Who is Brittany Smith and where is she now?
NETFLIX is well known for its dramatic true crime documentaries that fascinate fans around the world.
The streaming giant is now giving a voice to a woman who was caged for murdering her rapist.
Who is Brittany Smith?
Brittany Smith, 34, is a mom from Stevenson, Alabama, who has been at the center of a complex murder case.
She fatally shot Todd Smith, 38, who is of no relation, on January 16, 2018, after he brutally attacked and raped her in her own home.
But she insisted she only killed him to stop Todd from murdering her and her brother when he refused to leave the property.
Britanny told the court during her trial that she knew Todd as a teen and reconnected with him right before his death.
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When she found out Todd, who was breeding dogs at the time, was homeless, she invited him into her family home.
Brittany claims she was then raped twice, strangled, and beaten unconscious by Todd — who was high on meth.
She says she managed to tell her brother Chris McCallie, who confronted the alleged rapist in a deadly showdown.
Raging Todd got Chris in a chokehold and was threatening to kill them both when a terrified Brittany opened fire in the kitchen.
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She said she shot him twice, but he kept choking Chris until the third bullet struck.
A sex assault nurse found more than 30 wounds — including bruises, bite marks, and signs of strangulation — on Brittany's body after the fatal shooting.
But within 48 hours, the mum was charged with murder and spent four months in jail and another six in a psychiatric institution.
How long did Brittany Smith spend in prison?
Britanny insisted that she had killed Todd in self-defense, citing Alabama's Stand Your Ground law during her trial.
Alabama's law allows citizens to use lethal force against someone they believe threatens their safety while committing a burglary.
Her lawyers tried to dismiss the murder charge by arguing that she only fired in fear to protect herself and her brother.
They suggested that the Stand Your Ground law applied to Todd because he refused to leave Brittany's home, reports AL.com.
But Judge Jenifer Holt ruled the mum had been standing between Todd and the door when she pulled the trigger, giving him no way out.
She said the defendant was not entitled to the defense because it was brother Chris who brought the gun and "initiated" the confrontation.
Brittany pleaded guilty to murder, saying it was "the lesser of two evils" and was slapped with a 20-year sentence.
However, she was released 18 months later amid a plea deal and received credit for time spent in prison while awaiting trial.
Court records showed Todd had a disturbing history of violent crimes and domestic assaults committed spanning several decades.
He had been jailed 71 times, including for assaulting his ex-wife and past partners.
Where is Brittany Smith now?
Upon her dramatic release from jail, Brittany told of her excitement at gaining freedom and rebuilding her life.
She previously told Alabama.com: "This is gonna be in my past soon.
"It's gonna be behind me. It's a good feeling. After the rough waters, smooth sailing."
Her harrowing case is now the subject of a Netflix documentary that premiered on November 10, 2022.
State of Alabama vs Brittany Smith sheds light on the controversial case, which captured worldwide attention at the time.
In the movie's trailer, the Alabama mom tells her interviewer: "I was arrested for murder, the man was in my home.
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"I did what I thought I had to do because if I wouldn't have, my brother and I would both be dead.
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"I want to get my children back. I want them to know that mommy's not a murderer and that mommy defended herself - and that you should always defend yourself."
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