Florida's castle doctrine in action

[TonyStarks]

quote for post #1

Heizmann said Douglas' friends had threatened to kill him after they became involved in the argument, and he thought they were breaking in when he fired his weapon.

"Mr. Heizmann from day one has said. . . he didn't know Mandy was there at the door," Heizmann's lawyer, Kepler Funk, said after the verdict. "In the state of Florida, a man or woman's home is his or her castle, and when the jury heard what the law is, the only verdict is 'not guilty.'
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If he didnt know, he didnt look. Again, it was not a smart choice to fire without looking or even calling out.....taking someones life is very serious, and mistakes should not be masked by the laws that are supposed to protect us. I am all for the Castle law, but i am not all for making a mistake where someones life is lost when it could have been avoided. The law just happens to be on his side, but you have to admit....it was not wise to fire without atleast calling out to see who it was, maybe telling the person to stop, or i'll shoot.

 

[Elza]

glummer:

Elza

Quote:
What if a neighbor heard the commotion, came outside to see what was happening, and happened to be in the line of fire?

Wouldn’t the same danger apply, no matter WHEN you shoot?

To some degree this is true. Once the door opens things are going to happen fast but at least you will have chance to see your target. Through a closed door how do you know where the ‘target’ is standing? If standing to one side you would miss thereby needlessly endangering a bystander or neighbor. I would maintain that you at least attempt a COM hit on the target. This can only be reliably accomplished by seeing your target.

Other than that I see absolutely no problems with this shoot as described here.

 

[browningguy]

It seems like it almost never goes well when a 35 YO man is living with a 23 YO female.

 

[LawBot5000]

The jury probably had plenty of testimony and information that we lack. I will leave it at that.

 

[The Amigo]

A clear case of extreme poor judgement. To many what ifs? on this one.

 

[lacoochee]

Come on y'all, had it been reversed, you would be singing a different tune:

Reversed Facts:
Boyfriend leaves says "I might just come back to kill you".

Later that afternoon he starts kicking in the front door, breaks a hole in the door and reaches in for the latch.

Peggy Sue shoots. You all run around praising the new Calamity Jane.

It was a good shoot, the jury says it was, a jury of his peers. You would have decided different? How sad.