Contrary to the pervasive stereotypes that attractive defendants would “receive a more benevolent appraisal of criminality,” in this scenario the “unattractive women defendants were attributed less criminal responsibility.”

Separately, when Maria was described as unlike the “prototypical battered woman,” she was perceived has having “more control over the situation, which in legal terms can translate as a higher degree of guilt.” [theatlantic]

Yes, this is certainly contrary to almost all research that has been done on gender and attractiveness differences in criminal justice.

Related:

• Study: In Homicide Defense, When the Beautiful Are the Damned (theatlantic.com)
• The beautiful ARE the damned: Attractive women more likely to be seen as guilty of murdering their husbands, study shows (engineeringevil.com)
• Attractive women face prejudice in the courtroom, study says (newstatesman.com)