Robert Mears Jr.
White male
Age at time: 21
Weapon: unarmed
James Behanna
White male
Age at time: 36
Weapon: knife
Defendant photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Case type:
Argument turned violent
Location:
Other Private Property
Initiator:
Victim
Witnesses:
Yes
Case year:
2005
Location details: Near a law firm in Tampa, Hillsborough County, on Dec. 07, 2005
What happened: Paralegal James Behanna fatally stabbed a man after he refused to leave the yard at his wife's Tampa law firm. Robert Mears Jr. was upset after a confrontation with his roommate and had walked to the nearby law office. Behanna came out with a shovel to keep Mears away from his wife and was attacked. When Mears finally began to walk away, Behanna followed him for about 150 feet. That's when he said Mears tried to choke him and he had to defend himself with a pocketknife. The second stab pierced Mears' heart. Mears was unarmed, and one witness said he only pushed Behanna.
The outcome: Behanna was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years prison, but an appeals court granted him a new trial. He then entered into a plea deal that gave him a reduced sentence of 42 months probation.
Investigating agency: Tampa Police
Case decision made by: Plea
Trayvon Martin’s death became controversial because circumstances leading up to the shooting cast doubt on who was to blame. The Tampa Bay Times reviewed other “stand your ground” cases for similar circumstances. The Times relied on available information, some of which may not tell the whole story. When the situation was unclear, that was noted.
| Yes | No | Unclear/ disputed |
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|---|---|---|---|
Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
 |
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Was the victim armed? |
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Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
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Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
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Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
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Was the defendant on his or her property? |
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Did someone witness the attack? |
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Was there physical evidence? |
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Source: Tampa Bay Times, April 9, 2010.
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
