The facts presented seem to indicate a pretty clear case of self defense. What we haven’t heard was if the victims did anything to provoke the incident. In any case even if found innocent the legal bills will be crippling.
Just for the record, William P. Ring is the Coconino County Attorney, and is a Democrat.
http://www.coconino.az.gov/162/County-Attorney
http://billringforcountyattorney.com/
Sounds to me like some fraternity member are guilty of murder in commission of a crime.
members
They should. Almost anywhere else in AZ, they would. But this is a university town. All bets are off.
These were attackers, drunk, not victims. How does the victim get his reputation back, recover financially, resume and recover his life?
The video was initially withheld from the jury because it was “prejudicial”.
It was prejudicial to the dirtbags who started the confrontation. If he had competent defense, the video would have been brought out in the discovery process. By not allowing ALL evidence, the judge and the DA showed their true colors.
The defense should have sought a recusal by the judge.
Race of attackers = ???? No photo’s of the attackers?
In other news, the Denver Uber driver who shot his passenger who had allegedly been assaulting him as he was driving on I-25 is still in jail on a no bond hold. No charges have been filed against the CCW holder with no criminal background. However this is Denver and this DA will search high and low to find a way to charge this man for daring to defend himself with a firearm.
The paucity of facts in the article leaves us able to do little ore than speculate and pose questions. How many frat boys were in this “mob” versus how many in Jones group? When did this occur? Where? Any prior contact of the groups? Who & what set it off? Were Jones and his group also drunk or stoned?
Did Jones’ attorneys make much of the fact that the “sucker-punch”, presumably to the head, likely affected Jones’ perception, judgement, and sense of danger of death/great bodily harm?
That alone creates a lot of reasonable doubt that he formed malicious intent, and supports self-defense. Absent better info, I the Jury would have to conclude that the attackers brought this on themselves and are responsible for the death of their “brother”.
A minor point. Jones at age 18 cannot legally buy or possess a handgun in the US. Begs questions like: Whose Glock was it? Age of owner? Why were college kids cruising with a loaded gun?