Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
“I hate that thug music.”
Those were the last words Rhonda Rouer heard her fiance, Michael David Dunn, say before he fired 10 shots at a car containing four black teenagers at a Southside Gate gas station. One of those teenagers, 17-year-old Jordan Davis, was killed.
On Saturday afternoon Rouer, crying and shaking uncontrollably, was compelled to testify against the man she intends to marry and told jurors what happened before and after Davis was killed on Black Friday in November 2012.
Her anguish appeared to unsettle the courtroom. Dunn, 47, and his family sitting in the front row fought back tears, and members of the Davis family looked at the ground as she hyperventilated and tried to keep her hands from shaking. Acting Circuit Judge Russell Healey took the unusual step of bringing Rouer into court before the jury was in the room in an effort to calm her down before she was called to the stand.
When she finished testifying, Rouer whispered, “I’m so sorry” as she got off the stand. It was unclear if she was speaking to a bailiff, Dunn, the Davis family or someone else.
I have a bad feeling he is gonna get off easily.
I have a bad feeling he is gonna get off easily.
Dunn convicted of attempted murder; hung jury on murder in 'loud-music' trial
By Greg Botelho and Sunny Hostin, CNN
updated 10:47 PM EST, Sat February 15, 2014
[...]
Even without a final decision on the murder count -- and pending defense appeals -- the 47-year-old Dunn is looking at a lengthy prison term.
Prosecutor Erin Wolfson explained Saturday night that each attempted second-degree murder conviction carries a minimum sentence of at least 20 years. There's also a 15-year sentence possible on the conviction for shooting in the teenager's vehicle.
"You are looking at basically at life in prison," Strolla said, even as he vowed to challenge the convictions. "At 47 years old, that's a life sentence regardless of count one."
The decision to convict on these counts, and not on murder, didn't come easily for a jury that had deliberated for about 30 hours since getting the case late Wednesday.
The questions and answers:
-- "Is the defense of self-defense separate for each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."
-- "Are we determining if deadly force is justified against each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."
-- "Or, if we determine deadly force is justified against one person, is it justified against the others?" Judge: "No. Self-defense and justifiable use of deadly force applies separately to each count."
With that, he sent them back to the jury room for further deliberations.
It seems to me that if he felt threatened by one of them (with the shotgun), he would feel threatened by ALL of them, since they were all in the same car. I mean, if one of them showed me a shotgun, I would have to assume the others were armed as well.Florida jury in loud-music trial has questions for judge - CNN.com
The questions and answers:
-- "Is the defense of self-defense separate for each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."
-- "Are we determining if deadly force is justified against each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."
-- "Or, if we determine deadly force is justified against one person, is it justified against the others?" Judge: "No. Self-defense and justifiable use of deadly force applies separately to each count."
With that, he sent them back to the jury room for further deliberations.
Florida jury in loud-music trial has questions for judge - CNN.com
The questions and answers:
-- "Is the defense of self-defense separate for each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."
-- "Are we determining if deadly force is justified against each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."
-- "Or, if we determine deadly force is justified against one person, is it justified against the others?" Judge: "No. Self-defense and justifiable use of deadly force applies separately to each count."
With that, he sent them back to the jury room for further deliberations.
True, but they left the scene and then came back. That sounds like they went somewhere and stashed it. Sounds like maybe the jury is convinced there WAS one. Also, the cops were negligent if they waited 4 days to even look for it.No weapon was found, though.
True, but they left the scene and then came back. That sounds like they went somewhere and stashed it. Sounds like maybe the jury is convinced there WAS one. Also, the cops were negligent if they waited 4 days to even look for it.No weapon was found, though.
No weapon was found, though.
Florida jury in loud-music trial has questions for judge - CNN.com
The questions and answers:
-- "Is the defense of self-defense separate for each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."
-- "Are we determining if deadly force is justified against each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."
-- "Or, if we determine deadly force is justified against one person, is it justified against the others?" Judge: "No. Self-defense and justifiable use of deadly force applies separately to each count."
With that, he sent them back to the jury room for further deliberations.
Based on those questions and answers, at least some of the charges will result in a guilty verdict.
Why did they go back?True, but they left the scene and then came back. That sounds like they went somewhere and stashed it. Sounds like maybe the jury is convinced there WAS one. Also, the cops were negligent if they waited 4 days to even look for it.No weapon was found, though.
They left the scene because he was shooting at them. The shooter had to be found and arrested before he could tell them there was a gun.
You don't know there was no gun, you just want to see him dangle.No weapon was found, though.
There was no gun. He 'felt threatened' because they were loud, raucous black teenagers. In Florida now, people think they have a license to kill black teenagers. Probably across the US too. If I had a black teenager in America at this time, I'd keep him/her as close to me as possible. Leave the country if I could. Nowadays, it is like they are all wearing a target.
I think the judge was wrong to tell them deadly force is justified against one but not the others. They were acting as one. How is Dunn supposed to know which ones were a threat and which ones were not? Sounds like the judge wants him found guilty of something. More grounds for an appeal.
No weapon was found, though.
There was no gun. He 'felt threatened' because they were loud, raucous black teenagers. In Florida now, people think they have a license to kill black teenagers. Probably across the US too. If I had a black teenager in America at this time, I'd keep him/her as close to me as possible. Leave the country if I could. Nowadays, it is like they are all wearing a target.
You don't know there was no gun, you just want to see him dangle.No weapon was found, though.
There was no gun. He 'felt threatened' because they were loud, raucous black teenagers. In Florida now, people think they have a license to kill black teenagers. Probably across the US too. If I had a black teenager in America at this time, I'd keep him/her as close to me as possible. Leave the country if I could. Nowadays, it is like they are all wearing a target.
