In 2005 Antonio Corbitt was shot and killed in an armed home invasion in Columbia, SC. He was shot in front of his eight year old son. The case went cold until 2012 when investigators once again searched fingerprints from the scene in the states Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and got a match.
Gregg Isaac was one of three suspects arrested and charged with robbery, conspiracy and murder. His murder trial commenced this past Monday. Prior to the seating of the jury Isaac's attorney, Mark Schnee, informed the judge that Isaac wanted immunity on the murder charge under South Carolina's 2006 "stand your ground" law and wanted a hearing on the matter.
During the hearing, Isaac testified before the judge he did, indeed, shoot the victim during the home invasion robbery. Isaac admitted to being armed with a handgun. Corbitt and one of Isaac's co-defendant's began fighting when the home invaders kicked in the door and entered Corbitt's residence.
Isaac's argument is that Corbitt had a handgun in his waistband. Isaac stated his shooting of Corbitt, during an armed home invasion, was justified under the "stand your ground law" because he was afraid Corbitt was going to pull his firearm from his waistband and shoot Isaac.
Judge Clifton Newman ridiculed the contention that Isaac was justified in shooting Corbitt and was claiming self-defense in a case where Isaac violently invaded Corbitt's home. Judge Newman refused to hold a full hearing on the matter, saying, “It borders on the preposterous for the defendant in this case to claim he was acting lawfully and had the right to kill Mr. Corbitt.”
Defense attorney Schnee filed an emergency motion with the South Carolina Supreme Court.Some of you might remember that the SC Supreme Court is headed by Justice Jean Toal, the oft arrested, but never convicted DUI offender. The SCSC issued a stay, which caused Judge Newman to stop the trial and dismiss the jury panel.
The SCSC apparently issued the stay because Judge Newman refused to hold a full hearing on the matter. They want to use the case to determine when and if Judges should hold full hearings. We contend Judge Newman was operating well within the realm of reason when he ridiculed the defense contention of self-defense and the invoking of "stand your ground" in a situation where it obviously didn't apply.
With all of the recent whining about not having enough taxpayer money to fund trials, and Justice Toal being one of the loudest whiners, we don't need her and her crew handing down ridiculous decisions which only result in more expense to the already overburdened taxpayer.
Gregg Isaac was one of three suspects arrested and charged with robbery, conspiracy and murder. His murder trial commenced this past Monday. Prior to the seating of the jury Isaac's attorney, Mark Schnee, informed the judge that Isaac wanted immunity on the murder charge under South Carolina's 2006 "stand your ground" law and wanted a hearing on the matter.
During the hearing, Isaac testified before the judge he did, indeed, shoot the victim during the home invasion robbery. Isaac admitted to being armed with a handgun. Corbitt and one of Isaac's co-defendant's began fighting when the home invaders kicked in the door and entered Corbitt's residence.
Isaac's argument is that Corbitt had a handgun in his waistband. Isaac stated his shooting of Corbitt, during an armed home invasion, was justified under the "stand your ground law" because he was afraid Corbitt was going to pull his firearm from his waistband and shoot Isaac.
Judge Clifton Newman ridiculed the contention that Isaac was justified in shooting Corbitt and was claiming self-defense in a case where Isaac violently invaded Corbitt's home. Judge Newman refused to hold a full hearing on the matter, saying, “It borders on the preposterous for the defendant in this case to claim he was acting lawfully and had the right to kill Mr. Corbitt.”
Defense attorney Schnee filed an emergency motion with the South Carolina Supreme Court.Some of you might remember that the SC Supreme Court is headed by Justice Jean Toal, the oft arrested, but never convicted DUI offender. The SCSC issued a stay, which caused Judge Newman to stop the trial and dismiss the jury panel.
The SCSC apparently issued the stay because Judge Newman refused to hold a full hearing on the matter. They want to use the case to determine when and if Judges should hold full hearings. We contend Judge Newman was operating well within the realm of reason when he ridiculed the defense contention of self-defense and the invoking of "stand your ground" in a situation where it obviously didn't apply.
With all of the recent whining about not having enough taxpayer money to fund trials, and Justice Toal being one of the loudest whiners, we don't need her and her crew handing down ridiculous decisions which only result in more expense to the already overburdened taxpayer.