Reversing the trend of getting away with murder

After all the stand-your-ground law defenses, after George Zimmerman's acquittal in the killing of Trayvon Martin, after the increasing incidences of police officers killing young unarmed black men, after the strong likelihood that there will be no charges brought against the officer who killed Michael Brown -- it's about time there was a decision that reversed this trend of, . . . literally, getting away with murder.

A jury in Jacksonville, FL has found Michael Dunn guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of 17 year old Jordan Davis after an argument over loud music playing in a car occupied by four black teenagers outside a convenience store.

There was no question that Dunn shot and killed Davis, but he claimed it was self-defense, that he felt his life was in danger, and that he thought there was a gun in the car.   There was not.  

Whatever words may have been spoken, the facts were that Dunn walked past the car with the loud music as he was coming out of the store.  Words were exchanged, and then he went to his own car to get his gun, came back and fired 10 times into an SUV full of teens as it was leaving the scene.

Self-defense???   Come on.  Dunn's bizarre story included testimony that he and his girl friend then went back to their motel room, ordered pizza, and never discussed the shooting.   He did not report it to the police.   Why not, if he felt his life in danger?

An earlier trial had ended with the jury deadlocked on 1st degree murder charges, but it found Dunn guilty on attempted 2nd degree murder on three counts for which he already faces at least 60 years in prison.

At least this outcome seems to restore a bit of sanity we seem to have lost recently when it comes to guns.  Not only sanity, it restores a little bit of trust in the system to know that at least this jury could hear evidence that the rest of us would easily conclude proves guilt -- and find the defendant guilty.   

The opposite has happened so many times, when the one killed is a young black man, that it is what we had come to expect.   For example, right now, my expectation that the grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri will indict the police officer in the killing of Michael Brown is running at about 15 to 20%.

Ralph

LATER:   I just watched a video clip of Jordan Davis' parents reacting to the verdict.   His mother spoke eloquently of gratitude that justice had been done, "not only for Jordan but justice for Trayvon and all the nameless faces of children and people who will never have a voice."  His father then said he wanted Jacksonville to be "a shining example of a place where you can have a jury of mostly white people, of white men, and be an example to the rest of the world that you can stop these discriminatory practices . . . and hopefully this is a start, that we don't have to look at the makeup of a jury." 

I find it inspiring that the parents of the three cases I have followed closely -- Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Jordan Davis -- have spoken with such grace and dignity, wanting justice for their sons, but seemingly free of bitterness and hatred and speaking for restraint and peace in their communities.    They shine as examples that put the defenders of their son's killers to shame.