Opinion ID: 1331345
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: conclusion

Text: After considering all of Ms. Whittaker's assignments of error, we conclude that the circuit court did not err by upholding Ms. Whittaker's jury conviction of voluntary manslaughter and sentencing her in accordance therewith. Nevertheless, we remain deeply troubled by the facts underlying this case. Under no circumstances do we condone vigilante justice. However, we sympathize with the plight in which Ms. Whittaker found herself after her numerous attempts to seek help from law enforcement authorities were unsuccessful. Ms. Whittaker's inability to obtain such assistance was due, in part, to the fact that most of Ms. Whittaker's domestic violence petitions were not served on Mr. Mills, and, thus, they were not enforced. [20] Simply put, our law enforcement/criminal justice system utterly failed Ms. Whittaker and J.W. State v. Miller, 204 W.Va. 374, 387, 513 S.E.2d 147, 160 (1998) (per curiam) (Starcher, J., concurring). Perhaps even more troubling, though, is the fact that Ms. Whittaker's case is not an isolated incident; we previously have been asked to review the convictions of domestic violence victims who have felt the need to end the cycle of abuse by resort to whatever means were at their disposal. See, e.g., State v. Miller, 204 W.Va. 374, 513 S.E.2d 147; State v. McClanahan, 193 W.Va. 70, 454 S.E.2d 115 (1994) (per curiam). Although our decision of this case stands firm, we nonetheless wish to renew our continuing commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and dignity of victims of domestic abuse, and we encourage our coordinate branches of government to do likewise. Accordingly, the conviction of Valerie Whittaker of voluntary manslaughter, and her resultant sentence of ten years imprisonment, [21] is hereby affirmed. Affirmed.