Attorney Lance Richard claims self-defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground law in Craigslist 'companionship' trial.

Attorney in Craigslist 'companionship' trial claiming self-defense | Treasure Coast News - WPBF

Stuart, FL.  Lance Richard, the lawyer for Daniel Diodato argued Tuesday in court that his client was legally justified in shooting Kyle Hicks, who responded to the couple's Craigslist advertisement in 2011.

 

Attorney Lance Richard said Hicks started a fight with Diodato, choked his wife and was trying to rape her, so Diodato was justified in shooting him under Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law.

 

"He was in his home," Lance Richard said. "He had retreated to a place where he could not avoid the confrontation anymore and he needed to shoot this individual to prevent his wife from having great bodily harm."

 

But prosecutors argued otherwise.

 

They brought another customer to testify that he paid Sarah Diodato $160 that day to perform oral sex on him. That customer said Daniel Diodato hit his wife in the face, attacked him, and then cocked and aimed a shotgun at him.

 

Daniel Diodato's father said his son and daughter-in-law had drug problems, so they were selling Sarah Diodato's services to buy pills.

 

Although he's embarrassed by the situation, Anthony Diodato said he's standing by his son.

"I had him on the right track with (Alcoholics Anonymous) and church and he was doing well, and he fell to the wayside," Anthony Diodato said. "And it's hard for a parent, period, to watch any of their children fall apart."

 

Hicks was expected to testify when the trial resumes Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.wpbf.com/news/south-florida/treasure-coast/Attorney-in-Craigslist-companionship-trial-claiming-self-defense/-/8882916/18317444/-/py4q2s/-/index.html#ixzz2K4pvqpwA

Attorney Lance Richard handles personal injury, family law, and criminal cases in Martin County, Florida; St. Lucie County, Florida; Palm Beach County, Florida; Indian River County, Florida; Okeechobee County Florida, and the following cities: Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Port. St. Lucie, Sewall's Point, Ft. Pierce, Vero Beach, and Okeechobee