It all started off in an abusive common law relationship between Angelique Lyn Lavallee and Kevin Rust. The couple had been together for a few years and the abuse Ms. Lavallee endured was physical, sexual, emotional and verbal. (Morris & Pilon, 1992) As a result of this abuse, Lavallee had made consecutive visits to the hospital. (Morris & Pilon, 1992) One summer night on August 31, 1986 the couple had hosted a party. Guest and mutual friends who had been invited to the party had suspected previous abuse from Rust and noticed some of Lavallee’s injuries. (Morris & Pilon, 1992) In the mist of the party Rust became his abusive self, a guest of the party had supposedly witnessed Rust chase Lavallee out of the house. (Morris & Pilon, 1992) Lavalle had apparently …show more content…
(Morris & Pilon, 1992) The yelling that the guests’ and neighbour had heard mingled with what sounded like fighting, what was heard from the guests’ were sounds of pushing, shoving and thumping. (Morris & Pilon, 1992) During this conflict Lavallee had apparently cried out “he punched me in the face” more than once, subsequently after the fighting had happened people around and inside the house had heard gunshots. (Morris & Pilon, 1992) Lavallee had, indeed, fired 2 shots at Rust with a .303 calibre shotgun, the first shot had missed rust and the second shot pierced the back of Rusts’ head, killing him as he was leaving the room. (Morris & Pilon, 1992) Prior to the shooting, Lavallee claims that Rust would have killed her if she did not kill him, this was heard from Lavallee by the arresting officer while Lavallee and the officer were on their way to the local police station, Lavallee had also told the officer that Rust said he would kill her when all the guests had left the party. (Morris & Pilon, 1992) Afterward, a police officer and a doctor had pieced together the injuries on Lavallee’s body and noticed that the injuries she had; represented the defensive stance she took during the physical