Another claimed self-defense shooting loses

[winnre]

William Siskos found guilty of second-degree murder in Hernando Circuit Court

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/william-siskos-found-guilty-of-second-degree-murder-in-hernando-circuit/1235324

[BucDan]

25 to life, ouch.

[alfred1222]

normally id be pissed, but it reads like Siskos killed the guy and than claimed self defense. If he had some sort of defensive wound, than it would be a rational claim. but now its Siskos word against a dead mans.

[robcoe]

I might have been annoyed, except for the eye witness who says the defendant is full of ****.

[POLICESTATE]

Yeah this wasn't really self-defense it seems. More like a convenient excuse.

The lesson to learn here is "don't screw around with another man's wife, wait until after the divorce"

[SURVIVOR619]

Yeah this wasn't really self-defense it seems. More like a convenient excuse.

The lesson to learn here is "don't screw around with another man's wife, wait until after the divorce"

Seriously!!! There's plenty of ladies out there bro!! Sometimes I just don't get people.

[stix213]

This reads like premeditated murder to me. Guy went looking for his supposed girlfriend, who was with her husband. Guy finds them, and ends up killing her husband. Guy doesn't show any evidence of a fight and no other weapons are found.... At least Zimmerman's head was all bloodied up, but this guy didn't stand a chance at a self defense claim.

Another issue is the guy used a public defender. Don't have to explain the problems there.

[Rm7pr]

This reads like premeditated murder to me. Guy went looking for his supposed girlfriend, who was with her husband. Guy finds them, and ends up killing her husband. Guy doesn't show any evidence of a fight and no other weapons are found.... At least Zimmerman's head was all bloodied up, but this guy didn't stand a chance at a self defense claim.

Another issue is the guy used a public defender. Don't have to explain the problems there.

+1. Based on what I read it sounds like the self defense claim was a convenient defense for trial. Bad situation all around.

[Lifeon2whls]

+1. Based on what I read it sounds like the self defense claim was a convenient defense for trial. Bad situation all around.

Yep...probably would only be 5 to 10 if he claimed temporary insanity or something along those lines, which in this case sounds much more likely and believable.

[Press Check]

Two guys, one girl, no doubt in my mind that a confrontation happened, but in that situation, the prosecution is always going to easily sell the "jealous lover" theory to the jury.

[robcoe]

Two guys, one girl, no doubt in my mind that a confrontation happened, but in that situation, the prosecution is always going to easily sell the "jealous lover" theory to the jury.

The defendant didn't make it easier for himself by claiming

According to Siskos, Joey Kasbach saw him and charged, hitting him twice with his right hand. Then, Siskos said, Kasbach started to raise what looked like a gun in his left hand. Siskos said he was dazed and feared for his life when he fired his .22-caliber Ruger, hitting Kasbach in the abdomen.

While the eyewitness said something completely different

Bill Mullins, a friend of both men, testified that Siskos and Kasbach exchanged words.

"You're f------ my wife . . ." Kasbach shouted.

When Kasbach stretched his arms out to the side and took a small step forward, Mullins testified, Siskos took the gun from his waistband and fired.

Kasbach never swung at Siskos and didn't have a weapon, Mullins said.

All things being equal, I'll give more weight to the guy who is not currently trying to keep his *** out of jail.

[bigmike82]

This reads like premeditated murder to me. Guy went looking for his supposed girlfriend, who was with her husband. Guy finds them, and ends up killing her husband. Guy doesn't show any evidence of a fight and no other weapons are found.... At least Zimmerman's head was all bloodied up, but this guy didn't stand a chance at a self defense claim.

Another issue is the guy used a public defender. Don't have to explain the problems there.

Absolutely.

[Hoop]

I'm guessing the witness testimony, lack of injuries on the defendant and use of a public defender are why he was convicted.

[bballwizard05]

YA change the title on this thread. Sounds like the shooter was a fool, and claimed "self defense". Based on the witness the guy who got shot never swung at him.

[webster-dl]

Also...he walked INTO a likely dangerous situation carrying a firearm. He could have just as easily have avoided the whole thing. What compelled him to go over there? If you initiate a situation you could have 100% avoided, then shoot someone...its pretty difficult to claim self defense.

How do we know he didn't just go over there to shoot the guy? In fact, there is an eyewitnesses who says exactly that.

--David