Woman charged with killing teen in Portland found guilty of reckless homicide

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 20-year-old woman on trial for the murder of a 14-year old girl last year was found guilty of reckless homicide.

Tiffany James is accused of stabbing 14-year-old Madison Branch to death outside a Speedway station at the corner of North 21st and Duncan Streets in June 2017.

On Friday afternoon, James took the stand, and she said it was a case of self defense.

"I absolutely did not mean for any of this to happen," James told jurors Friday, the trial's third day.

She said the confrontation happened as a result of her younger sister being repeatedly bullied by a group of girls.

"She's definitely been through more than what anyone should ever have to go through," James said.

James was questioned for about two-and-a-half hours. She told jurors that both she and her younger sister were in fear for their safety because they were being bullied by Branch and other girls for a while before the fatal confrontation.

After deliberating for more than two hours, the jury also found James not guilty of murder and second-degree manslaughter. The jury recommended a five-year sentence.

Jurors saw video of part of the confrontation, and James testified that Branch grabbed her before the stabbing in spite of seeing the knife.

Q. "You didn't stab her?"
A. "I did."
Q. "You didn't wave the knife in the girl's face?"
A. "I did."
Q. "You didn't threaten the group?"
A. "I did not."

Breaking into tears, James said Branch "could have let go of me and ran away, which made me believe she also had a weapon."

The judge set a final sentencing hearing for Oct. 30.

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