Loud-music shooter gets life in prison
Last edited Fri Oct 17, 2014, 02:07 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: USA Today
Loud-music shooter gets life in prison
Rick Neale, Florida Today 12:22 p.m. EDT October 17, 2014
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Wearing an orange shirt-sleeved inmate jumpsuit with his hands and legs shackled, Michael Dunn apologized Friday to the family of an unarmed teenager he shot and killed during a parking lot dispute in November 2012.
"I am mortified I took a life, whether it was justified or not," Dunn said during his sentencing hearing at the Duval County Courthouse.
Circuit Judge Russell Healey sentenced the 47-year-old South Patrick Shores, Fla., software developer to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing Jordan Davis, 17, during their argument sparked by loud rap music at a Jacksonville gas station.
*Adds Cowbell - As Per Requested*
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/17/michael-dunn-loud-music-murder-sentence/17433007/
Just saw this, and posting since I haven't seen any one else doing so.
belzabubba333
(1,237 posts)"I am mortified I took a life, whether it was justified or not,"
Xyzse
(8,217 posts)However, I can see why he would say such a thing since I think they may want to try to appeal.
His main defense was to basically say that he was justified in doing what he did, so he may have wanted to leave that open.
I find that as a weakness in our justice system where apologizing is considered indicative of guilt and people have worse sentences due to it.
PNW_Dem
(119 posts)Dont overlook the most important development here. This happened in Florida and he was unable to use the Stand Your Ground defense. This is a promising tactic used successfully by the prosecution. I think that we will see a lot more use of second-degree attempted murder. Maybe something was learned from the Trevon Martin tragedy
billhicks76
(5,082 posts)They will surely be upset over this...especially all those racist elitists in Missouri and Florida.
Xyzse
(8,217 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,576 posts)vlyons
(10,252 posts)waddaya mean
whether it was justified or not? What kind of apology is that? Not much of one; that's for sure. If hadn't been carrying his stupid gun, how very different the outcome. Well he'll have a nice long time to meditate on this.
Bryce Butler
(338 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Get a "Z" like jury.
Delphinus
(11,808 posts)I was amazed as his statement.
sakabatou
(42,083 posts)That's a non-apology.
OnlinePoker
(5,702 posts)Since it's root meaning is "put to death".
wheniwasincongress
(1,307 posts)he sure is mortified.
valerief
(53,235 posts)Demeter
(85,373 posts)Can they double the sentence?
byronius
(7,369 posts)"I ain't learned nuthin."
candelista
(1,986 posts)Gotta sit there and listen to ultrabass THUMP THUMP THUMP!
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)There was no reason for him to say anything about the music. No one's in a gas station for long. He could have just got what he was there for and left - but he felt entitled.
candelista
(1,986 posts)gcomeau
(5,764 posts)"There was no reason for him to say anything about the music."
Frankly, if all he had done was said something I would be on his side, people who blast their music as obnoxiously as possible in public spaces are assholes and it's not entirely inappropriate for it to be pointed out to them from time to time.
It's when he pulled the gun out that he became the bad guy in the situation... because while you have a right to tell people they're being assholes they still have a right to be them without getting shot for it.
KeepItReal
(7,769 posts)Better headline from CNN...
A Florida judge Friday sentenced Michael Dunn to life in prison without parole for the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Jordan Davis.
Before sentencing Dunn, Duval County Judge Russell Healey said, "This case demonstrates that our justice system does work."
Dunn, 47, was convicted of first-degree murder this month for shooting into an SUV full of teenagers at a Jacksonville, Florida, gas station after an argument over loud music from the teens' vehicle.
Dunn had said he shot at the vehicle because he thought Davis had a weapon and feared for his life, but the prosecution said Dunn was the aggressor and pointed out that he kept firing even after the teens fled.
Investigators say Davis never had a weapon, nor was one found in the teens' SUV or in the area.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/17/justice/michael-dunn-sentencing/
Xyzse
(8,217 posts)This one was the first I saw... So.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)candelista
(1,986 posts)There isn't any.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Despite the name, I have been on "the Continent" for about five years. Yeah, $#*! like this happens everywhere, but in Flori-duh, it's a daily occurrence.
candelista
(1,986 posts)Which has turned a beautiful paradise into a hell-hole.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)But I never once in nine years encountered any problems as a haole. Granted, being in the minority does take some getting used to.
candelista
(1,986 posts)I'm glad you were an exception to the rule. Really.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)I believe that you're an exception to the rule that most folks, including haoles, are treated with aloha.
candelista
(1,986 posts)I lived and worked there much longer than you.
ReRe
(10,597 posts)Did anyone see Amy Goodman yesterday? If not, you have to check it out. I really was shocked to hear what has been going on there. Hadn't heard about it anywhere else. http://www.DemocracyNow.org
thecrow
(5,519 posts)His victim was ACTUALLY mortified... what does he understand about that? What an insensitive word choice.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,272 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)That's the line I wanted to see.
JustAnotherGen
(31,683 posts)Said with a - Smug self satisfied laugh.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)hughee99
(16,113 posts)White privilege is always present.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)Last edited Fri Oct 17, 2014, 03:58 PM - Edit history (1)
The racial, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds of these jurors as compared to those of the jurors on the Trayvon Martin case.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)He should have. Too bad he had to add the "justified or not" part.
Runningdawg
(4,495 posts)The only thing this man is sorry about is the fact he missed the others.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I wish Davis were still alive and Dunn were a free man today, but that's not how it happened. Justice is served.
ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)How did the prosecutor argue first vs second degree?
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Besides if it truly was a justifiable self defense then why would he be "mortified".
The guy makes no sense.
Dunn is done. Good.
Tom Ripley
(4,945 posts)sheshe2
(83,341 posts)"I held my son in my arms at the hospital and kissed him for his last goodbye. You see, I gave him his first kiss when he came into this world," Ron Davis said.
"And I could never imagine giving him his last kiss."
Rest in Peace, Jordan~
secondwind
(16,903 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,217 posts)Hadn't seen it anywhere. His future isn't looking good at all. He will NOT get a good reception in the maximum security prison they throw his bigoted arse in. They'll probably have to keep him in solitary confinement to protect him.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)while justified, he just killed that kid too soon after Trayvon Martin to have really gotten away with it. If it had been a little longer where the DA would have figured the people would not create a Ferguson he would've walked. I hope his soul dies in that prison cell. Amerikkkan justice has not been served, he was someone all the little racists and 'others' can point to and say "see. see, our system works"!!!!! Bullshit, it's BROKEN, big time. This guy was the racist 'Oswald' patsy.
EEO
(1,620 posts)"whether it was justified or not"