MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A South Florida father accused of fatally taking pictures a neighbor almost 9 years in the past after the sufferer’s canine was attempting to defecate in his son’s yard is lastly on trial.
Omar Rodriguez, then 66, was initially arrested on costs of second-degree tried homicide and aggravated assault with a lethal weapon.
Rodriguez, now 75, selected to not testify at his trial, setting the stage for jurors to listen to closing arguments Thursday afternoon.
Miami-Dade police stated Rodriguez shot 52-year-old Jose Rey to demise throughout an argument within the Kendall neighborhood on Father’s Day in June 2015.
According to the police report, Rodriguez admitted that the dispute started when Rey’s canine tried to defecate in Rodriguez’s son’s yard.
Rodriguez advised police that Rey was walking his canine when Rey advised Rodriguez that “he would be returning to fight him.” Rodriguez stated he took off his shirt and challenged Rey “to fight him now,” however Rey ignored him and walked home.
Later within the day, Rodriguez was ready for Rey at a neighborhood gathering, the place the 2 exchanged phrases, police stated.
Rodriguez then walked exterior, went to his automotive, pulled a gun out of his glove compartment and shot Rey, police stated.
Authorities say he shot Rey 3 times, together with one shot to his groin space.
“He was on the floor when he was shot the two last times,” prosecutor Maritza Clop Liriano stated in courtroom Thursday.
Rey’s spouse advised Judge Mindy Glazer that her husband underwent surgical procedure at Kendall Regional Medical Center following the incident, the place he died greater than per week later.
Police say neighbors had long-standing points with Rodriguez, who was generally known as a “troublemaker,” a lot in order that his protection attorneys declare residents conspired with the police division to “get” Rodriguez and have been fueled by hatred to take action.
“This case isn’t about puppies or dog poo. It’s about hatred. Absolute hatred,” stated Bruce Lehr, Rodriguez’s protection lawyer.
Rodriguez requested immunity underneath Florida’s so-called “Stand Your Ground” legislation, nonetheless, a decide in 2015 dominated he didn’t consider Rodriguez acted in self-defense.
Rodriguez is now on trial for premeditated homicide and aggravated assault with a lethal weapon.
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