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In August 2015, 33-year-old Judy Malinowski was doused in gasoline by her boyfriend, Michael Slager, 41, and set on fire. He didn’t make a move to help her – until witnesses were around to witness it all.
At the time, Malinowski hadn’t been allowed to testify against her boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend. Now, 16 months later, she’s speaking out from her hospital bed in hopes of getting the judge to extend her ex’s sentence beyond a maximum of 11 years in prison.
Slager had pleaded “no contest to charges of aggravated arson, felonious assault and possession of criminal tools,” thus prompting the judge to only sentence him 11 years.
After Malinowski heard the sentence, she knew she could no longer remain silent – even if the injuries she sustained to her trachea made it almost impossible for her to even speak at all.
“I never knew that a human being could be so evil,” she said. “He just stood there and did nothing [as I burned].”
Slager’s story is that Malinowski caught on fire by accident when he was attempting to light his cigarette. His attorney even insists Slager suffered burns from trying to save Malinowski.
Surveillance footage from the gas station, where the accident took place, however, shows otherwise: Slager didn’t move until other witnesses noticed what was happening.
Malinowski has spent the past 16 months in the hospital, being treated for fourth- and fifth- degree burns to over 80% of her body. She lost her ears as well as two fingers in the fire. She will never be able to breathe again without the support of a ventilator, and the gaping wounds on her back and buttocks are too large to be repaired with skin grafts.
Although doctors have been attempting to help her recover, they now doubt more than ever her ability to survive.
Everyone in Malinowski’s family – herself included – believes Slager deserves “nothing less than a life sentence.”
The Malinowski family is currently raising money to help cover Judy’s medical bills. Please donate if you can.
