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Court OKs immunity defense in alleged sex trafficker’s death

Wednesday's decision could help define the limits of criminal liability for trafficking victims

Members of the Free Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee
Members of the Free Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee pose with a sign calling on law enforcement to drop the charges on teenaged sexual assault survivor Chrystul Kizer. Photo courtesy of the Free Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a woman may cite sex trafficking as an immunity defense at her trial for killing her alleged trafficker.

Wednesday’s decision could help define the limits of criminal liability for trafficking victims across the country.

Prosecutors allege Chrystul Kizer shot Randall Volar at his Kenosha home in 2018 when she was 17. She contends Volar was trafficking her for sex and wants to argue that she’s immune from prosecution under a state law that absolves trafficking victims of any offenses resulting from being trafficked.

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Prosecutors maintained that immunity can’t possibly extend to homicide.

Wisconsin Public Radio, @ Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. The Associated Press contributed to this report.  All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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