After eight years of delays and postponements, the trial of a 79-year-old retired police officer who fatally shot a man at a Florida movie theater is taking place this week.
According to the investigation, the event that occurred on January 13, 2014, began with the light from the screen of Chad Oulson's cell phone in the Wesley Chapel cinema, which bothered Curtis Reeves, who was 71 years old at the time.
Reeves reported his discomfort to the theater manager and then Oulson dumped the popcorn on him.
The retired officer pulled out a gun and shot him in the chest.
Curtis Reeves takes the stand to testify during his hearing at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City, Florida, on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Octavio Jones / AP
Reeves faces charges of aggravated assault and second-degree murder.
The man was initially held without bond, but
was released on $150,000 bond in July 2014.
He was allowed to leave his home to go to church, court, medical appointments or to buy food.
The former police officer has defended himself all these years saying that he acted in self-defense under the principle of the
Stand your ground
law (defend your position), which allows a lethal reaction to a threat against the life or health of a person.
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This argument has already been rejected by Judge Susan Barthle, of the Sixth Circuit of Florida, who based herself on testimony and evidence to say that she did not consider it a case that could be protected under this controversial law used in recognized cases such as that of George Zimmerman, who fatally shot minor Trayvon Martin.
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Reeves' defense has said that because of his age and his knowledge as a police officer in Tampa, he viewed Oulson's act as a threat.
His attorney, Dino Michaels, told The Washington Post that "something happened" to make Reeves react that way and that
his client was hit by the victim with the cell phone, something prosecutors have denied.
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An initial police report on the shooting said witnesses did not observe any fistfights and only mentioned the popcorn bag being thrown.
The interaction of the men was recorded on a surveillance camera that does not have very clear images of the events, but the prosecutors have relied on testimonies to reconstruct what happened.
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When Reeves returned to his seat after expressing his discomfort with Oulson's cell phone screen to theater staff, Oulson had put the phone away but later told Reeves to mind his own business.
Pinellas-Pasco Assistant State's Attorney Scott Rosenwasser told the jury that Oulson got up, grabbed Reeves' bag of popcorn and threw it at him.
That's when the retired police officer pulled his gun on him and shot him.
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According to information from CNN, prosecutors played audio in court of Reeves speaking to detectives shortly after the shooting.
“If I had to do it over again, it never would have happened.
I wouldn't have moved.
But you can't do things again, "said the audio.
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Nicole Oulson, the victim's wife, testified Monday that her husband tried to walk to the hallway but couldn't get very far.
"He took a couple of steps and collapsed," Oulson said.
TJ Grimaldi, his lawyer, has said that he considers it "a shame" that it took eight years to get to trial.
"The eight-year delay is, in my opinion, shameful,
and it only benefited Curtis Reeves, as it allowed him to contribute to being home with his loved ones and spending time with his family," Grimaldi told CNN.
