The "stand your ground" hearing that started today in Dade City is about perception. 

  • 'Stand your ground' hearing today in Pasco movie theater shooting case
  • Curtis Reeves charged with 2nd degree murder
  • Chad Oulson was shot and killed in theater in January 2014
  • Previous stories on this case

Monday was day one in the Curtis Reeves stand-your-ground hearing. Reeves is facing second degree murder chargers after shooting Chad Oulson Jan. 13, 2014 at the Cobb Theatre in Wesley Chapel.

The argument started over Oulson being on his phone during the previews of a movie. The light was apparently bothering Reeves eyes. The argument escalated to Oulson throwing popcorn at Reeves and Reeves pulling out his pistol and shooting him.

“You see in the video that it’s Mr. Oulson grabbing the popcorn bag, Mr. Reeves doesn’t know what that is," said Reeves attorney, Dino Michaels. "Mr. Reeves see’s a hand coming towards him, grabs the popcorn bag, the hand comes back, and then the hand comes towards him again and mashes the popcorn bag into Mr. Reeves face, so he’s seeing hands come at him several times.”

A common theme in the hearing is Reeves age. His attorneys hope to prove his age changed his perception of danger.

Reeves daughter, Jennifer Shaw, emotionally attested to seeing her father deteriorate over the years. 

“I’ve seen all of it, I've seen the deterioration, I’ve seen them not be able to do what they thought they could do, I’ve seen my dad push his limits to try to stay healthy,” said Shaw.

Assistant State Attorney Glenn Martin wasn't buying Shaw's story. He questioned her regarding her father's hobby of going shooting and training others.

“He did not use a walker," asked Martin in regards to a 2013 outing at the range.

“No," she said.

“He did not use a cane?”

“No.”

“He carried his own shotgun?”

“Correct”

“He didn’t ask for any assistance to walk down that dirt road from station to station did he?”

“Correct”

The defense pressed on bringing in Reeves doctor to show x-rays of his hands and body to prove the point he has grown weaker. The exams were taken in 2015.

However the prosecution says the shooting wasn't about his age, it was about retaliation.

“His conduct is nothing but retaliation, for a very embarrassing act of having popcorn thrown on a former police officer that was used to having people do what he says,” said Martin.  

The hearing is expected to last for two weeks.