Woman accused of shooting terminally ill husband in hospital will no longer face first-degree murder charges
A woman who was accused of shooting her terminally ill husband to help him end his life is no longer up for trial for first-degree murder.
Ellen Gilland is accused of assisting her partner with his death at AdventHealth hospital in Daytona Beach, Florida when resulted in a standoff with police.
According to the state attorney's office, instead of the original first-degree murder charges she was expected to face, Gilland is now indicted for assisting in self-murder which is considered a manslaughter charge in the state. The case was heard by a grand jury in Volusia County on Wednesday.
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The event happened last month at the Daytona Beach hospital and resulted in an almost four-hour-long standoff with police before Gilland surrendered. Gilland is also charged with two counts of aggravated assault for threatening and pointing her firearm at two people and a police officer.
6 News Orlando have covered the story, describing it as a 'murder-suicide pact the couple had planned' but after Gilland shot and killed husband, Jerry she was unable to pull the trigger on herself.
When a SWAT team entered the hospital room, Gilland fired another round but thankfully nobody else was shot.
Gilland has spent the last month in prison and was denied her bond two weeks ago.
Gilland's relatives have spoken out and said that the entire family, including Jerry's brother, supports her decision.
The incident caused the entire 11th floor of the hospital to be evacuated as Gilland was talked down for the lengthy duration of the standoff.
In the bodycam footage captured by officers on the scene, the SWAT team are stood outside the hospital room and can be heard ordering for Gilland to 'drop the gun'.
The police chief officer that was leading the negotiation can then be heard saying: "Tell me what's going on. I don't want to hurt you - we don't want to hurt you. Tell me what's going on."
The conversation lasts for some time but Gilland's responses are unable to be heard on the bodycam footage.
77-year-old Jerry Gilland had been unwell and suffering for some time and he and his wife had allegedly planned his death together.
According to Ellen Gilland, Jerry Gilland was originally supposed to kill her first but didn't have the strength so they switched roles
Gilland was placed in plastic handcuffs and wheeled outside in a wheelchair before being taken into custody where she currently remains in prison without bond.
Harley Young