The couple drove back to their hotel, ordered a pizza and Dunn made them some alcoholic drinks. Randy and Beverly Berry, who lived in Aero Acres in Fort Pierce with Dunn's parents. [56], Davis's story also features in the 2015 documentary film The Armor of Light, the directorial debut of Disney heir Abigail Disney. 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. All rights reserved. Her priority at the moment is to start a family and she said that she does not want to make promises when she does not know how she's going to feel in the future. . Davis, who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat, then told his friend to turn the music back up and cursed at Dunn. 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.. 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. Your address will never be shared with any other party. 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. Do his choices match yours? Mr. Davis and two of the teenagers had no criminal record. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. Rouer broke into tears several times during her testimony, as she had in the first trial. 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. 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. After Knox took the stand, four character witnesses testified for the defense. Written and directed by Marc Silver. 2023 Phillips & Hunt. The two had been engaged and living together at the time of the shooting. The justices did not explain their reasons behind the refusal. 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. She is a key witness in her boyfriend's -Michael Dunn- murder trial. [37] On November 17, 2016, his appeal was denied. 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. He calls the civil suit we filed bogus. Meet 46-year-old Rhonda Lynn Hallock Rouer. He said his family engaged in a letter writing campaign to Congress and Governor Scott over the local corruption surrounding his arrest ad detainment. Dunn's then-fiance testified, saying she heard him say, "I hate that thug music.". One of those men, 17-year-old Jordan Davis, died that night - a fact Rouer didn't learn about until the next morning. [17][18], After his arrest, Dunn claimed that Davis threatened him with a "gun or a stick". To receive an email when new reviews/interviews are added to Original-Cin, please provide your email address in the form below. 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. [49] In 2020, she defeated Handel in a rematch to win reelection to a second term. 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. 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. rhonda mathis and attica scott say not only did lapd tell the public one day after it happened, now, eight days later, the body camera video has not been released. She said she rushed back to the car where Dunn "urgently" asked her to get in. She testified that despite having prior plans she demanded that Dunn take her home right away. When she did find out, she was willingly honest during her interrogation and spoke against her husband on the day of the trial. Dunn was found guilty on October 1, 2014, at the conclusion of the retrial. As for WWE plans in the future, we want to have a baby first. 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. [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. Daviss parents, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, were also visibly emotional in the audience. The trio said there was never a gun in the car. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Strong emotions, tears and a bombshell revelation from the former fiancee of Michael Dunn Saturday afternoon followed a dramatic morning session that saw the judge dismiss a juror and give strong words to the crew in charge of the courtroom camera. Dunn, driving a black Volkswagen Jetta sedan, and his fiance Rhonda Rouer pulled into the right adjacent parking spot. Rouer recalled Dunn's first words to her. "We were very happy," said Rouer, in tears. Rhondas boyfriend is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Jordan Davis, 17, at a Jacksonville, Fla. convenience store in November 2012. With little but his own words to bolster his self-defense case, Mr. Dunn, a software engineer from Brevard County, Fla., had little choice but to take the witness stand, legal experts said. He lays it on pretty thick and sings George Michaels Faith over and over. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Let me assure you, just as I told detectives who first interviewed me in Melbourne, and later Mitch Stone- there was a weapon.". 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. Brunson, Davis, and Thompson remained in the vehicle listening to music which was described as "very loud." She is the mother on one son, Brandon Rouer. She revealed in a video with her husband Travis Browne, how she got injured: "I did break my pinkie knuckle. She also said Dunn mixed both of them another rum and soda adding his fifth from his earlier at his sons wedding in the hotel room. Kuritz says despite the way the letter sounds this does not appear to be witness tampering, it simply sounds like Dunn's version of events. His fiance, Rhonda Rouer, says the last thing she heard him say was, "I hate that thug music." Rouer was in the convenience store when she heard gunshots, and when she ran outside, he told. 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. He makes a joke to his grandmother about women being interested in his fiance, and then told his grandmother he could fall into a pile of shit and step out smelling like a rose. About the case, he discusses the misinformation and outright lies being reported by the media. Despite saying he doesnt use the word thug, on page 6 he uses it to his own grandmother and specifically calls the surviving boys, thugs.. "Poor sweetie." Rhonda smirked before leaning over and kissing Arnold on the lips. 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. In January 2015, the documentary 3 Minutes, 10 Bullets (originally titled 3 Minutes) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. 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. Black thug. He also asked his daughter to ask her mom to contact him as a neighbor had told someone Dunn choked her. 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. Dunn later testified that he still feared for his safety as well as that of Rouer who was to return to the vehicle imminently. [15], After the shooting, Stornes drove the SUV away to a nearby parking lot and stopped to find Davis "gasping for air". 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. When Rouer woke up the next morning, she saw reports on TV about the gas-station shooting. [7], The shooting of Jordan Davis took place in Jacksonville in Duval County. During Simons' testimony, several photos Davis' body were shown to the jury. Rouer and Dunn pulled up to the Gate gas station on Baymeadows Road, next to a red Dodge Durango. We will consult wherever injustice lives. 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. [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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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. [50] ABC News, Australia says the case has become part of the national conversation about the dangers facing young black men in America today. Around 7:30p.m., four teenage boys (Leland Brunson, Jordan Davis, Tommie Stornes, and Tevin Thompson) stopped at a Gate Petroleum gas station. "I'm not really sure what the investigators are thinking, but I told them what was up,". 2023 Cox Media Group. . Siniscal told defense attorneys Dunn showed no resistance or violence at the time of his arrest. She said she could still hear the loud music as she walked up to the store. Now I'm back to reading the Bible and playing solitaire.". The two returned to Dunns home, where he was later arrested. Later, Simons demonstrated on "Bendy," an anatomical figure, the position that Davis was in when he was shot. Check here, Be the first one to comment on this story. That led to a legal challenge later in the day by the Florida Times-Union for the release of transcripts from the conversation. 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]. In Season 1 episode "The Night Terror Stalked the Town", it is revealed that James was named after a paternal uncle. He comments on my (the Davis attorney) assertion that there were no weapons and wishes his lawyer would counter these assertions. 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. The police arrested him shortly after he arrived in Brevard, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. Michael Dunn Trial: Phillip Miranda testifies Miranda talked about shell casings found at the crime scene. But no weapon was found at the scene and Rouer said the Durango had already fled when she looked outside. Investigators later searched the teenagers' SUV and found no weapons. 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. He faces 60 years in prison for the attempted murder convictions and will get life if he's convicted of killing Davis. It was Jordan Davis who kept escalating this to the point where I had no choice but to defend myself, Mr. Dunn said, naming the 17-year-old student he shot dead in the parking lot of a gas station convenience store. 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. He is now serving life in prison without parole. 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. They also said the police had failed to thoroughly search the surrounding area, including trash bins close to the parking lot. 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. This contradicted the claim that Mr. Davis was out of the Durango. 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. Rouer said they drove straight to the Jacksonville hotel, changed clothes and ordered pizza. After Simons' testimony wrapped up at around 12:40 p.m., court took a lunch break. Rhonda Rouer (a key figure in contradicting Dunn's testimony about claiming to see Davis wielding a weapon). With tissues in hand, Michael Dunn's fiance Rhonda Rouer took the stand today as a state's witness. 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: Jordan's Friends Take Stand in Day 2, live gavel-to-gavel coverage on ActionNewsJax.com, 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. 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. Dunn addresses Rhondas testimony and coaches her a little and also encourages her to take a Valium if she gets nervous. "[45][46] She described Dunn as "a good man. During an attorney sidebar, defense attorney Waffa Hanania told Healey she had given Knox transcripts of Dunn's previous trial for his own knowledge. They also heard from the lead detective in the case with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and several forensics experts. Dunn says it was. But there was one less juror to hear testimony Saturday. 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. Rouer testified Saturday that she and Dunn, who reside in Satellite Beach, Fla., were in Jacksonville that day to attend the wedding of Dunns son in Orange Park. Rhonda took the stand over the weekend to tell her side of what happened Nov. 23, 2012. Before Rouer took the stand, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detective Marc Musser testified. As his head clears the window frame, he says, This is going down, Mr. Dunn said, quoting Mr. Davis and using an expletive in the quote. [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. Cover letter where he is sending his version of things to be released. Rouer testified she wanted to go home and they left. The film debates the question: "Is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life?" In a letter dated December 5, 2012, Michael Dunn wrote to Rouer about her testimony to prosecutors. Michael Dunn's ex fiance Rhonda Rouer is questioned regarding the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager by Dunn. In the aftermath of the. He ordered her in the car and the two sped away, heading to their hotel. An argument broke out between the passengers of the car and Dunn once Rouer walked . He describes his location as thugville. Reverse discrimination is rampant here and hes never been exposed to thugs like they have here. They were represented by John Michael Phillips in wrongful death and defamation lawsuits against Dunn. Your login session has expired. 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. Demonstrated on `` Bendy, '' said Rouer, in tears faces 60 years in prison parole. Forensics experts ordered a pizza and Dunn once Rouer walked behind the refusal pretty and! Once Rouer walked Travis Browne, how she got injured: `` is it possible to be released playing.! She defeated Handel in a letter dated December 5, 2012 the on... 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