San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
There are those who would not have sentenced Betty Broderick to prison and those who believe her sentence was just and that prison time was deserved. In 2017, Betty had the chance at parole but was denied. Betty never refuted that she shot her ex-husband and his young wife, but she did explain that she was a battered woman at the hands of her ex-husband and she committed the murders when her life circumstances became so overwhelming that she snapped. There have been numerous television shows and movies inspired by the crime.
What is Betty Broderick’s Story?
In 1965, Betty and Dan Broderick met during a Notre Dame football weekend in South Bend, Indiana. At the time of their meeting, Dan was a senior in college and Betty attended an all-girls Catholic school in the Bronx. While Dan was living at school, Betty lived at home with her family. Dan was immediately taken with the pretty young blonde and was in constant communication with her. According to Betty, they were very similar and both had the same dreams for their future, including enhanced social status and a large family.
In 1969 Dan and Betty married, and by 1970 they became new parents to their daughter, Kimberly. Dan attended medical school and then pursued a law degree at Harvard Law School. In 1971, the couple moved to Massachusetts and had their second daughter, Lee. By 1973, Dan was hired at a Law Firm in San Diego, California, and moved to a beautiful beachfront community. The couple then went on to have more children, Daniel in 1976 and Rhett in 1979.
The Brodericks lived a luxurious life of country clubs and vacations, their children went to private schools and they appeared to have the perfect existence. But they argued quite frequently and sometimes the fights were violent. The children’s home life was volatile. In 1983 Dan hired a young legal assistant, Linda Kolkena, who looked strikingly similar to Betty in her younger years. After working together, Dan had an affair with Linda.
Betty found out about the indiscretions of her husband and eventually, after a tumultuous multi-year process, divorced him. Dan and Linda went on to marry. More turbulent times ensued between Betty and Dan. Betty was bent on revenge and broke into the home of Dan and his new wife Linda, where she shot both of them while they slept.
Do You Need a San Diego Murder Defense Attorney?
Murder cases can often be highly coplicated and intricate to litigate. The penalties that come with murder are steep and often life-altering. It is important to obtain the best legal defense to help you with your murder charges. The San Diego murder defense attorney at the Law Offices of David M. Boertje can help you fight your charges.
In Betty Broderick’s case, she had more than one trial. Her first ended in a hung jury and it was not until her retrial that she was sentenced to prison. It is critically important that you have effective legal representation after you have been arrested for murder.
The Law Offices of David M. Boertje can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (619) 229-1870 for our San Diego office or (760) 476-0901 for our Carlsbad location. Our California criminal defense attorneys welcome you to discuss your case during a completely free consultation.