JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Letters exchanged between accused killer, Michael Dunn and his girlfriend could be problematic for his defense.
On February 3, the jury selection process in Michael Dunn's murder trial will begin.
Dunn's girlfriend Rhonda Rouer was with Dunn the night he allegedly shot 17-year-old Jordan Davis, at a Jacksonville gas station after an argument over loud music. Dunn says it was self-defense. But a new letter gives a look inside the mind of an accused killer.
In a letter dated December 5, 2012, Michael Dunn wrote to Rouer about her testimony to prosecutors. Saying, "I then realized that we hadn't really discussed what happened, as we were more concerned with whether or not anyone was hurt. Let me assure you, just as I told detectives who first interviewed me in Melbourne, and later Mitch Stone- there was a weapon."
"When she was first interviewed, when you would expect someone to tell the truth when their memory is freshest she never mentioned a firearm," said former prosecutor Richard Kuritz.
Kuritz says he's seen letters like this one before and believes it can be used against Dunn at trial.
"It clearly appears that Mr. Dunn is trying to refresh the recollection of his girlfriend or simply trying to tell her what she needs to say," said Kuritz.
Kuritz says judging by the writing in Dunn's letter he believes the accused killer understand it might be presented in court.
He wrote, "I finished a novel I had been reading. Now I'm back to reading the Bible and playing solitaire."
"I think maybe he understands this will be coming into trial one day and he wants a jury who sees it to be thinking he's a good person, he's reading the bible in there," said Kuritz.
In the letter addressed to "Baby," Dunn goes on to tell her "I cannot recall if I ever conveyed the details of my decision making to you. It was probably as simple as - 'He threatened to kill me' and left it at that."
Kuritz says despite the way the letter sounds this does not appear to be witness tampering, it simply sounds like Dunn's version of events.
"He realizes under Stand Your Ground the significance of that or even self-defense. He now understands that you need to put a weapon in that persons hand," said Kuritz. "He's clearly reiterating there was a weapon there, there was a weapon there."
Kuritz says if Rouer's testimony changes on the stand and more closely sounds like what she's been told in letters from Dunn, that could present a problem for the defense.
First Coast News has successfully fought for your access to these documents and we'll bring you more exclusive content on Thursday night at 8 p.m. during our special, Michael Dunn, fatal encounter.
