Michelle Carter's legal team had asked for early release earlier this year. Photo / AP
Michelle Carter's legal team had asked for early release earlier this year. Photo / AP
Michelle Carter, the woman found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after convincing her boyfriend to take his own life, will be released from prison early.
Despite being denied parole, Michelle Carter, 22, who was 17 at the time of her 18-year-old boyfriend's suicide, will walk free before completion of her 15-month sentence, reports News.com.au.
Her release has been bumped up from May 5 to March 13, 2020.
CNN reports she has "earned" these days by working at the jail and attending educational programs.
Bristol County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jonathan Darling told the publication inmates can earn as many as 10 days monthly for such work.
In July, Carter's legal team sought to appeal her conviction, arguing that it is "not in society's best interest to incarcerate (someone) for the content of their speech". And an appeal for her release after serving half her sentence was denied by a two-member state parole board last week.
Conrad Roy III killed himself aged 18 after being encouraged by girlfriend Michelle Carter. Photo / Supplied
"The (Board) is troubled that Ms. Carter not only encouraged Mr. Conrad (Roy III) to take his own life, she actively prevented others from intervening in his suicide. Ms. Carter's self-serving statements and behaviour, leading up to and after his suicide, appear to be irrational and lacked sincerity," the board's decision stated.
In a case that was followed under a global spotlight, Carter was convicted for involuntary manslaughter after she texted her boyfriend several times urging him to take his own life.
His body was found in his car in July 2014 after he died from self-inflicted carbon monoxide poisoning.
"You have to just do it," texts from Carter revealed in court read. "You have everything you need. There is no way you can fail. Tonight is the night. It's now or never."
Michelle Carter is escorted to a parole hearing, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Natick. Photo / AP
She also chastised him when he expressed second thoughts on going through with the suicide. The court heard that Roy had called her from the car to say he wasn't going to do it, but she told him to get back in.
Michelle Carter's legal team had asked for early release earlier this year. Photo / AP
Carter was indicted on February 4, 2015 in Massachusetts.
Her trial, which became the subject of HBO series I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth vs. Michelle Carter, began in June 2017.
Following Roy's death, the court heard Carter had texted a friend saying she was worried authorities would discover the texts and expressed concern she could face jail time.
Throughout Carter's trial, there was a predominant notion her motive was popularity — which she would get as the "grieving girlfriend," the prosecution argued.
Roy had long struggled with social anxiety and depression.
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