FL - Chad Oulson, 43, killed in Wesley Chapel theater shooting, 13 Jan 2014 *Former LE arrest*

[Gardenista]

Close. He was texting his kid's babysitter, I believe.

Cell phone forensics proved he was looking at Facebook and sports websites, not texting his daughter/babysitter. Before the trial started there was a hearing because the defense wanted to refer to Chad as a liar. Judge said no. His wife admitted what they were looking at during her testimony.

 

[Trebor5591]

Yes true that Pasco County did not do well and some mistakes were made...but the big mistake was by CR. That tape is appalling listening to him developing his self defense case right there....his wife must have been cringing listening to that again. Guilty no question. Sure Chad could have been the adult in the room but he did not deserve to be shot and killed.

Respectfully disagree. The biggest mistake was made by the victim--a married man and the father of a young child, with all kinds of responsibilities, yet he allowed himself to lose control of himself, screaming at a total stranger, in a public place, a dark theatre, looming above that older man, even throwing something at him, acting in such a way that the total stranger, who was an elderly retired man, legally armed, feared for his safety. Because of his position, sitting back in a sunken theatre chair, there was only one way to protect himself--shoot the out-of-control man attacking him to stop that threat.

No Florida jury is going to convict him, IMO.

 

[ilovewings]

The trial thus far is pathetic and should be a huge embarrassment to Pasco County and Sixth Judicial Circuit. Welcome to the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida - Serving Pasco and Pinellas Counties
I'm grading the players. After 3 days of trial:
A - Medical Examiner
B - Defense
C - Judge
D - Prosecution
F - Law Enforcement

The last trial I watched closely in Florida was George Zimmerman on trial.
I still have not gotten over how poorly the prosecution did in that one. I
am not watching the Reeves trial but thank people here for posting on it.

 

[turaj]

Respectfully disagree. The biggest mistake was made by the victim--a married man and the father of a young child, with all kinds of responsibilities, yet he allowed himself to lose control of himself, screaming at a total stranger, in a public place, a dark theatre, looming above that older man, even throwing something at him, acting in such a way that the total stranger, who was an elderly retired man, legally armed, feared for his safety. Because of his position, sitting back in a sunken theatre chair, there was only one way to protect himself--shoot the out-of-control man attacking him to stop that threat.

No Florida jury is going to convict him, IMO.

YOur opinion...I bet the defense would love to have you on the jury.

 

[BeckyF]

Respectfully disagree. The biggest mistake was made by the victim--a married man and the father of a young child, with all kinds of responsibilities, yet he allowed himself to lose control of himself, screaming at a total stranger, in a public place, a dark theatre, looming above that older man, even throwing something at him, acting in such a way that the total stranger, who was an elderly retired man, legally armed, feared for his safety. Because of his position, sitting back in a sunken theatre chair, there was only one way to protect himself--shoot the out-of-control man attacking him to stop that threat.

No Florida jury is going to convict him, IMO.

I disagree. I think he will be found guilty.

 

[Gardenista]

I think it is going to come down to whether or not the people on the jury are empathetic to how some people feel more vulnerable when they are older. If not, he's going to to prison.

 

[turaj]

I have not heard the exact juror make up but what I heard in selection was mostly retired people and a very smart bunch. As someone here of a "certain age" I think some of the older jurors may be offended by the "age" defense...like someone 71 is unable to manage such a situation and solution was to shot a man. I just don't think that age defense is going to do much for the state...in that audio interview he did not at all sound frail and in fact I find his level of calmness unbelievable given a he shot a man who may be dying and then did die.

 

[Gardenista]

I have not heard the exact juror make up but what I heard in selection was mostly retired people and a very smart bunch. As someone here of a "certain age" I think some of the older jurors may be offended by the "age" defense...like someone 71 is unable to manage such a situation and solution was to shot a man. I just don't think that age defense is going to do much for the state...in that audio interview he did not at all sound frail and in fact I find his level of calmness unbelievable given a he shot a man who may be dying and then did die.

I can't imagine an empathetic person being offended by the age defense, but you may be right.

 

[turaj]

i can get where CR's age should have meant that Chad just said sorry and turned off the phone rather than turn around and make a bigger deal out of it...I can assume Chad was loud and obviously used lots of language with CR...he could have moved.....big mistake on his part....but CR's age does not give him the right to shoot a guy dead with a big mouth and a phone.

 

[Trebor5591]

YOur opinion...I bet the defense would love to have you on the jury.

we wont have to wait too much longer before we know how the jury sees it

 

[BeckyF]

Cell phone forensics proved he was looking at Facebook and sports websites, not texting his daughter/babysitter. Before the trial started there was a hearing because the defense wanted to refer to Chad as a liar. Judge said no. His wife admitted what they were looking at during her testimony.

IMO what he was looking at on his phone has no relevance to the case.

 

[fred&edna]

Yes true that Pasco County did not do well and some mistakes were made...but the big mistake was by CR. That tape is appalling listening to him developing his self defense case right there....his wife must have been cringing listening to that again. Guilty no question. Sure Chad could have been the adult in the room but he did not deserve to be shot and killed.

Would you mind sharing exactly what part of the tape suggests that Reeves was "developing his self defense case right there"?

 

[turaj]

Would you mind sharing exactly what part of the tape suggests that Reeves was "developing his self defense case right there"?

you can listen to it...he says it was self defense...it is pretty obvious.

 

[badgersmythe]

Retired cop who shot man for texting in theater feared for his safety


Retired cop who shot man for texting in movie theater reveals he thought he was going to be attacked | Daily Mail Online

 

[SandyQLS]

I listened to the CR tapes testimony today. I was impressed that CR was articulate and calm, and he spoke without requesting an attorney be present iirc. I did NOT find any hint of a hotheaded, controlling old man with dementia, angry and itching to shoot someone.

I hope his attorneys have consulted with both an ophthalmologist and a geriatric specialist. First, as we age, we do not see as well in dim light like in the theater. Some estimates are a loss of up to 30% of photoreceptors (rod cells for light) for seniors while the number of cone cells for color remains the same. I was told this by an ophthalmologist but here is one link from American Academy of Ophthalmology:
20 Ways Aging Changes Your Eyes
"...2. Difficulty seeing at night
Older adults may notice that their eyes take longer to adjust and focus in the dark than they used to. Studies have suggested that the eye’s rod cells, which are responsible for low light vision, weaken with age. That’s why driving becomes trickier at night, or during poor weather. The National Traffic Safety Administration recommends that older people limit driving to daylight hours. ..."

The other issue is that while a senior brain may work well, it does not correctly process inputs and then correctly respond as fast, eg reaction time.

IMO Oulsen escalated the verbal argument to a physical argument by throwing anything. I can understand how CR may not have been able to see that well, and I believe CR when he says something hit his eye, he wasn't sure what it was. I believe Mr Reeves that he may have feared for his life, wasn't sure what or how he was being battered but knew he was in fact physically attacked. So he defended himself, which is self-defense. The whole popcorn box is actually a hindsight canard.

IMO it will likely be a hung jury.

 

[fred&edna]

you can listen to it...he says it was self defense...it is pretty obvious.

Reeves seemed to believe he was defending himself... that is the only thing that's obvious to me.
jmo

 

[iridized]

Pasco County resident, senior citizen, live in a mainly senior aged neighborhood. Playing the aged card is not working, and in fact, offensive, to myself and neighbors. He was only 71. Most older people here don't even consider someone as elderly until at least they are in their 80s. Talk in the neighborhood has him guilty as charged.

 

[iridized]

What really surprises me about the local talk is the anger over how delayed this trial has been and is blamed solely on LE protecting LE. Now mind you, as a rule, we are back the blue but it has backfired in this case.

 

[Gardenista]

Pasco County resident, senior citizen, live in a mainly senior aged neighborhood. Playing the aged card is not working, and in fact, offensive, to myself and neighbors. He was only 71. Most older people here don't even consider someone as elderly until at least they are in their 80s. Talk in the neighborhood has him guilty as charged.

I've heard the exact opposite from people in the area. Guess it depends on who you are talking to.

 

[turaj]

Pasco County resident, senior citizen, live in a mainly senior aged neighborhood. Playing the aged card is not working, and in fact, offensive, to myself and neighbors. He was only 71. Most older people here don't even consider someone as elderly until at least they are in their 80s. Talk in the neighborhood has him guilty as charged.

Thank you for weighing in...I had mentioned that age defense not going over well with a jury with many retirees on it and some did not agree. Value your opinion and so agree