Defense attorneys cited Florida's stand-your-ground law in seeking immunity from prosecution.
Sunday, December 8, 2024 7:13PMA Florida man accused of a hate crime for killing a gay man is asking a judge to dismiss the charges, saying he acted in self-defense.
"I don't know if I told him to stop or not, but he wasn't stopping," Radford testified in a hearing before Hillsborough Circuit Judge Samantha Ward. Prosecutors dispute Radford's story. Several witnesses testified Friday that Radford had harassed Lay for months before the shooting, repeatedly using homophobic slurs. Prosecutors presented recorded jail phone calls where Radford used a homophobic slur to describe Lay after his arrest.
Radford acknowledged using slurs against Lay. But he told Assistant State Attorney Justin Diaz under questioning that he treated Lay differently because "of the way he treated me" and not because of his sexual orientation.
Hate Crime Shooting Gerald Radford John 'Walt' Lay John Walt Lay Walt Lay John Lay Stand Your Ground Florida Shooting Tampa Florida Dog Park Shooting Tampa Shooting 15628021
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