Lawyers for a Florida man this week cited President George W. Bush’s pre-emptive war in Iraq and the “Bush Doctrine” as a defense after their client killed two neighbors and attempted to kill a third on Labor Day.
Florida Today reported on Wednesday that attorney’s for William T. Woodward had filed a motion asking for charges against him to be dismissed under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which says that gun owners do not have a duty to retreat in the face of an “imminent” threat.
According to officials in Titusville, Woodward had snuck up on his neighbors while they were having a Labor Day barbecue. Police responding to the scene found that Gary Lee Hembree, Roger Picior and Bruce Timothy had all been shot.
Hembree and Picior were later pronounced dead. Blake survived, even though he had been hit 11 times.
In their motion, Woodward’s attorneys claimed that the victims had called him names and threatened to “get him.”
The motion referenced Enoch V. State, which suggests that an “imminent” threat can include something that is likely to occur at sometime in the future.
“I think legally that term has sort of been evolving especially given changes of our government’s definition of ‘imminent,’” attorney Robert Berry, who is representing Woodward, told Florida Today. “It’s become more expansive than someone putting a gun right to your head. It’s things that could become, you know, an immediate threat.”
The court document filed by the defense also cited “The Bush Doctrine,” a foreign policy principle used by President George W. Bush to justify the invasion of Iraq. “The Bush Doctrine” embraces “preventive” or pre-emptive war.
The "Bush Doctrine?" So what, now you can simply murder people because you think they MIGHT want to kill you in the future?
Only in Florida right? I mean if George Zimmerman can get away with cold blooded murder, why can't everybody else?
Well hey, at least now Sarah Palin might be able to understand what the Bush Doctrine is. After all this certainly seems to be something she would endorse 100 percent.
Now hang on I have to scratch Florida off of my list of places that I want to visit.
P.S. Speaking of Zimmerman it looks like he has been caught speeding in Florida again. Such an upstanding law abiding citizen isn't he?
Sad for everyone in FL that the Zimmerman case will be used as precedent meaning its open season down there. Name calling and "threatening" to get some one are now good reasons to sneak up on them and gun them down. I love the Bush doctrine though. Quite creative.
ReplyDeleteMy mom goes south to Florida every winter. I have visted in the past, but never again. It's not safe in that State. Seems like if a person doesn't like the way you look, they can murder you and walk free. Maybe they will change the law when tourists stop visiting.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Zimmerman, his wife filed for divorce today:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/os-george-zimmerman-wife-divorce-20130905,0,6806648.story
When I hear "Bush Doctrine",
ReplyDelete"In what respect, Charlie" instantly comes to mind.
Why is this man smiling for his mug shot? After all, he just killed two men in cold-blooded murder and seriously wounded a third (shot eleven times?). I hope this man goes down. Stand your ground.... yeah, "he called me a name and so I shot him."
ReplyDeleteAs far as Zimmerman is concerned, I don't think we have heard the last of him yet.
Oh chit. Off-topic but Todd always appreciates a "Heads-Up" whenever the cans are about to start flying...
ReplyDeleteSarah Palin Snubbed Again, as Roger Ailes Hires Someone Else to Host Her Own Weekend Show Who's Much More Attractive Than Sarah (Yet 3 Years Older!!!)
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-to-debut-new-weekend-show-hosted-by-former-supermodel-carol-alt/
Carol Alt appeared on more than 800 covers of fashion magazines, including Sports Illustrated's Famous Swimsuit Issue's Cover back in 1982, when Sarah Heath was still picking boogers & eating them, and running around at her friends' houses without any underwear because, as told by Sarah to her former friends, "Daddy (Creepy Chuck, Sr) liked it better when I aired out that nasty thing every now and then".
Back to canned corn projectiles... "Did I say "Heads up, Todd"? Sorry. I meant "Stay low, you pimping fool!!!"
This idiot is too stupid to know he's done anything wrong. I guarantee you that he's a Palinbot TeaBagging Redneck, mighty and proud of his ignorance.
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect! I agree with this man; if Zimmerman and Bush can get away with murder, why can't he. It sounds justified... sneak up behind someone you think might harm you at some point (based on some vague threats)and just blow their asses away! Ya know, Florida can really save some money by firing the entire police force. Just let 'em all shoot it out. With "stand your ground" who needs cops?
ReplyDeleteBy this assclown's own logic, the state should simply skip the trouble and expense of a trial and execute him immediately. After all, he is a known dangerous criminal and could conceivably pose a threat to someone else, at some indeterminate point in time.
ReplyDeleteFlori duh. The state that gave us Casey Anthony, Zimmerman, and now this assclown. "Yer Honor, he needed killin', was pointing and laughing at me and I felt my life was in danger!"
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's the bastion of rwnj's everywhere, "The Villages".
Shame sane people can't visit Disneyland anymore with crazies like this on the loose.
Reasons not to live in Florida: alligators, hurricanes, tornadoes, sinkholes, wild pythons, politicians like Rick Scott and Allen West, sharks that swarm, kudzu, giant snails, (African and South American)
ReplyDeletesinking into the sea, murderous marching bands,......and verdicts like Casey Anthony, and Zimmerman.
Oh...and now, this guy.
Any idea how likely it is that these guys could get behind a law that allows a woman to castrate a man if she feels he might rape her, based on undefined terms or criteria?
ReplyDeleteProbably somewhere between "unlikely" and impossible since it is currently a repube state and the repubes are trying to get women out of the work force, into the kitchen and horizontal all the time.
DeleteWomen being able to legally defend themselves or strike out at men would be contrary to all those things!