Bryan Steven Lawson and Beth Chandra Lawson.
The brand new documentary sequence on A&E, Accused: Responsible or Harmless, explores a case from the angle of the accused, together with their protection, trial and verdict. Because the community explains, it’s “an intimate account of what occurs when somebody is formally charged with a criminal offense and despatched to trial,” however from the angle of the accused, their household and the protection workforce.
The sequence premieres on April 21 with the primary episode, “Spouse Killer or Self Protection?” The episode explores the case of Bryan Steven Lawson, who shot and killed his spouse Beth ‘Chandra’ Lawson on January 27, 2017. The whole incident is caught on cameras the couple had put in of their dwelling, and there’s no doubt that Lawson shot and killed his spouse. What the episode, and the case, discover is whether or not it was homicide or self-defense.
Right here’s what it’s essential to find out about Bryan Steven Lawson and Beth ‘Chandra’ Lawson:
1. Chandra Was Born on November 16, 1976 & Served within the Tennessee Military Nationwide Guard
Screengrabchristiansells.comBeth Chandra Lawson
Chandra Beth Lawson was born on November 16, 1976, in Church Hill to folks Avery Ann Charles Williams and Gwen Ethridge. Based on her obituary, she had a brother, Clay Williams and two stepsisters, Rachel Morgan and Rebekah Ethridge. Chandra graduated from Christian Life Academy and went to East Tennessee State College and Lincoln Memorial College.
Chandra served within the Tennessee Military Nationwide Guard from 2006 to 2012. Within the docu-series, the producers defined that she was unable to deploy on army excursions as a result of she broke her neck throughout coaching. Her obituary defined that after her loss of life, she obtained army honors by the Tennessee Military Nationwide Guard and the Hawkins County Shade Guard.
2. Chandra Had 2 Sons, Liam & Bradyn, From 2 Completely different Relationships
Screengrabchristiansells.comBeth Chandra Lawson
Chandra had two sons, Liam Windham and Bradyn Lawson, from two relationships. Liam was 17 on the time of Chandra’s loss of life and Bradyn was simply over two years outdated. Liam is Chandra’s son from a previous relationship, whereas Bradyn was born when Bryan and Chandra have been collectively. The episode explores that after the taking pictures, Bryan came upon that Bradyn wasn’t his organic son.
Each youngsters have been dwelling with the couple on the time of Chandra’s loss of life, though Liam had left for varsity earlier than the taking pictures occurred. The video footage of the taking pictures reveals that Bradyn was proper beside his mom when Bryan shot her 3 times with a handgun.
Based on a Tennessee information website, in 2019 Liam was a school scholar and the 4-year-old Bradyn was the topic of a custody battle. His time was shared between Chandra’s mom and his organic father, who isn’t named. It’s unclear presently who has custody over the younger boy.
3. The Whole Sequence of Occasions Was Captured on Video Surveillance
The Lawsons had put in video cameras all through their dwelling, which meant that the taking pictures was completely captured on video. It reveals not solely the second when Bryan shoots his spouse 3 times with their son standing there, but it surely additionally reveals a home dispute within the hour earlier than the taking pictures.
In the course of the dispute, which is proven in full in the course of the Accused: Responsible or Harmless? episode, Chandra is seen grabbing a baseball bat and threatening Bryan with it a number of occasions. Viewers also can see her hanging him many occasions together with her hand. Bryan retrieved the handgun from behind the sofa when Chandra leaves the room for a couple of minutes to get their son.
4. Bryan Is Serving His Sentence on the Hardeman County Correctional Facility
Tennessee Division of CorrectionHardeman County Correctional Facility
Bryan Steven Lawson was born on July 5, 1983. Based on his Tennessee inmate document, he’s 6’3″ and weighs 375 kilos. His standing is listed as incarcerated on the Hardeman County Correctional Facility beneath a medium supervision stage.
He was sentenced to 15 years starting on January 27, 2019, ending on September 13, 2033. He might be eligible for parole on September 13, 2021. The offense listed is Voluntary Manslaughter.
5. Bryan Pleaded Responsible on February 1, 2019, As a substitute of Going to Trial
Bryan determined to take a plea deal as a substitute of going to trial for the case. If he had gone to trial, he may have been convicted of first-degree homicide and confronted life in jail with out parole, Occasions Information defined. The plea deal agreed by each events was that Bryan would plead responsible to voluntary manslaughter with 15 years sentence, an extended sentence than ordinary for a first-time offender. As a substitute, the prosecution and the protection agreed that he could be eligible for parole after serving 20 p.c of his sentence as a substitute of the same old 30 p.c.
He additionally pleaded responsible to felony reckless endangerment due to the proximity of the taking pictures to the couple’s two-year-old son. Chandra’s different son, Windham, advised the Occasions Information that he’s forgiven Lawson, however many in his household haven’t. He stated, “When he’s launched, he must reside with that and reside with the guilt for the remainder of his life. I feel that’s punishment sufficient.”
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