However, unlike the prior trial, Rouer is no longer with Dunn. "We were very happy," said Rouer, in tears. Davis' father Ron remained in the courtroom while Davis' mother Lucia McBath left the courtroom.Simons also showed the jury where on Davis' clothing that emergency personnel cut the clothing to perform lifesaving measures, and where on the clothing that gunshots passed through. The trial led to local protests and international media attention. Now I'm back to reading the Bible and playing solitaire.". Daviss parents, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, were also visibly emotional in the audience. [9] She testified that Dunn told her "I hate that thug music," before she left the car for the store, though Dunn claims he used the phrase "rap crap. The deputy testified Dunn did just that, went to his knees as ordered where deputies placed him in handcuffs. The two remained there until the following morning, when they left for Brevard County at Rouers prodding, she testified. Rhonda laughed a bit before grabbing her boyfriend's hand as they continued to walk together. "I'd never seen him like that," she said. "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. The derogatory comments came in aFolio Weekly interviewwith an excused potential juror. BLM became a national activist network a year later, following police killing of a third African-American teen, Michael Brown, of Ferguson, Missouri. Rouer said she gave Dunn a kiss, and took $3 before walking into the store to buy some wine and chips. July 3, 2013 - Letter to Cousin 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. Rhonda Rouer took the stand and started trembling and sobbing as she began to get into what happened on the night of the shooting. 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 Monday morning, the state began by calling Wendy Meacham, an investigator with the Office of the Medical Examiner. Amidst dailyreports about the trial of policeman Derek Chauvin, the gruesome death of George Floyd, and this weeks police shooting of Daunte Wright in Minnesota, it may seem perverse to revisit a different racially-charged trial from 2015. But a new letter gives a look inside the mind of an accused killer. The film debates the question: "Is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life?" 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. Personal Injury Criminal Defense Family Law. She claims that Dunn told her to get in the car. We were very happy, Rouer told the court, her voice cracking. Dunn's girlfriend Rhonda Rouer was with Dunn the night he allegedly shot 17-year-old Jordan Davis, at a Jacksonville gas station after an argument over loud music. He describes his location as thugville. Reverse discrimination is rampant here and hes never been exposed to thugs like they have here. Dunns attorneys contend 17-year-old Davis was the aggressor, saying the teenagers had a gun in the SUV that night in 2012 at a Southside gas station, but a gun was never recovered from the scene. He lays it on pretty thick and sings George Michaels Faith over and over. He said he did not call the police right away because Ms. Rouer wanted to go home instead. WTEV's Leslie Coursey reports on what's on the tapes. Gabel cautioned Healey that "the mistake" being made Saturday was "the same one made in the first trial.". But no weapon was found at the scene and Rouer said the Durango had already fled when she looked outside. Dunn says it was self-defense. July 2, 2013 - Letter to Rhonda He is still referring to his "demands" to his lawyer Cory Strolla and Cory apparently was determined to withdraw if Dunn continued to force him into a premature trial date and again refers to "Davis' history with authority figures," as if he was one. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. Brevard man charged in homicide: Another stand your ground showdown? Zimmermans acquittal happened in the summer of 2013, between Dunns first trial, which ended in a partial verdict,and his second trial in the fall, when the jury convicted him of first degree murder. It was also previously reported it was Rhonda who begged her boyfriend to leave the scene in spite of his desire to call the police, so there is something not adding up here. 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.. [21] Contrary to Dunn's claim that he mentioned a weapon to Rouer, she testified that he never mentioned a gun either that night or the next day. "It just took some time to get through that. Kuritz says he's seen letters like this one before and believes it can be used against Dunn at trial. Kuritz says despite the way the letter sounds this does not appear to be witness tampering, it simply sounds like Dunn's version of events. In most of the calls, Dunn speaks with his fiance, Rhonda Rouer, who was in the Gate convenience store when Dunn fired 10 shots at the SUV carrying Davis and three other teenagers. He is now serving life in prison without parole. Davis, who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat, then told his friend to turn the music back up and cursed at Dunn. "[24][25], In closing arguments at the first trial, the defense lawyer for Dunn cited the language of Florida's stand-your-ground law. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Former Florida state attorney Angela Corey stated that her office would seek a retrial for this charge. [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. Instead, it was set off by an escalating sense of menace that Mr. Dunn said he felt after he saw Mr. Davis point a shotgun at him, get out of the vehicle and make an explicit threat to kill him. We hear from Jordan's . The incident started after an argument over loud music. Moments later, Rouer told jurors, I heard pop, pop, pop.. "Don't worry, I was hoping for a little fun time as well." "Oh, you!" Arnold rolled his eyes, before smirking as he playfully used his hand to push her away. She did not witness any of the confrontation between her fiance and Davis, Rouer said. Prosecutors have pounded on the fact that Dunn was ordering a pizza and walking his dog while Davis was being pronounced dead. Dunn has also pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder for firing at three of Davis friends. 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.. He raised a significant question that still hangs over the proceedings: If the teenagers had a shotgun and were being fired upon, why didnt they use it? "He's clearly reiterating there was a weapon there, there was a weapon there.". Dunn recounts a new version of the facts where he now as added a threat, this shit is going down now to be circulated to his family and asks his brother to include that. Prosecutors will call two more witnesses and then rest their case. I dont know what its like to have a baby. He talks about a civil suit against the State and others, although he was finally talked out of suing Jordans family. Austin testified to Dunn's behavior at his son Christopher's wedding, saying he was in control of his actions. When Rouer first testified in February during Dunn's original trial, she was visibly shaking and appeared close to collapse. 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. Rouer said she went to the entrance to see what was happening and saw Dunn facing the driver's side window. and his crew gained permission to film inside the Jacksonville court house, as long as they did not film the jury. Prosecutors received permission from the court to let the jury handle Dunn's gun. Before jurors were brought back into the courtroom after the lunch break, the defense presented diagrams showing the Durango parked next to Dunn's vehicle, a Volkswagen Jetta. [19][20] Forensic scientists determined that in the short distance the boys traveled, a weapon could not have been stashed in a place that would not have been immediately visible to crime scene investigators. Dunn, driving a black Volkswagen Jetta sedan, and his fiance Rhonda Rouer pulled into the right adjacent parking spot. Kuritz says if Rouer's testimony changes on the stand and more closely sounds like what she's been told in letters from Dunn, that could present a problem for the defense. In the last trial, Rouer testified that he initially didnt make any mention of a weapon to her. Black thug. He also asked his daughter to ask her mom to contact him as a neighbor had told someone Dunn choked her. The state questioned the accuracy of the diagrams, which showed the Jetta at a slight angle and too much room between the vehicles. Dunn did not contact the police. He faces 60 years in prison for the attempted murder convictions and will get life if he's convicted of killing Davis. 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. They are still communicating in his code language. He then tries to enforce a version of what happened upon her (which is blacked out). The trio said there was never a gun in the car. Toxic Torts, Environmental Contamination and Cancer Clusters, Entertainment Law / Sports Law / Athlete Management, Estate of Keegan Roberts v. Michael Centanni, Justice for Anne McQueen (Don Lewis from Tiger King), Estate of Gregory Hill versus the Sheriff of St. Lucie County and Deputy Newman, Watch what Michael Dunns neighbor had to say about him, Review over 400 photos of the physical evidence for yourself. It was the perfect time to come in a little hot!". "I don't want anybody figuring out who this guy is," Healey said. Rhondas boyfriend is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Jordan Davis, 17, at a Jacksonville, Fla. convenience store in November 2012. She also said Dunn mixed both of them another rum and soda adding his fifth from his earlier at his sons wedding in the hotel room. But Ms. Rouer, who lived with Mr. Dunn in Brevard County and who had accompanied him to his sons wedding here, contradicted those statements on Tuesday. She testified that she got out of the car and walked into the gas station. [9], Rouer returned to Dunn's car. 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. He was still discussing whether Cory or the process was to blame and decided it was the process. The day began with early morning controversy over disparaging remarks reportedly made by a juror about State Attorney Angela Corey. They returned to their hotel where they ordered pizza. Theyd had a few drinks while at the wedding. On February 15, a jury of twelve deadlocked on whether or not Michael Dunn, an armed and inebriated adult, committed murder by killing unarmed 17-year-old Jordan Davis. The next morning Rouer saw a report about the shooting on the news indicating that Jordan Davis had died. Phillip Miranda took the stand next to discuss about shell casings. Saying, "I then realized that we hadn't really discussed what happened, as we were more concerned with whether or not anyone was hurt. His threats and actions left no doubt in my mind that it was firearm. Here is what he says happened after he asked the teenagers in the SUV to turn down their music. Given the traditions of the time . Yet,the film,3 Minutes, 10 Bullets, as well as being a compelling real-life courtroom drama, offers some clarity about race and injustice in the pre-Trump era. [8] Rouer left their car to purchase white wine and chips. The film chronicles what CNN dubbed the loud music trial.On November 23,2012,Michael Dunn, a 45-year-old white software engineer, during a dispute about loud rap music coming from a red Jeep Durango in a Jacksonville parking lot, fired a revolver repeatedly into a car with four African-American teens, killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis. Nobody did fire back, did they? Mr. Healey said he was concerned about protecting the identity of the juror. The couple left the afternoon wedding early to see about their seventh-month-old puppy Charlie, Rouer said. Rouer broke into tears several times during her testimony, as she had in the first trial. 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. The judge, already angered over the courtroom camera showing a potential juror, asked for the equipment to be turned off as the jury walked into the courtroom. Dunn is accused of killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis after an argument over loud music at a Gate gas station on the Southside on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in 2012. Another man who was considered for jury selection but didn't get on the jury told Folio Weekly that the man who got onto the jury spoke derisively about State Attorney Angela Corey's competence. Rouer told police Dunn said "I hate that thug music," when the couple pulled up next to the SUV holding Davis. [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. During the last trial Dunn testified that Davis had a gun, and prosecutors rebutted his testimony by recalling Rouer and having her reveal that Dunn never told her that Davis had a gun from the moment she got into his car until the next day when he was arrested. Investigators later searched the teenagers' SUV and found no weapons. In the letter addressed to "Baby," Dunn goes on to tell her "I cannot recall if I ever conveyed the details of my decision making to you. Three of those bullets struck Mr. Davis, who died at the scene after an afternoon spent at the mall. Musser also said he never went back to the Gate station to get video recordings of that night to determine if the witnesses gathered inside, including the three friends, were talking. Rhonda Rouer was enjoying herself on the day after Thanksgiving in 2012 when she accompanied her fiance to his son's wedding. Siniscal said he asked Dunn to come out of his home shirtless and with his hands up. I was worried about the blind firing situation, where they would shoot over their heads, whatever, and hit me, or hit me and Rhonda.. Rhonda Rouer took the stand and started trembling and sobbing as she began to get into what happened on the night of the shooting. ", "Jury Fails to Reach Verdict on Murder Charge in Michael DunnTrail", "Florida Man's Fiance Contradicts Parts of his Testimony in Killing of Teenager", "Song played in Jordan Davis shooting revealed", "Friends describe moments before Jordan Davis died", "Michael Dunn 'Loud Music' Verdict: Mistrial For First-Degree Murder Charge Causes Outrage", "Michael Dunn testifies; fiancee says he never told her about gun; closings Wednesday", "Michael Dunn's girlfriend: 'I heard pop, pop, pop'. According to online records, the couple wedded May 22, 1989 in Indian River, Florida. 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. British director Marc Silvers tautly edited film, which won a special jury award at Sundance in 2015, was picked up by HBO and aired later that year. The film follows Rob Schenck, a pro-life Evangelical minister; Lucy McBath, the mother of teenager Jordan Davis; and attorney John Michael Phillips as they interact in the years after the shooting. He's not a racist. The film refutes any assumptions that crime and racism are the burdens of the poor and disenfranchised: Both Dunn and the boys in the car were comfortable and middle-class. She started by telling Assistant State Attorney Erin Wolfson that they had a good day that . Meanwhile, the trial of Michael Dunn resumes 9 a.m. Monday. 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. The parking lot and the trash bins were searched four days later after they learned Dunn was claiming self-defense, Musser said. Dunn and Rouer left the wedding early in order to return to their hotel and take care of their six-month-old puppy. 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