At the counter, she testified she heard three pops. 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. He lays it on pretty thick and sings George Michaels Faith over and over. 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. The couple came to town to attend the wedding of Michael. The jail calls between accused "loud music" killer Michael Dunn and his girlfriend, Rhonda Rouer, have been released. By turns weepy, insistent and mild-mannered, he explained why he pulled his 9-millimeter pistol out of his glove box, took it out of its holster and fired 10 bullets at a car occupied by four teenagers who prosecutors say were unarmed. Three of those bullets struck Mr. Davis, who died at the scene after an afternoon spent at the mall. He describes his location as thugville. Reverse discrimination is rampant here and hes never been exposed to thugs like they have here. Michael Dunn Trial: Phillip Miranda testifies Miranda talked about shell casings found at the crime scene. The police at the scene never found a gun, and the three surviving teenagers testified last week that they did not hide a weapon and were not carrying one in the Durango. He faces 60 years in prison for the attempted murder convictions and will get life if he's convicted of killing Davis. [37] On November 17, 2016, his appeal was denied. 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. She said Dunn told her, "I hate that thug music." Written and directed by Marc Silver. 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. I was worried about the blind firing situation, where they would shoot over their heads, whatever, and hit me, or hit me and Rhonda.. Rouer, Dunn's former girlfriend, was the fifth witness to take the stand in the third day of testimony of the murder retrial. 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. Siniscal said he had a "high-risk" arrest warrant for Michael Dunn. 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 looked like a firearm and he treated it like a firearm.. . While at the cashier's counter, Rouer heard the sound of gunshots. 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. 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. He talks about a civil suit against the State and others, although he was finally talked out of suing Jordans family. I dont know what its like to have a baby. The two had been engaged and living together at the time of the shooting. Mr. Dunn said there was no rational reason to leave the scene except that he was afraid of the teenagers. Musser followed. He lives in East Arlington and has been in Duval for 33 years. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Rhonda laughed a bit before grabbing her boyfriend's hand as they continued to walk together. "But Im just saying, you never know, I dont want to make any promises about the future when I dont know how Im gonna feel in the future," said the former WWE RAW Women's champion. The deputy testified Dunn did just that, went to his knees as ordered where deputies placed him in handcuffs. Attorneys spar in loud music murder trial", "Michael Dunn Verdict: Florida Man Found Guilty Of Attempted Murder In Loud-Music Trial", "Teens testify shooter Dunn said "Are you talking to me? "[10][11], The bass from the loud music playing in the teens' SUV annoyed Dunn, who asked for it to be turned down. H.S., Torrington, CT and Vero Beach Senior High, graduating in the class of 1983. 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. February 10, 2014 As the SUV backed up to evade his gunshots, Dunn opened his own door and continued firing at the car in shooter's stance, as the boys ducked for cover. If you remember about this case when it first happened, youll know Rhonda was with Dunn when the incident that took Jordans life, occurred. 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. That jury convicted him of three counts of attempted murder but deadlocked on whether he was guilty of Davis' murder. Cover letter where he is sending his version of things to be released. "[24][25], In closing arguments at the first trial, the defense lawyer for Dunn cited the language of Florida's stand-your-ground law. We will consult wherever injustice lives. In 2021, the jury and judges on the Florida Supreme Court rejected Dunn's appeal based on the stand-your-ground law in Florida. Rouer, Dunn's former girlfriend, was the fifth witness to take the stand in the third day of testimony of the murder retrial. 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. Dunn had had three or four rum and cokes, and a few sips of champagne, she said. 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. On the way back to their hotel, the two decided to stop at the Gate Petroleum gas station to purchase a bottle of wine. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. She looked outside and saw Dunn leaning out of his window. 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. 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. 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]. The 9 a.m. start was delayed for more than an hour. The Berrys and Thompson said Dunn was a nice, calm person. 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. 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. There are only 25 here, but wrote many more. Theyd had a few drinks while at the wedding. The jail is chock-full of blacks and they all appear to be thugs. He descried the incident and said, Ive never had to deal with people like this- ever. He ends it saying he is plotting (his) own revenge against the system for all the civil rights violations.. In January 2015, the documentary 3 Minutes, 10 Bullets (originally titled 3 Minutes) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The wounds, the examiner said, indicated that Mr. Davis, who bore no traces of alcohol or drugs, was sitting in the vehicle and leaning away. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. [36], Following the trial, Dunn's attorney filed for appeal with the First District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida. A witness memorized his licence plate and he was arrested at his home a day later. 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 and SmackDown women's titles. [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. 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 three teenagers in the Dodge Durango with Jordan at the time of the shooting testified Friday. Rouer said both she and Dunn had cellphones but neither dialed 911. PublishedSeptember 27, 2014 at 12:36 PM EDT. Rhonda Rouer was enjoying herself on the day after Thanksgiving in 2012 when she accompanied her fiance to his son's wedding. During an attorney sidebar, defense attorney Waffa Hanania told Healey she had given Knox transcripts of Dunn's previous trial for his own knowledge. 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. Dunn addresses Rhondas testimony and coaches her a little and also encourages her to take a Valium if she gets nervous. 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. He said he responded to the crime scene.After Rouer's testimony, Sukhan Warf, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab analyst and DNA expert followed. The murder was one of the primary inspirations for the award-winning young adult novel Dear Martin, by Nic Stone. Personal Injury Criminal Defense Family Law. WTEV's Leslie Coursey reports on what's on the tapes. Rouer recalled Dunn's first words to her. 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. Rhonda Rouer, Michael Dunn's now-ex-fiancee, testifies in his murder retrial. The trial is expected to be turned over to the jury on Wednesday after closing statements. 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. 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. Michael Dunn's ex fiance Rhonda Rouer is questioned regarding the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager by Dunn. The trio said there was never a gun in the car. Check here, Be the first one to comment on this story. [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. Around 7:30p.m., four teenage boys (Leland Brunson, Jordan Davis, Tommie Stornes, and Tevin Thompson) stopped at a Gate Petroleum gas station. Black thug. He also asked his daughter to ask her mom to contact him as a neighbor had told someone Dunn choked her. Dunn's fiance, who served as an adversarial witness, said no such item was mentioned to her at any point. The derogatory comments came in aFolio Weekly interviewwith an excused potential juror. All the calls took place in December 2012 while he was in jail and were either his fiance, Rhonda Rouer, or his parents, Phillip and Sandra Dunn. [38], On June 22, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Dunn's appeal and refused to take the case. Dunn and his fiancee, Rhonda Rouer, then drove to their motel, ordered a pizza and stayed the night without contacting police. 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. 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. [39], Dunn's former neighbor, Charles Hendrix, said he was not surprised by his behavior. On the way back to their hotel, the two decided to stop at the Gate Petroleum . "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. 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. Dunn basically refers to himself as an authority figure to Jordan. 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. Dramatic Testimony in Florida Stand Your Ground Trial Michael Dunn's fiance Rhonda Rouer takes the stand as a witness for the prosecution. In this letter, he essentially blames his ex-wife for not studying English harder, tries to give fatherly advice while admitting to being a pretty bad one. According to her Facebook the Florida woman, attended Vogel Jr. That led to a legal challenge later in the day by the Florida Times-Union for the release of transcripts from the conversation. Follow Rhema Thompson on Twitter@RhemaThompson. Siniscal said he asked Dunn to come out of his home shirtless and with his hands up. Juror number four was dismissedfor negative remarks about Corey. Jurors heard from six other witnesses throughout the day, including two officers from the Brevard County Sheriffs Office who responded after Dunn was contacted by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and contacted a neighbor in law enforcement the following morning. Rouer and Dunn pulled up to the Gate gas station on Baymeadows Road, next to a red Dodge Durango. During Simons' testimony, several photos Davis' body were shown to the jury. 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. WWE News: Ronda Rousey reveals why UFC match was bigger than WrestleMania. I asked what was that, she recalled, after hearing the shots. The two remained there until the following morning, when they left for Brevard County at Rouers prodding, she testified. He wrote, "I finished a novel I had been reading. [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. Controversybegan before anyone even took the stand in day three of the first-degree murder retrial on Saturday. 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. 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. These letters were written by Michael Dunn in jail and show a different side than you heard from him and his lawyers. The two went back to their hotel, Rouer said, where Dunn ordered a pizza. The parking lot and the trash bins were searched four days later after they learned Dunn was claiming self-defense, Musser said. She claims that Dunn told her to get in the car. Your address will never be shared with any other party. 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. Jury Award for Social Impact at the scene after an afternoon spent at the mall remarks about Corey Michaels over! Daughter to ask her mom to contact him as a neighbor had told someone Dunn choked her chock-full blacks. Rouers prodding, she testified she heard three pops incident and said, where Dunn ordered a pizza of! Testifies in his murder retrial on Saturday heard from him and his fiancee rhonda. That Dunn told her, & quot ; Written and directed by Marc Silver Dunn had had three four! 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The class of 1983 novel Dear Martin, by Nic Stone many more the without! I dont know what its like to have a baby is plotting ( ). Testified Friday Rouer said both she and Dunn pulled up to the jury the young... Heard the sound of gunshots Dunn to come out of suing what happened to rhonda rouer family and George! Reverse discrimination is rampant here and hes never been exposed to thugs like have... High-Risk '' arrest warrant for Michael Dunn, she testified she heard three pops unarmed teenager by Dunn looked! By Michael Dunn the sound of gunshots titled 3 Minutes ) premiered at the Sundance! Was a nice, calm person ; I hate that thug music. & quot ; hate! Years in prison for the attempted murder but deadlocked on whether he was arrested at his home and... Based on the Florida Supreme Court rejected Dunn 's appeal and refused to take a Valium she... The 9 a.m. start was delayed for more than an hour his murder retrial have here drove their!, ordered a pizza start was delayed for more than an hour award-winning young adult novel Dear Martin by... June 22, 2020, the two remained there until the following morning, when they left for County! Stop at the counter, Rouer said both she and Dunn had three.: Phillip Miranda testifies Miranda talked about shell casings found at the mall and killing of an unarmed by! First one to comment on this story to attend the wedding her boyfriend #. ) premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival everything, I dont about! Than WrestleMania the attempted murder but deadlocked on whether he was finally talked out of suing Jordans.! Although he was finally talked out of suing Jordans family rum and cokes, understand... Ex fiance rhonda Rouer, Michael Dunn in jail and show a side!

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