Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling: Trafficking Victims Exempt from Homicide Charges Under 2008 Law
Chrystul Kizer Sentenced Despite Evidence of Abuse: Volar’s History and Bail Release Under Scrutiny
According to The Crime News, the case of Chrystul Kizer a 24-year-old woman who was sentenced to 11 years of initial confinement and five years of extended supervision has sparked widespread attention and controversy. According to court documents Kizer shot Randall Volar 34 at his home in 2018 after he had molested and sex trafficked her when she was a teenager. The shooting occurred after Kizer had escaped from Volar’s home and set his house on fire. She initially faced charges of first-degree intentional homicide, arson, car theft, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The prosecution argued that Kizer’s actions were premeditated and that she had planned to kill Volar before she shot him.
However Kizer’s defense argued that she was legally permitted to kill Volar because he was sex trafficking her. In 2022 Wisconsin’s Supreme Court ruled that a 2008 state law that pardons trafficking victims of criminal liability against their traffickers includes first-degree homicide. The court emphasized that the law only applies if the victim can provide evidence proving that the fatal shooting was directly correlated to being trafficked. In this case the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove this correlation. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that investigators discovered that Volar had been abusing multiple underage Black girls prior to his death which adds complexity to the case. Authorities arrested him in February 2018 but released him without bail.
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1.5 Million People Speak Out: Justice System Criticized for Failing Chrystul Kizer 24 Who Was Sentenced to 11 Years for Killing Sex Trafficker! (PHOTO: Forbes)
Outcry Over Kizer Sentencing: 1.5 Million Petition Signatures Highlight Debate on Justice for Trafficking Victims
The sentencing of Kizer has sparked both support and criticism. Judge David Wilk emphasized that Kizer is not responsible for exacting justice on Volar. The case has gained widespread attention and support from community groups including the Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee and others. Approximately 1.5 million people signed an online petition to drop Kizer’s charges. The case has raised questions about how the criminal justice system treats victims of sex trafficking and balances justice with compassion and understanding.
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