Lesbian Convicted of Beating Her Lover

A woman who battered her lesbian lover was sentenced to three years probation Monday in the first case involving a homosexual couple in which prosecutors won a conviction after presenting evidence of “battered woman syndrome.”

The defendant, Sherry Sperling, 25, was also ordered by Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Veronica Simmons McBeth to enroll in a treatment program.

A jury on Friday convicted Sperling of one count of misdemeanor battery.

The charge stemmed from a Sept. 13 incident in which Sperling repeatedly struck her lover--blackening both eyes and leaving bruises on her body--during an attack at their home.

The victim reported the incident, but after reconciling with Sperling she recanted her account of how she was injured. Prosecutors pressed on, calling an expert witness to testify on battered woman syndrome, in which the victim of domestic violence comes to feel that she is responsible.