Mary Winkler Convicted

During the 10 years she was married to a handsome young preacher, Mary Winkler said she never told anyone about the bruises and the sexual humiliation she endured. Her risky decision to testify, her lawyers said, had a powerful effect on the jury and probably explains why Winkler will not spend the rest of her life in prison.

The preacher's wife accused of killing her husband took the witness stand this week and dredged up the embarrassing details, talking about the abuse in front of TV cameras and family members.

A jury found Winkler guilty of voluntary manslaughter Thursday after eight hours of deliberation. The prosecution had sought a conviction for first-degree murder, a far more serious offense.

[Source: AP via Yahoo! News]