Last July 2013, the Florida Civil Rights Association called on Florida Governor Rick Scott to appoint a special prosecutor to replace State Attorney Angela Corey in the Michael Dunn’s murder trial. Governor Scott decided that State Attorney Corey should remind as the state prosecuting attorney.
“Angela Corey’s inept handling of Dunn’s murder trial showed that Governor Scott should seriously reconsider appointing a special prosecutor if the State must retry Dunn,” said J. Willie David, III, President of the Florida Civil Rights Association. “Once again, Florida has to explain why State Attorney Corey lacks the skills to convict white suspects accused of murdering black teens, like Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis. This leaves the African American community fearing for the lives of black teens in Florida.”
The FCRA said, the jury instructions in Dunn’s trial were too long and confusing, like Florida Ballot Amendments, making it impossible for the average layperson to convict for first degree murder. “These jurors are laypersons, everyday hard working citizens forced to become self made attorneys in a matter of months. Forget about law school and passing the Florida’s Bar,” David added.
The jury convicted Dunn for second degree attempted murder and shooting into the SUV while it was occupied by Jordan Davis, Tevin Thompson, Leland Brunson, and Tommy Storns. Dunn, who is 47 years old could be sentenced 60 years in state prison for the deadly shooting. Corey wants another bite at the apple to retry Dunn on the first degree murder charge.
“The state of Florida cannot afford State Attorney Corey to recycle the same failed prosecution’s tactics on the backs of Florida’s tax payers to convince a new jury to render a first degree murder verdict against Dunn,” expressed David. “These tactics used by Corey’s office belong in the junkyard, ever to be recycled. It clear Corey did not convince Dunn’s jury.”
The civil rights group said, that State Attorney Angela Corey and her office have an outstanding track record of aggressively prosecuting African Americans. The prosecution of Marissa Alexander is proof of Corey’s track record, the group noted.
Innocent African Americans and Hispanics are killed in police-involved shootings and the public outrage over police excessive use of force have taken a back seat to the Gorge Zimmerman and Michael Dunn senseless shootings of two unarmed black teens in Florida, Kyan Ware, a former state prosecutor and attorney for the FCRA, pointed out.
“There are more police shootings of people of color in Florida than Stand Your Ground shootings involving the everyday citizens,” Ware declared. “Yes, the Florida Civil Rights Association considers the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis very serious. However, we are deeply concerned when state prosecutors use discriminatory practices of selective enforcement regarding police and citizens deadly shootings. It should not matter if the gun that led to the deadly shooting is in the hands of a police officer or citizen.”
“Citizens’ unchecked uses of the Stand Your Ground Law and the police questionable use of knock and talk tactics create dead bodies for the benefit of Florida’s undertakers. They are the only real winners when road rage, loud music and texting in a movie theater arguments ends in deadly shootings,” David added.
