[36], Following the trial, Dunn's attorney filed for appeal with the First District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida. Juror #4, previously known as Juror #32 is a white, married man with a 10-year-old child. The derogatory comments came in aFolio Weekly interviewwith an excused potential juror. She testified that she got out of the car and walked into the gas station. WWE News: Ronda Rousey reveals why UFC match was bigger than WrestleMania. Later, Simons demonstrated on "Bendy," an anatomical figure, the position that Davis was in when he was shot. I dont know what its like to have a baby. . 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. Dunn's then-fiance testified, saying she heard him say, "I hate that thug music.". During Simons' testimony, several photos Davis' body were shown to the jury. It would be the last good memory Rouer and Michael Dunn would have together. The two left the parking lot very quickly, testified Rouer. He describes his location as thugville. Reverse discrimination is rampant here and hes never been exposed to thugs like they have here. He wrote, "I finished a novel I had been reading. Letters exchanged between accused killer, Michael Dunn and his girlfriend could be problematic for his defense. "We were very happy," said Rouer, in tears. 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. The documentary, directed by Marc Silver, explores the shooting, the trial, and Florida's Stand Your Ground laws. 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. Michael Dunn Trial: Phillip Miranda testifies Miranda talked about shell casings found at the crime scene. While at the cashier's counter, Rouer heard the sound of gunshots. 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 . and his crew gained permission to film inside the Jacksonville court house, as long as they did not film the jury. Dunn doubts he would have even been arrested in any other County, discusses his plans to sue the pants off of the State once trial is over. Dunn had had three or four rum and cokes, and a few sips of champagne, she said. Healey eventually agreed to have the transcripts emailed to Gabel for review. Dunn was found guilty on October 1, 2014, at the conclusion of the retrial. Rousey herself does not know if she will return to the WWE. These letters were written by Michael Dunn in jail and show a different side than you heard from him and his lawyers. Rouer said both she and Dunn had cellphones but neither dialed 911. Do his choices match yours? 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. Rouer testified she wanted to go home and they left. Rhonda Rouer, Michael Dunn's now-ex-fiancee, testifies in his murder retrial. 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. [52][53] During the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Davis' mother, Lucy McBath, talked about supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and said, "His death doesn't overshadow his life."[54]. . 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. His threats and actions left no doubt in my mind that it was firearm. Beforehand, the judge cautioned the court that if individuals felt they could not view these photos without outburst, they should leave the courtroom. The murder trial of the Brevard County man accused of killing a teenager over loud music continues in Jacksonville on Monday. He compares himself to My Cousin Vinnie and how he has a foolproof case. They were represented by John Michael Phillips in wrongful death and defamation lawsuits against Dunn. 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. He tried to explain his story and excuse his lack of mentioning of a weapon, saying, I cannot recall if I ever conveyed the details of my decision making to you. Michael Dunn's ex fiance Rhonda Rouer is questioned regarding the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager by Dunn. "I hate that thug music," Dunn told Rouer, according to her testimony. ", "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'. "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. Siniscal said he asked Dunn to come out of his home shirtless and with his hands up. 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. The Berrys and Thompson said Dunn was a nice, calm person. H.S., Torrington, CT and Vero Beach Senior High, graduating in the class of 1983. And when you cantargue either, put someone else on trial. We spend time getting to know Jordans friends, troubled by their loss and their own near-death experience. Rouer testified she did not hear any arguing. Rouer told the jury that her boyfriend had maybe three or four rum and sodas at his sons 2012 wedding, prior to pulling into the parking lot of a Jacksonville, Fla., gas station beside a red Dodge Durango, which was blaring loud music, according to online reports. Before Rouer took the stand, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detective Marc Musser testified. The two remained there until the following morning, when they left for Brevard County at Rouers prodding, she testified. Please logout and login again. Simons testified that, in her medical opinion, she did not believe Davis was outside, or leaning outside of the vehicle when he was shot. Example video title will go here for this video, Help Wanted: Jacksonville Jaguars position groups Breakdown. 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. Dramatic Testimony in Florida Stand Your Ground Trial Michael Dunn's fiance Rhonda Rouer takes the stand as a witness for the prosecution. Check here, Be the first one to comment on this story. Mr. Dunn said he told his fiance several times that the teenager had threatened him with a gun or some kind of weapon. [17][18], After his arrest, Dunn claimed that Davis threatened him with a "gun or a stick". 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. That led to a legal challenge later in the day by the Florida Times-Union for the release of transcripts from the conversation. 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. "Yes, I know," she replied. 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 justices did not explain their reasons behind the refusal. He was still discussing whether Cory or the process was to blame and decided it was the process. Saying, "I then realized that we hadn't really discussed what happened, as we were more concerned with whether or not anyone was hurt. 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. Yeah, when I took the table and threw it I felt like I had to do something with my hands when I hit them against the table I came in a little hot. And it had nothing to do with Mr. Davis profanity-laced reply to the common courtesy request Mr. Dunn said he politely made that the teenagers lower the volume on the car stereo, he added. Rouer said she had a glass of red wine and about three rum and cokes as well as champagne. Davis, who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat, then told his friend to turn the music back up and cursed at Dunn. She was still engaged to Dunn at the time. She claims that Dunn told her to get in the car. He wanted his family to give Cory direction. He wanted a Stand Your Ground hearing and a ton of experts, including an expert on the thug sub-culture. He also wanted a more active roll in the press, including mentioning how unreliable the 3 thugs in SUV are. 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. [11][13], Shortly after Davis's death, his parents, Ron Davis and Lucy McBath, and some of the other vehicle occupants, filed civil complaints against Dunn. The couple came to town to attend the wedding of Michael. 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. 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. Stornes left his red Dodge Durango SUV running while he went into the store. 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. However, Healey later said the juror claimed he did not make the remarks as Smith claimed. 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? He discusses how he wants to find a slimy civil law lawyer and sue the county for reverse discrimination. 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 contradicted the claim that Mr. Davis was out of the Durango. That jury convicted him of three counts of attempted murder but deadlocked on whether he was guilty of Davis' murder. The Armor of Light premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2015 before opening theatrically on October 30, 2015. 3 Minutes, 10 Bullets. The man sitting in the front passenger seat complied. Rhonda testified when she turned around she saw Dunn outside the vehicle, and she then exited the store. They also said the police had failed to thoroughly search the surrounding area, including trash bins close to the parking lot. 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. The police arrested him shortly after he arrived in Brevard, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. 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. 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. PublishedSeptember 27, 2014 at 12:36 PM EDT. 7 Likes, 0 Comments - Rhonda Sunshine Miller (@artateher_sunshine) on Instagram: "The best thing that ever happened to me #therapy" Testimony in the trial highlighted how loud music from the teens vehicle initiated a verbal confrontation between Davis and Dunn who told the teens to turn down the music. When Daviss fianc returned from the store where she had bought wine, Dunn sped away, leaving three boys with their dying friend. While Smith was not selected for the trial, he cites comments from another juror who did make the panel. The two went back to their hotel, Rouer said, where Dunn ordered a pizza. Early Saturday morning, Judge Russell Healey excused juror #4 because of a comment made by the juror that got published in Folio Weekly in an article titled, "An Interview with a Dunn Jury reject.". The prosecutor, John Guy, expressing incredulity during his cross-examination, also picked apart Mr. Dunns testimony. [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. He wants this person to make comments on social media on his behalf. Rouer told jurors that she had two rum and colas and Dunn had "maybe [] (CNN) Fighting back tears and visibly shaking on the witness stand, Rhonda Rouer testified Saturday in the Florida murder trial of her boyfriend, Michael Dunn, and gave jurors her account of what happened the night Jordan Davis was fatally shot. Relatives. Rouer recalled Dunn's first words to her. Former Florida state attorney Angela Corey stated that her office would seek a retrial for this charge. [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. [57], Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:33, First District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida, "Dunn jury hears from former fiancee, juror dismissed", "Michael Dunn, Jordan Davis, and America's Racist Heritage", "Black Teen's Shooter Rants About Killing 'Thugs' So They 'May Take the Hint and Change Their Behavior', https://efactssc-public.flcourts.org/casedocuments/2019/2063/2019-2063_notice_88213_notice2ddiscretionary20juris2028direct20conflict29.pdf, "Did Jordan Davis have weapon? "I'm not really sure what the investigators are thinking, but I told them what was up,". 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. Siniscal said he had a "high-risk" arrest warrant for Michael Dunn. ', "Michael Dunn convicted on 4 of 5 charges in loud-music murder case", "Michael Dunn sentenced to life without parole for killing of Florida teenager", "Verdict: Michael Dunn found guilty of first degree murder", "Florida Man on Trial Again in Loud Music Killing", "Prosecutors want to put Michael Dunn in prison before murder retrial", "Life without parole for loud-music murderer in Florida", Michael Dunn sentenced to life without parole for killing of Florida teenager, Appeal filed in Michael Dunn's conviction in teen Jordan Davis' death, "Supreme Court rejects Brevard man's appeal in racially tinged murder of Jordan Davis in Jacksonville", "Ron Davis in contact with Trayvon's father", "Gun Reform Advocate Lucy McBath Heads To Runoff For Georgia House Seat", "Citing Parkland shooting, anti-gun-violence activist is running for Congress in Georgia", "Lucy McBath Wins Georgia Congressional Race Against Karen Handel", "When Black women use motherhood's power to advocate for Black lives", "Timeline: The Black Lives Matter movement", "Black Noise, White Ears: Resilience, Rap, and the Killing of Jordan Davis", "Mother of Jordan Davis Speaks Out: "His Death Doesn't Overshadow His Life" at Democratic Convention", "Movies Sold at Sundance 2015: A Complete & Updated Guide", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Jordan_Davis&oldid=1140842638, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:33. Rouer told the court she is no longer engaged to Michael Dunn. Musser followed. The trial was halted briefly Saturday morning when a juror was dismissed. [47] McBath cited the activism of students after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting as a reason for her run. In addition to personal injury and wrongful death, our firm handles family law matters and select criminal defense cases. The two returned to Dunns home, where he was later arrested. It looked like a firearm and he treated it like a firearm.. Corey is personally prosecuting Dunn. [7], The shooting of Jordan Davis took place in Jacksonville in Duval County. Dunn letter from prison to his girlfriend. When Rouer got in the vehicle, she testified, she saw Dunn put a gun back in the glovebox. Almost two years later, a distinctly unhappy Rouer recounted a day that started happily and ended with her now former fiance fleeing a Southside Gate gas station at high speed after he fired 10 shots into a Dodge Durango that contained four black men. Rouer may return again. It would be the last good memory Rouer and Michael Dunn would have toge He's very loving."[29]. There are only 25 here, but wrote many more. 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. The parking lot and the trash bins were searched four days later after they learned Dunn was claiming self-defense, Musser said. They drove back, and Dunn was arrested later that day. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. (CLICK ANY LINK TO DOWNLOAD PDF OF EACH LETTER): Dunn reference a few criminal defense lawyers he spoke with and how one mentioned to him that he never mentioned a gun to Rhonda. His mother and father retained Cory Strolla, his defense lawyer for him, and Dunn liked to complain about him. [48] She defeated incumbent Karen Handel, winning 160,139 votes (50.5%) to Handel's 156,875 (49.5%). When she did find out, she was willingly honest during her interrogation and spoke against her husband on the day of the trial. We represent the family of Jordan Davis and these letters were made public as evidence in the criminal case. 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. On the way back to their hotel, the two decided to stop at the Gate Petroleum . Meanwhile, the trial of Michael Dunn resumes 9 a.m. Monday. 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. [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. [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. 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. I was worried about the blind firing situation, where they would shoot over their heads, whatever, and hit me, or hit me and Rhonda.. 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. Rhonda Rouer (a key figure in contradicting Dunn's testimony about claiming to see Davis wielding a weapon). Rousey also revealed that she and her husband are planning to have a baby and that she does not know what the future holds for her. 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. Your login session has expired. Dunn and Rouer left the wedding early in order to return to their hotel and take care of their six-month-old puppy. Prosecutors have pounded on the fact that Dunn was ordering a pizza and walking his dog while Davis was being pronounced dead. [15], After the shooting, Stornes drove the SUV away to a nearby parking lot and stopped to find Davis "gasping for air". Rhonda Rouer took the stand and started trembling and sobbing as she began to get into what happened on the night of the shooting. She said she could still hear the loud music as she walked up to the store. She testified that despite having prior plans she demanded that Dunn take her home right away. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. 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? The day in court began with Mr. Dunns unalloyed version of events. Anyone can read what you share. The next morning, after the couple saw news reports that someone had died at the gas station, Mr. Dunn said he called a neighbor, a federal law enforcement official, and told him he had to discuss something with him when he got home. WTEV's Leslie Coursey reports on what's on the tapes. Around 7:30p.m., four teenage boys (Leland Brunson, Jordan Davis, Tommie Stornes, and Tevin Thompson) stopped at a Gate Petroleum gas station. She started by telling Assistant State Attorney Erin Wolfson that they had a good day that . Prosecutors received permission from the court to let the jury handle Dunn's gun. Filmmaker Silver (Who Is Dayani Cristal?) 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. Pin. Also Read: WWE News: Ronda Rousey reveals why UFC match was bigger than WrestleMania, Booker T just voted in the Sportskeeda Wrestling Awards. If her boyfriend is convicted he could face life in jail. The couple left the afternoon wedding early to see about their seventh-month-old puppy Charlie, Rouer said. They didn't call 911, and didn't know Davis had died until the next morning when Dunn was arrested. 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. 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 last state witness of the day was also from the FDLE, Maria Pagan, who is an expert in firearms and ballistics. Musser said it wasn't until months later that he realized the Gate station video recordings included audio, and by that point the recordings were gone. 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. The documentary won the U.S. [50] ABC News, Australia says the case has become part of the national conversation about the dangers facing young black men in America today. 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]. This one is difficult to read and he and his fiance have some code language they have worked out. On Monday morning, the state began by calling Wendy Meacham, an investigator with the Office of the Medical Examiner. A fourth teenager, the driver, has a third-degree felony conviction. Austin testified to Dunn's behavior at his son Christopher's wedding, saying he was in control of his actions. [22][23] In his criminal trial, Dunn had been declared "broke. A 400-pound white schoolteacher who was sitting by me really hated [Coreys] humor, and made the joke that she would have a hard time proving to a court that I am fat; there would still be reasonable doubt.. She also said that Mr. Dunn never called their neighbor to say he wanted to discuss something important. 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. They didn't stop on the two hour drive home. Dunn basically refers to himself as an authority figure to Jordan. That means we watch, along with Davis parents,the testimony of Dunn and his nervous fianc, Rhonda Rouer (a key figure in contradicting Dunns testimony about claiming to see Davis wielding a weapon). 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. From the other side, prosecutor John Guy (who also helped toprosecute the George Zimmerman case) framesthe defenses argument this way: When you cant argue the facts, argue the law; when you cant argue the law, argue the facts. 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. Live Video: Michael Dunn Trial Coverage The couple drove back to their hotel, ordered a pizza and Dunn made them some alcoholic drinks. Brunson, Davis, and Thompson remained in the vehicle listening to music which was described as "very loud." She is a key witness in her boyfriend's -Michael Dunn- murder trial. They also heard from the lead detective in the case with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and several forensics experts. She did not witness any of the confrontation between her fiance and Davis, Rouer said. Dunn's insurance company, Progressive Select Insurance, challenged its duty to cover the lawsuit, but dismissed its lawsuit in conjunction with the settlement. When Rouer woke up the next morning, she saw reports on TV about the gas-station shooting. "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. Dunn was originally tried for murder in February. 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. The couple came to town to attend the wedding of Michael Dunn's son. But there was one less juror to hear testimony Saturday.