Brafman sentenced for attempted murder, judge says her actions were hate crimes

Karen Brafman, the woman convicted of attempted murder for setting a mobile home on fire with people inside last year, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole Wednesday morning and the judge ruled her actions did constitute a hate crime.

Attorney Eric Bearden argued Brafman was not motivated by racism when she set the home on fire, while Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling noted there was testimony that said otherwise at trial

Judge John Atkins took the jury’s decisions into consideration and ruled it was a hate crime.

The parole board can consider the hate crime designation when she becomes eligible for release in approximately 20 years.

Bearden notified the judge he will be filing appeal paperwork in a few days.

Brafman set fire to the residence where Craig Calloway, Ashley Webster and four children were living in on Princeton Road in May of 2018.