December 15, 2009 (CONCORD) The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual supports the family of Brenda Hughes, and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office in their efforts to prevent Brenda’s killer from being released from prison early.

Nineteen years ago Brenda was murdered by a man who claimed to love her, her husband Eric Grant. He kicked and beat her so severely that when the police arrested him the next day his feet were too swollen to put on shoes. On April 19, 1991 Eric Grant plead guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison. Had this case gone to trial Eric Grant faced life in prison without the possibility of parole. Grant agreed to this sentence. Yet he is asking that his time in prison be negotiable. Grant recently went before a clemency board and was deemed a suitable candidate for early release. This Wednesday December 16th Grant will make his case before a judge in Strafford County who will decide if he should be set free.

The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is appealing to the judicial system to not allow this killer to go free before he has served at least his minimum sentence of 27 years. Anyone who commits such a violent and heinous act against an intimate partner needs to be held accountable for his actions. If Grant is released early that will send a message to perpetrators of domestic violence that they will not be held fully accountable for their crimes. It will also send a message to victims that the criminal justice system cannot provide the justice they deserve. Once again Brenda Hughes’ family will be denied the peace they have been seeking for nearly two decades. Everyone deserves to live a life free of domestic violence but until we hold offenders accountable for their actions this will never be a reality.