CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) – Defense attorneys in a shooting case that gained national attention last year say they will no longer be using the “stand your ground” defense.
The defense team for Michael Drejka announced Friday they would no longer proceed with “stand your ground” but will still argue he used self-defense.
“Collectively, the defense team has elected that it would not be in our client’s best interest to proceed with the ‘stand your ground’ motion,” attorney Bryant Camereno said in a statement to WFLA. “We will, however, continue to rely on the self-defense jury instruction.”
Drejka is accused of killing a man at a convenience store in Clearwater in July 2018. Surveillance video shows him shooting Markeis McGlockton at the Circle A food store in Clearwater.
The shooting happened after Drejka argued with McGlockton’s girlfriend over a handicap parking spot. McGlockton came out of the store and pushed Drejka to the ground. Drejka then shot him and claimed self-defense.
The announcement from the defense team saying they would no longer be claiming “stand your ground” came after a brief pretrial hearing Friday afternoon. Another pretrial hearing is set for July.
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