[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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The three teenagers in the Dodge Durango with Jordan at the time of the shooting testified Friday. 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. In a letter dated December 5, 2012, Michael Dunn wrote to Rouer about her testimony to prosecutors. 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. 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. Prosecutors received permission from the court to let the jury handle Dunn's gun. The film is currently available for streaming on demand from the documentary streaming service,Impactseries.netorApril 26 on the movie subscription service,Hollywood Suite. The day in court began with Mr. Dunns unalloyed version of events. They also said the police had failed to thoroughly search the surrounding area, including trash bins close to the parking lot. This contradicted the claim that Mr. Davis was out of the Durango. She testified that she got out of the car and walked into the gas station. He discusses how he wants to find a slimy civil law lawyer and sue the county for reverse discrimination. He describes his location as thugville. Reverse discrimination is rampant here and hes never been exposed to thugs like they have here. I apologize," said Healey on Saturday. I asked what was that, she recalled, after hearing the shots. "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. Here is what he says happened after he asked the teenagers in the SUV to turn down their music. 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. Mr. Davis and two of the teenagers had no criminal record. 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. [55] The film distribution was sold to HBO. Moments later, Rouer told jurors, I heard pop, pop, pop.. 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. She looked outside and saw Dunn leaning out of his window. Gabel cautioned Healey that "the mistake" being made Saturday was "the same one made in the first trial.". 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. The day began with early morning controversy over disparaging remarks reportedly made by a juror about State Attorney Angela Corey. Rouer, Dunn's former girlfriend, was the fifth witness to take the stand in the third day of testimony of the murder retrial. 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 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. 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. Dunn letter from prison to his girlfriend. "It clearly appears that Mr. Dunn is trying to refresh the recollection of his girlfriend or simply trying to tell her what she needs to say," said Kuritz. Phillip Miranda took the stand next to discuss about shell casings. Dunn addresses Rhondas testimony and coaches her a little and also encourages her to take a Valium if she gets nervous. However, Healey later said the juror claimed he did not make the remarks as Smith claimed. She did not witness any of the confrontation between her fiance and Davis, Rouer said. His mother and father retained Cory Strolla, his defense lawyer for him, and Dunn liked to complain about him. The trio said there was never a gun in the car. The film debates the question: "Is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life?" 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 ordered her in the car and the two sped away, heading to their hotel. [36], Following the trial, Dunn's attorney filed for appeal with the First District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida. The two left the parking lot very quickly, testified Rouer. 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. And when you cantargue either, put someone else on trial. [29][30][31], Jury selection in Dunn's retrial began on September 22, 2014, and opening statements took place on September 25. [13][14], Davis' protests continued and an independent witness overheard Dunn say "No, you're not gonna talk to me that way." The next morning Rouer saw a report about the shooting on the news indicating that Jordan Davis had died. 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. Musser indicated that he did not view the friends as suspects, which is why their statements to police were not videotaped, and why the adjacent parking lot was never searched. 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. Loud rap music was emanating from the Durango and when Dunn said he hated that thug music, Rouer testified that she said "I know," gave him a kiss and left Dunn in the car while she went inside. Guy asked Mr. Dunn. The last state witness of the day was also from the FDLE, Maria Pagan, who is an expert in firearms and ballistics. 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. An argument broke out between the passengers of the car and Dunn once Rouer walked . "[42] He said he wanted to confront Dunn in jail about his son's murder. Dunn was found guilty on October 1, 2014, at the conclusion of the retrial. Mr. Dunn said there was no rational reason to leave the scene except that he was afraid of the teenagers. They didn't stop on the two hour drive home. "It just took some time to get through that. Brunson, Davis, and Thompson remained in the vehicle listening to music which was described as "very loud." Three of those bullets struck Mr. Davis, who died at the scene after an afternoon spent at the mall. The trial will resume Monday. 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. 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. 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. Written and directed by Marc Silver. Rouer said she went to the entrance to see what was happening and saw Dunn facing the driver's side window. [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]. 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 and his fiancee, Rhonda Rouer, then drove to their motel, ordered a pizza and stayed the night without contacting police. He told his grandmother that the boys were liars and blames the media for favoring white on black crimes. (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. 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. . 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 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. Theyd had a few drinks while at the wedding. Before Rouer took the stand, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detective Marc Musser testified. Dunn has claimed Davis threatened him with a gun, and he fired to defend himself. [51] The murder is believed to have inspired activism of the Black Lives Matter movement. Corey is personally prosecuting Dunn. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. He's very loving."[29]. Under questioning from prosecutors, Rouer admitted to never calling 911 or trying to wave down a police officer the night of the shooting or the next day. During Simons' testimony, several photos Davis' body were shown to the jury. Rhonda Rouer (a key figure in contradicting Dunn's testimony about claiming to see Davis wielding a weapon). Your login session has expired. Rouer told the court she is no longer engaged to Michael Dunn. 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. You can contact us at help@floridajustice.com. Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Russell Healey ultimately did not allow the diagrams to be used, but said he would allow the testimony from the expert witness.Just after 2 p.m., forensic consultant Michael Knox took the stand as the first witness for the defense. After Simons' testimony wrapped up at around 12:40 p.m., court took a lunch break. Davis' murder is one of many referenced by social justice activists (including many black parents) as a reminder that unarmed children who died at the hands of police or white men, mattered as individual human beings. 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 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. They pulled by a red SUV blasting rap music, she said. 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. Kuritz says he's seen letters like this one before and believes it can be used against Dunn at trial. "I hate that thug music," Dunn told Rouer, according to her testimony. 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. "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. 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 gave emotional testimony, just as she did in the first trial. She was still engaged to Dunn at the time. She is the mother on one son, Brandon Rouer. The documentary, directed by Marc Silver, explores the shooting, the trial, and Florida's Stand Your Ground laws. They were represented by John Michael Phillips in wrongful death and defamation lawsuits against Dunn. Siniscal said he asked Dunn to come out of his home shirtless and with his hands up. The case has generated international attention because Dunn is white and Davis and his friends in the Durango are all black. Daviss parents, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, were also visibly emotional in the audience. 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. Given the traditions of the time . The FDLE, Maria Pagan, who is an expert in firearms and ballistics the question: is..., including trash bins close to the jury handle Dunn 's gun were represented by John Michael Phillips in death. A Valium if she gets nervous the news indicating that Jordan Davis had died [ ]. Now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand, '' said Kuritz make..., I heard pop, pop wrapped up at around 12:40 p.m., court a. 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