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Conviction In ‘Stand Your Ground’ Case Overturned
May 13, 2015
An appeals court on Tuesday overturned the conviction of a Santa Rosa County man because of conflicting jury instructions about a duty to retreat during altercations.
The 1st District Court of Appeal overturned the conviction of Timothy Donald Helton, who was convicted of aggravated battery in Santa Rosa County. He will receive a new trial.
Helton was sentenced in May 2013 to life in state prison as a habitual felony offender and prison releasee reoffender. On May 31, 2011, Helton was arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office after he got into an argument with another man at a home in Navarre.
Helton struck the first victim with a homemade weapon. He then left the residence but returned with a friend about 10 minutes later. Helton got out of the truck with a metal pipe and threw the pipe at a second victim, striking him in the head and crushing his skull. Doctors testified that a titanium plate had to be inserted in the victim’s skull and that he will have permanent injury from the attack.
Helton’s only defense at trial was the acted in self defense, as permitted by the “Stand Your Ground” law.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Comments
18 Responses to “Conviction In ‘Stand Your Ground’ Case Overturned”
CONSIDERING:
“Now people see how other felt about George Zimmerman going free. I hope he go free behind stand your grounds.”
George Zimmerman did not cite Stand Your Ground as justification.
George Zimmerman did not attack Trayvon Martin.
George Zimmerman was crying out for help as Trayvon Martin beat his head into the concrete.
George Zimmerman was acquitted by a jury.
George Zimmerman is not a convicted sex offender, to the best of my knowledge.
Timothy Donald Helton did cite Stand Your Ground even though he attacked.
Timothy Donald Helton did hunt people down and attack them.
Timothy Donald Helton was convicted by a jury.
Timothy Donald Helton has long standing issues, such that it has long been legally recognized that children may not be safe around him.
David for justice
@mrman
There is no comparison in the George Zimmerman trial and this case. Apples and Oranges..
There will always be those that oppose Stand your ground as there are those that believe in gun control. I myself used to hate guns and insisted my husband not have one in our home with our children. I was afraid of things I knew nothing about. I didn’t understand guns and had only heard horror stories of children getting a hold of a gun in their homes and killing themselves.
I digress. This case is clearly not a Stand your ground case but instead a case of a man with anger issues he couldn’t control beating a man senseless with a pipe but kudos to the attorney for reaching for the stars to defend his client.
Now people see how other felt about George Zimmerman going free. I hope he go free behind stand your grounds.
I AGREE WITH SOME IF THE SYSTEM LETS HIM OUT ,THEN THEY NEED TO LET HIM STAY WITH THEM FOREVER, THIS AINT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT EVER CHARGES IF HE PLAINLY LEFT THE SCENE AND CAME BACK TO THE SAME SCENE HE SHOULD BE CHARGED AS AGRESSOR ,LOCK HIS BUTT UP
Hmmm. He left the scene, then returned? Doesn’t sound like “stand your ground.” Sounds more like going back and getting back into an altercation. I understand, as he was not afforded “due process” as the jury was not instructed properly. However, I don’t understand his defense of “stand your ground” in this case. Just saying.
emschick,
Many oppose Stand Your Ground, not for any real flaws but for imagined flaws or misinterpretations and misapplication. This man will be tried again and if the facts are as presented, the judge doesn’t err, the jury is reasonable, he will be convicted again.
It is to his benefit to be tried again. This way there’s no reason to question whether or not he got justice.
(Note that at least one completely agreed with what you later declared to be sarcasm.)
David for clarity
I wonder if all of his previous victims beat his dog cat bird fish or whatever. You have to be arrested and found guilty sooooo many times before a judge will sentence you as habitual it’s ridiculous this guy deserves what he got and for his friends that believes in him just send him soup money
I was wondering when the “you don’t know the whole story” line would pop up.
@david huie green
I was being sarcastic in my comment. As a ccw permit holder who carries a gun and a woman who has had to shoot at a stranger in my bedroom when I woke up in the middle of the night I know the stand your ground law very well.
“so they got what they got” That makes you no better than this monster. It’s horrible if they did beat his dog but you don’t “throw” a pipe or beat anybody’s brains out with a pipe and if you do you deserve to be in prison for a very,very long time.
Peiple need to stop making excuses for people doing bad things. He left the residence and came back with a pipe and beat or threw a man’s brains out. That makes him a monster!!
You should know the WHOLE story before you judge someone!!!!
For one, they stopped him, and beat his dog….. so they got what, they got!!! He through the pipe, he did not walk up to him and beat his skull in. The skull, is not at thick as you would think. Maybe he should receive therapy (anger management) before everyone gives up on him!!! Maybe he did not have the great up bring you guys did
REGARDING:
“How does that even remotely qualify as a stand your ground defense?”
It doesn’t.
STAND YOUR GROUND has nothing to do with advancing attacking.
David for better judges
Leaves and returns —- once again the court “system” shows their dumb thinking.
Hit him in the head with a pipe and say he threatened you.
I totally agree with emschick.
“as a habitual felony offender and prison releasee reoffender.”
I can’t see where he even needs another trial.. he has proven there’s NO hope for him.. If he gets out they should move him in with the judge..
Just do your time habitual felony offender, apparently you have learned nothing in life from previous arrests and prison time.
“He then left the residence but returned with a friend 10 minutrs later”
How does that even remotely qualify as a stand your ground defense? This guy is a train wreck waiting to happen and obviously has anger issues. What kind of monster crushes another human beings skull in? Someone like that needs to stay in prison and throw away the key.