The two had been engaged and living together at the time of the shooting. 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. 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. 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. The next morning Rouer saw a report about the shooting on the news indicating that Jordan Davis had died. Then, I heard another pop,pop,pop.". The derogatory comments came in aFolio Weekly interviewwith an excused potential juror. Rouer may return again. The jury could not reach an agreement on the charge of first-degree murder, and the judge declared a mistrial on that count. He's been with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for about 10 years, a homicide detective for five. 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. 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. 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. 2023 Phillips & Hunt. Jurors heard from six other witnesses throughout the day, including two officers from the Brevard County Sheriffs Office who responded after Dunn was contacted by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and contacted a neighbor in law enforcement the following morning. Tears streamed down Rhonda Rouer's face and her voice shook as she recounted before jurors for a second time the day Michael Dunn shot a Jacksonville teen. She also said that Mr. Dunn never called their neighbor to say he wanted to discuss something important. On February 3, the jury selection process in Michael Dunn's murder trial will begin. Dunn was arrested the day after the shooting. 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. They pulled by a red SUV blasting rap music, she said. Dunn's fiance, who served as an adversarial witness, said no such item was mentioned to her at any point. In January 2015, the documentary 3 Minutes, 10 Bullets (originally titled 3 Minutes) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. 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. Daviss parents, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, were also visibly emotional in the audience. Moments later, Rouer told jurors, I heard pop, pop, pop.. The couple left the afternoon wedding early to see about their seventh-month-old puppy Charlie, Rouer said. Rouer testified she wanted to go home and they left. She looked outside and saw Dunn leaning out of his window. Rouer said after she woke up the next morning she saw a news report about a teen getting killed at a gas station. It would be the last good memory Rouer and Michael Dunn would have together. 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. Live Video: Michael Dunn Trial Coverage The two went back to their hotel, Rouer said, where Dunn ordered a pizza. Mr. Dunn said he saw Mr. Davis with a weapon. [8] Rouer left their car to purchase white wine and chips. 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. The deputy and two others went to Dunn's home to arrest him. Relatives. 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. 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. Prosecutors will call two more witnesses and then rest their case. They also heard from the lead detective in the case with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and several forensics experts. 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. According to online records, the couple wedded May 22, 1989 in Indian River, Florida. 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, Rouer told the court, her voice cracking. Musser said it wasn't until months later that he realized the Gate station video recordings included audio, and by that point the recordings were gone. Dunn did not contact the police. Investigators later searched the teenagers' SUV and found no weapons. He did that in the first trial, claiming the shots were fired in self-defense. 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. Defense lawyers pressed Musser about his failure to search the adjacent parking lot at the Gate the night of the shooting, and also asked him why the interviews with Davis' three friends the night of the shooting weren't videotaped. 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. 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. The film debates the question: "Is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life?" Phillip Miranda took the stand next to discuss about shell casings. The three teenagers in the Dodge Durango with Jordan at the time of the shooting testified Friday. 7 Likes, 0 Comments - Rhonda Sunshine Miller (@artateher_sunshine) on Instagram: "The best thing that ever happened to me #therapy" 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.. 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. She testified that despite having prior plans she demanded that Dunn take her home right away. 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. 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. "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. On Monday morning, the state began by calling Wendy Meacham, an investigator with the Office of the Medical Examiner. At one point, the juror--described as a 400-pound white school teacher--reportedly stated that Corey 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. Rhonda took the stand over the weekend to tell her side of what happened Nov. 23, 2012. Dunn basically refers to himself as an authority figure to Jordan. The. While at the cashier's counter, Rouer heard the sound of gunshots. While Smith was not selected for the trial, he cites comments from another juror who did make the panel. 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. "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. 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. The trial will resume Monday. 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. [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. These letters were written by Michael Dunn in jail and show a different side than you heard from him and his lawyers. 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. Dunn recounts a new version of the facts where he now as added a threat, this shit is going down now to be circulated to his family and asks his brother to include that. 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. [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. His mother and father retained Cory Strolla, his defense lawyer for him, and Dunn liked to complain about him. "I'd never seen him like that," she said. 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. We represent the family of Jordan Davis and these letters were made public as evidence in the criminal case. Written and directed by Marc Silver. Mr. Davis and two of the teenagers had no criminal record. There are only 25 here, but wrote many more. The jail calls between accused "loud music" killer Michael Dunn and his girlfriend, Rhonda Rouer, have been released. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The state called two more witnesses in the Michael Dunn retrialand rested its case Monday afternoon. 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. That juror was eventually dismissed by the judge Saturday. However, unlike the prior trial, Rouer is no longer with Dunn. 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