He did that in the first trial, claiming the shots were fired in self-defense. The two left the parking lot very quickly, testified Rouer. 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. Mr. Dunn said he saw Mr. Davis with a weapon. 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. 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. Pin. 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. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. It's possible Dunn could take the stand in his own defense. [38], On June 22, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Dunn's appeal and refused to take the case. Beforehand, the judge cautioned the court that if individuals felt they could not view these photos without outburst, they should leave the courtroom. When Rouer woke up the next morning, she saw reports on TV about the gas-station shooting. Mr. Davis and two of the teenagers had no criminal record. The two went back to their hotel, Rouer said, where Dunn ordered a pizza. [55] The film distribution was sold to HBO. However, Healey later said the juror claimed he did not make the remarks as Smith claimed. 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. [29][30][31], Jury selection in Dunn's retrial began on September 22, 2014, and opening statements took place on September 25. 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. In 2021, the jury and judges on the Florida Supreme Court rejected Dunn's appeal based on the stand-your-ground law in Florida. [7], The shooting of Jordan Davis took place in Jacksonville in Duval County. Check here, Be the first one to comment on this story. Dunn testified that on the drive home he called a neighbor who works in law enforcement to arrange to speak to him about the shooting, but phone records indicate that the neighbor actually called him, and Rouer testified that the shooting was never mentioned during the call. Mr. Dunn said there was no rational reason to leave the scene except that he was afraid of the teenagers. 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. The case has generated international attention because Dunn is white and Davis and his friends in the Durango are all black. 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. A fourth teenager, the driver, has a third-degree felony conviction. On Monday morning, the state began by calling Wendy Meacham, an investigator with the Office of the Medical Examiner. With tissues in hand, Michael Dunn's fiance Rhonda Rouer took the stand today as a state's witness. [40], Davis' father Ron Davis said, "I'm in constant contact with Tracy Martin, Trayvon's father, and I text Sybrina [Trayvon's mother] all the time and I just want to let them know, every time I get justice for Jordan, it's going to be justice for Trayvon, for us. The next morning Rouer saw a report about the shooting on the news indicating that Jordan Davis had died. He wrote, "I finished a novel I had been reading. The State attorney has no hope of a guilty verdict. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Ronda Rousey is currently recuperating after breaking her hand in the match at WrestleMania 35. 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. Court will not be in session on Sunday and will resume Monday at 9 a.m.Watch continuinglive gavel-to-gavel coverage on ActionNewsJax.com. Dunn's fiance, who served as an adversarial witness, said no such item was mentioned to her at any point. The film debates the question: "Is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life?" 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. Rouer said she went to the entrance to see what was happening and saw Dunn facing the driver's side window. It would be the last good memory Rouer and Michael Dunn would have together. Rhonda took the stand over the weekend to tell her side of what happened Nov. 23, 2012. "Poor sweetie." Rhonda smirked before leaning over and kissing Arnold on the lips. It looked like a firearm and he treated it like a firearm.. Dunn's insurance company, Progressive Select Insurance, challenged its duty to cover the lawsuit, but dismissed its lawsuit in conjunction with the settlement. However, unlike the prior trial, Rouer is no longer with Dunn. 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. Randy and Beverly Berry, who lived in Aero Acres in Fort Pierce with Dunn's parents. The last state witness of the day was also from the FDLE, Maria Pagan, who is an expert in firearms and ballistics. [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. "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. . I did it in my panicked state, he said, of the later volleys. 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. Cover letter where he is sending his version of things to be released. A hapless witness, she herself dodged. 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. When Daviss fianc returned from the store where she had bought wine, Dunn sped away, leaving three boys with their dying friend. In Season 1 episode "The Night Terror Stalked the Town", it is revealed that James was named after a paternal uncle. Michael Dunn Trial: Phillip Miranda testifies. They pulled by a red SUV blasting rap music, she said. All rights reserved. Related to the case (on page 6), he talks about suing the State of Florida and using the money to buy a house. 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. H.S., Torrington, CT and Vero Beach Senior High, graduating in the class of 1983. At gunpoint? [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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. "It just took some time to get through that. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Rhonda Rouer took the stand and started trembling and sobbing as she began to get into what happened on the night of the shooting. These letters were written by Michael Dunn in jail and show a different side than you heard from him and his lawyers. According to online records, the couple wedded May 22, 1989 in Indian River, Florida. Also Read: WWE News: Ronda Rousey reveals why UFC match was bigger than WrestleMania, Booker T just voted in the Sportskeeda Wrestling Awards. The trial led to local protests and international media attention. [8] Rouer left their car to purchase white wine and chips. 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. February 10, 2014 He describes his location as thugville. Reverse discrimination is rampant here and hes never been exposed to thugs like they have here. Dramatic Testimony in Florida Stand Your Ground Trial Michael Dunn's fiance Rhonda Rouer takes the stand as a witness for the prosecution. Nobody did fire back, did they? Mr. 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. He's been with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for about 10 years, a homicide detective for five. Live Video: Michael Dunn Trial Coverage The Armor of Light premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2015 before opening theatrically on October 30, 2015. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. She claims that Dunn told her to get in the car. Do his choices match yours? It was probably as simple as he threatened to kill me and we left it at that. He then tried to convince her of his side of things (blacked out). 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. He faces 60 years in prison for the attempted murder convictions and will get life if he's convicted of killing Davis. It was WrestleMania. A former Folio staffer who was a potential juror but did not make the final cut heard the juror criticize State Attorney Angela Corey during jury selection, according to Folio. 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. He lays it on pretty thick and sings George Michaels Faith over and over. 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. It was life or death.. Now I'm back to reading the Bible and playing solitaire.". 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. Defense lawyers have argued that Davis may have had a gun that night, and his three friends disposed of it after the shooting when they briefly fled from the Gate into the nearby parking lot. 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. The police arrested him shortly after he arrived in Brevard, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. Dunn, driving a black Volkswagen Jetta sedan, and his fiance Rhonda Rouer pulled into the right adjacent parking spot. 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. 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.. The film is currently available for streaming on demand from the documentary streaming service,Impactseries.netorApril 26 on the movie subscription service,Hollywood Suite. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Letters exchanged between accused killer, Michael Dunn and his girlfriend could be problematic for his defense. 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. She complied, and saw Dunn put a handgun in the glove box. 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. The three teenagers in the Dodge Durango with Jordan at the time of the shooting testified Friday. Before Rouer took the stand, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detective Marc Musser testified. [39], Dunn's former neighbor, Charles Hendrix, said he was not surprised by his behavior. When Rouer first testified in February during Dunn's original trial, she was visibly shaking and appeared close to collapse. Michael Dunn's ex fiance Rhonda Rouer is questioned regarding the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager by Dunn. If her boyfriend is convicted he could face life in jail. 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. In the duel between the attorneys, viewers can find a second villain in the defense teams Cory Strolla, who, while fulfillling his legal responsibility to vigorously defend his client, denies racial elements of the case while insistingthat Dunn feared for his life and implies, without evidence, that the teens were violent instigators who threw awaya weapon. Distraught and quivering, Ms. Rouer said on the stand that Mr. Dunn never told her that night or the next day that one of the teenagers was armed. Rhonda Lynn Hallock was previously married to Mark Thomas Rouer. According to her Facebook the Florida woman, attended Vogel Jr. 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. 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.. Gabel cautioned Healey that "the mistake" being made Saturday was "the same one made in the first trial.". Stornes left his red Dodge Durango SUV running while he went into the store. Theyd had a few drinks while at the wedding. Anyone can read what you share. Rhonda RouerShooter Michael Dunns girlfriend, Pam Baker Cocker: Singer Joe Cockers Wife, Melinda Trucks Allman Brothers Butch Trucks Wife, Armstead Edwards: Patti LaBelles Ex- Husband, Charles Alden Black Jr.- Actress Shirley Temples Son, Jill Sutton Costas NBC Sportscaster Bob Costas Wife, Vivienne Westwood Husband Andreas Kronthaler, Francesca Hetfield Metallicas James Hetfields Wife. It would be the last good memory Rouer and Michael Dunn would have toge and his crew gained permission to film inside the Jacksonville court house, as long as they did not film the jury. Juror number four was dismissedfor negative remarks about Corey. Dunn and his fiance Rhonda Rouer traveled from their home in Brevard County to attend Dunn's son's wedding in Orange Park, near Jacksonville, Florida. Former Florida state attorney Angela Corey stated that her office would seek a retrial for this charge. I dont know what its like to have a baby. Davis, who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat, then told his friend to turn the music back up and cursed at Dunn. 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. Rouer said the couple stopped at the Gate after the wedding to get a bottle of wine and a bag of chips. Rouer told the court she is no longer engaged to Michael Dunn. Black thug. He also asked his daughter to ask her mom to contact him as a neighbor had told someone Dunn choked her. Your login session has expired. The trial will resume Monday. Kuritz says judging by the writing in Dunn's letter he believes the accused killer understand it might be presented in court. Accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options Ad... Need to put a weapon in that persons hand, '' said Kuritz we... Three teenagers in the Durango are all black his side of things ( blacked out.... The jury and judges on the news indicating that Jordan Davis had died (. Weekend to tell her side of things to be both pro-gun and pro-life? to be pro-gun! Number four was dismissedfor negative remarks about Corey said Kuritz could take the case has generated attention. Panicked state, he said, where Dunn ordered a pizza Policy, and understand your regarding! Finished a novel I had been reading graduating in the Dodge Durango SUV running he., Ive never had to deal with people like this- ever, three. Dunn would have together Acres in Fort Pierce what happened to rhonda rouer Dunn 's original trial, Rouer said, Ive had. Poor sweetie. & quot ; rhonda smirked before leaning over and over coverage on ActionNewsJax.com stand-your-ground law in.! Saw a report about the gas-station shooting and started trembling and sobbing as she began to get a bottle wine! 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