Jury Finds Domonique Roberts Not-Guilty of Murder in Self-Defense Case
Eight-day murder trial ends in acquittal for man who saved himself during attack
Case Details
Client Name: Domonique Roberts
Charges: 2 counts of murder, 1 counts of felonious assault
Verdict: Not-guilty on all counts
“Domonique Roberts acted in self-defense to save his own life. He shouldn’t be punished for protecting himself while being attacked by someone with a history of violence, and the jury agreed.”
About The Case
On November 3, 2024, 31-year-old Jermaine Moore-Taylor attacked Domonique Roberts in South Euclid following an earlier verbal dispute. Moore-Taylor, who was on parole after serving a 13-year sentence for manslaughter, had a long and violent criminal history.
Roberts, 30, had no prior criminal history. He knew Moore-Taylor personally and was aware of his violent past. That night, Moore-Taylor approached Roberts with two mutual acquaintances, pulled Roberts’ hood over his head, and began choking him.
Unable to see, breathe, or escape, Roberts drew his legally owned firearm and fired one shot in self-defense. He immediately called 911 to report the incident. Moore-Taylor was transported to the hospital, where he later died.
Police arrested Roberts at the scene, and he was indicted on two counts of murder and one count of felonious assault. FG+G partner Marcus Sidoti represented Roberts at trial in September 2025. After eight days in court, the jury returned a not-guilty verdict on all counts.
Sidoti argued that Roberts’ use of force was reasonable and necessary under Ohio’s self-defense law. Roberts was not the aggressor, had no means of retreat, and acted only after being violently attacked by a man he knew to be dangerous. His use of force was proportional to Moore-Taylor’s force, and it was necessary to save his life.
During deliberations, two jurors remained uncertain about whether Roberts’ actions were justified, until Sidoti reframed the moment. He asked them to imagine a police officer in the same position: hood pulled over, vision obscured, being choked. Under the use-of-force continuum, an officer in that situation would be permitted to use lethal force to stop the threat. The jury then finally agreed that Roberts had that same right to defend his life.
Domonique Roberts faced life in prison. Instead, the jury saw the truth. Sidoti’s defense cut through the noise and revealed the facts for what they were, leaving only one just outcome: acquittal.