24-year-old woman spared execution in murder of pregnant Birmingham mother of 5

A 24-year-old woman has been spared the death penalty after a Jefferson County jury found her guilty of capital murder in the shooting death of a pregnant mother of five.

A Jefferson County jury convicted Aaniyah Nowden on Thursday for the July 7, 2023, death of 36-year-old Justina Wallace. By Friday, the same jury delivered a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, despite prosecutors’ efforts to secure a death sentence.

The Incident

Captured on cell phone video, the shooting occurred just before 7 p.m. in the 3200 block of 17th Avenue North. Wallace, who was pregnant at the time, was holding her toddler daughter, Sky, when she was shot. Two of Wallace's sons were also nearby. Wallace was transported to UAB Hospital, where she was pronounced dead the following day.

Social media footage showed Nowden pointing a firearm at Wallace during an argument. Notably, family and friends held a “bittersweet” birthday party for the toddler, Sky, just two days after the tragedy.

Legal Arguments and Verdict

During the 10-day trial, testimony revealed that Wallace had traveled to the location to confront Nowden and the man who fathered children with both women. Nowden, who was eight months pregnant during the shooting, took the stand to claim she acted in self-defense. Her defense team argued that she feared for her life, characterizing Wallace as aggressive and belligerent during the confrontation.

The prosecution countered that Wallace was unarmed and posed no threat. Deputy District Attorney Amanda Wineman rejected the defense's focus on Nowden's age, stating, “This is a grown woman and I’m tired of hearing her called a child.” Deputy District Attorney Jason Wilson added, “Justina had no weapon, no gun, she wasn’t attacking anybody.”

The jury ultimately dismissed charges related to the death of the unborn child and the capital murder of a child, focusing the conviction on the shooting death of Wallace. Defense attorney Louvenia Borom expressed relief regarding the sentencing, noting that while the circumstances are tragic, the defense is thankful the jury declined to impose the death penalty.

Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr addressed the outcome by emphasizing the broader implications of the case. “The reality is when emotions are high, logic is low,” Carr said. “There are absolutely no winners in this case. People need to think before they grab that gun and change their lives forever.”