http://www.tampabay.com/stand-your-ground-law/
Investigation: June 3, 2012
Uneven application, shocking outcomes
A Tampa Bay Times investigation has found that Florida’s “stand your ground” law is being used in ways never imagined — to free gang members involved in shootouts, drug dealers beefing with clients and people who shot their victims in the back.
Who goes free sometimes depend more on where a case is heard than its merits. Read the story
Shooter is free but not proud
The fight started over a barbecue grill. It ended on Christmas Eve with a man dead. Read the story
The fight started over a barbecue grill. It ended on Christmas Eve with a man dead. Read the story
When the law cuts both ways
In Clearwater, a self-defense case could be made for each man trading punches and then gunshots. Read the story
When death is distorted
Lawmakers spun the truth when they used a 2004 tragedy to justify expanding Florida’s self-defense law.
Race’s complex role
A Tampa Bay Times analysis shows that people who claimed self-defense after killing a black victim were more likely to go free than those who killed a white victim.
Law may see changes
Florida will use the Tampa Bay Times‘ analysis for a review of the “stand your ground” law.
Drug dealer kills twice, no charges
Twice he claimed self defense, twice he was set free.
Rough crowd benefits from law
Stand your ground most often invoked by killers with a criminal past
Some failing to use law
The outcome of your self-defense case can hinge on what your attorney knows about “stand your ground.”
Black female
Age at time: 9
Weapon: unarmed
Black male
Age at time: 17
Weapon: unarmed
Victim photo: Trayvon Martin at 17 years old. Photo courtesy of the Martin family
Acquitted
Zimmerman
George Zimmerman
Hispanic male
Age at time: 28
Weapon: gun
gun
Black male
Age at time: 17
Weapon: unarmed
What the data shows
Florida’s “stand your ground” law has been extremely successful for people who kill and claim self-defense. Nearly 70 percent of those accused went free (36 cases are pending).
Weighing the circumstances
Trayvon Martin’s death became controversial because circumstances leading up to the shooting cast doubt on who was to blame. The Tampa Bay Times reviewed other “stand your ground” cases for similar circumstances. The Timesrelied on available information, some of which may not tell the whole story. When the situation was unclear, that was noted.
| Yes | No | Unclear/ disputed |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
104cases |
48cases |
85cases |
| Was the victim armed? |
75cases |
160cases |
21cases |
| Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
51cases |
190cases |
21cases |
| Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
70cases |
119cases |
48cases |
| Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
135cases |
36cases |
66cases |
| Was the defendant on his or her property? |
69cases |
168cases |
0cases |
| Did someone witness the attack? |
154cases |
58cases |
25cases |
| Was there physical evidence? |
127cases |
13cases |
97cases |
I guess that activate the law firm is an important and basic thing
Maybe basic but not easy and very expensive: Not all lawyers are created equally competent.