Mark O’Mara during the George Zimmerman trial. He now represents the DuBose family. (Getty)
The DuBose family has hired Mark O’Mara to represent them as they seek justice for their son, Samuel DuBose, who was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop by Ray Tensing, a University of Cincinnati police officer. The Hamilton County prosecutor, Joe Deters, has announced that Tensing is facing murder charges. A body cam video showed that DuBose was shot in the head with no provocation.
This is what you need to know.
1. DuBose’s Sister Contacted O’Mara Because She Was Impressed With His Work in the Zimmerman Trial
Sister of #SamDubose: “I’m angry, but I’m as pleased as I could be that we’re going to get some justice.” http://t.co/84HIndiS8v
Mark O’Mara became involved with the case after DuBose’s sister, Terina Allen, contacted him, NBC News reported. She told him she was impressed with how he handled the George Zimmerman trial and she wanted him to represent her family and make sure they got justice for Samuel.
O’Mara addressed questions as to why he was representing the DuBose family after representing the man who shot Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012. Yes, O’Mara told NBC News, he did previously represent a man who had shot a black teenager in Florida. But O’Mara said the two cases were not so different, because he represents people who are within the court system and grieved in some way.
2. O’Mara Said Samuel DuBose Was a Peaceful Man
O’Mara said in a press conference after Tensing’s indictment that DuBose was a peaceful, non-aggressive man who did nothing to provoke the shooting and would not want any violence to come out in retaliation for what happened:
There have been some questions about how peaceful Sam was, and I think those questions have now been put to rest when you look at that video.
He also emphasized in the press conference that this was a trying time for the family and for the community. He reiterated that the family wanted all community reactions to be completely peaceful.
3. O’Mara Has Been Seeking Transparency for the Family
Among O’Mara’s top priorities for the DuBose family are dignity, responsibility over what happened, and transparency regarding the shooting, Cincinnati.com reported. Better pay for officers and better training are two issues the case should raise, he added. In a press conference following Tensing’s indictment, O’Mara said that transparency was important because a vacuum of information can lead to pain, speculation and anger.
That type of transparency was lacking at the beginning of the investigation. Tensing had claimed that DuBose’s car dragged him, almost running him over, and he was forced to shoot DuBose. The video showed no evidence of Tensing’s claim, Slate reported. O’Mara pushed for the video to be released to the public and thanked Deter’s office for investigating the case so quickly.
4. He Represented Zimmerman & Has a Successful History as an Attorney
Defense attorney Mark O’Mara holds up a chart during closing arguments for Zimmerman’s murder trial. He now represents the DuBose family. (Getty)
O’Mara was the defense attorney for George Zimmerman after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder. O’Mara owns The O’Mara Law Group in Orlando, Florida. His legal career began when he worked as a prosecutor for the Florida Seminole County State’s Attorney’s office before quickly switching to being a defense attorney, Cincinnati.com reported. He’s certified in Florida family law, marital law, and criminal trial law. He is also a Circuit Civil Mediator and a Certified Family Mediator in Florida and practices in state and federal courts.
5. The Body-Cam Video Showed the Shooting Was Unprovoked & Was Crucial in Getting an Indictment
The police body-cam video showed that the shooting was unprovoked. Originally, Deters said that the video would not be released until after the shooting investigation was finished. The family, O’Mara, and the Enquirer and other media publications were insistent that the video be released immediately so they could see what happened to Samuel, Cincinnati.com reported. The video ended up being released on July 29. Allen stated in a press conference that the video played a critical role in Tensing’s murder indictment. O’Mara agreed, stating that if they didn’t have the video, there wouldn’t be an indictment, Slate reported.
