Judge hears evidence on Stand Your Ground defense in Ginnie Springs murder case

TRENTON, Fla. (WCJB) — A Gilchrist County judge heard testimony Wednesday in a Stand Your Ground hearing that will determine whether a second-degree murder case moves forward.

Fisher Watts is accused of killing Koty Stewart over Memorial Day weekend in 2024 at Ginnie Springs. The charges could be dropped if Watts convinces the judge that the shooting was self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.

No decision was made after the hearing ended on Wednesday; however, a pretrial conference was scheduled for June 10, where the judge is expected to either dismiss the case or move forward with the trial.

A medical examiner and a sergeant with the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office testified Wednesday, as well as the defendant’s brother.

Dallas Watts testified he and his brother had been drinking before shots were fired on Memorial Day weekend in 2024.

When asked to rate his brother’s level of impairment on a scale of one to 10, Dallas Watts said: “Five, maybe. He could walk and talk fine, but I wouldn’t say he could drive a vehicle,” Dallas Watts said. “He could operate fine.”

Dallas Watts was sentenced last year to five years in prison for his involvement in the crime.

The district 6 medical examiner also touched on his .29 alcohol level.

“My common way of describing that particular substance would kind of be like the same effect as methamphetamine with a little dose of crazy to go with it.”

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