Politics & Government
Justice for Alisha: Bill to Strike Down Drunk Defense Law Advances
Plainfield family fights to defeat law that allows accused murderer to use intoxication as a legal defense.
In August 2012, 21-year-old Alisha Bromfield of Plainfield went to a wedding in Door County with her friend, Brian Cooper. She never came home.
Bromfield and her unborn daughter, Ava Lucille, died in a hotel room, allegedly at the hands of Cooper, 37.
On Tuesday, the Joliet Catholic Academy graduate's family scored a victory in their fight to strike down a law that allowed Cooper to claim he was too drunk to form intent when he strangled her, then sexually assaulted her body.
The Wisconsin state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that amends a statute that allows defendants to use "voluntary intoxication" as a defense for criminal liability.
Now, the bill will head to Gov. Scott Walker.
Bromfield's mother, Sherry Anicich of Plainfield, testified before Wisconsin legislators last month, pleading with them to strike down the statute. She also spearheaded online petitions against the law, gathering thousands of signature.
"Brian Cooper, the criminal that viciously took the life of my daughter and granddaughter was protected by the Wisconsin statute 939.42, which allows voluntary intoxication to be used as a defense for murder," Anicich wrote. "We could not bring our precious Alisha and Ava back, so we put our time, energy and love for them into starting an initiative to change the law on voluntary intoxication."
Last June, a Wisconsin jury found Cooper guilty on a third-degree sex assault charge, but couldn't reach a decision on two first-degree intentional homicide charges.
Cooper, a former Plainfield resident, is set to be retried on May 5.
On Tuesday, Anicich took to Facebook to thank supporters on behalf of herself and her husband.
"From the bottom of our hearts we appreciate everyone that has joined us on this journey," she wrote on the Alisha and Ava Bromfield Initiative Facebook page. "Alisha truly is with us and helping us through all of this. She is still impacting the lives and will continue to affect so many in the future. This is truly a miracle. Joe and I can not stop crying we are so happy. GOD IS GOOD. LOVE WINS!!!!"
Related:
- Murder Charges Filed in Door County Slaying of Pregnant Woman
- Plainfield Man on Door County Murder: 'There's No Good Reason'
- Gas Station Owner: Cooper Was Calm, Polite While Reporting Murder
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