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A Florida woman accused of killing her terminally ill husband in a hospital room in 2023 was sentenced Friday to just over a year in prison followed by 12 years probation.
Ellen Gilland, 78, pleaded no contest in December to assisting self-murder and manslaughter after a grand jury reduced the charges from first degree murder, WESH reported.
Gilland reportedly agreed to a murder-suicide pact with her husband, 77-year-old Jerry Gilland, as his health took a turn for the worse, as CrimeOnline reported. After shooting him at a Daytona Beach hospital in January 2023, she reportedly pointed the gun at hospital staff and police who responded and then fired another shot into the ceiling after police tased her when she refused to drop the weapon.
She faced up to 10 years in prison after her plea, and Judge Kathryn Weston went for prison time after a nurse testified he was terrified after the incident and left his job.
She will spend 366 more days in prison and then must perform at least 8 hours a month community service and write apology letters to the officers and civilians who were affected.
“I really thought I’d be bringing her home today,” said Bo Timme, Gilland’s niece. “I’m a little bit shocked and, I’m very worried about her. but I’m told it’s fair and that it’s actually a good outcome.”
Gilland testified that her husband loaded the gun and was supposed to pull the trigger but had grown too frail, Law&Crime reported.
“I held the gun behind his ear. I pulled it away and asked him if, he was sure,” she reportedly said. “He raised his hand; and placed it on my arm and pushed the gun to his head. There was a loud bang, and he was gone.”
Prosecutors argued for a longer prison term, insisting that she was a danger to other people.
