FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A man released from jail under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law may find his freedom short-lived.
Nour Jarkas was released from the Broward County jail last week, three years after the killing of Jon Concannon, but he could soon find himself back behind bars and retried. The prosecutor on the case worked through the weekend and has resubmitted evidence to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is strongly considering the appeal.
"How? How does this happen? Just doesn't make sense," said Dyan Concannon-Nelson, Jon Concannon's daughter. "He basically got away with murder. He got away with cold-blooded murder."
Judge Ilone Homes' decision to acquit Jarkas under the "Stand Your Ground" law, which gives people the right to shoot someone if they feel their lives are in danger, has Concannon-Nelson angry and baffled.
"I went through sadness. I went through anger. I'm still shocked," she said.
In January 2009, Jon Concannon was found dead in the living room of his girlfriend's home in Plantation, shot four times by Jarkas, according to the family. Jarkas claimed he was invited over by his estranged wife and was attacked by Concannon.
Prosecutors and family members insisted Jarkas was the attacker, furious that his wife had a boyfriend, and had recently filed for divorce.
"You know, if I'm going to threaten you and tell you I'm going to kill you, I'm going to throw my stuff down. I'm getting ready for a fight," said Concannon-Nelson. "Why is it my dad died with a coffee cup in one hand and his keys in the other?"
For Concannon's son, Joe, it's still very difficult to accept.
"We were told this was a slam-dunk case from the first day -- first-degree murder, premeditated -- and we just never expected this," he said.
While the family is in disbelief over the judge's decision, they are very pleased to know the attorney general is taking another look at the case.
"It's very encouraging there's possibly going to be some type of justice finally done," said Joe Concannon. "Right now, he's walking the streets doing what he wants to do, and my dad is dead. That's not fair at all."