Judge deciding whether to dismiss murder charges based on ‘stand your ground’ law

A judge is deciding whether to dismiss murder charges against Eugene Matthews based on Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law.

Matthews, 84, is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm and two counts of second-degree attempted murder with a firearm. He has been held without bond since he was booked into the Manatee County jail on Jan. 11.

On Monday, Matthews appeared before Circuit Judge Brian Iten for the conclusion of a hearing on a defense motion to have charges dismissed based on ‘stand your ground’ law.

Iten is expected to issue a written ruling.

Defense attorney Scott Rieth argued Matthews was justified in his use of deadly force when Rebecca Rawson, her ex-brother-in-law and daughter came onto Matthews’ property uninvited or unannounced in an attempt to forcibly take Rawson’s ex-husband’s dog back from Matthews.

Matthews’ best friend, Rawson’s ex-husband Edward, died on Jan. 4 and Matthews says he was left with his dog, Bart. Rawson’s ex-wife, daughter and brother had met with Matthews to talk about the dog a few days later, and Matthews says he said he would consider returning the dog.

On the evening of Jan. 10, the Rawsons returned to Matthews’ home in the 12000 block of Pritchart Road in Parrish and Rawson’s ex-brother-in-law knocked on the front door, according to detectives. Matthews’ live-in-girlfriend, Juanita Sills, answered the door, he called out for Bart, picked him up, turned to head back to the car and then Matthews came to the door shooting his gun.

One of the bullets struck Rawson, and she later died at Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Matthews’ defense has repeatedly argued that the Rawsons had broken through Matthews’ locked gate and that the victim’s ex-brother-in-law had kicked on the door.

According to the state’s case, however, the Rawsons drove back into the gate when they were trying to flee as Matthews was shooting at them.

Matthews and Sills are also facing a wrongful death lawsuit in connection to the fatal shooting.

This story was originally published October 24, 2017 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Judge deciding whether to dismiss murder charges based on ‘stand your ground’ law."