The Stand Your Ground case in Clearwater continues to make national headlines.
A local man is coming forward in support of the shooter and the law.
James Ellul used the Stand Your Ground defense in his 2013 murder case.
He’s living a quiet life in Frostproof now.
Ellul is speaking out publicly for the first time in three years about stabbing his neighbor in self defense and the case in Clearwater.
“I don’t think the guy had any right to put his hands on the older man, knock him to the ground,” he said.
Ellul is siding with Michael Drejka.
Drejka shot and killed Markeis McGlockton nearly three weeks ago at the Circle A Food Mart in Clearwater, after he was pushed to the ground.
Drejka said it was self defense and is using the Stand Your Ground law.
“How did he know he wasn’t going to get beat up more,” said Ellul. “I think everyone should be able to carry a fire arm if they need to defend themselves.”
Ellul went on trial for murder, for stabbing and killing his neighbor, Jerald Lester Jr., during a noise dispute in 2013 at a mobile home park in unincorporated Pinellas County.
Ellul said it was self defense after Lester attacked him.
He said, “That man was killing me and after my lung collapsed, I couldn’t breathe and thank God there was a knife on my work bench and I grabbed it and I used it.”
Ellul was arrested and spent 18 months behind bars before a jury acquitted him in 2015.
He blames Sheriff Bob Gualtieri for not turning his case over to the state attorney’s office.
“I think he’s a flip flopper. He’s made mistakes in the past. I think it’s time for a new sheriff in Pinellas County,” said Ellul.
“I think they owe me for 18 months of my life that was taken away. And if they take this man’s life away from him, they’re doing him injustice also.”
