Brigitte Harris case

Brigitte Harris (born June 6, 1981) is an American woman from Queens, New York, who was convicted of manslaughter in the killing and castration of her father, Eric Goodridge, in her Rockaway apartment in 2007. Both Harris and her sister, Carleen Goodridge, claimed to have been raped and sexually abused by their father since childhood. Due to her abuse allegations, Brigitte received an outpouring of support from public figures including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and state senators Diane Savino and Eric Adams. Harris was sentenced to five to fifteen years in prison, When her father later moved back to his home country, Brigitte moved around with relatives. Harris reports being physically abused by her grandmother and sexually abused by a cousin. She later threw the severed penis under the Rockaway Boardwalk in Far Rockaway.

Ultimately Aidala, a highly respected attorney who normally charges a top fee, believed in Brigitte Harris's case so strongly that he took it on pro bono and even persuaded experts who testified in her defense to waive their fees as well.

Investigation After being discharged from the psychiatric ward on August 16, 2007, Harris was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter and was held at Rikers Island.

Trial Two years after her arraignment for second-degree murder, Harris went to trial in September 2009. Testifying in her own defense, Harris stated that she had researched the 1993 castration case of John and Lorena Bobbitt. Despite jury letters, Queens Supreme Court Judge Arthur Cooperman sentenced Harris to the maximum of five to fifteen years in prison. Her case was also profiled on the TV One program Payback, with Harris's name serving as the eponymous title of the first season's second episode.