Peter Delmonico
White male
Age at time: 51
Weapon: unarmed
Donald Stanley Verne
White male
Age at time: 49
Weapon: board
Defendant photo: Escambia County Sherrif's Office, 2010
Case type:
Unprovoked attack
Location:
Defendant's Property
Initiator:
Unclear
Witnesses:
No
Case year:
2010
Location details: In defendant's home, rented from the victim in Pensacola, Escambia County, on July 29, 2010
What happened: Donald Verne beat his landlord over the head with a 2x4 board and left him to die in the home he was renting from 51-year-old Peter Delmonico. When two friends discovered Delmonico barely alive on Verne's kitchen floor, the tenant told them he was in the shower and did not know what happened. But when police picked him up soon after, they found blood on his clothes.
The outcome: Verne's "stand your ground" motion was denied by a judge and discounted by a jury. He was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Investigating agency: Escambia County Sheriff
Case decision made by: Jury
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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
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? |
|
Source: Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court, July 30, 2010.
Source: Pensacola News Journal, Feb. 8, 2011.
Source: Pensacola News Journal, Feb. 24, 2011.
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
