Michael Dunn Defends Shooting Jordan Davis

A man who shot dead a black teenager in Florida in a dispute over loud music has defended himself in court during a racially-charged trial.
Michael Dunn is charged with the murder of Jordan Davis, 17, at a petrol station car park.
The 47-year-old told jurors he was in fear for his life when he fired upon a car carrying four black teens in November 2012.



An evidence photo of the gun allegedly used by Dunn in November 2012

Dunn had approached the teenagers and asked them to turn down their music, and an argument ensued.

"I was just going: 'Oh my God, where is all this hostility coming from?'" he told the court in Jacksonville, Florida, describing how one of the teens pulled out what Dunn thought was a shotgun.

Police found no evidence of a gun in the teens' vehicle, and the three surviving teens testified that they never threatened Dunn.

An evidence photo of the VW Jetta driven by Michael Dunn on the night

Dunn insisted he was "in a panic" when he pulled his pistol out of his glove box as one of the teens started to get out of their car and come towards him.

"This is the point where he is coming to kill me, coming to beat me. He made it quite clear what his intentions were," Dunn told the court.

He told jurors he did not know he had shot Davis until he saw a news alert on his phone once he returned to his hotel.

An evidence photo of the teenagers' car, where Jordan Davis was shot dead

He explained that he did not immediately contact police because he wanted to get the advice of a neighbour who works in law enforcement.

The case has drawn comparisons with that of neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who was cleared of killing Trayvon Martin in the US last year.

Mr Zimmerman claimed self-defence in the trial.

Unlike Mr Zimmerman - who did not face charges for weeks - Dunn was arrested and charged with murder the day after the shooting.

He faces life in prison if he is convicted.

 

 

Source

 

Sky