[This story previously aired on June 26, 2021. It was updated on Nov. 8, 2025.]
Opponents feared boxer Christy Martin within the ring. Nevertheless, it was at house the place she fought her greatest battle – the one for her life
Christy Martin was a worldwide sensation within the boxing ring and was even on the duvet of Sports activities Illustrated. She gained 49 fights and was heading for 50. Away from the ring, nevertheless, Martin says she confronted a distinct struggle as a result of her husband and coach, Jim Martin, was abusive and controlling.
“I keep thinking of the people who will watch this and say, ‘How does a woman who’s so powerful … how is she not able to stand up for herself at home,’” asks correspondent David Begnaud.
“I know that people think that. But I didn’t have the same type of mental strength to overtake him,” Martin responds.
When Christy Martin lastly tried to finish the wedding – she says Jim went on the assault, beating and stabbing her, earlier than pulling a gun. Moments later, he fired one shot into her chest, lacking her coronary heart by simply inches.
Christy Martin survived that day of their Florida house. Jim Martin would then go on trial for tried homicide. Jim Martin’s lawyer maintained it was Christy who attacked her husband, not the opposite approach round.
“The way Jim described it … Christie …was extremely aggressive.,” protection lawyer Invoice Hancock tells Begnaud. “He was constantly afraid of physical attacks by her.”
Former world champion Christy Salters-Martin is credited with legitimizing girls’s boxing. She is the one feminine boxer ever to seem on the duvet of Sports activities Illustrated.
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Prosecutors additionally puzzled whether or not a jury would consider {that a} celebrated boxer could be crushed by her husband.
“She became famous beatin’ the hell out of people,” Begnaud feedback to prosecutor Deborah Barra. “So — it’s pretty plausible that she might beat the hell out of her husband.”
“Absolutely,” Barra replies, however she says it’s not that easy.
“I think it’s a remarkable story because you have a world-famous champion boxer and she could still be in a domestic violence relationship, because that isn’t about physical strength. It’s about mental abuse.”
What would the jury consider?
The Coal Miner’s Daughter
On Sept. 5, 2025, Christy Martin walked the purple carpet with one of many greatest stars in Hollywood, Sydney Sweeney, who performs Christy within the movie about her life.
Christy Martin, left, and Sydney Sweeney on the AFI Fest 2025 premiere of “Christy” on Oct. 25, 2025 in Los Angeles. Sweeney stars within the film primarily based on the lifetime of the previous skilled boxer.
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CHRISTY MARTIN (to reporter on the purple carpet): it was one factor to be in a Tyson struggle. It’s one other factor to be at a premiere with Sydney Sweeney.
Practically 15 years earlier, life was very totally different for Christy.
On April 24, 2012, in a courtroom in Orlando, Florida, boxing champion Christy Martin boldly confronted down her fiercest opponent but: her ex-husband, James Martin.
PROSECUTOR RYAN VESCIO [in court]: What was the thought that went via your thoughts once you noticed the defendant with that knife within the bed room?
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: I mentioned to him, “are you gonna kill me?”
David Begnaud: The final time you had seen Jim, he’s standing over you with a gun.
Christy Salters-Martin: … I thought of it rather a lot and the way am I gonna react to being in the identical room with him?
Lots of of 1000’s of Courtroom TV viewers watched as a prizefighter recognized for knocking out 32 opponents, testified that her a lot older and seemingly frail husband had almost killed her.
Ryan Vescio: This case rose and fell on the credibility of Christy and Jim.
Prosecutors Ryan Vescio and Deborah Barra had been frightened that the jury would have their doubts about this matchup.
David Begnaud: She grew to become well-known beatin’ the hell out of individuals.
Deborah Barra: Precisely.
David Begnaud: So … it’s fairly believable that she would possibly beat the hell out of her husband.
Deborah Barra: Completely.
Barra says she believed Christy’s story — the great, the unhealthy, and the bloody.
Deborah Barra: She was very open about her marriage. She was very open about every thing. It was simply very a lot matter of-fact, that is who I’m.
Christy bared all of it, beginning together with her childhood within the tiny city of Itmann, West Virginia.
Christy Salters-Martin: Itmann, West Virginia is … actually one mile from “Welcome to, Now leaving.”
Her father, John Salters, was a coal miner. As a fighter, Christy would model herself “The Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
David Begnaud: I used to be … at all times out with my dad. We handed soccer, we handed baseball. I shot basketball.
She says her dad pushed her to dream large—with one excruciating exception: her love-life.
David Begnaud: When did you first notice you had been a lesbian?
Christy Salters-Martin: I feel I knew that I used to be interested in girls, fifth or sixth grade.
David Begnaud: Did you open up to anybody?
Christy Salters-Martin: No.
Christy Salters, proper, stored her first girlfriend, fellow highschool athlete Sherry Lusk, a secret from her household.
Richard Davidson
Christy lived a double life and stored her old flame a secret. Fellow highschool athlete, three years her senior, Sherry Lusk.
Christy Salters-Martin: She went away to school. … we tried to maintain it collectively for some time. However distance and time and age and it simply doesn’t work.
David Begnaud: Did you ever see circling again together with her later in life?
Christy Salters-Martin: Um, no.
She says, ultimately, her mother and father discovered that out she was homosexual and couldn’t settle for it. So, she moved out, went to school in Athens, West Virginia, and began boxing.
With no formal coaching, Christy gained each newbie struggle she entered.
Christy Salters-Martin: Simply, , obtained hooked. I cherished the game.
Noticed by a promoter at a type of contests, Christy went professional. Just a little over a 12 months later, 22-year-old Christy was provided formal coaching with a boxing coach named Jim Martin.
Christy Salters-Martin: I walked into the health club considering, that I used to be going to fulfill this man that, , needed to coach me. It was simply the other.
The 47-year-old didn’t suppose that girls belonged within the ring however noticed greenback indicators.
Christy Salters-Martin: … he thought … “It’ll be a sideshow, but I think I can get her in position where we can make some money.”
Christy says she simply needed to field—and so she put all of her religion—and belief—in her new coach.
David Begnaud: How a lot did Jim Martin find out about your previous?
Christy Salters-Martin: Jim Martin knew every thing about my previous. … I checked out him like … this man’s gonna be my coach. And an athlete and a coach to have a extremely good bond … like they’ve to have the ability to get in your head. They need to know what makes you tick — with the intention to make you carry out.
David Begnaud: Inform me about when the connection with Jim went from skilled to non-public.
Christy and Jim Martin
Pat Orr
Christy Salters-Martin: It was ah, a number of months … I used to be getting a lotta strain from my household … to not be homosexual. It simply appeared prefer it was simple.
However Christy additionally had a girlfriend on the town. That’s, till Jim discovered.
Christy Salters-Martin: He mentioned that he had referred to as my dad. And my dad instructed him to only throw my stuff … within the ocean. … they didn’t need me. And so … I went the following day and married Jim.
David Begnaud: Actually?
Christy Salters-Martin: Yeah. As a result of I felt like I needed to.
The couple moved to Apopka, Florida, outdoors Orlando. They opened a boxing health club and labored on Christy’s profession. Nonetheless dwelling a double life, Christy was at all times wearing pink.
Christy Salters-Martin: Jim, being very homophobic, would at all times inform me … at a press convention, if I’m preventing some lady that’s clearly there together with her girlfriend ah, “Make sure you say somethin’ derogatory about her — sexuality.”
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN [at a fight press conference]: You large steroid d— bitch!
David Begnaud: Why did you proceed to take heed to him?
Christy Salters-Martin: Jim Martin satisfied me that the world hated me. … I’m talkin’ about household, associates, the boxing world.
Then, her profession took off. Noticed by a coach who labored for the world-famous boxing promoter Don King, Christy grew to become his first feminine fighter.
Christy Salters-Martin: I imply, to go to struggle in Las Vegas … and King’s the promoter?
Christy Salters-Martin: That’s larger than I may’ve ever dreamed.
However that was simply the beginning.
In 1996, Don King made Christy Martin world well-known when he featured her on a Pay-Per-View occasion headlined by Mike Tyson.
Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport
In 1996, King featured Christy in a struggle on a pay-per-view occasion headlined by Mike Tyson. With tens of hundreds of thousands of individuals watching, Christy stole the present.
Her nostril was break up open and bloody by the third spherical, however Christy gained.
Christy Salters-Martin: That was essentially the most worthwhile bloody nostril in boxing historical past. I imply … I’m bleeding all over the place. … and persons are startin’ to take discover. “Wow, look at this woman. … she’s still fighting. … and she’s winnin’ the fight.”
Christy grew to become the primary feminine boxer to ever make the duvet of Sports activities Illustrated. However with the celebrity, she says, got here a tightening of Jim’s already agency grip.
Christy Salters-Martin: He would at all times say, “I’m gonna tell the world you’re a lesbian.” And for no matter cause — , I simply wasn’t robust sufficient in me to say, “Go ahead …”
David Begnaud: I hold thinkin’ of the individuals who will watch this and say, “How does a woman who’s so powerful and strong and successful at being aggressive, how is she not able to stand up for herself at home?”
Christy Salters-Martin: I do know that individuals suppose that. … that I must be robust and difficult and all these issues. However … I didn’t have that very same sort of psychological power to overhaul him.
In 2001, Christy parted methods with Don King. By 2007 her profession was on the ropes and, in keeping with Christy, Jim had spent all of their cash. Feeling that she had nothing left to stay for, Christy tried some cocaine that Jim allegedly introduced house.
Christy Salters-Martin: He throws a baggie down on the desk. And he mentioned one of many fighters gave it to him. … as a result of … He was gonna get clear. And I let it lay there for a pair days. After which lastly, I used to be, like, “You know what? Might as well just do this.” … After which it simply — it was each day, all day.
She claims Jim grew to become her provider. She additionally says he had hidden cameras round their home, documenting her habit.
Christy Salters-Martin: So, , it was all about blackmail.
David Begnaud: Do you consider that Jim was controlling?
Invoice Hancock: To the extent that he was attempting to assist her with a drug drawback, I do.
Jim Martin’s protection lawyer Invoice Hancock says if there have been tapes of Christy doing medicine, they had been meant to point out her how aggressive she was when she was excessive.
Invoice Hancock: He was a boxing coach, not a boxer. … he was at all times in worry of her aggression.
David Begnaud: Did you ever beat him?
Christy Salters-Martin: Did I struggle again generally?
David Begnaud: Yeah.
Christy Salters-Martin: Completely. Yeah.
After 19 years of feeling managed, Christy says she kicked the cocaine, and threw within the towel on the wedding.
Christy Salters-Martin: And I instructed him. I mentioned, “I need out. I’m finished –“
Christy had already consulted a divorce lawyer, when she says she instructed Jim there was another person: that prime college sweetheart she thought she’d by no means see once more, Sherry Lusk.
Christy Salters-Martin: After I instructed him, “I’m goin’ to see Sherry,” he mentioned, “If you leave me, I will kill you.” And I finished. I turned. And I checked out him proper in his eyes and instructed him, “Do what you have to do.”
The Assault
Christy Salters-Martin: For 20 years, he instructed me that if ever I left, he would kill me.
Christy Martin says she knew she was signing up for a life-or-death battle together with her husband Jim Martin when she reunited together with her highschool sweetheart Sherry Lusk in November 2010.
David Begnaud: So, within the days main as much as the assault, you noticed Sherry a number of instances, proper?
Christy Salters-Martin: Sure. … I instructed him that I used to be leaving to go see Sherry. … And I instructed him I needed a divorce.
The day earlier than she was stabbed after which shot, Christy drove to Daytona, to spend the evening with Sherry. Jim adopted her there after which began texting and calling.
Christy Salters-Martin: He mentioned to me that … he noticed me greet her. … He additionally mentioned that he was so shut, he may contact me.
Jim’s trial lawyer Invoice Hancock says his shopper admits he was in Daytona that day, however he claims he was there to guard his spouse.
Invoice Hancock: Jim needed to intervene one time beforehand as a result of Christy was going to Daytona for her drug connection.
The subsequent day, Christy determined to move house.
Christy Salters-Martin: I’ve to return and both stay or die, as a result of I’m not gonna look over my shoulder for the remainder of my life … So, I had no alternative.
She says Jim was there when she arrived house.
Christy Salters-Martin: And so, I mentioned, “My head’s killin’ me. I’m gonna lay down. Just as soon as my head stops hurting, I’m gonna go work out.”
She says she was mendacity on the mattress, when she heard Jim speaking.
Christy Salters-Martin: He’s on the telephone with folks tellin’ ’em, , that I’m a lesbian, that I’ve left him for a girl. … Your complete time, he’s sharpenin’ a knife. … I can hear the knife sound [mimics sound].
Unable to sleep, Christy says she was placing on her trainers, when Jim walked in and mentioned he had one thing to point out her.
Christy Salters-Martin: After which he … put his hand behind his again. … I, like, lean round … And I see that he has a knife caught down his shorts. And I mentioned, “What are you gonna do, kill me?” And it was, like, bam, immediately he stabbed me. Bam, bam, bam. … The fourth stab went via my breast. … And so … I attempt to kick him away from me. After I kicked him … he reduce my calf muscle nearly utterly from my leg. … I’m attempting to nonetheless struggle with him … And presently, I may really feel he has a gun in his pocket.
Christy Martin suffered 4 deep stab wounds to her chest and gash in her left leg. “When I kicked him … he cut my calf muscle almost completely from my leg,” she mentioned.
Workplace of the State Legal professional, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida
It was a pink 9mm gun, and it belonged to Christy.
Christy Salters-Martin: I can’t get it away from him. … he’s too robust. … He will get the gun out of his pocket and he begins to beat me. Bam, bam. He’s beatin’ my head. … And bam, identical to that, the swap flipped. I instructed him “You cannot kill me.” … proper then, it modified. I’ve to stay.
She says Jim stopped to are inclined to a reduce on his hand, after which she began begging.
Christy Salters-Martin: , I inform him every thing. “I love you, I’m sorry.” ,” I’ve at all times cherished you.” I — I’m pleading for my life.
Christy was interviewed by investigators, whereas within the emergency room preventing for her life.
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN [crying on video]: Don’t let me die, please don’t let me die … I simply stored begging, don’t let me die.
Christy Salters-Martin: Lastly, I notice, “he can’t let you live.” He will get the .9 millimeter. Stands at my toes. And I inform him, “You don’t have the balls to shoot me.” And he shot me. He missed my coronary heart by three inches. … I handed out. And he thought I used to be useless.
An hour had handed because the stabbing began, when Christy says she regained consciousness, heard Jim having a shower, and determined she was not down for the depend.
Christy Salters-Martin: I picked up the gun as a result of he had … cleaned the gun off, laid it down. … And picked up the automotive keys.
With a punctured lung, a bullet lodged inches from her coronary heart and her leg break up vast open, Christy says she obtained up and left.
Christy Salters-Martin: However I get to the automotive … It’s the incorrect keys. … There’s no approach in hell I’m goin’ again in that home.
She bumped into the center of this highway, the place Rick Cole pulled over.
Christy Martin flagged down a passing driver. When he rolled down his window, she tossed her bloody gun into his automotive, jumped into the backseat and begged him to take her to the emergency room.
Workplace of the State Legal professional, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Rick Cole: And earlier than I may even say howdy … handin’ me one thing via the window. … It was heavy. And she or he mentioned, “that’s my gun.” … and I’m like, “OK, wait a minute, what’s really going on here?” As a result of she’s the one with the bloody gun.
Christy Salters-Martin: I took the gun so I may present someone that is what he shot me with.
Rick Cole rushed Christy to the emergency room, the place she was stabilized after which airlifted to a close-by trauma heart. In the meantime, Jim had vanished.
Ryan Vescio: He goes on the run.
The life and close to demise of prizefighter Christy Salters-Martin
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Prosecutor Ryan Vescio says it took the police seven days to search out Jim Martin. He had been hiding in a buddy’s shed, throughout the road from the crime scene—and with the buck-knife used to stab Christy. That is what he instructed the police:
JIM MARTIN : I saved that knife on function trigger I do know Christy’s fingerprints obtained to be on that knife.
Jim claimed he had spent the week slipping out and in of a diabetic coma.
JIM MARTIN : I didn’t understand how lengthy I used to be there as a result of I used to be simply out.
Invoice Hancock: He ran within the shed to guard himself. He was afraid she was going to proceed to come back after him.
Invoice Hancock believes that Jim was the sufferer, not the aggressor.
Invoice Hancock: I feel Christy had come house … not in an incredible temper. She indicated she was affected by a migraine, and Jim went in involved about her well being and obtained attacked.
JIM MARTIN : And she or he jumped up, grabbed the knife that was laying there. I grabbed the knife blade. We’re scuffling with the knife blade.
Jim says it was Christy who introduced out the gun.
JIM MARTIN : I assume she will need to have reached underneath her pillow. She come out with the pink gun.
David Begnaud: So, you suppose they’re preventing over the gun, proper?
Invoice Hancock: Sure.
David Begnaud: And the gun goes off.
Invoice Hancock: Sure.
Jim Martin was charged with first-degree tried homicide. He was held with out bail, till jury choice started on April 23, 2012.
Workplace of the State Legal professional, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Jim was charged with tried first-degree homicide and pleaded not responsible. However to assert self-defense, he must admit that he stabbed and shot his spouse, to save lots of himself.
Deborah Barra: He comes into the courtroom all feeble like. … So, we thought, OK, right here we go.
The Courtroom Battle
Just a little greater than six months after almost bleeding out on her bed room ground, Christy Martin obtained again within the boxing ring with Dakota Stone. Christy hoped for her fiftieth win.
Christy Salters-Martin [watching the video of the fight] Down goes Dakota Stone for the one time in her profession.
Lower than six months after being left for useless, Christy Martin was again within the ring for a match towards Dakota Stone on June 4, 2011, in Los Angeles.
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As an alternative, the struggle was referred to as when Christy broke her hand in 9 locations. She needed to be rushed to the emergency room once more, after which she had a stroke.
Christy Salters-Martin: I can’t stroll. I can’t actually discuss. And I can’t see.
Prosecutor Ryan Vescio was frightened: would Christy be capable of testify on the trial?
Ryan Vescio: She is the one stay witness to what occurred. This complete case utterly fell on her shoulders.
Decided to take that stand, Christy approached bodily remedy like she was coaching for the match of her life.
Ryan Vescio: The struggle is on. And it’s going to be the struggle of public opinion … in a courtroom.
Jim Martin, who had been denied bail, was doing every thing he may to discredit his spouse.
Ryan Vescio: We intercepted a jail phone name from Jim to one among his associates that they had been attempting to blackmail Christy even whereas Jim was incarcerated pending trial.
JIM MARTIN [phone call]: I’ve obtained some tapes. , I’ve obtained some terrible, terrible soiled, soiled tapes of her.
Ryan Vescio: They had been attempting to promote these intercourse tapes to media shops.
The tapes by no means offered. However that didn’t cease Jim Martin, who instructed the media that he was the sufferer.
Deborah Barra: I believed, “thank you. I like it when defendants talk.”
Jim’s protection grew to become fairly clear in April 2012 when the trial started, and his lawyer Invoice Hancock set Christy up because the aggressor.
BILL HANCOCK: James Martin was about two or three weeks away from his 68th birthday … Christy Martin was 43 years previous, coaching for her upcoming boxing match that was gonna start her comeback in boxing.
Ryan Vescio declared that the proof would present Jim Martin had tried to kill his spouse.
RYAN VESCIO: We consider, girls and gents, that this case at its essence, is a few man dropping management.
The prosecution referred to as Christy’s buddy and hairdresser Deanna Gross, who testified that she noticed Jim be controlling.
DEANNA GROSS: Um, He would look via her telephone.
DEBORAH BARRA: So, you’d see him really stroll over, decide up her telephone and undergo it?
DEANNA GROSS: Sure.
Sherry Lusk testified about that reportedly terrifying afternoon in Daytona, when Jim appeared to be lurking within the shadows.
SHERRY LUSK: We didn’t know what to do. It’s laborious to clarify the way you’re shaking so unhealthy once you suppose you’re about to get shot.
The jury noticed photographs of Christy’s accidents and heard from the medical doctors who saved her life.
RYAN VESCIO: Is it honest to categorise the lung harm or the chest harm as a life-threatening or important harm?
DR. LUBE: Sure, sure that’s appropriate.
Deputy Sheriff Todd Moore testified about Jim going lacking for seven days, and mentioned he was discovered wielding the knife used to stab Christy — forcing Deputy Moore to attract his gun and provides a warning.
DEPUTY SHERIFF TODD MOORE: … and if he didn’t drop the knife that I used to be gonna shoot him.
However the primary occasion was clearly when Christy obtained up on that stand.
Ryan Vescio: The scale of that courtroom is in regards to the dimension of a boxing ring.
“You could feel Christy’s intensity. … She did not stop from staring down Jim,” mentioned prosecutor Ryan Vescio.
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Ryan Vescio: You could possibly really feel Christy’s depth. … She didn’t cease from staring down Jim.
With Ryan Vescio questioning her, Christy calmly gave her account of the assault.
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: He stabbed me 3 times underneath, underneath my left arm.
She described Jim’s solely important wound — that reduce on his hand.
On the hospital, medical doctors handled a number of small cuts and one giant gash on Jim Martin’s proper hand.
Workplace of the State Legal professional, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: When he stabbed me, I feel it was one of many instances of the three on my aspect, his hand slid up the knife and it reduce his hand.
However, in keeping with Invoice Hancock, Jim obtained that reduce whereas defending himself.
Invoice Hancock: The one approach you will get that reduce in your hand is defending towards somebody who’s wielding the knife.
David Begnaud: However she was reduce up … one aspect to the opposite.
Invoice Hancock: It doesn’t imply that he wasn’t defending himself.
Hancock hammered house that argument in his inquiries to Christy.
BILL HANCOCK: Did you attempt to shoot Jim Martin?
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: No sir.
However Hancock identified that when police interviewed Christy, she requested if Jim was useless.
BILL HANCOCK: Do you recall responding to Detective Evans you had been fairly certain you heard one gunshot after which asking if he was useless?
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: No sir.
That is audio from that police interview recorded on the emergency room, proper after the assault when Christy was preventing to outlive:
Surgeons determined to not take away a bullet lodged three inches from her coronary heart till she was stronger.
Workplace of the State Legal professional, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida
DETECTIVE : You OK to nonetheless discuss for slightly bit?
DETECTIVE: Are you able to inform the place he obtained the gun?
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: Is he useless?
DETECTIVE: Ah, we’re nonetheless looking for him …
After which there was this:
BILL HANCOCK: Detective Evans says, “OK, what did you try to do?” And your reply was “I tried to shoot him, but I was too scared of him, pointed a gun at him and if I missed or something.”
The day after the assault, whereas on painkillers in a hospital mattress, Christy instructed investigators this:
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN [police audio]: I obtained the gun out of his pocket and, the pink 9-millimeter. And, and like pointed it at him however then I used to be scared to, like, I used to be scare to shoot.
BILL HANCOCK: Did you inform her that?
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: I actually don’t bear in mind.
David Begnaud: Christy’s within the hospital. A police officer interviews her and she or he says to him, “is Jim dead?” Sounds to me like the lady needed him useless.
Ryan Vescio: It’s not an excellent reality to need to take care of.
On day 4, the state rested. And now it was Jim’s flip to inform his story. However the prosecution was frightened. Would the jury consider him?
Jim Martin’s Protection
Protection lawyer Invoice Hancock insists that his shopper Jim Martin was a loving and devoted husband.
Invoice Hancock: I feel Jim was attempting to work on the wedding. … I feel Christie was attempting to create a scenario to the place she may … proceed with no matter divorce paperwork she was beginning.
Jim claims Christy is the one who was armed that day, together with her gun and the knife.
Invoice Hancock: I do know she says he introduced it into the room, um. He’s like, “no, she had it. “
And that bullet that simply missed Christy’s coronary heart? That was an accident, Hancock says, whereas wrestling over the gun.
Invoice Hancock: The truth that Christy obtained shot together with her personal gun I feel bolsters the truth that Jim was simply attempting to defend himself and so they fought over the gun.
Jim Martin claims Christy is the one who was armed that day, together with her gun and the knife.
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However bear in mind, to inform that story and declare self-defense, Jim must admit that he stabbed and shot his spouse, to save lots of himself.
Christy Salters-Martin: Jim is such a management freak … and … believes in himself a lot, that he would suppose that he may persuade anyone of something.
However first, Hancock tried to current a distinct view of the Martin family, from buddy and neighbor Scott Selkirk.
BILL HANCOCK: And do you know your neighbors Christy and Jim Martin?
SCOTT SELKIRK: Sure, I did.
BILL HANCOCK: Was there ever instances that you just witnessed Jim Martin in a controlling method over Christy Martin.
SCOTT SELKIRK: No.
Selkirk testified that simply days earlier than the assault, Jim came to visit to his home to ask if he may retailer his gun assortment there. In Selkirk’s phrases, it was to “avoid a hostile situation.”
BILL HANCOCK: Had Mr. Martin introduced his gun assortment to your home earlier than?
SCOTT SELKIRK: Sure.
BILL HANCOCK: What number of instances?
SCOTT SELKIRK: In all probability, three.
Selkirk additionally mentioned he noticed Jim the day of the incident, and he appeared positive.
BILL HANCOCK: Was he offended or aggressive?
SCOTT SELKIRK: No.
Later that night, he says Jim confirmed up at his door, bleeding.
BILL HANCOCK: And what did he inform you?
SCOTT SELKIRK: That he had been shot and stabbed.
BILL HANCOCK After which what did he do?
SCOTT SELKIRK: He turned and left.
Selkirk says he gave chase, however Jim disappeared.
Then, it was the state’s flip to query Selkirk.
PROSECUTOR DEBORAH BARRA: Sir, you’re really actually good associates with Jim, appropriate?
SCOTT SELKIRK: We’re good associates, yeah.
DEBORAH BARRA: OK, would you describe your relationship nearly like brothers?
SCOTT SELKIRK: Good associates.
DEBORAH BARRA: OK.
Barra identified that when police arrived on the crime scene, Selkirk refused to share Jim’s mobile phone quantity.
DEBORAH BARRA: Sir, isn’t it true that you just mentioned to Sergeant Callahan “Jim is my friend and I don’t want to get him in any trouble so I’m not going to say anything.”
SCOTT SELKIRK: I can’t recall that.
DEBORAH BARRA: Sir, do you bear in mind being on the telephone with someone else whereas the police had been in your residence and also you indicated to the particular person on the telephone, “I’ve got some cops out here and they’re acting like —- heads.” Do you bear in mind …
SCOTT SELKIRK: Oh, I in all probability mentioned that.
DEBORAH BARRA: You, you bear in mind saying that?
SCOTT SELKIRK: Oh, I’m certain I mentioned that.
Selkirk pushed again when Barra requested a few path of Jim’s blood that led to Selkirk’s entrance door and past.
DEBORAH BARRA: Sir, isn’t it true that the blood went additional into your home — Into your kitchen space?
SCOTT SELKIRK: No. No, I don’t know the place you bought that.
Barra obtained that from a police report, and photographs of blood present in Selkirk’s kitchen.
JUDGE: Sir, you might be free to go about your enterprise.
SCOTT SELKIRK: Thanks, sir.
Jim Martin instructed police that Christy attacked him, and he ran in worry to the shed belonging to neighbor Scott Selkirk. There, he says he slipped right into a coma till that very morning.
Workplace of the State Legal professional, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Now the jury didn’t hear this, however it was Selkirk’s shed that Jim Martin admits he was in, when he went lacking for seven days.
Hancock’s second witness was Chris Guerra, one other buddy who testified that he by no means noticed Jim be aggressive. He additionally mentioned he had Jim over for dinner the evening earlier than the incident, and he appeared calm.
BILL HANCOCK: Was there something uncommon about Jim that night when he was at your own home for dinner?
CHRIS GUERRA: No.
Guerra was on the stand for less than 4 minutes, with no cross examination. Then, Hancock stunned everybody and rested his case after calling simply two witnesses. Jim Martin wouldn’t be going toe-to-toe together with his ex-wife.
Deborah Barra: Ryan and I checked out one another and we had been identical to, he didn’t get it. … you’ve got a world champion boxer who’s in a lot better bodily form. … So, we thought … “What is he gonna say?” And it was nothing.
Invoice Hancock: As we obtained into the trial, I feel Jim grew to become … extra fearful about testifying and anxious about how his phrases could be twisted.
Deborah Barra: I personally suppose it was simply that Jim couldn’t carry himself to inform the world that he wanted to guard himself from Christy Martin.
BILL HANCOCK: Members of the jury, it has been troublesome I’m certain …
In his closing, Hancock reminded the jury that the pink gun belonged to Christy — and he insisted as soon as once more that she was the one with the knife.
BILL HANCOCK: Whose blood is on the blade? James Martin. Any contribution or any DNA from Christy Martin? No.
PROSECUTOR RYAN VESCIO: That’s nothing greater than asking you to invest …
When police discovered Jim Martin, he had the buck knife used to stab Christy and this bloody T-shirt.
Workplace of the State Legal professional, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Ryan Vescio reminded the jury that the knife was in Jim’s possession for seven days after the incident. And he insisted that the proof confirmed, Christy by no means even had an opportunity to defend herself.
Ryan Vescio: There’s no proof of a wrestle. There’s no proof that this was ah, ah an equal drive struggle.
David Begnaud: Did you suppose a responsible verdict was a given?
Ryan Vescio: Nothing’s ever a given in a courtroom.
The Jury’s Resolution
After 5 hours of deliberating, the jury within the trial of Jim Martin had a choice.
Christy says she was frightened.
Christy Salters-Martin: It was the primary time ever I spotted perhaps they didn’t consider me.
COURT DEPUTY [reading verdict]: State of Florida vs. James V. Martin. Jury as to depend one: We the jury discover the defendant responsible of the lesser included offense of tried second-degree homicide.
Responsible of tried homicide, however not pre-meditated.
David Begnaud: You had prosecuted for first-degree tried homicide. They mentioned…
Deborah Barra: Second diploma … tried homicide.
David Begnaud: Did that really feel like a loss?
Deborah Barra: No … I felt that was a, an excellent verdict. I knew that he could be going through substantial jail time. And I knew that might form of vindicate Christy.
Christy says listening to the phrase “guilty” was an enormous aid, however insists the decision was solely half proper..
David Begnaud: Do you suppose Jim’s assault on you was premeditated?
Christy Salters-Martin: Completely. Undoubtedly.
Invoice Hancock says he accepts the jury’s choice, however he additionally disagrees.
David Begnaud: Do you suppose Jim Martin is harmless?
Invoice Hancock: I consider my shopper.
9 weeks later, at Jim Martin’s sentencing, Christy took the witness stand one final time.
She needed the decide to know that she was nonetheless terrified.
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: Choose Thompson, Jim threatened my life for over 20 years …
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: He would additionally inform me that he knew folks that might “make me disappear.”
Then, she turned and referred to as out the person now convicted of attempting to kill her.
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: Take a look at me, Jim.
Christy Salters-Martin: Your complete time I testified I seemed him straight within the eyes. And when he would look away from me, I might say, “Mother—— look at me.”
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: You shot me. With my very own gun. Principally, level clean. And guess what mom——, I walked out.
David Begnaud: On the stand you mentioned that?
Christy Salters-Martin: From the stand … One time the decide instructed me to be quiet and I simply stored talkin’ trigger what’s he going to do, put me in jail?
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN: Choose, I hope that you just’ll see match to condemn Jim to the utmost of life in jail.
As she left the stand, Christy had yet one more factor she needed to say to Jim.
As she left the stand, Christy walked in direction of Jim with one final message.
Courtroom TV
Christy Salters-Martin: I walked proper instantly at him and mentioned, “Mother——, I hope you burn in hell.”
Christy Salters-Martin: To me, it was tellin’ him, “I don’t fear you anymore.”
However Christy didn’t get the final phrase.
BILL HANCOCK: Choose, presently Mr. Martin want to handle the courtroom.
Jim Martin lastly took the stand, turned to the decide and as soon as once more, claimed he was the sufferer.
JIM MARTIN: Exterior the ring I used to be frightened of Christy, , as a result of I by no means needed to do something to make her mad.
His worry of Christy, he mentioned, additionally defined why he fled the crime scene.
JIM MARTIN: Christy was gone. I ran via the home on the lookout for her after which I obtained to considering, Christy’s obtained the gun.
Jim Martin addressed the courtroom at his sentencing.
Courtroom TV
Then, Jim Martin apologized — however not for attacking his spouse.
JIM MARTIN: I’m very sorry for that day. And I apologize. I ought to have simply turned, walked off and no matter occurred, what occurred. I obtained stabbed I ought to have simply turned and walked away. I by no means even would have turned her into police ’trigger that’s not me. Trigger I cherished her a lot.
David Begnaud: Do you consider he cherished you?
Christy Salters-Martin: No. He cherished what I gave to him. … I imply, the person by no means had a job. … I used to be his private ATM.
Ryan Vescio says to this present day, he stays stunned that Jim by no means correctly claimed self-defense.
David Begnaud: As a result of in your opinion, that might have been essentially the most predictable protection?
Ryan Vescio: Oh, it might have been more than likely a profitable protection.
Vescio requested the decide to condemn Jim Martin to the utmost: life in jail.
JUDGE: Do you’ve got any questions Mr. Martin?
JIM MARTIN: No sir.
However, just like the jury, the decide pulled his punch and handed down the minimal obligatory sentence: 25 years.
Ryan Vescio: Jim Martin will serve each single day of these 25 years. …There isn’t a parole in Florida.
Christy Salters-Martin: The probabilities are he’s in all probability not gonna stay the 25 years. So — was it a life sentence? In all probability. So, am I OK with it? Sure.
Christy was left to choose up the items. And whereas she tries to remain in form, medical doctors have really helpful no extra competing or she could die.
Christy Martin, now a boxing promoter, advocates for victims of home abuse via her non-profit “Christy’s Champs.”
Getty Pictures
So, Christy adopted within the footsteps of the legendary Don King and have become a boxing promoter. This previous July, in the course of the pandemic, Christy held a 14-fight occasion in Daytona Seashore.
Christy Salters-Martin: As a fighter, I didn’t settle. And I’m not gonna settle as a promoter.
Ryan Vescio: What’s outstanding about Christy as we speak is attending to see how she’s dwelling her second lease on life. And she or he’s capable of be who she is, doing what she loves.
And loving who she desires to like. In November 2017, Christy married fellow boxer, and one-time opponent, Lisa Holewyne.
Lisa Holewyne: She is — one of the vital real human beings I’ve ever met. … there’s — a sweetness to her that, regardless of … all of the terrible issues she’s been via, continues to be there.
Christy now goes by her maiden identify of Salters, and advocates for victims of home abuse via her non-profit “Christy’s Champs,” and she or he donates a portion of her struggle proceeds to the trigger.
Deborah Barra: I feel it’s a outstanding story as a result of you’ve got a world-famous champion boxer and she or he may nonetheless be in a home violence relationship, as a result of that isn’t about bodily power. It’s about psychological abuse. … however you’ll be able to at all times survive it.
Christy says she will be able to now look again and see that she did get that fiftieth win—simply not within the boxing ring.
Christy Salters-Martin: Lastly, I’ve been capable of include– to phrases with I obtained the fiftieth win after I obtained up off the ground November twenty third, 2010 and obtained outta my home. That was my fiftieth win.
In 2025, Christy added a Hollywood movie to her credit, with one of many hottest stars on the purple carpet taking part in the main position.
SYDNEY SWEENEY (on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition): Christie, you might be completely unbelievable and I’m so honored … you’re so inspirational … it was unbelievable with the ability to embody such a strong girl.
CHRISTY SALTERS-MARTIN (selfie video): And I thank all the boxing followers for his or her help all through the years and the folks which can be on the market, the home violence survivors, their households. It’s so vital that this film exposes every thing. Home violence, sexuality, being the last word underdog. As a result of that’s who I’m. And I made it.
On Nov. 26, 2024, Jim Martin died in custody. He was 80 years previous.
Should you or somebody is a sufferer of home violence, contact the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE [7233]
Produced by Judy Rybak. Danielle Arman is the affiliate producer. T. Sean Herbert is the situation producer. Jud Johnston and George Baluzy are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.
