Because of the Trayvon Martin case, the "Stand your ground" law is now extremely controversial, but what about when someone picks a fight in a premeditated attempt to use the law as their defense? The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates digs into a case of just that — and the man in question, Houston's Raul Rodriguez, was found guilty.
"Jurors decided that Rodriguez provoked Danaher and others by going to their party to demand they quiet down just after midnight on May 2, 2010. Defense lawyers said Rodriguez should have been found not guilty of murder because it was self-defense.
Rodriguez and his family lived near Danaher, an elementary school teacher, and his family in rural Huffman. Rodriguez approached the party, upset by the noise, and videotaped the encounter.
During the last seven minutes of the 22-minute video, Rodriguez can be heard telling the partygoers he wants them to turn down the noise, then that he is afraid the drunken group will hurt him.
The video goes to black seconds after several men, including Danaher charge him. There is a cackling laugh, then a gunshot and the camera falls."
Read Ta-Nehisi Coates' entire piece at the Atlantic.
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