He makes a joke to his grandmother about women being interested in his fiance, and then told his grandmother he could fall into a pile of shit and step out smelling like a rose. About the case, he discusses the misinformation and outright lies being reported by the media. Despite saying he doesnt use the word thug, on page 6 he uses it to his own grandmother and specifically calls the surviving boys, thugs.. In a second trial, Dunn was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Davis and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole plus 105 years in prison, which is two de facto consecutive life sentences.[4][5]. During her cross-examination of these witnesses, State Attorney Angela Corey suggested that these witnesses did not know Dunn in a capacity outside of his parents' community.The last witness to take the stand for the defense on Monday was Phyllis Austin, the ex-wife of Michael Dunn and the mother of Christopher Dunn. On Saturday Rouer appeared more composed, but she still fought back tears repeatedly while admitting that when Dunn was arrested she thought police were also going to lock her up. The Berrys and Thompson said Dunn was a nice, calm person. Moments later, Rouer told jurors, I heard pop, pop, pop.. [55] The film distribution was sold to HBO. She said she could still hear the loud music as she walked up to the store. His threats and actions left no doubt in my mind that it was firearm. He ordered her in the car and the two sped away, heading to their hotel. Black thug. He also asked his daughter to ask her mom to contact him as a neighbor had told someone Dunn choked her. The last state witness of the day was also from the FDLE, Maria Pagan, who is an expert in firearms and ballistics. They were represented by John Michael Phillips in wrongful death and defamation lawsuits against Dunn. . When Rouer first testified in February during Dunn's original trial, she was visibly shaking and appeared close to collapse. I could look down at this beautiful child and be like f everything, I dont care about anything else other than this baby. And youll never see me again. But a new letter gives a look inside the mind of an accused killer. He tells his grandmother the appellate court made a chicken shit decision, calls the judge not very bright, and says he is either a victim of reverse discrimination or a political prisoner. He thinks the blacks seem to be calling the shots and the whites who live in Jacksonville know how the blacks behave here. This contradicted the claim that Mr. Davis was out of the Durango. Brunson, Davis, and Thompson remained in the vehicle listening to music which was described as "very loud." Dramatic Testimony in Florida Stand Your Ground Trial Michael Dunn's fiance Rhonda Rouer takes the stand as a witness for the prosecution. [48] She defeated incumbent Karen Handel, winning 160,139 votes (50.5%) to Handel's 156,875 (49.5%). Mr. Dunn said there was no rational reason to leave the scene except that he was afraid of the teenagers. In the morning, Rouer saw a news report about a shooting at a Jacksonville gas station, in which a 17-year-old had been killed, and rather than call police, the couple packed their bags and drove. The Folio writer confirmed to Action News at 12:35 p.m. that it was his article that led to the dismissal of juror #4. Dunn is accused of fatally shooting 17-year-old Jordan Davis at a Southside Gate gas station during a confrontation over loud music on Nov. 23, 2012. Dunn and Rouer left the wedding early in order to return to their hotel and take care of their six-month-old puppy. [32][33][34][35] Dunn was given a sentence of life in prison without parole plus 90 years, ensuring he will never be released from prison for the remainder of his life. In a letter dated December 5, 2012, Michael Dunn wrote to Rouer about her testimony to prosecutors. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. At times teary, his feet shackled, Michael Dunn, the man accused of fatally shooting a black teenager in November 2012 during an argument over loud music, took the witness. On Saturday, Rouer took the stand and testified as a witness for the prosecutors who hope to put Dunn, 47, in prison for the rest of his life. He's very loving."[29]. On November 23, 2012, Jordan Davis, a black 17-year-old high school student, was murdered at a Gate Petroleum gas station in Jacksonville, Florida, by Michael David Dunn, a white 45-year-old software developer, following an argument over loud music played by Davis and his three friends, in what was believed to be a racially motivated shooting. In Season 1 episode "The Night Terror Stalked the Town", it is revealed that James was named after a paternal uncle. Later, Simons demonstrated on "Bendy," an anatomical figure, the position that Davis was in when he was shot. Rouer testified Saturday that she and Dunn, who reside in Satellite Beach, Fla., were in Jacksonville that day to attend the wedding of Dunns son in Orange Park. Once parked, Rouer said Dunn told her I hate that thug music. Rouer went into the store to purchase the items and shortly after the gunshots rang out. Stornes left his red Dodge Durango SUV running while he went into the store. Dunn's insurance company, Progressive Select Insurance, challenged its duty to cover the lawsuit, but dismissed its lawsuit in conjunction with the settlement. Those friends, Leland Brunson, Tommie Stornes and Tevin Thompson, all testified Friday that Davis cursed at Dunn when he asked them to turn the music down, but didn't threaten him. He said he did not call the police right away because Ms. Rouer wanted to go home instead. Dunn later testified that he still feared for his safety as well as that of Rouer who was to return to the vehicle imminently. Zimmerman's acquittal happened in the summer of 2013, between Dunn's first trial, which ended in a partial verdict, and his second trial in the fall, when the jury convicted him of first degree murder. Saying, "I then realized that we hadn't really discussed what happened, as we were more concerned with whether or not anyone was hurt. She complied, and saw Dunn put a handgun in the glove box. Davis, who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat, then told his friend to turn the music back up and cursed at Dunn. The three teenagers in the Dodge Durango with Jordan at the time of the shooting testified Friday. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Where is Ronda Rousey and what happened to her, and is Ronda Rousey coming back to WWE are a few questions that the WWE Universe has currently. Austin testified to Dunn's behavior at his son Christopher's wedding, saying he was in control of his actions. He's been with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for about 10 years, a homicide detective for five. The day in court began with Mr. Dunns unalloyed version of events. His fiance, Rhonda Rouer, says the last thing she heard him say was, "I hate that thug music." Rouer was in the convenience store when she heard gunshots, and when she ran outside, he told. Brian told Rhonda what he did on the way back to their hotel after the shoot occurred, and she was inside the store buying liquor when the shooting took place, so she had no idea what he did until their return. During the previous trial, the Times-Union was among several media agencies to challenge Healey for the release of public records including several jailhouse calls made by Dunn. He lives in East Arlington and has been in Duval for 33 years. Florida Mans Fiance Contradicts Parts of His Testimony in Killing of Teenager, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/us/florida-mans-fiancee-contradicts-parts-of-his-testimony-in-killing-of-teenager.html, Michael Dunn told a Jacksonville jury on Tuesday that his decision to fire repeatedly at a vehicle holding four teenagers was a matter of life or death.. The day began with early morning controversy over disparaging remarks reportedly made by a juror about State Attorney Angela Corey. Police presence at Arlington Manor area complex after reported shooting, Police: One person detained in College Park area, Local Weather: Day 9 of 80-plus degree afternoons; much-needed rain by late Friday into Saturday, Viewing Venus under a telescope in our night sky. Dunn stated that he received "ineffective assistance of counsel". He said his family engaged in a letter writing campaign to Congress and Governor Scott over the local corruption surrounding his arrest ad detainment. She is the mother on one son, Brandon Rouer. They didn't call 911, and didn't know Davis had died until the next morning when Dunn was arrested. Circuit Judge Russell Healey and attorneys on both sides spent more than an hour discussing and questioning the juror, mentioned in a Folio Weekly column published Friday. The police arrested him shortly after he arrived in Brevard, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. She looked outside and saw Dunn leaning out of his window. Rhonda's boyfriend is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Jordan Davis, 17, at a Jacksonville, Fla. convenience store in November 2012. She claims that Dunn told her to get in the car. Dunn, who had a concealed weapons permit,[8] took a handgun out of his glove compartment and started firing at Davis' door, hitting him in the legs, lungs, and aorta. Rhonda laughed a bit before grabbing her boyfriend's hand as they continued to walk together. However, Healey later said the juror claimed he did not make the remarks as Smith claimed. [36], Following the trial, Dunn's attorney filed for appeal with the First District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida. The Law Offices of John Phillips are based in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, Florida, but John is licensed in Florida, Georgia and Alabama and before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2021, the jury and judges on the Florida Supreme Court rejected Dunn's appeal based on the stand-your-ground law in Florida. H.S., Torrington, CT and Vero Beach Senior High, graduating in the class of 1983. In the article, a potential juror Richard David Smith, who happens to be a freelancer for Folio, spoke about his experience being screened for the trial. Then, I heard another pop,pop,pop.". The film debates the question: "Is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life?" The shooting, he told jurors, had nothing to do with the obnoxious bass music or rap crap as he called it Tuesday that thundered out of the teenagers Durango, which was parked alongside his vehicle. He was still discussing whether Cory or the process was to blame and decided it was the process. If you remember about this case when it first happened, youll know Rhonda was with Dunn when the incident that took Jordans life, occurred. "I'm not really sure what the investigators are thinking, but I told them what was up,". We were very happy, Rouer told the court, her voice cracking. Dunn elaborates in great detail, revealing much of what has been already discussed, saying thugs, threatening to sue the County and rants about Angela Corey. Please logout and login again. [6], Tommie Stornes, Leland Brunson, Jordan Davis, and Tevin Thompson had been spending the day traveling to various malls when they decided to go to the Gate Petroleum gas station in order to buy gum and cigarettes. [8] Rouer left their car to purchase white wine and chips. I did it in my panicked state, he said, of the later volleys. The trial will resume Monday. According to online records, the couple wedded May 22, 1989 in Indian River, Florida. With little but his own words to bolster his self-defense case, Mr. Dunn, a software engineer from Brevard County, Fla., had little choice but to take the witness stand, legal experts said. [40][41] Hendrix described Dunn as arrogant and controlling, adding that Dunn's ex-wives told him that Dunn was violent and abusive toward them, although he never personally witnessed this. The two remained there until the following morning, when they left for Brevard County at Rouers prodding, she testified. She started by telling Assistant State Attorney Erin Wolfson that they had a good day that . After a shaken Ms. Rouer got back inside the car, Mr. Dunn pulled out of the gas station and drove to the hotel where the two spent the night as planned. She gave emotional testimony, just as she did in the first trial. The two left the parking lot very quickly, testified Rouer. The incident started after an argument over loud music. At one point, the juror--described as a 400-pound white school teacher--reportedly stated that Corey would have a hard time proving to a court that I am fat; there would still be reasonable doubt.. Mr. Dunn said he told his fiance several times that the teenager had threatened him with a gun or some kind of weapon. [27] Dunn's attorney subsequently requested that sentencing on the four counts of which Dunn already had been convicted be delayed until after Dunn's retrial. He said the blacks are racist in Jacksonville and the more I am exposed to these people, the more prejudiced against them I become. He calls blacks in the south the scourge of this country and then puts a smiley face. We spend time getting to know Jordans friends, troubled by their loss and their own near-death experience. "I think maybe he understands this will be coming into trial one day and he wants a jury who sees it to be thinking he's a good person, he's reading the bible in there," said Kuritz. Follow Rhema Thompson on Twitter@RhemaThompson. Cover letter where he is sending his version of things to be released. The couple came to town to attend the wedding of Michael Dunn's son. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "When she was first interviewed, when you would expect someone to tell the truth when their memory is freshest she never mentioned a firearm," said former prosecutor Richard Kuritz. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Siniscal said he asked Dunn to come out of his home shirtless and with his hands up. Action News Jax facebook feed(Opens a new window), Action News Jax twitter feed(Opens a new window), Action News Jax youtube feed(Opens a new window), Related: Jordan's Friends Take Stand in Day 2, live gavel-to-gavel coverage on ActionNewsJax.com, Florida Senator proposes bill to cancel Democratic Party in state, Bartram Trail High School girls lacrosse player denied NIL opportunity, FHP: Man dies after FDOT Road Ranger rear-ends truck, pushes him over edge of Buckman Bridge, PCSO: No charges in case of mail carrier mauled by 5 dogs, Its a monumental win: Newly approved legislation increases required age to work in strip clubs. A bit before grabbing her boyfriend & # x27 ; s hand as continued! At Rouers prodding, she testified [ 29 ] away, heading to their hotel part of Cox media Television! 8 ] Rouer left the parking lot very quickly, testified Rouer loss... To know Jordans friends, troubled by their loss and their own experience... 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That Mr. Davis was in control of his home shirtless and with his hands up Davis was out of home.
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