JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Clay County jury convicted the man accused of shooting an employee multiple times during a 2003 robbery of an Orange Park, Fla., bar Tuesday. John Furman, who represented himself, was found guilty of armed robbery, second degree attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm after jurors took less than an hour to reach their verdict.
"The defendant represented himself, had no idea what the law was, didn't follow it throughout and personally attacked me and the police throughout," said prosecutor Rebecca Zima.
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Furman robbed the Roadhouse bar in April 2003 and shot long-time store employee Bill Lutz, 49, three times as he wrestled with Furman while he tried to make a getaway. Lutz spent almost three months in the hospital and was a key witness in the prosecution's case against Furman.
The trial began Monday when Lutz described to the jury how he tried to stop Furman from getting away.
"I caught him coming out the door with the cash box, and I grabbed him from behind and wrestled him to the ground out front," said Lutz.
Furman seemed to incriminate himself when he issued an apology during cross-examination to the man he was accused of shooting.
"I'm sorry that you got hurt," said Furman.
Furman later admitted his guilt, but said he did so only because a drug dealer threatened to kill him, his sister and her family if he didn't. The jury, however, was not convinced.
"The evidence was there that he did the crimes, and the evidence was not there that he didn't do the crimes," said Bob Barker, who served on the jury. "Everybody agreed."
Furman, who requested sentencing immediately if found guilty, was given two concurrent sentences of life without parole. Lutz seemed satisfied with the decision of the court.
"The man got what he deserved for screwing my life up," he said.
Previous Stories:
- March 28, 2005: Man Accused Of 'Roadhouse' Robbery, Shooting On Trial
- April 22, 2003: Police Provide Details Of Suspect In Roadhouse Shooting