Posted on 05/10/2017 7:37:39 AM PDT by marktwain
The trial involving the Flagstaff shooting of a mob of drunken fraternity members who attacked an 18 year old pistol owner, is over.
Jones and two of his friends were attacked after midnight on Friday, October 9, 2015. Jones was sucker punched and chased toward his car. He retrieved a pistol and went back to aid his friends who were on the ground.
The shooting occurred in October of 2015. A mistrial was declared by the judge on 2 May, 2017.
A motion for mistrial by the defense was refused by the trial judge, Dan Slayton. on 27 April. Slayton previously took the unusual stance of ruling the police video from the scene as “prejudicial”.
In the video, a bloodied and hysterical 18 year old, Steven Jones, tells the police how glad he is that they are there, and that he thought he was going to die.
Then, in the closing arguments, the prosecution claimed that Steven Jones had never claimed self defense until he was at the police station. The defense called for a mistrial over this false assertion. Judge Slayton ruled that a transcript of some of Jones statements in the video would be allowed to be shown to the jury, to offset the bad information put forward by the prosecution.
Two days later, the Judge declared a mistrial due to a hung jury.
To watch the video, click here.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
If the video had Jones saying incriminating things, you can bet it would have been shown to the jury.
Have no idea what AZ law is on the matter.
It sounds like other-defense whether or not self-defense would technically apply. Or is AZ law an ass?
I was under the impression that this was precisely why body cams were issued. My mistake...
The article explains that AZ law was reformed for self defense or defense of a third party.
The question is: would a reasonable person in the same circumstances have believed it to be a justifiable use of deadly force?
It is hard to see how a jury would not find reasonable doubt in this case.
That would result in a “not guilty” verdict.
Well ok thanks. But it sure seems to be mischaracterized here. This is other-defense or good samaritan.
It is both defense of self and a third party.
Jones got the pistol and went back to help his friends(only 90 feet away).
Then the drunk attackers came at him and attempted to take his pistol. That is when he fired.
It was dark, they were drunk, bad combination.
It was a mess, which often happens when dealing with groups of drunk young men.
DA can refile if they think they can make a case.
The Judge says a new trial will start on 1 August. It was announced the same time as the announcement of mistrial.
I thought that was a little unusual.
Yeah...sounds like this judge wanted to get out from under this case and have another judge assigned.
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