[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I hadn't heard of it, it's such a sad story though, I had a lot of conflicting opinions through out

These are my thoughts for when you do watch it :

Spoiler:

Firstly I think she shot the guy while he slept, I didn't believe her version of events however it's so hard not to really feel for her, she was 16 years old and labelled a prostitute when in reality that man was driving around looking to pick up a child to have sex with so even though I do think she shot him in the head while he slept rather than what she said that he bent over the bed and she thought he was reaching for a gun, it's still hard to really sympathise with a guy who is paedophile basically, she didn't even look older imo, she looked about 14 when she was brought in originally.

Not to mention her "boyfriend" who basically trafficked her. I think even though she was guilty, she was basically raped by that man and should certainly not have been tried as an adult.

Having said that I do think that prison may have also been her saviour, the difference in her from when she was arrested to when she was released from prison was stark. She went from a young girl who seemed completely dead behind the eyes, so emotionless and empty to a really healthy looking, intelligent and socially well adjusted woman.

I did also feel really bad for her biological mother, her own childhood story is so sad and full of abuses and I genuinely think that she did the very best she could in trying to save Cyntoia by giving her to her adoptive mother to look after, she really was a fantastic lady and was always there for to offer her stability and a good home, unfortunately it wasn't enough either but she never gave up on her.

I thought when she eventually had her clemency hearing she came across so genuine, remorseful and grateful. What stood out most though was the victim impact statement, honestly the woman giving that seemed very half hearted about it and I wonder was that quite telling, maybe she herself felt for Cyntoia and knew what John had done was wrong as well

Spoiler:

...I only vaguely knew about it because there were some celebrities raising awareness about it, if I recall...I hadn’t really known any details, other than she committed the murder at 16yrs old and some celebrities were campaigning to have her released...

...I pretty much agree with everything you say and that she did kill him in his sleep....strangely, the first thing I thought before it was mentioned was Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the few children I’ve known with that diagnosis have been much younger but I was aware of some of the ‘typical’ displays it has with older children and it seemed to fit so much with Cyntoia...it’s strange to think that taking a life, as she did...?...was in a way, the beginning of what broke that cycle of damage/abuse which was being passed down in generation...her mother didn’t have that person in her life that Cyntoia did with her adopted mother, who really believed in her and loved her ....but even with that, Cyntoia obviously didn’t understand her inability to process her emotions, so the path she went down couldn’t have been prevented, even having such a stable influence on her life..if she hadn’t gone to prison, she might never have gained that understanding...?....which has obviously led to her free life now and the openness she has about her emotions and in her relationships...she really looked overcome when it was all being explained, as if in making sense, it freed her emotionally...?...

...(...I know it hasn’t had great reviews, but if you haven’t watched it already...I really would recommend you watching Hillbilly Elegy, which as you’ll see...well, it’s that ‘generation/legacy’ thing and that story...(...which I think is also based on a true story..)...connects with Cyntoia’s story in its content...

...but yeah, good watch...thanks for the recommendation.......