'Porch Shooting' Jury Says Shooter Is Guilty

ABC News ^ | 08/07/2014 | ALYSSA NEWCOMB and BARBARA LOWE

[GIdget2004]

A Detroit jury ruled today that Theodore Wafer was guilty of murder in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Renisha McBride on his porch.

The jury, which consists of seven men and five women, began its deliberations on Wednesday after nine days of testimony.

Wafer, 55, is charged with second degree murder and manslaughter for shooting and killing McBride, 19, last November when the teenager showed up inebriated on his porch at 4:40 a.m. Wafer said he could only make out a figure around his house, said the person pounded on his door and made him fear for his life.

[digger48]

One of the reasons I like FR, is that FReepers usually tend to be better informed than the average Joe.

I’m a bit disappointed in some of the comments on this case that make me question that opinion

That being said, I realize that the coverage of the trial was limited to Twitter feeds and MSM selective journalism, so not a whole lot of info on the full testimony was out there.

One thing McBride was not, was a 5th grade cheerleader. She may have been 19, but she had just committed her 4th DUI and was banging on the doors and windows of a house in a neighborhood with several recent incidents of crime.

And there was absolutely no evidence produced that race played any role in the shooting.

Rafer made several bad decisions in the course of the shooting, including talking to the police without an attorney present.

I had little doubt there would be a conviction

[wardaddy]

Maybe the convicted turned down offers

It happens.

I have a friend who turned down old federal law 10 spot which would have meant 5 years served....he was 55.....Lucchese crew chief

Had moved down here retired.....he prayed on it

Turned them down went to trial...lost

His stupid son unknowingly led the feds right to a stash of soon to be ballistic tested firearms...all used in a family fight for power a few years before

He got RUD.....removal upon death....at Leavenworth where he still is today

22 years later

Sometimes you better take the offer.

[DoodleDawg]

One thing McBride was not, was a 5th grade cheerleader. She may have been 19, but she had just committed her 4th DUI and was banging on the doors and windows of a house in a neighborhood with several recent incidents of crime.

She definitely wasn't a saint, I agree with that. But that isn't a capital offense. Rafer wasn't in danger, she wasn't armed, he was safe in his house behind his locked door. And in spite of that he opened it and immediately fired and killed her. There is no way that any rational person can call that self-defense.

[bigdaddy45]

He had a steel front door. Most steel front doors would have much more solid frames.

[expat2]

You'd be surprised. I have steel doors, but had to reinforce the jambs, fastening them much more securely and replacing 1in screws with 3in screws right into the 2x4 framing.
Take the molding off near the locks some time and take a look at yours.

[Tau Food]

She also didn’t have a history of 4 DUIs, wrecking cars, beating on doors and windows of houses and knocking screen doors off their hinges

My mom didn't have that kind of a history, either. And, you know, I've grown to appreciate my mom for being such a rule follower all the time. I'll bet that there are times when you too are grateful that your mother was so well-behaved. Our mothers were nice little girls who blossomed into wonderful mothers. I can feel that. I just know that. ;-)