While Rouer was inside the store, Dunn asked the people in the Durango to turn down the music. 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]. [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. 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. The deputy testified Dunn did just that, went to his knees as ordered where deputies placed him in handcuffs. 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. 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. [13][14], Davis' protests continued and an independent witness overheard Dunn say "No, you're not gonna talk to me that way." An argument broke out between the passengers of the car and Dunn once Rouer walked . Kuritz says he's seen letters like this one before and believes it can be used against Dunn at trial. Later, Simons demonstrated on "Bendy," an anatomical figure, the position that Davis was in when he was shot. Now I'm back to reading the Bible and playing solitaire.". 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 Violent Heart, Kerem Sanga, Young Adult melodrama, Murder mystery, Lukas Haas, Mary J. Blige, Jovan Adepo, Grace Van Patten, Jordan Preston Carter, Rayven Symone Ferrell, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Nomadland, Frances McDormand, Characters on the fringe of society, Homeless on wheels, Linda May, Bob Wells, David Strathairn, Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First CenturybyJessica Bruder, Chlo Zhao, The Rider, Terrence Malick, Kelly Reichardt, Joshua James Richards, Ludovico Einaudi, Richard Linklater, Boyhood, Derek Chauvin, the gruesome death of George Floyd, police killing of a third African-American teen, Michael Brown. As for WWE plans in the future, we want to have a baby first. The couple drove back to their hotel, ordered a pizza and Dunn made them some alcoholic drinks. Rhonda laughed a bit before grabbing her boyfriend's hand as they continued to walk together. 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. Rouer testified the couple went home to Brevard County after the shooting. "[42] He said he wanted to confront Dunn in jail about his son's murder. 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. It was probably as simple as - 'He threatened to kill me' and left it at that.". [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. 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. 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). In 2021, the jury and judges on the Florida Supreme Court rejected Dunn's appeal based on the stand-your-ground law in Florida. Rhonda testified when she turned around she saw Dunn outside the vehicle, and she then exited the store. He ordered her in the car and the two sped away, heading to their hotel. 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. [26], On February 15, 2014, after more than 30 hours of deliberation, the jury found Dunn guilty on the three counts of attempted murder. Rouer may return again. Siniscal said he asked Dunn to come out of his home shirtless and with his hands up. 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. Michael Dunn's ex fiance Rhonda Rouer is questioned regarding the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager by Dunn. Investigators later searched the teenagers' SUV and found no weapons. 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. 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. 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. Dunn and Rouer left the wedding early in order to return to their hotel and take care of their six-month-old puppy. His mother and father retained Cory Strolla, his defense lawyer for him, and Dunn liked to complain about him. Rouer and Dunn pulled up to the Gate gas station on Baymeadows Road, next to a red Dodge Durango. 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. Personal Injury Criminal Defense Family Law. At the counter, she testified she heard three pops. 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. The 9 a.m. start was delayed for more than an hour. In addition to personal injury and wrongful death, our firm handles family law matters and select criminal defense cases. 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. He lives in East Arlington and has been in Duval for 33 years. ", "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'. Amidst dailyreports about the trial of policeman Derek Chauvin, the gruesome death of George Floyd, and this weeks police shooting of Daunte Wright in Minnesota, it may seem perverse to revisit a different racially-charged trial from 2015. While at the cashier's counter, Rouer heard the sound of gunshots. The defense is expected to begin presenting its case late Monday morning. The two returned to Dunns home, where he was later arrested. She did not witness any of the confrontation between her fiance and Davis, Rouer said. You can also review more evidence like the photos here. Rhonda Rouer was enjoying herself on the day after Thanksgiving in 2012 when she accompanied her fiance to his son's wedding. (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. [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. 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. She said Dunn told her, "I hate that thug music." 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. At that point, he said, his mind was on his fiance, Rhonda Rouer, who was about to walk out of the convenience store. 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. Simons testified that the cause of Davis' death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of his death was a homicide. 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. He talks about blacks and says, if more people would arm themselves and kill these fucking idiots when theyre threatening you, eventually they may take the hint and change their behavior. Further, he says, eventually, we as a society will wake up and realize that we need to arm ourselves, as the government welfare programs have produced a culture of entitlement for a certain segment of our society. And, remember when your mom was robbed? The Armor of Light premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2015 before opening theatrically on October 30, 2015. The murder trial of the Brevard County man accused of killing a teenager over loud music continues in Jacksonville on Monday. Rouer said she had a glass of red wine and about three rum and cokes as well as champagne. [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. [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. This contradicted the claim that Mr. Davis was out of the Durango. Your login session has expired. Neither parent could have predicted what happened to Jordan the next day, or that it would spark one of the more galvanizing criminal trials in recent memory. 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. The day in court began with Mr. Dunns unalloyed version of events. [47] McBath cited the activism of students after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting as a reason for her run. In one of his calls to Rouer, Dunn explained his reason for leaving the gas station after the shooting. The justices did not explain their reasons behind the refusal. Rhonda Rouer was with him the night of the shooting and in the hours after. Former Florida state attorney Angela Corey stated that her office would seek a retrial for this charge. Juror #4, previously known as Juror #32 is a white, married man with a 10-year-old child. The day began with early morning controversy over disparaging remarks reportedly made by a juror about State Attorney Angela Corey. 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. Court is expected to resume at 9 a.m. Watch continuing live gavel-to-gavel coverage on ActionNewsJax.com. 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. Three of those bullets struck Mr. Davis, who died at the scene after an afternoon spent at the mall. The jury could not reach an agreement on the charge of first-degree murder, and the judge declared a mistrial on that count. The state questioned the accuracy of the diagrams, which showed the Jetta at a slight angle and too much room between the vehicles. She complied, and saw Dunn put a handgun in the glove box. But no weapon was found at the scene and Rouer said the Durango had already fled when she looked outside. WWE News: Ronda Rousey reveals why UFC match was bigger than WrestleMania. Juror number four was dismissedfor negative remarks about Corey. Dunn letter from prison to his girlfriend. Miranda talked about shell casings found at the crime scene. He made a misogynistic joke about now having a judge with balls and compares his case to Zimmermans. 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. The films title indicates the brevity of the interaction from around 7:30 to 7:33 on a Friday evening and the estimated number of bullets fired. 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. 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. They are still communicating in his code language. He then tries to enforce a version of what happened upon her (which is blacked out). Michael Dunn Trial: Phillip Miranda testifies. Ronda Rousey is currently recuperating after breaking her hand in the match at WrestleMania 35. That juror was eventually dismissed by the judge Saturday. 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. The police arrested him shortly after he arrived in Brevard, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. Corey is personally prosecuting Dunn. He is now serving life in prison without parole. 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 would be the last good memory Rouer and Michael Dunn would have together. You can contact us at help@floridajustice.com. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. "We were very happy," said Rouer, in tears. Testimony began with the Brevard County Deputy Carmine Siniscal on the stand, the state's 19th witness. Dunn had had three or four rum and cokes, and a few sips of champagne, she said. Dunn's insurance company, Progressive Select Insurance, challenged its duty to cover the lawsuit, but dismissed its lawsuit in conjunction with the settlement. Dunn and Rouer left the wedding early in order to return to their hotel and take care of their six-month-old puppy. The trial is expected to be turned over to the jury on Wednesday after closing statements. 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. The film is currently available for streaming on demand from the documentary streaming service,Impactseries.netorApril 26 on the movie subscription service,Hollywood Suite. Stornes left his red Dodge Durango SUV running while he went into the store. Dunn and his fiancee, Rhonda Rouer, then drove to their motel, ordered a pizza and stayed the night without contacting police. Meanwhile, the trial of Michael Dunn resumes 9 a.m. Monday. 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. 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. We hear from Jordans three friends in the car, cautiously precise in their answers. Dunn addresses Rhondas testimony and coaches her a little and also encourages her to take a Valium if she gets nervous. Instead, it was set off by an escalating sense of menace that Mr. Dunn said he felt after he saw Mr. Davis point a shotgun at him, get out of the vehicle and make an explicit threat to kill him. We spend time getting to know Jordans friends, troubled by their loss and their own near-death experience. Guy asked Mr. Dunn. The jury could not reach a verdict about whether to convict Dunn for the murder of Davis at the first trial. 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. Prosecutors will call two more witnesses and then rest their case. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Rouer, Dunn's former girlfriend, was the fifth witness to take the stand in the third day of testimony of the murder retrial. Its blacked out, but he again tries to enforce his version of the facts to her. He's not a racist. [37] On November 17, 2016, his appeal was denied. Dunn basically refers to himself as an authority figure to Jordan. On Monday morning, the state began by calling Wendy Meacham, an investigator with the Office of the Medical Examiner. When questioned Saturday, Rouer said they were no longer engaged or in a relationship. "I hate that thug music," Dunn told Rouer, according to her testimony. 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 is the mother on one son, Brandon Rouer. Randy and Beverly Berry, who lived in Aero Acres in Fort Pierce with Dunn's parents. Filmmaker Silver (Who Is Dayani Cristal?) [48] She defeated incumbent Karen Handel, winning 160,139 votes (50.5%) to Handel's 156,875 (49.5%). They were represented by John Michael Phillips in wrongful death and defamation lawsuits against Dunn. On the way back to their hotel, the two decided to stop at the Gate Petroleum gas station to purchase a bottle of wine. 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. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. In Season 1 episode "The Night Terror Stalked the Town", it is revealed that James was named after a paternal uncle. I apologize," said Healey on Saturday. Rouer, Dunn's former girlfriend, was the fifth witness to take the stand in the third day of testimony of the murder retrial. Prosecutors received permission from the court to let the jury handle Dunn's gun. In the morning, Rouer saw a news report about a shooting at a Jacksonville gas station, in which a 17-year-old had been killed, and rather than call police, the couple packed their bags and drove. [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. It looked like a firearm and he treated it like a firearm.. 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. He makes an off color sex change joke and then talks about Charlie (his dog). "[24][25], In closing arguments at the first trial, the defense lawyer for Dunn cited the language of Florida's stand-your-ground law. Rouer recalled Dunn's first words to her. 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. [56], Davis's story also features in the 2015 documentary film The Armor of Light, the directorial debut of Disney heir Abigail Disney. Brunson, Davis, and Thompson remained in the vehicle listening to music which was described as "very loud." Meet 46-year-old Rhonda Lynn Hallock Rouer. 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). 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. The couple left the afternoon wedding early to see about their seventh-month-old puppy Charlie, Rouer said.