More than a week into his stand your ground hearing, Curtis Reeves got his chance to explain to the judge why he felt the need to draw his weapon.

  • Reeves on the stand for over five hours
  • Most of Reeves time testifying taken up by defense
  • Prosecution questioned Reeves actions once Oulson put his phone away
  • Previous stories on this case

Reeves was on the stand for over five hours Tuesday. Most of that time was taken up by the defense.

“My voice was low and I said 'Sir, could I get you to put your cell phone away?'” said Reeves while describing the start of the incident.

The request turned into an argument. Reeves said Oulson swore at him and told him off.

Reeves then described waiting a little less than a minute for Oulson to turn off his phone. When that didn't happen, Reeves went to management and came back.

It was upon Reeves' return, he said, that things escalated quickly.

“So as I went past, as a good will gesture, I didn’t see his phone at this time so I said 'I see you're not on your phone. Sorry I involved theatre management.'”

That's when Reeves said Oulson stood up, faced him and hit him in the face with something while continuing to speak loudly.  

“I realize I’m trapped,” said Reeves. “I can’t get up, I can’t get out, he’s right in front of me and he’s trying to come over the chairs.”

That's when Reeves said he made the decision.

“All of the sudden he was no longer a loud mouth," said Reeves. "He was now a very definite threat, at some point in time because of the position I was in, I reach for my pistol.”

He then shot and killed Oulson.

“At that point it was his life or mine,” said Reeves.

Under cross examination, however, the prosecution backed up Reeves a bit in his story. State Attorney Glenn Martin asked over and over why Reeves even said anything once Oulson's phone was put away and the argument was seemingly over.
 
“But when you came back knowing that Mr. Oulson did not want your contact you had contact with him again, did you not?” said Martin.  

“I was trying to do what you just indicated, which was change the environment to a more pleasant situation when I made my comment,” said Reeves.