Judge rules Fisher Watts was not acting out of self-defense in Gilchrist County murder trial
GILCHRIST COUNTY, Fla. (WCJB) - An important decision was made Wednesday morning in the murder trial of Fisher Watts.
Watts is accused of murdering Koty Stewart on Memorial Day. On Wednesday, the judge ruled that Watts was not acting in self-defense.
TV20 was in the courtroom, Watts put his head down upon hearing the news that his Stand Your Ground argument was denied by the judge.
Judge Susanne Wilson Bullard says the state has determined Watts was not acting in self-defense in the death of Koty Stewart. She ruled there is no evidence that Watts feared for his life and says Stewart was shot in a manner that shows he was turning or had turned when he was hit.
“There is no credible evidence that the defendant reasonably believed that he was facing imminent death or great bodily harm,” said Bullard.
According to Darry Lloyd at the State Attorney office, by Friday, the judge will issue a written order denying Watts’ Stand Your Ground argument with full details of her justification.
A status conference for the trial is set for June 24th, and trial is on track for the week of July 6th, if the defense does not ask for a delay or a new lawyer.
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