On last nights episode of Dexter, our murderous hero? is fleeing a Russian mafia boss named Isaak Sirko. He gets the bright idea of ducking into a bar run by a Columbian drug gang. He figures that since the Columbians apparently know the faces of the Russian drug gangsters by sight, they'll gun down Isaak so Dexter doesn't have to murder him himself.
Now, a disclaimer : yes, Dexter is a terrible, mind rotting program. It is fiction, and it is highly implausible. Nevertheless, I'm curious if Stand Your Ground protection would apply to this shootout so that this mafia boss could go free and commit more crimes.
Specifically, the scene went like this. Isaak enters the bar after chambering a round in a handgun. He is holding the weapon, but it is out of view of the Columbians in the bar. He enters the bar with the express intent of committing a murder - but not of any of the Columbians.
Technically, it is unlikely that the prosecution could prove that Isaak was planning on a murder. Let's assume for the sake of argument that the handgun was in a coat pocket, with his hand on the weapon. Also we can assume that Isaak probably does not have a CHL, and the gun was probably purchased illegally so that Isaak can commit murders with it.
Anyways, the moment he enters the bar, the Columbians point weapons his way. Isaak is faster on the draw, shoots dead 2 of the columbians (and is injured by a shotgun pellet). The last one comes at him with a knife. He knocks the guy down with a tequila bottle (yes, yes, I know that are only a good weapon on television) and stomps on his head, apparently killing him. Isaak flees the scene.
Let's assume that the bar had several high quality, HD surveillance cameras so that the court has reliable evidence as to what happened.
Was this self defense? Would it qualify as self defense under Florida law? A public bar is a place that people, even suspect mafia bosses, have a right to be. The Columbian drug criminals were attacking with lethal force.
Now, a disclaimer : yes, Dexter is a terrible, mind rotting program. It is fiction, and it is highly implausible. Nevertheless, I'm curious if Stand Your Ground protection would apply to this shootout so that this mafia boss could go free and commit more crimes.
Specifically, the scene went like this. Isaak enters the bar after chambering a round in a handgun. He is holding the weapon, but it is out of view of the Columbians in the bar. He enters the bar with the express intent of committing a murder - but not of any of the Columbians.
Technically, it is unlikely that the prosecution could prove that Isaak was planning on a murder. Let's assume for the sake of argument that the handgun was in a coat pocket, with his hand on the weapon. Also we can assume that Isaak probably does not have a CHL, and the gun was probably purchased illegally so that Isaak can commit murders with it.
Anyways, the moment he enters the bar, the Columbians point weapons his way. Isaak is faster on the draw, shoots dead 2 of the columbians (and is injured by a shotgun pellet). The last one comes at him with a knife. He knocks the guy down with a tequila bottle (yes, yes, I know that are only a good weapon on television) and stomps on his head, apparently killing him. Isaak flees the scene.
Let's assume that the bar had several high quality, HD surveillance cameras so that the court has reliable evidence as to what happened.
Was this self defense? Would it qualify as self defense under Florida law? A public bar is a place that people, even suspect mafia bosses, have a right to be. The Columbian drug criminals were attacking with lethal force.
