The Florida ice cream vendor accused of murdering suspected robbers is innocent, says defense lawyer. The trial conducted in Florida last Monday got off to an odd start because the defense argues that there is no way the accused can commit the murder.
Ice Cream Vendor Faces Double Murder Trial
Based on the details of the crime Michael Keetley, 53, is accused of murder on two counts with attempted murder on four counts as well. He was dressed as a police officer when telling several men at gunpoint in a house at Ocean Mist Court in Ruskin to kiss the ground, reported Law and Crime.
He took a long firearm and shot multiple times at the men on the ground that Thanksgiving day. Keetley allegedly executed the prostrated victims. Shot dead are brothers Juan Guitron, 28, and Sergio Guitron, 22, who were called Magic and Spider, noted Tampa Bay. The avenging Keetley wounded three more.
He spent ten years in Falkenburg Road County until he was tried in court based on sources. In 2020, the trial had a hung jury because two jurors wanted to convict him.
John Grant, his defense counsel, explained that it was not his client's fault those who forced him to act as he did, and explained that the state is right about how the shooting was horrific, but the defendant is innocent. While looking at prosecutors, he explained his client is not guilty, then said it is not fair to accuse his client. One of the prosecutors objected to the statement of the defense counsel.
Presiding Judge Christopher C. Sabella told the defense counsel not to deviate from the facts, but the counsel ended his statement. Grant told the jury that his client is not guilty of the accusations and is innocent instead, stating that the prosecutors were prosecuting an innocent man.
What Happened to Keetley?
In January 2010, Keetley was robbed of $12 and left disabled after. He got shot four times close to his purple ice cream truck but survived. About ten months later, he was looking for vengeance due to his injuries, citing Fox 13.
Prosecutor Jennifer Johnson called him obsessed with revenge when facing jurors from Hillsborough County last Monday. The state said that he researched guns and everything needed to carry out his revenge.
The state did not fully prove that the man shot the victims with his own weapon. There was a mistrial earlier with insufficient proof to connect to the crime. Later the judge sustained the objection and asked for the defense's thoughts.
Several claims of the defense that Keetley could not lift a gun after injuries that would not allow him to carry out his vengeance. A surgeon concurred the injuries prevented what he was supposed to do. The then accused told the investigators that he could not hobble and shoot with a left hand sarcastically.
An ex-ice cream vendor who slew suspected robbers was incapable of the murder, as argued by his defense lawyer. He was not even fit to lift a gun.
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