Hey, get off my sister, bro. Just kind of, I guess, start from just where you were at earlier tonight, who you were with. >> It's in airplane mode. >> Do you have anything sharp on you? >> Put your palms together like this. There you go. Lift your hands off your back a little bit. >> A teenage argument turned into a deadly stabbing, and more than a year later, the woman responsible walked into court knowing she could have faced life in prison. Instead, she walked out with a 3-year sentence. The case of Breanna Barosini and 17-year-old Halieya Culbertson is one of those stories where the facts are disturbing, but the questions surrounding what happened are almost just as difficult. So, how did a fight between two young women end with one dead, the other convicted, and a murder case reduced to involuntary manslaughter? >> Hey, get off my sister, bro. Get off. Get off my Hey, if you touch my sister, girl, I'm going to put my phone down, bro. Halieya, crunch your ass to get it over with, bro. Crunch your ass to get it over with, Halieya. Yeah, crunch your ass, Halieya. Crunch your ass, Halieya. Crunch your ass, Halieya. Crunch your ass, Halieya. [ __ ] her up. >> What's up, [ __ ] >> You better get your girl before she get [ __ ] up even more. >> Oh, her. >> You just You just leaked her ass. >> It started late on March 26th, 2023 in northeast Columbus, Ohio. Halieya Culbertson, just 17 years old, was at the 161 Carryout on Emporium Square when she encountered Breanna Barronsini who was 18 at the time. The two had previously been friends but their relationship had deteriorated into an ongoing feud. According to prosecutors, the confrontation began inside the store. >> Did you get that phone secured? >> Yeah. >> You got the video of >> Yeah, I got it. Yeah. >> What was the car like? >> I didn't see the car. I just um >> There was like a white Mercedes that pulled in here that was like making sure to stop at every parking spot and stop sign. And that was uh uh uh >> I got the tag. It's on the run. It comes back to the Emporium and I'm like It didn't register to you. >> Suspect with the cracked screen and everything. >> Yeah, I didn't watch the whole video. I just saw the the altercation. And then something happened and I had to put him in the car and I can't remember what it was but Yeah, it's good video. He's standing maybe 10 ft from him recording full HD with his iPhone. Yeah. >> I can do it. These cameras are insane. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> We had that phone secured but then >> Oh yeah. >> 917 917 >> airplane mode and all that good stuff. >> No, not airplane >> I would put it on airplane mode just >> I don't think it's going to happen. >> All right. Come on. >> Talk to her. >> I didn't see the flashlight. >> I don't have that. >> Hollia challenged Breanna to a fight and when the women were asked to leave, the confrontation continued outside. This is where the story becomes heavily disputed. Breanna's defense argued that she was trying to avoid the fight. >> Just kind of I guess start from just where you were at earlier tonight. Who you're with. Um kind of what you were doing sort of stuff. >> Okay. Um well, me and my friend Ed left my house I'd say around like 8:45 in the morning. We were hanging out all night. >> Did he come pick you up? >> And we went to the Kroger that at the square. >> Mhm. So there were 161? >> Mhm. To get drinks and stuff. >> Why did you guys choose that one? That's not real close to Westerville. >> We always go there. That's just the spot we've gone for years. And we walk in and I'm grabbing my drinks and stuff and I hear two girls' voices, the ones that don't like me. And I ignore it. I'm on the phone with my brother. I have my brother on the phone and Iyad beside me. We grab our drinks, they walk up to check out and they see me and they just just start running their mouth, them >> Who were the girls? >> It was McKenzie Adrian, Halia Culbertson, and I don't know who the dude was. >> Okay. >> But he was definitely the loudest. But they just kept instigating, trying to get me to fight them and I was like, "You're not worth it. You're not worth it. I'm done. I'm not doing it." >> During the sentencing hearing, her attorney said she repeatedly backed away because she was afraid. >> It's signing it. You're telling me you want to admit to a felony three crime called involuntary manslaughter. When you plead guilty, it is a completed admission you're guilty. You're going to be convicted today and you're going to be sentenced on July the 11th. It'll be on your record. It's a non-expungable offense. It carries up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. >> But prosecutors argued that whatever happened before the stabbing, Breanna's response went far beyond what was justified. Surveillance footage shown in court reportedly showed Halia confronting Breanna and eventually slapping her. >> Halia, cut your ass to get it over with, bro. Crunch your ass to get it over with, Halia. Yeah, crunch your ass, Halia. >> Breonna then stepped back before producing a knife and swinging it at Halia. The result was devastating. >> I I I saved you down there, you could tell. >> All right. >> But down there saved. I might >> Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to put your phone on airplane mode, buddy. >> Yes, sir. >> I mean, I want to see it right on the dash, like right where it was. >> Yes, sir. You do what you need to do, man. >> Thank you. >> Columbus police were called around 11:48 that night after reports of a stabbing. Officers found Halia suffering from a stab wound. She was rushed to Ohio Health Riverside Methodist Hospital, but despite medical treatment, she died shortly after midnight. >> store >> Uh-huh. >> and Bree called Halia cokehead. >> Okay. >> Halia is a sober, like she's a she's a recovering addict. So, she took that into great offense. You know, I don't know if you've met any recovering addicts, but like me personally, I'm one. >> Who was that addict? I'm sorry. >> Halia. Halia was an addict. So, and she called she called Halia out on being >> a cokehead. >> Yeah, so like Halia got mad and Halia was waiting outside and they were supposed to just fight. It was supposed to be just be a fight, like I like I was there. I was supposed to be like in between it. I didn't even see a knife get pulled. >> Breonna wasn't at the scene when police arrived. Investigators later located her at her home in Westerville. >> You want to You want to take care of that? This is your cell phone. It's in airplane mode. >> Yeah, if you >> Oh, yes, please. >> If you could, that'd be fantastic. It's in airplane mode. >> Do you have anything sharp on you? Anything I need to know about? >> Uh, just my vape in my pocket. >> Just what? >> My vape in my pocket. >> Okay. >> According to court records reported by the Columbus Dispatch, she admitted that she had been carrying a knife and had swung it during the fight. At first, this was treated as a murder case. Breanna faced serious charges and if convicted of murder, she could have faced a dramatically longer sentence, potentially including life in prison. But the case took a completely different direction in June 2024. Just as the trial was about to begin, Breanna pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. >> I never once thought I would be here today with these charges. I also have never been one to start a fight. I'm always a person to back away from confrontation. Not a day goes by that this incident hasn't been on my mind. I understand and feel for the victim's family as I know the harm I have caused them is indescribable. I also feel for my own family as this situation has caused them a lot of pain. >> The murder charge was dropped as part of the agreement, meaning the possible punishment changed dramatically. >> I understand my rights. >> Okay. Uh then what I'll have you do is just sign right here. Uh and this is just an indication acknowledgement that we went over this and that you do understand what we went over. >> And I'm done. >> Instead of potentially spending decades behind bars, Breanna now faced a maximum of 3 years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine. Her defense asked for probation, while prosecutors pushed for the maximum sentence. And that decision left Halia's family devastated. >> Since she was only 17, she hadn't even began to understand what she had to offer this world. Her family and friends didn't even get a chance to watch how far her talents and love for life would take her. >> During the sentencing hearing, Halia's family and loved ones spoke about the teenager they lost. >> I never get my best friend back. And I never get to hear Halia's voice ever again. I miss my sister more than anything. I've lost a lot of people in my life, but nothing has scarred me so badly as losing Halia. I don't have many friends in this world, but when I was with my sister, I didn't need anyone else. Halia and I have always stuck together. She took me with her everywhere she went and made sure I always felt included and never alone. >> Her mother described the pain of losing her daughter and the fact that Halia would never get the chance to grow up and experience the life she had ahead of her. >> Listen to me now for a moment. >> Was my life worth only 3 years? One moment in time took me away from everyone that loved me and everyone that I loved. Please don't forget me and what killer did to me. Respectfully, Halia Culbertson. There are people that light up the world, and Halia was one of them. >> For the family, this wasn't simply the loss of a stranger. Halia and Bryana had once been friends. That made the tragedy even harder to understand. Prosecutors argued that Bryana's actions were driven by rage, and that even if Halia had been aggressive during the confrontation, using a knife was an unjustifiable escalation. The defense, however, continued to maintain that Bryana had been afraid and was trying to protect herself. >> I think it aptly disputes the fact that this was a mutual combat, let's get into a fist fight, and then fist fight got out of hand, and at that time uh Breonna had pulled a knife. In watching and reviewing the video that was played uh about the actual events a little while ago, uh and I mentioned in the sentencing memorandum, I counted no less than 30 steps that my client took backwards. She pulled a knife from her pocket and took 15 more steps backwards away from Ms. Calverson. She didn't want to engage at all. This was more of an assault on Ms. Calverson than a mutual fist fight. And at the time, as Mr. Barr said, she's afraid. She was in fear, and she was. Absolutely afraid. When her friend tried to jump in and help, >> On July 11th, 2024, Judge Mark Sarock handed down the sentence, 3 years in prison. It was the maximum sentence available under the involuntary manslaughter plea agreement. Breonna was taken into custody immediately, although the court noted that early release could potentially be possible. >> Tell you folks over here, if she doesn't show up or does anything stupid while she's out, she'll get the max and not get out, period. I'm going to give you the max. You show up, behave yourself, have a decent pre-sentence investigation, I'm likely to do what has been said. Again, I'm going to listen to both sides. In my 14 and a half years here, we've caught everybody that ever took off except for one. So, and they get maxed when they get caught. So, the bottom line is, you need to show up, you've pled guilty, make sure you're here. You don't show up, they will catch you, it always happens, and you'll get the max from me. >> Before being sentenced, Breonna addressed the court. She expressed remorse and acknowledged the damage caused to Holli's family saying she would live with the guilt for the rest of her life. >> I never once thought I would be here today with these charges. I also have never been one to start a fight. I'm always the person to back away from confrontation. Not a day goes by that this incident hasn't been on my mind. I understand and feel for the victim's family as I know the harm I have caused them is indescribable. I also feel for my own family as this situation has caused them a lot of pain. I can understand and appreciate the harm that I have caused now. I will be living with this guilt the rest of my life. I took a life and I understand the victim's family will suffer for the rest of their lives as well my family for what I put them through. I pray and will continue to pray for all parties involved. >> Thank you. >> But for Holli's family, 3 years could never come close to replacing the life that was lost. A 17-year-old girl went to a store one night and never came home. >> On March 27th at 12:24 in the morning, my beloved sister was gone. This villain took my sister's life that night but my sister's life was not the only thing it took. It robbed me of my happiness. It stole my smile. It took the best part of me I will never be able to get back. >> What began as an argument between former friends ended with a fatal stab wound, a murder case, a last-minute plea deal, and a sentence that continues to raise questions about justice, self-defense, and whether 3 years can ever feel like enough when a life has been taken. And perhaps the most disturbing part of the story is how quickly an ordinary confrontation became something that could never be undone.