MicroWaveWhite neighbour who fatally shot Black mother in row over children playing pleads not guilty to manslaughter
CoderKatIt’s such bullshit that you can just claim you feared for your life (because gasp, your neighbor knocks on your door) and it gets charges reduced.
US stand your ground laws are barbaric and insane. Most of the world knows it, but a significant number of Americans still stand by them.
Also, I don’t get why they have to reduce the charges before the trial? Can’t they charge both manslaughter and murder and let the jury figure it out?
EntropywinsStand your ground was not the reason the charges were reduced, it was the reason why she wasn't arrested immediately. The charges were reduced because the prosecution doesn't have sufficient evidence for 2nd degree murder charges to stick, so they are bringing charges they know they can prove in court. I have no clue why they can't do both charges and I totally agree with you on the stand your ground laws...
NuPNuAShooting someone isn’t good enough evidence to change for murder? What other uses do guns have?
I think for 2nd degree murder the prosecution have to prove malicious intent.
Shooting someone isn’t malicious?
It’s kinda like premeditated vs a crime of passion. Planning to kill your wife for 3 months is viewed differently than coming home and finding her cheating so you shoot her.
At least in the US the extenuating circumstances effect the charges significantly.
As much as people don't want to hear this, the actions of the victim will likely lead to her getting off. At least if the initial articles are to be believed. The initial articles described the victim as being fairly aggressive in how she pounded on her door and demanded the woman come out. If that plays in court at all, you won't get a jury to convict her.
Flying SquidHow is aggressive pounding on a door justification for shooting through said door? She wasn’t the Hulk. She couldn’t knock the door down.
Because that's the way the law works. The Florida stand your ground law will let her get off if she can demonstrate that she was fearful. If the woman is aggressively pounding on the door and demanding she come out then it's very easy to use that as a defence and at least one person the jury will likely believe that and she won't be found guilty. As for being able to break down the door, you don't know. Even if she couldn't break down the door, she might have broken a window and forced the door open or gone through a nearby window. It doesn't matter how plausible it is, it's the aggressive behaviour that makes all of that a possibility and what will form her defence.