The dogs never bit Fish before he fired or after. I dispute your assumption that they were a threat at all.
If you get in a fistfight or ground fight with a guy who has two large dogs with him, regardless of breed or their otherwise friendly nature, it's an odds-on bet they WILL join the fight.
Dogs don't understand what a gunfight is. Once the assailant was shot, Fish made no more aggressive moves and in fact even delivered some aid. The dogs at that point didn't fully realize a fight had even happened.
But they damned well understand what a fistfight is.
If you want some insights into a dog's level of understanding of the world, watch this video:
http://cuteoverload.com/2009/07/05/oh-so-thats-how-they-did-it/
Note that this is one of the smartest dogs I've ever heard of. First, he knows that the 3D effect of the screen is false in some way. He then makes the Einstein-level leap that the cat on the screen is the same as his buddy the cat right behind him. (The video is in NO WAY violent
.)
That's the *pinnacle* of a dog's understanding of what's going on around them.
Also, just because a person is kooky doesn't mean he gets the death sentence.
Umm...yeah...no. Sorry. I have seen WAY too many people who "act out" in extreme rages because it makes them feel more powerful. They *enjoy* being threatening. It's a major form of bullying in which they enjoy terrifying everyone around them.
I detest that sort of behavior and will never tolerate it's being directed at me. And yeah, I know it's fractionally possible a DA might read these words someday. Fine. I stick by them regardless.
Have you forgotten that Fish never got a hand or tooth laid on him and another man is dead?
Good riddance.
You want me to respect human life? I assure you I do...but the dead guy had a long history of acting inhuman.
Behave like an animal, get treated like one.
We only have Fish's word on what happened too.
Wrong!
We have a bunch of reports on how the assailant acted in similar circumstances. All of those reports back up Fish's account.
Again, don't be too sure he will get off and even if he does as PT111 said look what it cost him.
Yes, it cost him a lot - via an overzealous prosecutor, a bad judge and a stupid jury. Sucks. But the new legal change making the new standards for self-defense retroactive WILL get him off. Under the old standard Fish had to prove the need to shoot - under the new, the state has to disprove it. Combine that with the new evidence allowed in regarding the dead guy's history and Fish should NOT take any deal that would leave him with a criminal record.