A former student at Florida International University may avoid prison time as his defense attorneys ask a state judge to dismiss the murder charge against him.

The student is accused of killing a football player at the university by stabbing him with a pair of scissors. According to CBS News, though, the student's attorneys are arguing that their client acted in self-defense. They are citing the state's "Stand Your Ground" act put into place by former Florida governor Jeb Bush.

According to the student's defense team, the deceased football player started the fight. The student was merely defending himself when he stabbed the player with a pair of scissors.

Not surprisingly, prosecutors have taken a different stance. According to CBS News, prosecutors say that the student committed murder, claiming that he "brought a knife to a fist fight." Prosecutors are arguing that the Florida judge should move forward with a trial.

The father of the deceased football player told CBS News that he, too, wants to see the trial move forward. He said that he and the rest of the player's family members would be disappointed to see the student go free without first standing trial.

The case has not moved quickly through the courts, something that is not unusual with high-profile murder cases. The stabbing originally took place two years ago.

The judge in the case has now given the defense team two weeks to present witness statements. After this time, the judge will decide whether the accused in this case will stand trial or be set free.

Source

CBS News: "Murder suspect in stabbing death of FIU football player could walk free without trial," Katie Wiggin, Jan. 24, 2012