General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump Effect: White bully not charged after murdering black man defending wife
This incident is worse than the Trayvon Martin murder where George Zimmerman got off. A white man, a bully, harassed a black woman sitting in her car in a handicap zone. Her husband came out of the convenient store and shoved the bully away from his wife. The bully shot and murdered the husband. The sheriff refused to charge the bully. Really! Trump effect?
https://egbertowillies.com/2018/07/24/white-bully-murder-black-man-uncharged/
exboyfil
(17,862 posts)The sheriff to task.
Faux pas
(14,643 posts)Different Drummer
(7,597 posts)Shocking but not surprising because, Florida.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)As is the DA who I can reasonably predict will concur with the sheriff's decision.
The SYG law in Florida isn't like SYG laws in other states. In most states, SYG is an affirmative defense meaning that the accused has to assert it and prove he acted lawfully in self defense.
In Florida it's the other way around - the accused is presumed to have acted lawfully unless the DA can prove otherwise with "clear and convincing evidence".
Not saying it's fair so don't shoot the messenger.
oasis
(49,321 posts)The Sheriff can see that as clear and as plain as the rest of us.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)But the Florida statute is written in such a way that if the murderer still felt like deadly force was required, he's in the clear. It doesn't make any sense at all, but that's the law now in Florida. While the Sheriff and the DA might wish it were otherwise, it isn't.
Now, they can spend a shit-ton of taxpayer money to try to bring a case, but they will almost certainly lose because they can't establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the murderer didn't feel in his heart of hearts that deadly force wasn't required. It's a nearly impossible standard, one that guarantees a certain trigger-happy segment of the population can go around picking fights and shoot adversaries with impunity.
What can be done? Boycott Florida. Don't go to Disney World. Don't go to Miami or the Keys. Make Ft. Lauderdale a ghost town during spring break 2019. If Florida loses enough tourist dollars, their dumbass legislature might get the message.
oasis
(49,321 posts)those who hide behind the statute, must undergo psychiatric evaluation after a kill. Hell, even cops have to do that. Gotta make these assholes think twice before they contemplate throwing their weight around.
Btw, my boycott of Florida IS ON.
Crunchy Frog
(26,574 posts)They've basically got legalized murder.
mythology
(9,527 posts)Quit ascribing all but mythical powers to Trump.
oasis
(49,321 posts)He murdered her husband who came to her defense. Trumpism has emboldened the racist multitudes. Deny it if you wish.
iscooterliberally
(2,859 posts)Please check out this link to see the difference.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-reg-suspect-dies-clerk-charged-20180724-story.html
I wonder why this guy was charged and the other guy wasn't?
Also, the white bully in the OP story apparently has a history of picking fights with people over parking spots. I think he should be charged. It's highly likely that he's going to shoot someone else. He might not get convicted in court, but they should at least try.
WillowTree
(5,325 posts)From the video, the guy was clearly standing at least 3 feet away from the car. He may have been verbally assaulting her, but that doesn't give the husband justification to come out and physically assault him, shoving him to the ground. That just escalated the situation. Sometimes we have to be smarter than that.
Not saying that I think the guy was justified in shooting him because I don't. But chances are if he'd just gotten into the car and pulled out of the parking spot which they didn't belong in in the first place (or told his wife to move the car), he'd be alive and uninjured today.