Opinion ID: 3049318
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence at Trial on Counts 1 and 3

Text: At Digsby’s jury trial on the aggravated battery and drug charges, there was disputed testimony about the events surrounding the fight and shooting that led to his arrest. Eyewitness Jackie Swindell testified that, on September 29, 2004, he and his houseguest were at a pay phone on the corner of Mobile Highway and Green Street in Pensacola, Florida. Swindell said that, as they were standing at the phone, an older Jeep pulled into the gas station where the pay phone was located, and parked about ten feet from the phone booth. A man (later revealed to be victim George Willey2 ) who appeared to be drunk got out of the Jeep and asked if Swindell and his companion wanted to party; they declined. Swindell did, however, grant the man’s request that Swindell light his cigarette. After a couple of minutes, a beige station wagon pulled up with two men in it. The two men got out, and the passenger, Appellant Lawrence Digsby, confronted Willey about stealing the Jeep, and then punched him. This started a fight, during which Digsby was “whipping” Willey. Swindell testified that he “could see the silver or the top of the gun” in Digsby’s back pocket during Digsby’s fight with Willey. Swindell said that Digbsy kept knocking Willey 2 The trial transcript refers to the victim as “Wiley,” but other sources, including the information, refer to him as “Willey.” Willey did not testify at trial. 3 down, but that Willey continued getting up. At some point, Digsby got the gun out of his back pocket and shot Willey, and then returned the gun to his back pocket. Swindell testified that Willey did not have a weapon, and that there was never a point in the fight during which Willey was the aggressor. After the fight was over, Digsby approached Swindell and his companion and hung up the pay phone. Swindell testified that Digsby still had the gun in his hand at that point. The police arrived a short time later, and Swindell said he pointed out to them that Digsby still had a gun in his back pocket after Digsby was handcuffed. According to Swindell, Willey never had possession of the gun. Swindell did not know any of the participants in the fight. William Arnold, the deputy sheriff who responded to the scene, testified that he observed Digsby and another man (Willey) arguing across the street from him. Arnold observed bystanders next to a phone booth and a Jeep parked nearby. Arnold crossed the street to see what was going on. According to Arnold, Willey was holding himself and told Arnold that Digsby had shot him. Arnold went over to Digsby, handcuffed him, patted him down, and observed a handgun pushed down in Digsby’s right back pocket. Arnold removed the loaded gun from Digsby’s pocket and secured it. Arnold found “[s]ome marijuana” on Digsby’s person. 4 Deputy Josh Taylor also testified, and generally affirmed Arnold’s testimony. Taylor added that Willey was shot twice and that Willey was “belligerent” with the police investigating the shooting. Digbsy testified in his own defense. Digsby first met Willey on September 24, 2004, when he picked up Willey and gave him a ride to Winn-Dixie in Digsby’s Jeep. Digsby and Willey both went into the Winn-Dixie, but when Digsby came out of the store, his Jeep had disappeared from the parking lot. Digsby reported the Jeep stolen, but the police told him that they were too busy in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan to look for it. Disgby then called all of his friends to ask for their help in looking for the Jeep. Digsby received a call from a friend at 7:30 P.M. on September 29 telling him that Digsby’s stolen Jeep had been spotted; the friend gave Digsby the Jeep’s location. Digsby went to retrieve the Jeep, driving a blue Ford Escort station wagon to the location where his friend reported seeing it. Digsby’s brother was with him, but Digsby was driving the car. Digsby went by the phone booth and hung up the phone as soon as he got out of the car, telling Swindell and his companion “this doesn’t concern y’all.” Digsby denied having a gun with him when he came to the crime scene. When Digsby and his brother saw the Jeep, Willey, whom Digsby suspected 5 of the theft, was standing nearby. Digsby confronted Willey about the Jeep and Willey pushed him, so Digsby slapped Willey with an open hand in response. When Digsby slapped Willey, Willey almost fell. When Willey came back up towards Digsby, Digsby saw a pistol in Willey’s hand. Digsby grabbed the gun, and it went off in the subsequent struggle, wounding Willey. Digsby then put the gun in his left back pocket, where the police found it on his arrest. On cross-examination, Digsby testified that he did not know Swindell before the fight, and that Swindell had no reason to testify falsely against him. Digsby did not call the sheriff’s department when he heard about his Jeep being spotted because he had previously reported the theft. Digsby never saw Willey’s gun until he slapped Willey and Willey came back towards him. In response to the State’s questioning about how Willey could have shot himself in the side, Digsby stated that he had no idea how that could have happened.