Life After Billy

by Brian Vallée

When a jury, in November 1982, acquitted Jane Stafford of first degree murder in the death of her common-law husband, Billy, the packed courtroom rose as one to applaud the verdict.  The case attracted national attention and, because of it, the battered wife syndrome is now an accepted defense and it is permissible to bring forward, evidence of longtime abuse in cases in which women have killed heir mates.  The issue of violence against women was just beginning to some out of the closet in the late seventies and early eighties when Billy was battering Jane.  She didn't know there were such places as transition houses.  She learned about them and was soon advocating their need in every community.  Now, Jane's voice has been silenced, but her legacy will live on.  Through the tears and grief over Jane's death, others have pledged to carry on her fight with the same grit and determination.  Jane's youngest sister, Mona Donnelly, articulated that pledge at a memorial service.


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Genres: True Crime

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Barbara Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years before I started reviewing every book I read.
I always wanted to know more of Jane’s childhood. I personally belief there is more abuse there than we know. Jane clearly had lots of deep issues she dealt with. Shoplifting being one. She needed much more psychiatric care than she received. All the public speaking maybe caused her to relive too much. Not move on enough. Every time I saw her in an interview her eyes revealed so much. Her mysterious death and what lead up to it. Many people did not want to believe how her life ended. Wanted her to stay the hero who left the villain Billy. Both Billy and her were very damaged people. Both acting out their inner pain in a different way.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

. .I WISH I HAD KNOWN JANE AND PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE TALKED AND HELPED HER THROUGH HER ISSUES.I HOPE HER SONS CAN HAVE THE HAPPY HEALTHY LIVES SHE WANTED FOR THEM I KNOW THERE ARE SICK BASTARDS OUT THERE BUT I WOULD REPORT THEM IF I KNEW,THE PROBLEM WAS THEN THAT THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT BUT HOPEFULLY FOR THOSE BEING ABUSED TODAY THE COURTS WOULD SEE THROUGH THE ABUSERS AND THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WOULD GET JUSTICE.THE RESTRAINING ORDERS AREN'T WORTH THE PAPER THEY ARE WRITTEN ON TO THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE. THANK GOD FOR THE WOMENS CENTRES.IN ALL FARENESS I'M SURE THERE PROBABLY ARE SOME WOMEN WHO USE THESE CENTRES AGAINST MEN WHO ARE INNOCENT, AS WELL.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be not as detailed as the first book. Then again, it's really a different tale. I feel bad for all the crap she put up with and all the other crap she let people laud over her. Her newest husband sounds like a bastard, and even though he wasn't abusive, how he cut out her family after her death really made me angry.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and wished I could talk to her and comfort her somehow. The choices she made after he was gone disappointed me. But life doesn't always go the way we want.