JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bond was denied again Tuesday for a man charged with first-degree murder in the killing of a 17-year-old in a dispute over loud music.
Judge Russell Healey denied a defense motion for bond for Michael Dunn, along with a motion to rule Dunn indigent, meaning he will have to pay for his legal defense.
Dunn is charged with killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis (pictured, below) outside a Baymeadows Gate gas station the day after Thanksgiving. He claims self-defense after thinking he saw a gun in Davis' SUV, but police said no weapon was ever found.
Dunn had already been denied bond once, but the motion could be reheard because a new judge has taken over the case and any previous requests could be resubmitted. Healey is, in fact, the third judge assigned to the case.
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As for the indigence motion, Dunn's attorney, Cory Strolla, said Dunn and his family have no money left and fees are mounting. Strolla estimated the case will cost Dunn's parents, who are paying for everything, between $75,000 and $100,000. That doesn't count the money they paid the first defense attorneys, which they fired.
"What can you do?" Strolla said. "I'm disappointed. I don't think Mr. Dunn should be in custody."
Strolla said he'll keep fighting for his client. The case has been widely compared to that of George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin in central Florida. This weekend, jurors found Zimmerman not guilty. But Strolla said he sees very little similarities.
"Obviously we have a white defendant with a black victim, and I think that's about the only correlation that can be drawn," he said.
State Attorney Angela Corey is leading the prosecution against Dunn, just like she did against Zimmerman. Strolla said he thinks she'll come down hard on his client.
"And I think they're going to do their best to not lose this case because I think politically and publicly she's already taken, I guess, a backlash from the community for it," Strolla said.
Prosecutors did not comment on what happened in court Tuesday, neither did Davis' parents, other than to say, "We had a good day."
A motion to keep some court records private was granted.
Dunn's next court date was set for Aug. 15. His trial is scheduled to start Sept. 23, though Strolla is asking for an extension.