Testimony began with the Brevard County Deputy Carmine Siniscal on the stand, the state's 19th witness. "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. Siniscal said he had a "high-risk" arrest warrant for Michael Dunn. We represent the family of Jordan Davis and these letters were made public as evidence in the criminal case. The film is currently available for streaming on demand from the documentary streaming service,Impactseries.netorApril 26 on the movie subscription service,Hollywood Suite. He wanted to entice the mayors office to worry about Jacksonvilles PR. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The state called two more witnesses in the Michael Dunn retrialand rested its case Monday afternoon. Rhonda Rouer was enjoying herself on the day after Thanksgiving in 2012 when she accompanied her fiance to his son's wedding. The shooting, which unfolded in this northern Florida city, has drawn attention once again to the states expansive self-defense laws that allow people who say they feel threatened to use lethal force to protect themselves. A hapless witness, she herself dodged. He said his family engaged in a letter writing campaign to Congress and Governor Scott over the local corruption surrounding his arrest ad detainment. 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. When Rouer woke up the next morning, she saw reports on TV about the gas-station shooting. It was WrestleMania. Dunn sounds incredulous that he has been imprisoned, andblames Davis 100 percent for what happened. It's possible Dunn could take the stand in his own defense. 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. 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. ", "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'. 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. The next morning Rouer saw a report about the shooting on the news indicating that Jordan Davis had died. The incident started after an argument over loud music. She said she could still hear the loud music as she walked up to the store. Dunn stated that he received "ineffective assistance of counsel". The cases were settled for an undisclosed amount in January 2014. Filmmaker Silver (Who Is Dayani Cristal?) 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. 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 claims that Dunn told her to get in the car. [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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Dunn says it was. Dunn is accused of killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis after an argument over loud music at a Gate gas station on the Southside on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in 2012. The two went back to their hotel, Rouer said, where Dunn ordered a pizza. The three teenagers in the Dodge Durango with Jordan at the time of the shooting testified Friday. The two left the parking lot very quickly, testified Rouer. [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. Rouer said she had a glass of red wine and about three rum and cokes as well as champagne. 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. Rhonda Rouer, Michael Dunn's now-ex-fiancee, testifies in his murder retrial. 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. Beforehand, the judge cautioned the court that if individuals felt they could not view these photos without outburst, they should leave the courtroom. 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. Musser followed. [22][23] In his criminal trial, Dunn had been declared "broke. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. 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. She gave emotional testimony, just as she did in the first trial. H.S., Torrington, CT and Vero Beach Senior High, graduating in the class of 1983. She also wasnt questioned this time around about whether Dunn ever mentioned to her that he thought Davis had a gun. She was still engaged to Dunn at the time. 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. Kuritz says judging by the writing in Dunn's letter he believes the accused killer understand it might be presented in court. "[10][11], The bass from the loud music playing in the teens' SUV annoyed Dunn, who asked for it to be turned down. Three of those bullets struck Mr. Davis, who died at the scene after an afternoon spent at the mall. On November 23, 2012, Jordan Davis, a black 17-year-old high school student, was murdered at a Gate Petroleum gas station in Jacksonville, Florida, by Michael David Dunn, a white 45-year-old software developer, following an argument over loud music played by Davis and his three friends, in what was believed to be a racially motivated shooting. Randy and Beverly Berry, who lived in Aero Acres in Fort Pierce with Dunn's parents. 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. Dunn's then-fiance testified, saying she heard him say, "I hate that thug music.". The murder was one of the primary inspirations for the award-winning young adult novel Dear Martin, by Nic Stone. When Rouer got in the vehicle, she testified, she saw Dunn put a gun back in the glovebox. These letters were written by Michael Dunn in jail and show a different side than you heard from him and his lawyers. 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.. Given the traditions of the time . [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. Live Video: Michael Dunn Trial Coverage Before Rouer took the stand, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detective Marc Musser testified. Letters exchanged between accused killer, Michael Dunn and his girlfriend could be problematic for his defense. They didn't call 911, and didn't know Davis had died until the next morning when Dunn was arrested. Despite claiming he doesnt use the word thug, he calls Ron Davis the daddy of the thug. He also talks about the Bible and then brings up the 3 thugs in the SUV and calls it a rotten culture. He wants white jurors as hed rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.. 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. 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. "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. 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. The trial led to local protests and international media attention. 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. 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. First Coast News has successfully fought for your access to these documents and we'll bring you more exclusive content on Thursday night at 8 p.m. during our special, Michael Dunn, fatal encounter. 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. 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. 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]. 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.. Dunn, driving a black Volkswagen Jetta sedan, and his fiance Rhonda Rouer pulled into the right adjacent parking spot. 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. He said he did not call the police right away because Ms. Rouer wanted to go home instead. It was probably as simple as - 'He threatened to kill me' and left it at that.". Former Florida state attorney Angela Corey stated that her office would seek a retrial for this charge. One of those men, 17-year-old Jordan Davis, died that night - a fact Rouer didn't learn about until the next morning. Homicide detective M.A. When she did find out, she was willingly honest during her interrogation and spoke against her husband on the day of the trial. 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. The State attorney has no hope of a guilty verdict. Juror #4, previously known as Juror #32 is a white, married man with a 10-year-old child. In a letter dated December 5, 2012, Michael Dunn wrote to Rouer about her testimony to prosecutors. 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. 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. Michael Dunn's ex fiance Rhonda Rouer is questioned regarding the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager by Dunn. 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