The deputy said he armed himself with an AR-15 rifle and his sidearm to make the arrest, saying it part of the department's tactics when there is a "high-risk" arrest warrant involved. Written and directed by Marc Silver. 7 Likes, 0 Comments - Rhonda Sunshine Miller (@artateher_sunshine) on Instagram: "The best thing that ever happened to me #therapy" Juror number four was dismissedfor negative remarks about Corey. The state called 27 witnesses in the trial, including the young men in the SUV with Jordan Davis and Dunn's then-fiance Rhonda Rouer, who was also there. [39], Dunn's former neighbor, Charles Hendrix, said he was not surprised by his behavior. Rouer said she went to the entrance to see what was happening and saw Dunn facing the driver's side window. 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. Healey eventually agreed to have the transcripts emailed to Gabel for review. Guy asked Mr. Dunn. . Rhonda took the stand over the weekend to tell her side of what happened Nov. 23, 2012. The Berrys said they would often see Dunn socially for breakfasts on the weekends and through flying-related events.Following the Berrys was Frank Thompson, who also lived in Aero Acres and saw Dunn socially and in a pilot capacity. 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. In the aftermath of the. During Simons' testimony, several photos Davis' body were shown to the jury. [43][44], Rebecca Dunn, Dunn's daughter, defended her father's story, by her statement during an interview, "He is going to protect himself if he sees no other way than to bring out his gun, then that's what he's going to do. The film is currently available from theImpact Seriesstreaming service and on Hollywood Suite on April 26. Meet 46-year-old Rhonda Lynn Hallock Rouer. [28] Dunn faced a minimum of 75 years in prison on the following counts: a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years for each count of attempted second-degree murder, and up to 15 years for firing into a moving vehicle. [9][12] The front seat passenger, Tevin Thompson, initially complied and turned the volume down, but Jordan Davis requested the volume be turned back up. However, the courtroom conversation between attorneys and the juror in question was conducted in a sidebar, preventing media or other members of the audience from hearing it. I did it in my panicked state, he said, of the later volleys. 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. The two went back to their hotel, Rouer said, where Dunn ordered a pizza. At the time of the . He said he did not call the police right away because Ms. Rouer wanted to go home instead. She said she could still hear the loud music as she walked up to the store. The defense is expected to begin presenting its case late Monday morning. She also said that Mr. Dunn never called their neighbor to say he wanted to discuss something important. He's not a racist. WTEV's Leslie Coursey reports on what's on the tapes. Dunn repeatedly told her to get into the car, and when she did she saw him put the gun he carried in the glove compartment. 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's clearly reiterating there was a weapon there, there was a weapon there.". Dunn sounds incredulous that he has been imprisoned, andblames Davis 100 percent for what happened. At gunpoint? While at the cashier's counter, Rouer heard the sound of gunshots. On February 3, the jury selection process in Michael Dunn's murder trial will begin. Prosecutors have pounded on the fact that Dunn was ordering a pizza and walking his dog while Davis was being pronounced dead. [51] The murder is believed to have inspired activism of the Black Lives Matter movement. [50] ABC News, Australia says the case has become part of the national conversation about the dangers facing young black men in America today. Meacham testified that$1.25 in currency, a bracelet, earrings, a cellphone, a knife and a watchwere items removed from Davis' clothing.Next on the stand Monday was Dr. Stacey Simons, who worked in the Medical Examiner's Office at the time of Davis' death. To receive an email when new reviews/interviews are added to Original-Cin, please provide your email address in the form below. 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. Rhondas boyfriend is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Jordan Davis, 17, at a Jacksonville, Fla. convenience store in November 2012. Mr. Dunn said he saw Mr. Davis with a weapon. On their way back to their hotel, Rouer said the two stopped at the Gate gas station on Southside Boulevard to purchase wine and chips. A fourth teenager, the driver, has a third-degree felony conviction. She said she rushed back to the car where Dunn "urgently" asked her to get in. The documentary, directed by Marc Silver, explores the shooting, the trial, and Florida's Stand Your Ground laws. John is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law in Florida. We look at the testimony of Rhonda Rouer, Michael Dunn's fiancee, in his trial for the murder of Jordan Davis, and how it damaged his self-defense argument. The parking lot and the trash bins were searched four days later after they learned Dunn was claiming self-defense, Musser said. He did that in the first trial, claiming the shots were fired in self-defense. 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.. Siniscal said he asked Dunn to come out of his home shirtless and with his hands up. [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. Mr. Dunn said there was no rational reason to leave the scene except that he was afraid of the teenagers. 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. Rouer said both she and Dunn had cellphones but neither dialed 911. Outside the courtroom,the filmmakerinterviews Jordans grieving, thoughtfulparents, Ron Davis and Lucy McBath - the latter of whom subsequently became a Congresswoman in Newt Gingrichs old Georgia district, running on a gun control ticket. Theyd had a few drinks while at the wedding. The. Simons testified that, in her medical opinion, she did not believe Davis was outside, or leaning outside of the vehicle when he was shot. The trial will resume Monday. He talks about a civil suit against the State and others, although he was finally talked out of suing Jordans family. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. He ordered her in the car and the two sped away, heading to their hotel. 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? Cover letter where he is sending his version of things to be released. Austin testified to Dunn's behavior at his son Christopher's wedding, saying he was in control of his actions. Rouer, Dunn's former girlfriend, was the fifth witness to take the stand in the third day of testimony of the murder retrial. The next morning Rouer found out that Davis was dead after turning on the television news and insisted they return to their home in Satellite Beach. [37] On November 17, 2016, his appeal was denied. Read Dunns Jail Letters Here (you are here), Watch Full Michael Dunn Pre-Arrest Interview by Detectives, Watch what Michael Dunns neighbor had to say about him (very negative), Evidence Locker: State of Florida & Jordan Davis versus Michael Dunn, Review over 400 photos of the physical evidence for yourself (may download slow), Watch portions of Trial and read more about the case, Jordan Davis: Download Jet and Rolling Stone Magazine Articles, Michael Dunn on Myspace: Learn More About Jordan Daviss Killer. Dunn later testified that he still feared for his safety as well as that of Rouer who was to return to the vehicle imminently. Rouer said she gave Dunn a kiss, and took $3 before walking into the store to buy some wine and chips. In addition to personal injury and wrongful death, our firm handles family law matters and select criminal defense cases. She testified that despite having prior plans she demanded that Dunn take her home right away. 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. China's Xi heralds 'unbreakable' friendship with Belarus, an ally of Russia, Nissan recalls over 800K SUVs because a key defect can cut off the engine, Chicago voters resoundingly rejected Mayor Lori Lightfoot's reelection bid, China is buying more U.S. farmland, and some say that's a national security threat, Chinese officials monitor House panel hearing on U.S. economic competition with China, Sequential hurricanes are becoming more common because of climate changes. She complied, and saw Dunn put a handgun in the glove box. The state called 27 witnesses in the trial, including the young men in the SUV with Jordan Davis and Dunn's then-fiance Rhonda Rouer, who was also there. But Mr. Dunn struggled to preserve his credibility on Tuesday after his distraught fiance took the stand and, her eyes welling with tears, contradicted some major points of his testimony. 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 stand on Tuesday and told the jury he pulled the trigger repeatedly only to save his own life. "[42] He said he wanted to confront Dunn in jail about his son's murder. She claims that Dunn told her to get in the car. Rouer said she had a glass of red wine and about three rum and cokes as well as champagne. 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: Folio Weekly article leads to dismissal of juror in Michael Dunn retrial, Related:Former fiancee of Michael Dunn takes stand, live gavel-to-gavel coverage on ActionNewsJax.com, For Action News on the go, sign up for Action News Mobile & Email alerts, 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. Tears streamed down Rhonda Rouer's face and her voice shook as she recounted before jurors for a second time the day Michael Dunn shot a Jacksonville teen. This, according to Rhonda Rouer's testimony, is what her fiance, Michael Dunn, said when they pulled into a Jacksonville gas station next to an SUV full of black kids who had the stereo up high . By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); That led to a legal challenge later in the day by the Florida Times-Union for the release of transcripts from the conversation. The deputy and two others went to Dunn's home to arrest him. 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. Investigators later searched the teenagers' SUV and found no weapons. 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. He made a misogynistic joke about now having a judge with balls and compares his case to Zimmermans. Former WWE RAW Women's champion and UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, has not been on WWE television since her loss at WrestleMania 35 to Becky Lynch, who went home with both the RAW. Dramatic Testimony in Florida Stand Your Ground Trial Michael Dunn's fiance Rhonda Rouer takes the stand as a witness for the prosecution. Tears streamed down Rhonda Rouers face and her voice shook as she recounted before jurors for a second time the day Michael Dunn shot a Jacksonville teen. Musser followed. It was life or death.. Your login session has expired. . "I'm not really sure what the investigators are thinking, but I told them what was up,". Filmmaker Silver (Who Is Dayani Cristal?) After Simons' testimony wrapped up at around 12:40 p.m., court took a lunch break. It looked like a firearm and he treated it like a firearm.. She did not witness any of the confrontation between her fiance and Davis, Rouer said. He said his family engaged in a letter writing campaign to Congress and Governor Scott over the local corruption surrounding his arrest ad detainment. Letters exchanged between accused killer, Michael Dunn and his girlfriend could be problematic for his defense. Testimony began with the Brevard County Deputy Carmine Siniscal on the stand, the state's 19th witness. The next morning Rouer saw a report about the shooting on the news indicating that Jordan Davis had died. He calls the civil suit we filed bogus. I asked what was that, she recalled, after hearing the shots. It was probably as simple as - 'He threatened to kill me' and left it at that.". "He realizes under Stand Your Ground the significance of that or even self-defense. As the Durango backed up quickly to elude the gunfire, Mr. Dunn stepped out of his own car, dropped to one knee and fired more volleys to thwart any blind fire, or wild, random shooting out the car window, he said. Example video title will go here for this video, Help Wanted: Jacksonville Jaguars position groups Breakdown. "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. Personal Injury Criminal Defense Family Law. Dunn addresses Rhondas testimony and coaches her a little and also encourages her to take a Valium if she gets nervous. While Smith was not selected for the trial, he cites comments from another juror who did make the panel. 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. Prosecutors will call two more witnesses and then rest their case. Davis' mother, Lucy McBath, ran for Congress in Georgia's 6th congressional district in 2018, running on a platform that included reform of gun laws. 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. [15], After the shooting, Stornes drove the SUV away to a nearby parking lot and stopped to find Davis "gasping for air". Rouer told the court she is no longer engaged to Michael Dunn. He's been with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for about 10 years, a homicide detective for five. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Dunn's then-fiance testified, saying she heard him say, "I hate that thug music.". We will consult wherever injustice lives. Dunn was convicted on three counts of attempted second-degree murder for firing at three other teenagers who were with Davis and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle. Ittook place at the infancy of the Black Lives Matter movement, which was launched on social media following the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of another 17-year-old Florida native, Trayvon Martin. The Armor of Light premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2015 before opening theatrically on October 30, 2015. Rhonda Rouer took the stand and started trembling and sobbing as she began to get into what happened on the night of the shooting. "It just took some time to get through that. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Neither parent could have predicted what happened to Jordan the next day, or that it would spark one of the more galvanizing criminal trials in recent memory. The justices did not explain their reasons behind the refusal. Dunn and his fiancee, Rhonda Rouer, then drove to their motel, ordered a pizza and stayed the night without contacting police. Siniscal said he had a "high-risk" arrest warrant for Michael Dunn. Juror #4, previously known as Juror #32 is a white, married man with a 10-year-old child. While no one from Dunns supporters are interviewed, we hear revealing excerpts from phone recordings of Dunns prison phone calls to Rouer, his claims of victimhood and denials. Before Rouer took the stand, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detective Marc Musser testified. Court is expected to resume at 9 a.m. Watch continuing live gavel-to-gavel coverage on ActionNewsJax.com. [16] Dunn returned to his home in Satellite Beach the following day at 10:30a.m., where he was arrested after an eyewitness reported his license plate to police. Dunn's insurance company, Progressive Select Insurance, challenged its duty to cover the lawsuit, but dismissed its lawsuit in conjunction with the settlement. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. When questioned Saturday, Rouer said they were no longer engaged or in a relationship. The last state witness of the day was also from the FDLE, Maria Pagan, who is an expert in firearms and ballistics. February 10, 2014 When Rouer woke up the next morning, she saw reports on TV about the gas-station shooting. These letters were written by Michael Dunn in jail and show a different side than you heard from him and his lawyers. 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. Rouer, Dunn's former girlfriend, was the fifth witness to take the stand in the third day of testimony of the murder retrial. Rhema Thompson began her post at WJCT on a very cold day in January 2014 and left WJCT to join the team at The Florida Times Union in December 2014. The defendants words were also eroded by prosecutors who said the version of events Mr. Dunn gave jurors was different from what he told the police and wrote in a series of jailhouse letters to relatives. "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. Mr. Dunn, 47, is charged in the first-degree murder of Mr. Davis and three counts of attempted murder, one for each of the other teenagers who were in the red sport utility vehicle that Mr. Dunn shot at. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. Later testified that he still feared for his safety as well as that of Rouer who was to return the... 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