Girlfriend in lawyer slaying case said she acted in self-defense when 'the hillbilly came out in me'
A woman on trial in Kentucky for the October 2012 slaying of her lawyer boyfriend told police he had pushed, dragged and insulted her before she shot him in self-defense, according to her recorded statements played for jurors on Tuesday.
Shayna Hubers, now 24, is accused of shooting 29-year-old Cincinnati lawyer Ryan Poston six times during the incident at his Highland Heights condominium, report NKY.com and ABC News.
“He was right in front of me and he reached down and grabbed the gun, and I grabbed it out of his hands and pulled the trigger,” Hubers said in a 911 call. Hubers told police that she had gone to Poston’s apartment to remove personal items, but she had also intended to tell Poston she loved him and wanted to work out their problems.
In the video of her statements to police, Hubers said Poston instead “resorted to violence” by physically attacking her, according to the NKY.com story.
“He said, ‘You’re just a hillbilly from Kentucky.’ And I am. I guess the hillbilly came out in me, and I took up for myself,” Hubers told police.
At some points in the video, Hubers was laughing and even joked about Poston’s wounds, according to the ABC story. “I gave him a nose job,” she said. She also considered her future dating prospects.
“I don’t know if anyone will want to marry me if they know I killed my boyfriend in self-defense,” she said.
Poston’s relatives released a statement to ABC before the trial began. “Ryan was an amazing person who was loved by his family and friends–friends from all walks of life, from different parts of the world and from throughout our community,” the statement said. “We know Ryan was a caring young man, full of hope and potential to do great and wonderful things with his life.”
He launched a solo personal injury practice after passing the Ohio bar in 2011 and graduating in 2008 from Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law, according to prior coverage.
