";s:4:"text";s:27135:"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. But Ms. Rouer, who lived with Mr. Dunn in Brevard County and who had accompanied him to his sons wedding here, contradicted those statements on Tuesday. At gunpoint? Rhonda took the stand over the weekend to tell her side of what happened Nov. 23, 2012. But there was one less juror to hear testimony Saturday. "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. He's been with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for about 10 years, a homicide detective for five. When she did find out, she was willingly honest during her interrogation and spoke against her husband on the day of the trial. The jury could not reach an agreement on the charge of first-degree murder, and the judge declared a mistrial on that count. She said she could still hear the loud music as she walked up to the store. He calls the civil suit we filed bogus. The documentary won the U.S. The Berrys and Thompson said Dunn was a nice, calm person. 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. Around 7:30p.m., four teenage boys (Leland Brunson, Jordan Davis, Tommie Stornes, and Tevin Thompson) stopped at a Gate Petroleum gas station. Under questioning from prosecutors, Rouer admitted to never calling 911 or trying to wave down a police officer the night of the shooting or the next day. You can also review more evidence like the photos here. Filmmaker Silver (Who Is Dayani Cristal?) She also wasnt questioned this time around about whether Dunn ever mentioned to her that he thought Davis had a gun. Example video title will go here for this video, Help Wanted: Jacksonville Jaguars position groups Breakdown. The deputy and two others went to Dunn's home to arrest him. You can contact us at help@floridajustice.com. Rhonda Rouer, Michael Dunn's now-ex-fiancee, testifies in his murder retrial. Mr. Dunn said he saw Mr. Davis with a weapon. During Simons' testimony, several photos Davis' body were shown to the jury. Simons testified that the cause of Davis' death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of his death was a homicide. At the counter, she testified she heard three pops. Now I'm back to reading the Bible and playing solitaire.". 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. British director Marc Silvers tautly edited film, which won a special jury award at Sundance in 2015, was picked up by HBO and aired later that year. The film chronicles what CNN dubbed the loud music trial.On November 23,2012,Michael Dunn, a 45-year-old white software engineer, during a dispute about loud rap music coming from a red Jeep Durango in a Jacksonville parking lot, fired a revolver repeatedly into a car with four African-American teens, killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis. 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. A witness memorized his licence plate and he was arrested at his home a day later. As the SUV backed up to evade his gunshots, Dunn opened his own door and continued firing at the car in shooter's stance, as the boys ducked for cover. "He's clearly reiterating there was a weapon there, there was a weapon there.". Michael Dunn's ex fiance Rhonda Rouer is questioned regarding the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager by Dunn. 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. 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. Meet 46-year-old Rhonda Lynn Hallock Rouer. He ordered her in the car and the two sped away, heading to their hotel. [11][13], Shortly after Davis's death, his parents, Ron Davis and Lucy McBath, and some of the other vehicle occupants, filed civil complaints against Dunn. 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. 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. Rouer said she gave Dunn a kiss, and took $3 before walking into the store to buy some wine and chips. Its blacked out, but he again tries to enforce his version of the facts to her. His fiance, Rhonda Rouer, says the last thing she heard him say was, "I hate that thug music." Rouer was in the convenience store when she heard gunshots, and when she ran outside, he told. The Armor of Light premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2015 before opening theatrically on October 30, 2015. 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. [37] On November 17, 2016, his appeal was denied. On their way back to their hotel, Rouer said the two stopped at the Gate gas station on Southside Boulevard to purchase wine and chips. At the time of the . While Smith was not selected for the trial, he cites comments from another juror who did make the panel. 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. They drove back, and Dunn was arrested later that day. He said his family engaged in a letter writing campaign to Congress and Governor Scott over the local corruption surrounding his arrest ad detainment. The couple came to town to attend the wedding of Michael Dunn's son. Rhonda testified when she turned around she saw Dunn outside the vehicle, and she then exited the store. He faces 60 years in prison for the attempted murder convictions and will get life if he's convicted of killing Davis. Rouer told police Dunn said "I hate that thug music," when the couple pulled up next to the SUV holding Davis. The incident started after an argument over loud music. Pin. 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. "[24][25], In closing arguments at the first trial, the defense lawyer for Dunn cited the language of Florida's stand-your-ground law. Michael Dunn Trial: Phillip Miranda testifies. 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. He wanted to entice the mayors office to worry about Jacksonvilles PR. [9], Rouer returned to Dunn's car. Dunn has also pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder for firing at three of Davis friends. While no one from Dunns supporters are interviewed, we hear revealing excerpts from phone recordings of Dunns prison phone calls to Rouer, his claims of victimhood and denials. 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. [56], Davis's story also features in the 2015 documentary film The Armor of Light, the directorial debut of Disney heir Abigail Disney. Related Story: Transcript of hearing to excuse juror #4 released. Guy asked Mr. Dunn. When Rouer first testified in February during Dunn's original trial, she was visibly shaking and appeared close to collapse. "Poor sweetie." Rhonda smirked before leaning over and kissing Arnold on the lips. Simons testified that, in her medical opinion, she did not believe Davis was outside, or leaning outside of the vehicle when he was shot. They didn't call 911, and didn't know Davis had died until the next morning when Dunn was arrested. He wrote, "I finished a novel I had been reading. The film is currently available for streaming on demand from the documentary streaming service,Impactseries.netorApril 26 on the movie subscription service,Hollywood Suite. [49] In 2020, she defeated Handel in a rematch to win reelection to a second term. 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. The day began with early morning controversy over disparaging remarks reportedly made by a juror about State Attorney Angela Corey. 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. Investigators later searched the teenagers' SUV and found no weapons. Dunn elaborates in great detail, revealing much of what has been already discussed, saying thugs, threatening to sue the County and rants about Angela Corey. The man sitting in the front passenger seat complied. 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]. We spend time getting to know Jordans friends, troubled by their loss and their own near-death experience. February 10, 2014 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. BLM became a national activist network a year later, following police killing of a third African-American teen, Michael Brown, of Ferguson, Missouri. Rouer said the couple stopped at the Gate after the wedding to get a bottle of wine and a bag of chips. Rhonda Rouer was enjoying herself on the day after Thanksgiving in 2012 when she accompanied her fiance to his son's wedding. [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. He said he responded to the crime scene.After Rouer's testimony, Sukhan Warf, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab analyst and DNA expert followed. I did it in my panicked state, he said, of the later volleys. He said he did not call the police right away because Ms. Rouer wanted to go home instead. It looked like a firearm and he treated it like a firearm.. [38], On June 22, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Dunn's appeal and refused to take the case. [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. The parking lot and the trash bins were searched four days later after they learned Dunn was claiming self-defense, Musser said. 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). (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. Related to the case (on page 6), he talks about suing the State of Florida and using the money to buy a house. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Letters exchanged between accused killer, Michael Dunn and his girlfriend could be problematic for his defense. Rouer told the jury that her boyfriend had maybe three or four rum and sodas at his sons 2012 wedding, prior to pulling into the parking lot of a Jacksonville, Fla., gas station beside a red Dodge Durango, which was blaring loud music, according to online reports. July 3, 2013 - Letter to Cousin He made a misogynistic joke about now having a judge with balls and compares his case to Zimmermans. 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 also said the police had failed to thoroughly search the surrounding area, including trash bins close to the parking lot. Rouer said they drove straight to the Jacksonville hotel, changed clothes and ordered pizza. The couple left the afternoon wedding early to see about their seventh-month-old puppy Charlie, Rouer said. The two had been engaged and living together at the time of the shooting. 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 stand on Tuesday and told the jury he pulled the trigger repeatedly only to save his own life. "Yes, I know," she replied. 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. [39], Dunn's former neighbor, Charles Hendrix, said he was not surprised by his behavior. The judge, already angered over the courtroom camera showing a potential juror, asked for the equipment to be turned off as the jury walked into the courtroom. 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. We hear from Jordans three friends in the car, cautiously precise in their answers. 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. 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. Brunson, Davis, and Thompson remained in the vehicle listening to music which was described as "very loud." When questioned Saturday, Rouer said they were no longer engaged or in a relationship. Her priority at the moment is to start a family and she said that she does not want to make promises when she does not know how she's going to feel in the future. 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, driving a black Volkswagen Jetta sedan, and his fiance Rhonda Rouer pulled into the right adjacent parking spot. While Rouer was inside the store, Dunn asked the people in the Durango to turn down the music. [9] She testified that Dunn told her "I hate that thug music," before she left the car for the store, though Dunn claims he used the phrase "rap crap. [57], Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:33, First District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida, "Dunn jury hears from former fiancee, juror dismissed", "Michael Dunn, Jordan Davis, and America's Racist Heritage", "Black Teen's Shooter Rants About Killing 'Thugs' So They 'May Take the Hint and Change Their Behavior', https://efactssc-public.flcourts.org/casedocuments/2019/2063/2019-2063_notice_88213_notice2ddiscretionary20juris2028direct20conflict29.pdf, "Did Jordan Davis have weapon? Stornes left his red Dodge Durango SUV running while he went into the store. [50] ABC News, Australia says the case has become part of the national conversation about the dangers facing young black men in America today. The couple drove back to their hotel, ordered a pizza and Dunn made them some alcoholic drinks. "[45][46] She described Dunn as "a good man. If her boyfriend is convicted he could face life in jail. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Dunn did not contact the police. This contradicted the claim that Mr. Davis was out of the Durango. Your login session has expired. They also heard from the lead detective in the case with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and several forensics experts. The derogatory comments came in aFolio Weekly interviewwith an excused potential juror. He comments on my (the Davis attorney) assertion that there were no weapons and wishes his lawyer would counter these assertions. Dunn was found guilty on October 1, 2014, at the conclusion of the retrial. She revealed in a video with her husband Travis Browne, how she got injured: "I did break my pinkie knuckle. 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. Second term a day later of what happened Nov. 23, 2012 a rematch win. And he was arrested at his home a day later 's former neighbor Charles! 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