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Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murder

Trippy Trekker

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The Manatee County Sheriff's Department and Eugene Matthews have feuded for decades. Not a single one of seven prior arrests have resulted in a conviction.

In short, Matthews housed a friend's dog. The friend had died the week before. The family that came to pick up the dog anticipated trouble retrieving the dog. In spite of this, they hatched a plan anyway. The plan went haywire. Mr. Matthews shot and killed his friend's wife. Now Matthews resides without bond in the county jail with his trial set for this July.

The Sheriff's Department, the local Judiciary, local State Attorney's office and local newspaper all have it out for Eugene Matthews. His future freedom rests on the quality of his representation and a jury.

How do you think this plays out?

PArrish murder suspect order held without bond in fatal shooting of best friend's wife | Bradenton Herald
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

It sounds like Matthews has a problem!
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

longview said:
It sounds like Matthews has a problem!
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My 2nd oldest daughter, an athletic and cute tomboy in her childhood years, turned 24 in January. When she reached her teens, she told me with utmost sincerity that she liked to fight. I paused and looked at her before responding with an answer. Then I told her "Okay, but choose a neutral spot or our turf, otherwise you put me at a prohibitive disadvantage."

In Eugene Matthews case, the State, even with an intuitively huge power advantage, has a huge obstacle to overcome. The people who went to retrieve the dog could have pursued other safer and more reasonable courses of action. They knew with certainty they endangered themselves by going onto the property.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

No matter what, it will likely cost Matthews a lot of money, even if he is not found guilty.
The mitigating factors could be if they actually broke down his gate and door as he claimed.
The state might have a better chance of convicting him on reckless endangerment.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

Look like the second that he lied about themkicking in the door he pretty much guaranteed his arrest and would daresay conviction. Its hard to claim self defense when people are in their car driving away.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

When I read the first sentence in the OP I thought it was about an old man killing a poor, defenseless manatee. My mistake...
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

VanceMack said:
Look like the second that he lied about themkicking in the door he pretty much guaranteed his arrest and would daresay conviction. Its hard to claim self defense when people are in their car driving away.
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I find it interesting that someone with Right of Center proclivity would not champion any number of Constitutional Rights and Florida's Stand Your Ground Statute as fairly clear protection and grounds for dismissal of the charges.

That you would so readily draw a conclusion that either Matthews or his girlfriend lied and not the driver of the truck that wrecked while leaving indicates you have already accepted the media version of events.

Criminals routinely haul ass from the scene of a crime. Criminals who knowingly enter a fenced, gated, private homestead clearly marked with No Trespassing and Warning Signs... and further to this, know the primary occupant of the residence has guns, really make themselves vulnerable to injury, death, and minimal protection of the Law.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

I guess I AM taking it for granted that she was shot in a car through windsheld based on police accounts cited. I'm sure the media is just making that up.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

Wow, there's a lot going on here!

Firstly this, which would seem to indicate Mathew's story doesn't hold-up:

"Matthews’ family said he acted in self-defense, claiming that the Rawson family had come barreling through the gated and fenced entrance to the property and kicked down the front door. But the sheriff’s office said that account contradicts the eyewitness statements and the evidence from the scene."

Then there's this, seemingly indicating the defense sees strong evidence against them, and might want to eventually plea:

"“We would agree to no bond,” an assistant public defender said as Assistant State Attorney Art Brown approached the podium to address the court."

Then there's this apparent physical evidence, which might indicate shooting without due cause:

"One shot struck the windshield and hit Rebecca Rawson in the face."

But then there's also this situation, showing the Sheriff's Office may have a reason to hold a grudge:

"Matthews in 1991 filed a conspiracy and unlawful arrest lawsuit against the sheriff’s office, claiming he had been unjustly arrested in 1989 on weapons charges. A jury eventually awarded him $300,000, but that verdict was later thrown out because several jurors lied on their juror questionnaire forms.

In April 1999, Matthews and the sheriff’s office settled the case for $110,000, split between Matthews and his attorney."

So I don't know. There's going to be multiple witnesses for each side, and it's going to take some skillful attorneys and a good judge to get to the bottom of it. Either way, Mr. Mathews is in a very serious trouble!

Did I miss anything?
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

VanceMack said:
I guess I AM taking it for granted that she was shot in a car through windsheld based on police accounts cited. I'm sure the media is just making that up.
Click to expand...
Yep, saw that and put it in my post, too. That's should be easily verifiable physical evidence, forcing Mr. Mathews to prove she was an eminent danger requiring deadly force to neutralize. And that might not be so easy to do.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

Chomsky said:
Yep, saw that and put it in my post, too. That's should be easily verifiable physical evidence, forcing Mr. Mathews to prove she was an eminent danger requiring deadly force to neutralize. And that might not be so easy to do.
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Even in states with stand your ground laws, there are limits. Unless they drove that car into his living room, I'm guessing its pretty clear his actions were excessive.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

VanceMack said:
Even in states with stand your ground laws, there are limits. Unless they drove that car into his living room, I'm guessing its pretty clear his actions were excessive.
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Yep.

'Stand your ground' does not mean 'shoot innocents' or 'shoot those retreating'.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

Chomsky said:
Yep.

'Stand your ground' does not mean 'shoot innocents' or 'shoot those retreating'.
Click to expand...
Castle Doctrine can be interpreted that you can shoot anyone in your home regardless. You really never know when someone that is retreating might suddenly become a threat. However...in your yard...or in your driveway...thats a different set of rules.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

VanceMack said:
I guess I AM taking it for granted that she was shot in a car through windsheld based on police accounts cited. I'm sure the media is just making that up.
Click to expand...

Yes, it does seem you have taken the media version of events for granted. I live in the area. The county has a notorious "Good Ole' Boy" network. The popular Sheriff that Matthews battled for decades, Charlie Wells, has a brother named Rick that took over the department. Charlie had a Special Unit called Delta Force, many of whom went to prison for various causes.
The Circuit Court Judge, Janette Dunnigan, who denied bond to Matthews, also violated judicial ethics in 2012 by attempting to hold a fundraiser for Ed Brodsky, the current elected State Attorney. The Chief Judge at the time, Andy Owens, reassigned Dunnigan from the Criminal Bench to Family Bench. Apparently enough time has passed, the powers-to-be felt they could move her back to the Criminal Bench.

Corruption still runs rampant in major parts of Florida.

Sheriff re-hired family friend - News - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

VanceMack said:
Castle Doctrine can be interpreted that you can shoot anyone in your home regardless. You really never know when someone that is retreating might suddenly become a threat. However...in your yard...or in your driveway...thats a different set of rules.
Click to expand...

Florida has stand your ground which puts the castle doctrine even in your own yard, however you have to show that your life was in danger
or there was a threat to your life or someone else's.

if someone steps in your yard you simply can't shoot them.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

This will of course depend on the evidence.

Matthews’ family said he acted in self-defense, claiming that the Rawson family had come barreling through the gated and fenced entrance to the property and kicked down the front door. But the sheriff’s office said that account contradicts the eyewitness statements and the evidence from the scene.​

Unless the gate was always like that, one part does not seem contradicted.



As for a round entering the windshield and striker her in the face? It could be nothing more than poor aim.
But if he was firing at them while they were fleeing, he is likely toast.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

I don't know FL law in any detail, but I'm betting that Stand Your Ground doesn't mean you get to leave your house shooting at fleeing people.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

I'm just happy that there is a Florida. Makes us Texans look respectable.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd


Is this some kind of justification to shoot them?
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

Bodhisattva said:
Is this some kind of justification to shoot them?
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Absolutely Yes. Did you look at photos of Mr. Matthews homestead? If you choose to go out of your way to a bear's habitat, then tweak a bear's nose, expect consequences.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

Trippy Trekker said:
Absolutely Yes. Did you look at photos of Mr. Matthews homestead? If you choose to go out of your way to a bear's habitat, then tweak a bear's nose, expect consequences.
Click to expand...

Right... because we are like bears.

Hopefully he is found guilty and executed for murdering a person that was of no threat.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

Bodhisattva said:
Right... because we are like bears.

Hopefully he is found guilty and executed for murdering a person that was of no threat.
Click to expand...

So far, Mr. Matthews has a record of 7 criminal arrests in Manatee County with 0 convictions. Previously, when he sued the Sheriff's department for false arrest, the jury awarded him a 300K judgment. The judge threw the verdict out based on two jurors filing false information on their questionnaires. The sheriff's department settled.

The current judge, Dunnigan, who issued a No Bond Order, probably should have recused herself. She knows the parties to the case.

If you ever choose to visit Mr. Matthews on his homestead, I suggest you contact him from offsite first. Personally, I live in the area... and I stay way clear of him.

The state has charged Matthews with 2nd degree murder. Even with a corrupt Judiciary and Sheriff's Department to bias his due process, the State can hardly rig the jury. In the event of a conviction, the State guidelines do not include Execution. If Matthews gets off, the Sheriff's Department might very well scheme to retaliate.
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd


Sorry... childhood years at 24??
 
Re: Meet 83 year old Floridian Eugene Matthews, arrested this year on 2nd degree murd

Isn't Florida one of the "Castle Law" states?
 
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