Thoughts on Trayvon Martin Killing

[bluefieldRocks 14]

In the words of somebody...

 

[deuceswild 15]

In the words of somebody...

 

 

So you're on my side since that war was predicated by extreme racism and bullying?

[Hacker 82]

So you're on my side since that war was predicated by extreme racism and bullying?

 

Or money.

[bucfan64 307]

or money.

 

or imperialism or militarism or nationalism .........or as you said $$$$$$

Edited April 2, 2012 by bucfan64

[deuceswild 15]

or imperialism or militarism or nationalism .........or as you said $$$$$$

 

All of the above.

[1inStripes 932]

I personally feel like Zimmerman overstepped his bounds. That said, that doesn't mean it was because of racism.

[bucfan64 307]

Sanford in the news again

 

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-02/news/os-two-arrested-seminole-beating-20120402_1_victim-arrest-affidavits-crimeline

[legend11 32]

Well, Zimmerman was charged today with 2nd degree murder. Here's the AP write up of it.

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gon2Pm5Gj-kfBQ9dp44NEyMGGcBw?docId=01d13e13504949afbe6ef32f464bd1d6

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The neighborhood watch volunteer who shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was arrested and charged with second-degree murder Wednesday after weeks of mounting tensions and protests across the U.S.

George Zimmerman, 28, could get up to life in prison if convicted in the slaying of the unarmed black teenager.

Special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges but would not discuss how she arrived at them or disclose other details of her investigation, saying: "That's why we try cases in a courtroom."

Second-degree murder is typically brought in cases when there is a fight or other confrontation that results in death but involves no premeditation to kill. It carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years behind bars when a gun is used.

Martin's parents expressed relief over the decision to prosecute their son's killer.

"The question I would really like to ask him is, if he could look into Trayvon's eyes and see how innocent he was, would he have then pulled the trigger? Or would he have just let him go on home?" said his father, Tracy Martin.

Corey would not disclose Zimmerman's whereabouts for his safety but said that he will be in court within 24 hours, at which point he can request bail. He turned himself in in Florida.

Zimmerman's new attorney, Mark O'Mara, said Zimmerman will plead not guilty and will invoke Florida's "stand your ground" law, which gives people wide leeway to use deadly force without having to retreat in the face of danger. The lawyer asked that people not jump to conclusions about his client's guilt and said he is "hoping that the community will calm down" now that charges have been filed.

"I'm expecting a lot of work and hopefully justice in the end," O'Mara said.

On Tuesday, Zimmerman's former lawyers portrayed him as erratic and in precarious mental condition. But O'Mara said Zimmerman was OK: "I'm not concerned about his mental well-being."

Zimmerman, whose father is white and whose mother is Hispanic, has asserted since the Feb. 26 killing in Sanford that he shot in self-defense after the teenager attacked him. Martin's family argued Zimmerman was the aggressor.

The shooting brought demands from black leaders for his arrest, touched off protests in which people wore hooded sweatshirts like the one the teenager had on, and set off a furious debate over race and self-defense that reached all the way to the White House, where President Barack Obama observed: "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."

Separately, the U.S. Justice Department's civil rights division is conducting its own investigation.

Corey said the decision to bring charges was based on the facts and the law, declaring: "We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition."

One of the biggest hurdles to Zimmerman's arrest over the past month was Florida's "stand your ground" law, which affords strong protection to those who use deadly force.

Second-degree murder means a killing that was not premeditated but resulted instead from an "imminently dangerous act" that showed a "depraved" lack of regard for human life.

Some legal experts had predicted the prosecutor would instead bring a charge of manslaughter, which carries up to 15 years behind bars. It is defined as a death that results from a reckless but not a depraved act.

Corey repeatedly declined to answer questions about details in the case.

"So much information got released on this case that never should have been released. We have to protect this prosecution and this investigation for Trayvon, for George Zimmerman," she said.

Legal experts said Corey must have compelling evidence against Zimmerman if she chose to charge him with second-degree murder.

"That indicates they have evidence (Zimmerman) was chasing Trayvon because he was black," said Florida defense attorney Richard Hornsby. "It's difficult to think how one prosecutor didn't charge him at all and another thought there was enough evidence to justify a second-degree charge. It's a pretty drastic swing."

Tensions have risen in recent days in Sanford, a town of 50,000 outside Orlando. Someone shot up an unoccupied police car Tuesday as it sat outside the neighborhood where Martin was killed. And a demonstration by college students closed the town's police station Monday.

But as the hour of the prosecutor's announcement neared, the Martin family and their lawyer pleaded for calm.

Outside Sanford City Hall, Stacy Davis, a black woman, said she was glad to see arrested Zimmerman under arrest. "It's not a black or white thing for me. It's a right or wrong thing. He needed to be arrested," she said. "I'm happy because maybe that boy can get some rest."

Six weeks ago, Martin was returning to the home of his father's fiancee from a convenience store with Skittles candy and ice tea when Zimmerman, the neighborhood crime-watch captain in the gated townhouse community, started following him.

Zimmerman told police dispatchers: "This guy looks like he is up to no good — he is on drugs or something." The 911 dispatcher told him not to follow the young man.

At some point, the two got into a fight and Zimmerman used his gun.

Zimmerman told police Martin attacked him after he had given up chasing the teenager and was returning to his truck. He told detectives that Martin knocked him to the ground and began slamming his head on the sidewalk. Zimmerman's father said his son suffered a broken nose.

Amid the uproar of the failure to arrest Zimmerman, the local prosecutor disqualified himself from the case, and Gov. Rick Scott appointed Corey, the prosecutor for Jacksonville, to take it over.

Corey has tried hundreds of homicide cases and is known for hardball tactics and her passionate devotion to victims' rights. She said she met with Martin's "sweet parents" and prayed with them.

"We only know one category as prosecutors, and that's a 'V,'" she said at the news conference, referring to victims, and making a V with her fingers.

[Deleted Account 5,203]

Not surprised. In a murder trial, you almost always charge one degree higher than you think you'll get.

[bucfan64 307]

Finally, it now looks like we will at least take this thing through the proper legal process and let the courts decide the outcome.

[Hacker 82]

Finally, it now looks like we will at least take this thing through the proper legal process and let the courts decide the outcome.

 

I'm not a big fan of trial by media.

[redtiger 1,740]

Did it ever come out if Zimmerman followed Martin after the 911 officer told him not to? Im no lawyer but it seems to me IF he did follow Martin after being told not to then he provoked him. Big difference there imo.

[strapiton 10]

The person Zimmerman was talking to was no officer it was a dispatcher and all she said was "we don't need you to do that". Telling him " not to follow" is NBC and CNN spin. Not a lawful order.

[Deleted Account 5,203]

The person Zimmerman was talking to was no officer it was a dispatcher and all she said was "we don't need you to do that". Telling him " not to follow" is NBC and CNN spin. Not a lawful order.

 

This is a point that I mentioned earlier on other sites, and it definitely deserves attention.

NBC's already been shown to be guilty of distorting the audio to make it seem more racial.

[strapiton 10]

Although I think Zimmerman was morally wrong, I believe he will be found innocent by Fla. state law. The facts as WE know them are, Zimmerman did not brake any laws by being there, or approaching the kid. The law was broken when the kid attacked him if that is indeed what happened. By Fla.state law Zimmerman had the right to defend himself by the definition of the stand your ground law. Although the thought of civil unrest, and the bad taste of the Casey Anthony case could be a factor.

[redtiger 1,740]

I know the 911 operator wasnt a police officer, officer was a bad use of words on my part.

 

What im saying (UVAO, love for you to chime in on this) is that if Martin attacked Zimmerman and Zimmerman responded by shooting him, Martin provoked him and caused the incident. IF Zimmerman followed Martin after the operator asked him not to(not that it was a command or legually binding) then Zimmerman provoked Martin to defend himself and Zimmerman caused the incident.

 

I dont know if this is a valid legal point or not but to me there is a difference there.