How Stand Your Ground Law Stymied Dunn Murder Conviction ::posted Mon, 17 Feb 2014 13:17:20 +0000:: ift.tt/1bdnjiw The problem isnt Florida juries. The problem is this law, which makes it extremely difficult to convict someone based on their stated perception of threat, and its what makes the law inherently dangerous to black people: JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In failing to acquit or convict Michael Dunn on the most significant charge — the premeditated murder of a teenager in a dispute over loud music — a jury on Saturday may have run headlong into the breadth and reach of Florida’s contentious self-defense law. In their 30 hours of deliberation, the 12-member panel wrangled with a question that cuts to the heart of all self-defense claims: How does a juror know when using lethal force is justified, where nothing is straightforward, memories are hazy or contradictory and perception counts as much as fact? Even as the jury agreed to convict Mr. Dunn of attempted murder, it found no consensus on murder. In the courtroom, Mr. Dunn told the jury he shot Jordan Davis, 17, after the teenager pointed a shotgun at him from the window of a sport utility vehicle, threatened him and then got out of the truck. The two cars were parked side by side in front of a gas station convenience store. read more [Forwarded by the MyLeftBlogosphere news engine. Link to original post below:]
Posted on: Mon, 17 Feb 2014 15:10:08 +0000
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