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NEW YORK (AP) — A defense lawyer says a woman who pleaded guilty to assaulting a partially paralyzed woman had helped her leave an abusive relationship.
Attorney John Ciafone (chah-FONE') issued a statement Monday about his client, Mae Washington. She was sentenced Friday to 11 years in prison. Co-defendant Patrick Donovan got 12 years in prison.
Both pleaded guilty to assault.
Queens prosecutors say the victim was bleeding from her head and had broken bones when found in March 2012. She was in a locked room in the home Washington and Donovan shared.
Ciafone says Washington pleaded guilty because a conviction could have meant a longer sentence.
The criminal complaint said the victim told authorities both defendants beat her, but Ciafone says Donovan hit the victim.
Donovan's lawyer hasn't immediately returned a call Tuesday.
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