An Oklahoma woman, Rana Sievert, has been convicted of manslaughter in the first degree after fatally shooting her girlfriend, Brianne Torres, during a heated argument in their apartment in 2022. Sievert, 27, now faces a recommended sentence of 35 years in prison, although her formal sentencing will take place on June 11.
Fatal Incident Details
The shooting occurred on October 7, 2022, in the early hours of the morning at an apartment complex on Rockwell Avenue in Oklahoma City. According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, Sievert shot Torres, 24, after a verbal argument turned physical. Sievert claimed that Torres had placed her in a headlock during a confrontation in the kitchen.
Sievert then went to retrieve a gun from the nightstand, and after a brief tussle between the two women, Sievert shot Torres once in the chest. She later claimed she acted out of fear.
Post-Mortem Actions and Trial
After the shooting, Sievert made no attempt to aid Torres and waited for 60 to 90 minutes before calling 911. In a police interview, Sievert admitted to cutting off Torres’ leg after the shooting, citing paranoia from marijuana use and her anger from the altercation.
The prosecution sought to introduce this mutilation as evidence, arguing it showed Sievert’s intent and consciousness of guilt. However, the trial court initially disqualified the evidence, ruling it wasn’t central to the manslaughter case unless Sievert claimed self-defense.
An appeals court later ruled in favor of the prosecution, allowing evidence of the mutilation to be presented at trial. The court described how Sievert’s actions, including the leg-cutting and the lack of immediate aid to Torres, were circumstantial evidence of her intent to kill and her guilt.
Jury Verdict and Sentencing
During the trial, jurors learned that Sievert had pulled Torres’ handgun from a nightstand and shot her during a physical altercation. The jury convicted Sievert of first-degree manslaughter, and jurors recommended a 35-year sentence.
Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna emphasized the severity of the crime, stating that the verdict brought a measure of justice to Torres’ family.
Sievert is scheduled for formal sentencing on June 11.
