On the same day the charges against her daughter were upgraded, Anna Vega told News 12 Long Island that Jesenia Vega acted in self-defense when she allegedly ran over and killed her boyfriend.

Jesenia Vega, initially charged with driving while intoxicated, was additionally arraigned for manslaughter Thursday. Police say her boyfriend, Louis Wiederer, was killed when he was dragged under Vega's moving car.

"He was choking her," the defendant's mother said. "Can you imagine a 6-foot, 2-inch man choking a little lady? She's only 5-feet-4, 5-5."

In an exclusive interview from her jail cell, Jesenia Vega said she sustained years of abuse at Wiederer's hands. She said on the night in question, Wiederer was holding on to the car and beating her when he fell.

"It was just a horrific accident," she said. "I miss him so much."

Defense attorney Thomas Liotti said Wiederer threatened to kill Jesenia Vega and was trying to stop her from calling police. Liotti claimed Wiederer feared his situation in a pending narcotics-trafficking case in North Carolina would worsen if police were called.

Prosecutors believe differently, saying Jesenia Vega had a .11 blood alcohol level and was "hysterically drunk." Vega also had marijuana in her system and acted recklessly, prosecutors said.

Jesenia Vega faces five to 15 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter. She is not due back in court until October.

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