Judge dismisses charges against victim who killed bully
NAPLES — A 15-year-old who fatally stabbed his school mate will no longer face criminal prosecution.
A judge’s ruling, made public Tuesday, granted a motion to dismiss the second-degree murder charge against Jorge Saavedra in the death of 16-year-old Dylan Nuno on the grounds that he acted in self-defense under Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law. The State Attorney’s Office has indicated that it will not appeal the ruling.
Nuno’s family and friends criticized Collier County Circuit Judge Lauren Brodie’s decision, calling it ‘unbelievable’ and ‘heartbreaking.’
‘We know this wasn’t the right decision,’ said Dylan’s aunt, Adriana Nuno.’(The judge) is showing those kids it’s OK to get away with murder.’
Saavedra, who was 14 at the time of the stabbing, was charged as a juvenile. If found guilty, the former Palmetto Ridge High student would have been released by the age of 21.
Brodie’s ruling concluded that Saavadra, who said he was bullied and tried avoid a fight with Nuno, did not act unlawfully. She added that Saavadra had more than enough reason to believe he was in danger of death or great bodily harm.
I disagree with the bolded statment, but I can understand why she said it. Here’s my full reaction to this story, as I posted elsewhere:
I believe I can offer some insight here.
I was bullied badly in the Eight Grade (Age 13) to the point I nearly committed suicide as I felt that may truly be my only way out (the only way to stop the abuse).
I told my parents, who in turn stood with me and we went to the school administrators. We talked to the Vice Principal FOUR TIMES over the course of several months and nothing ever changed. I was still tormented endlessly.
I didn’t go to the police because a) I thought it would make things worse and b) based on my experiences with the VP, I was feeling like authority figures weren’t really concerned with helping me all that much.
I should stop here and note there was one teacher who really cared about me and stood up for me. Bless her heart wherever she is now.
Now here’s the really relevant part: Back then I could have seen myself killing one of the bullies simply because I felt, given the level of abuse, that their actions represented a potential threat to my life and I believe I would have been within my legal rights to react in kind.
I know it may be hard for some of you to understand how bullying can get so bad it can be “life threatening” so to speak, but it can. I’ve been there, I’ve lived through it and I have absolutely no desire to go back to that place.
My experiences changed me…forever.
Unless you’ve walked that path, it’s difficult to understand the mindset of someone who has. I can understand what this boy was thinking and feeling when he did what he did…and I think the Judge was right to rule as he did.
If you get a chance, check out the comments at the source article. Some posters are roundly vilifying the boy as “getting away with murder”.
That bothers me, but as I said above, unless you’ve walked that path, it’s hard to understand what the kid was going through.