Zimmerman's attorney weighs in on Dunn verdict
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -
A day after 12 jurors convicted Michael Dunn of first-degree murder for shooting and killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis, high-profile defense attorney Mark O'Mara weighed in on the outcome.
O'Mara, who's best known for defending George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin, said he thinks the prosecution and the defense did a better job this time in the retrial, but ultimately it was the state that sealed the deal on Dunn.
"Certainly I respect the jury's verdict," O'Mara said. "I am a bit surprised with the first-degree murder conviction. I think this is a second-degree murder event, which is the emotions that lead to the killing."
O'Mara watched both Dunn trials very closely, noting there were similarities to when he defended Zimmerman. But Zimmerman was acquitted of shooting and killing the unarmed Martin.
It's a different outcome for Dunn, who will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
"This jury did their job," O'Mara said. "They looked at it very closely, and I think what happened is they saw some arrogance in Michael Dunn. They saw lack of remorse in Michael Dunn, and that, I think, informed their decision as to whether or not he was acting in fear or out of anger or hatred."
O'Mara pointed out that Dunn never apologized for killing Davis.
"Dunn should have acknowledged that he took a life and that he was very sorry for that," O'Mara said. "Failing to do that left him unsympathetic."
O'Mara believes the testimony from Dunn's former fiancee, Rhonda Rouer, also contributed to the guilty verdict. Dunn testified that he told Rouer that night that the teens had a gun and that Davis threatened him. But Rouer denied it on the stand.
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Zimmerman's attorney weighs in on Dunn verdict