MIAMI (WSVN) - A South Florida jury found Gayle Blount not guilty of attempted murder after being on trial for shooting his ex-girlfriend at least five times inside a Miami Gardens apartment in May 2021.
“The defendant is not guilty,” said a judge.
Emotions were on high inside a Miami-Dade courtroom as the not guilty verdict was read out loud. The shooting victim, Bridget Knighton, broke down in tears and had to be consoled my loved ones after hearing the verdict.
Her sobs filled the halls of the Metro Justice Building.
“He’s going to kill me,” Knighton was heard saying tearfully.
7News spoke with Knighton and her lawyer, who said justice was not served.
“Our belief in this case is justice not only failed her but the entire domestic violence movement of women,” said Knighton’s lawyer.
“In my heart I know he’s going to come back and try to finish what he started. That’s my fear. He’s already had a taste of jail for almost four years. He’s going to come back and finish what he started cause he knows he can get away with it,” said Knighton.
Blount’s trial began this week with officers and a crime scene investigator, who were first to arrive on scene, taking the stand to testify. Blount and Knighton also had their opportunity to take the stand.
During which, Knighton shared what Blount allegedly said to her as he stood above her with a gun.
“I had called 911 so he could hear the sirens, and he was like, ‘This [expletive] called the police on me, I’m going to kill her, then I’ll have to kill myself,’” Knighton said. “Every time he pulled the trigger he said something.”
“And what did he say to you, besides that first statement,” asked a prosecutor.
“I remember him saying, ‘Look what you made me do’,” Knighton said.
Knighton said she spent years recovering after the shooting and wanted to seek the maximum sentence for Blount.
Prosecutors argued that Blount snapped and tried to kill Knighton, while the defense said Blount acted in self-defense after he thought his life was in danger.
“She made a statement, ‘I got something for your [expletive],’ and she reached for her purse,” he said.
Knighton apparently owns a firearm which is believed to be in her purse that night. Throughout the trial prosecutors argued that there was no purse on the sofa, dismissing Blount’s self-defense claim.
But on Thursday, the defense team played a video from the apartment that night, proving Knighton’s purse was indeed there. There was then, a rare turn of events when the prosecutor said she had to apologize after they questioned whether or not a purse belonging to the victim, Bridget Knighton, was really on the sofa, a point of contention between the defense and the prosecution.
The defense had pictures of the purse on the sofa taken from body camera video.
“It surely helps to have lawyers who are willing to turn uncover every stone to fight for their client, that’s what we did in this case,” said Jonathan Jordan, Blount’s attorney.
The jury did not take long to reach a verdict Friday and it was one that the defense was happy with.
“At the end of the day, justice was served,” said Matthew Rogoff, Blount’s defense attorney. “The jury heard the truth and they sided with the truth.”
Although Blount was found not guilty, Knighton said she’s not stopping her fight for justice.
“This is what I get? My body is changed forever. This is why women can’t come forward because it feels like the system doesn’t have your back. It’s awful. I can’t believe this happened. How did it happen?” said Knighton. “I’m just in shock.”
Blount also had a hold in Broward County related to a misdemeanor battery charge attorneys say was related to an argument between him and Knighton.
Blount is being transferred to Broward County, where there’s an open case against him. His attorneys said he will make an appearance to resolve the matter, and then he will be released.
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