Posted on 02/25/2022 6:19:36 PM PST by NautiNurse
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Curtis Reeves, the man who shot and killed Chad Oulson at a Wesley Chapel movie theater in 2014 was found not guilty on all charges Friday night.
After over three hours of deliberation, a six-person jury returned to the courtroom Friday evening and delivered its verdict. Reeves was found not guilty of the counts of second-degree murder and aggravated batter
Reeves has never denied shooting Oulson, but has maintained that he was acting in self defense.
The retired police captain spent several hours on the witness stand Thursday, telling a Pasco County jury about what he says happened the day he shot Oulson in the theater.
He also testified about his career in law enforcement. Reeves helped establish the SWAT team for the Tampa Police Department and ended his career as the head of security for Busch Gardens.
He told the jury he had never drawn his weapon and shot anyone in his years of service as a police officer and says he never encountered rage from anyone the way he did from Oulson the day of the shooting.
I think, given what we now know, he did, as well. I think he probably thinks that as well, as he testifed that he has second-guessed the incident repeadtedly since then. I took him as being sincere.
But, in the eyes of Flordia law, he was fully justified. As lame as it seems, bitch-slapping someone with your cell phone, and grabbing their popcorn out of their hands and throwing it at them, is Felony Battery, a forcible felony, if they are over 65.
That said, it was obvious to me, from watching the trial, that Chad oulson was a bully, who was used to doing whatever he felt like doing, and wasn't going to be corrected by some old man. What kind of dick flexes on an old man? That's not the kind of cultural norm I want any part of.
Me, niether. I did hear he was a known bully.
When the theater security video was originally published several years ago, I understood how Reeves felt threatened, essentially pinned in his seat when the 6'4" Oulson repeatedly reached his long arm over the chair, directly into Reeve's face. Until then, Reeves thought his decision to talk to the theater manager would resolve the situation.
Reeves presented himself as calm and collected during his testimony, while under strenuous cross exam by the prosecution. The prosecution tried hard to get him to lose his temper. Reeves never lost his cool, he remained even tempered and matter-of-fact.
The jury returned their not guilty verdict in three hours yesterday. That time may have included a working dinner.
If you are on a jury and immediately come to a verdict after the trial, might as well get a free dinner before notifying the judge
I have a suspicion it happens more often than not. Lot's of verdicts are returned shortly after the lunch hour.
” in his seat when the 6’4” Oulson repeatedly”
I have never heard Reeves height. Anyone know ?
“Your knowledge of the events surrounding the shooting are sorely missing important details. It wasn’t about popcorn.”
Reeves wife seems to disagree with you about the validity of the shooting. Watch the video and listen to the testimony about what a Police officer heard Reeves wife said to him. Pay particular attention starting at 2:13.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EWe9xkiybc
Good point.
“When the theater security video was originally published several years ago, I understood how Reeves felt threatened, essentially pinned in his seat when the 6’4” Oulson repeatedly reached his long arm over the chair, directly into Reeve’s face.”
Even Reeves himself disagrees with you about the validity of the shooting. He say’s it was stupid. Pay particular attention to the video at 1:25.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0898z8SgzT8
This shows how hard it is to get a Florida jury to convict an old fart of murder in a “self defense” case.
Reeves has a history of being obnoxious in movie theaters about his pet peeve of other patrons talking or texting. He was the instigator not an innocent victim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MSc7o-wP7w
As others point out,if you’re armed you have a legal duty not to intiate confrontation.
I’d have found the old cop guilty of voluntary manslaughter.
The guy he shot was unarmed and wasn’t going for any weapon; best case he should have been charged with manslaughter but being a retired cop and all ....
It wasn’t texting that caused this tragedy it was out of control rage.
Since we agree in principle, why make it an argument?
And yet, Chad Oulson wasn't there to defend himself, was he? Nor did he have these eight years to rehearse his performance in the witness stand, like the man who killed him did.
“The guy he shot was unarmed and wasn’t going for any weapon...”
You don’t know that in the moment. Guy had apparently already been physically aggressive, that starts the clock.
On the part of both people.
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