Skype Overload Interrupts Zimmerman Trial

MouseTheLuckyDog writes "Today during the George Zimmerman trial, an ex-professor of Zimmerman's was allowed to testify via Skype while on vacation. When setting it up the prosecution didn't have the sense to blank the destination account. The result, according to The Smoking Gun, was a flood of callers to the destination account resulting in the connection being terminated and cross examination being done on a cell phone in the witness box." Also at CBS News.

Comments

Microsoft Product

[Anonymous Coward]

Which part of "Microsoft Product" did they not understand?

Re:Microsoft Product

[MouseTheLuckyDog]

Hmmm. The way things are going maybe that because these are the same lawyers that represented Microsoft in "DOJ vs Microsoft".

Re: Microsoft Product

[Anonymous Coward]

How does anybody know that in the 2mins after zimmermann hung up on non emergency and trayvon was still on phone zimmermann didn't threaten trayvon with his gun and trayvon beat the he'll out of him in fear for HIS LIFE??

Re: Microsoft Product

[Anonymous Coward]

Cause Traytable didn't call 911.

Re: Microsoft Product

[Anonymous Coward]

How does anyone not know that you are a fucktard?

Go discuss this where such a discussion is more appropriate, and stop trying to hijack threads. People like you make teh internet suck.

Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

This is an obvious case of self defense, if the thug that attacked Zimmerman wasn't an African-American, there would be no trial. There was too much race baiting and fake charges of murder were trumped up to appease the Martin family.

My message to the Martin family is clear. If your son was not a THUG, he would be still be here.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[dadelbunts]

If he was a THUG he would have just shot Zimmerman.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

He tried, but Zimmerman stopped him from getting his gun. At this point I know I would have personally have believed my life was in danger and opened fire on the THUG.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

This is an obvious case of self defense

Yes, I too often "defend" myself by following and then chasing down my future assailant.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

That story was made up by the damned media and the Martin family to start race riots and blame Republicans. People that actually know anything know that democrats are the racists!

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Black Parrot]

From what I've read, it corresponds to the 911 transcript. The operator tried to get him to back off.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, it's an obvious case of confrontation, because George Zimmerman chose to get out of his car, thereby putting Trayvon Martin at risk for his life.

Therefore, Trayvon Martin, who was previously engaged in peaceable business returning to the place where he was staying, was perfectly within his rights to have felt threatened, and even if he had confronted Zimmerman with the threat of force, was justified in his actions. Zimmerman, by choosing to get out of the car, was not, as his express intent was directly involving Trayvon Martin, therefore making him guilty of a criminal action by provoking the conflict.

Had Zimmerman had the sense to stay in the car, nothing would have happened.

Instead he killed somebody.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[girlintraining]

From what I've read, it corresponds to the 911 transcript. The operator tried to get him to back off.

From what I heard, you shouldn't make a 911 call over Skype. Apparently, talking about 911 calls over Skype is also a bad idea.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[vux984]

If your son was not a THUG, he would be still be here.

I didn't realize it was ok to seek out, confront, and then shoot someone, as long as that person is a THUG?

Martin may well have been a THUG; I know i don't buy the media portrayal of him as a perfect angel showing a photo of him several years younger etc. But Zimmerman was armed and deliberately sought a confrontation with him, not the other way around.

A murder trial is appropriate.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Did you read the transcript? I did. "You really don't need to do that" is not trying very hard.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[clarkkent09]

He does not lose his right to self-defense because some 911 operator told him to back off. So he followed a guy walking around in the rain in an area that had recent burglaries. So perhaps he 'profiled' him because he wore a hoodie, perhaps because he was black. Perhaps he did a poor job as a neighborhood watchman, he got too zealous in protecting the neighborhood (not as much as some mall cops but whatever). None of this has any baring on the fact that once Martin jumped on him and started bashing his head against the pavement (as all evidence suggest he did) he had the RIGHT to defend himself with lethal force. A legal right, as in under the law in force at the time. Charge him for sucking as a neighborhood watchman, or for following the guy (whatever crime that is) but there is no rational reason to charge him with murder. It is pure mob justice of the worst kind.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Just ask them if Trayvon Martin had shot Zimmerman with Zimmerman's gun, if they'd be asking for Martin to be put on trial, or declaring his actions self-defense.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Black Parrot]

I didn't realize it was ok to seek out, confront, and then shoot someone, as long as that person is a THUG?

Hey, everyone needs to let the inner Batman out once in a while.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Fucking leftists modded the parent down!

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Indeed, it's because his actions were confrontational that he loses his claim to self-defense to excuse his homicide, not because the 911 operator told him anything.

Trayvon Martin, if he did indeed confront Zimmerman, was the one engaging in lawful defense. Or would you try to charge Martin with homicide if he had killed Zimmerman?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Beavertank]

And if you were actually confident in your views you wouldn't be posting AC.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[vux984]

Just ask them if Trayvon Martin had shot Zimmerman with Zimmerman's gun, if they'd be asking for Martin to be put on trial, or declaring his actions self-defense.

Who is "them"?

As for me, I'd probably want a murder trial for that scenario too. He can plead self defense, and we'll see how it goes. Although self-defense seems pretty likely... or do you regularly imagine "unarmed thugs" confronting and then attacking people with guns, taking those guns by force, and then using them to shoot the owner?

How often does that happen?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[tompaulco]

So, if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be, you are not allowed to get out of your car? Why don't we just lock up the law abiding and let the criminals roam free, if we are going to let them dictate our lives like this. Instead he killed somebody.
Just like most cases of self defense, nobody sets out to kill anybody (well, except for the criminals sometimes), but if somebody jumps you and starts bashing your head against the ground, you have the right to defend yourself.
It seems clear to me that case by case, the government is trying to take away our rights to defend ourselves. They hand out harsher sentences against people who kill an armed assailant, than they do to assailants who kill an unarmed victim. It's pretty clear the message they are trying to get across: Just let the criminals do whatever they want with no dear of reprisal.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[tompaulco]

Couldn't agree more. The only thing they should be trying to decide is what sort of medal to give him for having the courage to defend himself against an assailant.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[TheRealMindChild]

and even if he had confronted Zimmerman with the threat of force, was justified in his actions

No, sir. That is called assault.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[gnasher719]

Couldn't agree more. The only thing they should be trying to decide is what sort of medal to give him for having the courage to defend himself against an assailant.

I'd love to hear both sides of the story. But I can't. Because one side shot and killed the other side.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd peg this one at manslaughter. He should have known well enough that even a teenager who wasn't up to something might freak out and attack him after he had been following him for so long. Zimmerman created the situation that resulted in the death, but I do believe that once it had been set in motion it did become a self defense situation.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

How do you justify " if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be" with a young black teenager walking on a public street? Are you that much of an twit or just that good of a troll?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[__aaltlg1547]

Exactly. Martin would have been justified under Florida law in killing Zimmerman. The other way around is not the case because Zimmerman approached and threatened Martin, not the other way around. But in Bizzarro World, Zimmerman was supposedly OK to approach Martin, challenge him, provoke a fight and shoot him dead because...

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[__aaltlg1547]

So, if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be, you are not allowed to get out of your car? Why don't we just lock up the law

MARTIN WAS NOT WALKING AROUND IN A PLACE WHERE HE SHOULD NOT BE.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[rsborg]

So, if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be, you are not allowed to get out of your car?

It's called the neighborhood watch, not the neighborhood police - for a reason. Watchmen are told not to confront, but report suspicious activity, otherwise this kind of shit happens. Zimmerman had a history of this kind of behavior, and he was in the wrong place and did the wrong things. Bad things happened.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, yes you do lose your right to self-defense if you're told to back off.

By your logic, I have the right to racially profile you, follow you anywhere you go and I can shoot-to-kill if/when you panic cause an unknown armed man is following you around at night.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Except Martin's DNA was not on the holster or the gun.

The only thug here is Zimmerman. If Zimmerman was the aggressor, Martin can use equal force to defend himself. If Martin thought his life was in danger, the response can include deadly force. If Zimmerman showed Martin he had a gun, that is all that is required for Martin to incapacitate Zimmerman.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be

It was a public neighborhood, not a military base surrounded by signs saying "Trespassers will be shot".

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Except Martin had every right to be there. He was walking down the block with his candy and tea, talking on his cell phone, cutting through some front yards to get back to a residence in the community.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

If someone who is armed with a pistol is stalking me on a rainy dark night, you damn well better believe I'm going to defend myself in any way I can.

Lock that turd up and throw away the key.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Chryana]

once Martin jumped on him and started bashing his head against the pavement (as all evidence suggest he did)

I'm not sure where you got that from. The wikipedia article linked to in the summary mentions about the opening statement for the trial, and I quote, "The prosecution's statement focused on the lack of evidence of bodily harm to both Zimmerman and Martin (...)".

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Please provide a source that clearly states that Trayvon Martin was trespassing.

Or are you contending that because he was black he should not have been walking in public after dark or something?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[lgw]

Actually, yes you do lose your right to self-defense if you're told to back off.

By your logic, I have the right to racially profile you, follow you anywhere you go and I can shoot-to-kill if/when you panic cause an unknown armed man is following you around at night.

You do not lose your right to self defense if "you're told to back off".

You do not lose your right to self defense if "you racially profile me" (whatever that means)

You do not lose your right to self defense if "you follow me anywhere I go"

None of that matters in the slightest.

If your are assaulted, you have a right to self defense. If you assault the other guy, you don't. Whoever escalated from words to violence is the criminal (and I have no idea who that is here, also IANAL yadda yadda).

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Chryana]

Well, I just read the second paragraph of my quote, and the defense says the opposite of the prosecution. We'll have to wait until the trial goes on to know what evidence there is for either case, but a blind statement saying that "all evidence suggests he did" seems premature at best.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Therein is the entire problem with "stand your ground" laws. The victor can always claim they were the victim as long as there are no witnesses. Homicide in self defense is still homicide, someone killed someone else. I do not feel we should allow people that kill other people to walk free, even if they were justified.

Prison exists to house violent people such as murderers and rapists. How about we let loose the non-violent offenders and permanently remove from society everyone that commits violent acts. Within three generations we could weed virtually all aggressive genes out of the gene pool.

That or bring back dueling. If one has the right to defend oneself then one should have the right to contractually engage in mortal combat to settle disputes.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[lgw]

Sure, but Zimmerman thought he was, for whatever reason.

This is exactly how communities were expected to be, before we all became strangers to our neighbors. "Hey! You there! I don't know you - what are you doing here?" is a perfectly valid thing for a local to ask. Doesn't give the local any right to initiate violence, but certainly doesn't give the person asked the right to initiate violence either. Pretty much no words whatsoever give you the right to attack the person who said them.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

But in Bizzarro World, Zimmerman was supposedly OK to approach Martin ...

Not illegal.

... challenge him ...

Not illegal.

... provoke a fight ...

Not illegal.

... and shoot him dead.

Not illegal if Martin really gave Zimmerman a valid excuse to defend himself with deadly force under the terms and conditions of Florida's "stand your ground" law. On the other hand, if Martin was banging Zimmerman's head against the ground, that actually is illegal; it's called assault.

So, no, merely following someone and even provoking them is not enough cause to enact deadly force for defence, even under Florida's laws, so Martin would absolutely not have been justified in doing so. This case is just a big waste of money; undoubtedly the DA felt compelled to file it because of pressure from racially-motived social personalities and groups, but it's still a big waste.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[mrlibertarian]

Zimmerman's claim is that he got out of the car and walked in the same direction to see the name of the street to phone it in. If true, that would explain why he didn't argue with the operator.

So, unless he is lying, he didn't "chase down" Martin. I suppose you could argue that Martin felt threatened when Zimmerman reached into his pocket to get his cellphone. But that argument only makes sense if you start with the assumption that any civilian who shoots an unarmed teenager must be in the wrong and you reason backwards from there.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

The following problem arises.

Jim can approach Dwight.
Dwight can misinterpret the approach as a threat of lethal violence, possibly he thought he saw a deadly weapon.
Maybe he did see a weapon,maybe not. Reality is irrelevant in the case of a stand your ground defense, all that matters is perception. Did Dwight feel his life was in danger? Absolutely he did.

Dwight, fearing for his life, is then justified to defend himself with lethal force and attempts to do so.
Jim, who may or may not have had intention of killing Dwight, is now forced to confront Dwight in a life or death struggle or face death himself

There are four possible outcomes:
1 - Jim draws his concealed weapon and shoots Dwight in a clear cut case of self defense.
2 - Dwight draws his concealed weapon and shoots Jim in a clear cut case of self defense.
3 - Jim and Dwight draw their concealed weapons and shoot each other in a clear cut case of MADD.
4 - Jim and Dwight draw their concealed weapons and spontaneously develop mutual respect for one another.

The problem here is that if you suspect someone might attacks you then you can attack them first under stand your ground laws. The black kid in this case felt his life was in danger and stood his ground, meanwhile the latino man ALSO felt his life was in danger (after being attacked) and stood his ground.

Irony is the real victim here.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Freddybear]

"Stand your ground" has nothing to do with this case. It's a pure case of self-defense.

"Within three generations we could weed virtually all aggressive genes out of the gene pool."
And within four generations the few aggressive ones left would rule the rest with an iron fist.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

He absolutely was somewhere he shouldn't have been.

He was kneeling on top of a man beating his skull into the pavement.

And he got killed for it.

That's the full of it. He had every right to walk there. He had every right to pull out a cell and call the police and report a stalker. He had every right to flee. He had every right to stand his ground and to kill Zimmerman if he was actually physically assaulted -- up to and including if he was merely threatened and reasonably believed force might be used.

In some states he would have had the right to retreat to his home, and if followed -- to produce a firearm and shoot to kill without a moment's question.

He ambushed somebody, demonstrated lethal intent -- and died for it. That's all there is to it.

Even if the ambush and jump is a lie... that's all there is to it.

Any amount of profiling, racism, hate crime or whatever may be societally relevant, but it's not criminally relevant. He utilized lethal force ... even against a provacateur... it's a justified homicide. End of story.

Tired of me repeating myself? I'm sorry, I'm just stating the truth. Not as I see or believe it ... but as all anybody can possibly freaking tell and appropriately conclude from the available facts. No bullshit voice data, witnesses that didn't look, people that barely recall screamed voices. Not as someone who sits there and believes anybody deserved a killing or a beating or an ass-kicking or acted rightly, wrongly, or appropriately or not.

Two people were out at night. Two people behaved aggressively and failed to de-escalate. One of them died. One of them was on top of the other. One of them had head wounds, a broken nose, and lacerations. The other was shot.

This is what happens when you get in a fight. This is what happens when you get in a fight and use, threaten to use, or cause someone to believe you will use lethal force.

Martin may have been killed originally because Zimmerman pursued him, but ultimately and immediately he was blown away for presenting an immediate threat to life.

Justice has nothing and everything to do with it. This isn't about justice for his killing. This is about justice (acquittal) for lawfully justified self defense. It's why you don't even see stand your ground being claimed -- it's wholly irrelevant and not needed.

That people demand justice for a killing may be appropriate -- but that only works if they actually attempt to retreat. Not once. Not the first time. Not initially. If you're on top of me beating my head into the ground it's a good shoot at that moment no matter what I did to deserve it.

Maybe that needs to change, but as of today... that's the only lawful outcome.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Freddybear]

"Except Martin's DNA was not on the holster or the gun."
That was covered in the trial. Even under ideal conditions DNA doesn't stick 100% of the time, and it was raining.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, it's a case of pure confrontation and aggression, which means neither stand your ground or self-defense applies.

Why?

Zimmerman got out of the car.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[JeanInMontana]

This is an obvious case of self defense, if the thug that attacked Zimmerman wasn't an African-American, there would be no trial. There was too much race baiting and fake charges of murder were trumped up to appease the Martin family.My message to the Martin family is clear. If your son was not a THUG, he would be still be here.

by Anonymous Coward ~~~~ says it all.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually you just have to "feel" your life is in danger to take defensive violent action. If you see someone coming at you with what you believe is a weapon then you can defend yourself from them under stand your ground law.

And when they turn out to not have had their weapon out they pull their weapon to defend them self from you.

That is precisely what happened in this case and explicitly why SYG laws are irrational and need to be struck down. As written SYG laws are little more than a license to kill.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

No sir, that's self-defense from somebody who you believe has created a danger to you.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

If there's a murder, it deserves a trial. End of story.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

This may come as a shock, but you actually still have the right to get out of a car.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[craigminah]

Looks like someone already locked your brain up and threw away the keyuse facts and not emotions. Did he know Zimmerman had a gun? Martin could have just left the area instead of acting tough.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

In this scenario, I have a gun.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am and I just got out of my car after following you several blocks.

At NO point do I lose my right to self-defense despite repeated verbal warnings to back off? I'm sorry, but you're insane. You've just given stalkers a blank check to murder anyone they choose by simply claiming "self-defense" when their victims resist/fight back/attempt to run away.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

So, if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be, you are not allowed to get out of your car?

You can get out of your car, but if you shoot them, it'll be due to a confrontation you initiated through your actions, thereby destroying your claim to self-defense.

Not that Martin was in a place where he was not supposed to be, which makes Zimmerman's actions even less justifiable.

Why don't we just lock up the law abiding and let the criminals roam free, if we are going to let them dictate our lives like this.

Would you rather somebody like George Zimmerman dictate to us? I wouldn't. There's a reason why the police are supposed to be trained, to clearly identify themselves, and not to use the threat of force except when it constitutes appropriate action.

Random persons should know better than to act as a police officer, and not get a pass on their actions which results in somebody else's death. And any person with a gun should know better than to get into a situation where their actions are provocative and confrontational. Zimmerman failed to meet that standard, therefore his claim of self defense is not valid.

Or should I have to live in fear of somebody like him?

Just like most cases of self defense, nobody sets out to kill anybody (well, except for the criminals sometimes), but if somebody jumps you and starts bashing your head against the ground, you have the right to defend yourself.

Not when you've provoked and threatened them. Which is exactly what Zimmerman did.

It seems clear to me that case by case, the government is trying to take away our rights to defend ourselves. They hand out harsher sentences against people who kill an armed assailant, than they do to assailants who kill an unarmed victim. It's pretty clear the message they are trying to get across: Just let the criminals do whatever they want with no dear of reprisal.

It seems clear to me that people like you want to create a culture of fear and intimidation, where the people who you support get to use force against others, and excuses are made for that regardless of the abuses, because we sure can't hold somebody accountable for a homicide that is a direct result of their willful and provocative actions.

That way you can get us all intimidated by you, since you'll get away with whatever you do, while the rest of us have to knuckle under.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not the same AC that posted this, but he said what a lot of us have been thinking.

I've said all along that I don't think there's evidence to convict Zimmerman. It's possible that he killed Martin in cold blood and is guilty, but there is not the evidence to convict him. And the more I see of the trial, the more I've become convinced of this.

I'm a firm believer in better that 100 guilty men go free than one innocent man be sent to prison and I just don't see the evidence to convict Zimmerman, Based on my limited experience with the court system, I think this happens too often. When I served on a jury in an auto theft case, the prosecution painted the defendant as scum. We, the jury were easily convinced of that. They then trotted out the person whose care was stolen so she could tell us how she discovered her car was stolen. What was the point of that? No one, including the defendant or his lawyer, disputed that her car had been stolen.

It seems to just send the message that if you're charged with a crime, you'd better cop a plea because if you don't we're going to spend a shit ton of taxpayer dollars trying to put you in prison.

The prosecution in the auto theft case where I was a jury member never proved their case. I and my co-jurors had a lot of doubt that he stole her car.

In the case of Zimmerman, I have enough doubt that if I were on the jury I could not convict him. The case does seem like a waste of time to me. I think the only reason it went to court was because of racially based political pressure.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

What we see here is a classic physics experiment, unstoppable force meets immovable object.

He didn't need to know if Zimmerman had a gun or not. All he needed to do to be justified in standing his ground was to feel threatened.

Zimmerman had the right to approach the youth and question him and the youth had the right to not be harassed by an adult in the middle of the night. Martin could have just left, but he had no obligation to flee from a threat. Like a proud American, he stood his ground. And when he stood his ground that gave Zimmerman justification to stand his own ground. Martin was justified in attacking Zimmerman in self-defense and Zimmerman was justified in attacking Martin in self-defense. Self-defense against a potential threat is justifiable if you truly felt your life was in danger.

Therein is the problem, laws should not be based on "feelings". So called "stand your ground" laws are bad policy.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

That dispatcher was a witness earlier in the trial. He clarified that he was NOT giving an order. He also clarified that he is not allowed to give orders to callers.

The wording was that the police didn't NEED Zimmerman to follow. It didn't even imply that it might not be HELPFUL to the police. And, it certainly didn't even suggest that Zimmerman, if he wished to do so, shouldn't.

Anyway, according to Zimmerman, he stopped following when the dispatcher made that suggestion but that he was returning from trying to get the address for the police to meet him at when Martin accosted him. So far, I've seen no reason not to believe Zimmerman's version of the story.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Except Martin's DNA was not on the holster or the gun.

The only thug here is Zimmerman. If Zimmerman was the aggressor, Martin can use equal force to defend himself. If Martin thought his life was in danger, the response can include deadly force. If Zimmerman showed Martin he had a gun, that is all that is required for Martin to incapacitate Zimmerman.

You've never been mugged by a pack of blacks.

When you are, your world view will change.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

So far, this has NOTHING to do with SYG laws - this is, at this time, a simple self defense case.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice scenario. Is that from some trial in your home town or something?

That scenario doesn't have anything to do with the trial of George Zimmerman that is currently going on in Florida.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

From what I've read, it corresponds to the 911 transcript. The operator tried to get him to back off.

I think you need to reread that transcript again. Zimmerman had agreed to meet the police officers that had been dispatched to the site. Martin confronted and assaulted Zimmerman after that. Since he was ahead of Zimmerman and on his way home, if Marin had continued on his way he would have been home instead of assaulting Zimmerman, which led to his being shot.

Map and timeline of incident

Trayvon Martin shooting death -- initial police reports and '911' call transcript

Dispatcher: Are you following him? [2:24]

Zimmerman: Yeah. [2:25]

Dispatcher:OK.We don’t need you to do that. [2:26]

Zimmerman: OK. [2:28] (wind noises heard)

Dispatcher:Alright, sir, what is your name? [2:34]

Zimmerman:George. He ran.

Dispatcher:Alright, George, what’s your last name?

Zimmerman: Zimmerman.

...

Dispatcher: Alright, George, we do have them on the way. Do you want to meet with the officer when they get out there?

Zimmerman: Yeah.

Dispatcher: Alright, where are you going to meet with them at?

Zimmerman: Um, if they come in through the gate, tell them to go straight past the clubhouse and, uh, straight past the clubhouse and make a left and then they go past the mailboxes you’ll see my truck. [3:10]

...

Dispatcher: OK, do you just want to meet with them at the mailboxes then? [3:42]

Zimmerman: Yeah, that’s fine. [3:43]

...

Dispatcher: OK, no problem. I’ll let them know to call you when they’re in the area. [4:02]

Zimmerman:Thanks.

Dispatcher: You’re welcome.

Call ends 4:07

The trial seems to be going strongly in Zimmerman's favor, of course juries are unpredictable.

Witness: Trayvon Called George Zimmerman A ‘Creepy-A**,’ ‘White, Kill-My-Neighbors Cracker’

Zimmerman trial blockbuster — Eyewitness says Trayvon on top punching Mixed Martial Arts style
Zimmerman Trial Day 5 – Analysis & Video – State’s own witnesses undercut theory of guilt
Zimmerman Trial Day 6 – Analysis & Video – State’s witness Chris Serino seriously undermines charge
Zimmerman Update Exclusive — Mid-Day 8 — State Wins Evidentiary Battle, Loses Testimony War

Has State Opened Door to Defense Introducing Martin Fight Video?
Zimmerman judge excludes Trayvon Martin fighting, social media and marijuana use

Zimmerman Case: The Five Principles of the Law of Self Defense

Lest we forget:

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

by Anonymous Coward ~~~~ says it all.

The fact that someone doesn't choose to have a user account has no
bearing on the validity of their post.

If this is the best you can do to refute someone, you'd best go fuck some
sheep instead of posting on Slashdot.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Freddybear]

Indeed, we have testimony that Martin was almost home when he decided to go back and attack Zimmerman.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

Zimmerman trial blockbuster — Eyewitness says Trayvon on top punching Mixed Martial Arts style

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

This may come as a shock, but I never said the crime was getting out of the car, getting out of the car merely invalidates Zimmerman's claim to self-defense.

That's why it is a case of pure confrontation and aggression.

You can do things that are legal on their own, but that invalidate further conduct on your part.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

There is no requirement that you already be dead or have suffered serious injury to before using deadly force to defend yourself (obviously, that would be a ridiculous requirement as those are the very conditions that your self-defense right exists to prevent).

When an attacker is on top of you after having sucker punched you and you have been unable to get free and the attacker is/has:

1. Tried to suffocate you (in your view -- it's hard to distinguish between an attempt to prevent you from calling for help by covering your nose and mouth from an attempt to suffocate),
2. Pushed your head into the concrete multiple times causing some injuries,
3. Noticed you have a holstered gun and has attempted to grab it, and
4. Threatened you.

I think a reasonable person would feel that they were in danger of suffering serious bodily injury or death at the hands of said attacker.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am and I just got out of my car after following you several blocks.

In this scenario, I have a gun that you don't know about and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am and I just got out of my car after following you several blocks and you lost me and I'm returning to my vehicle moving away from you, telling the 911 operator where I think I saw you last, and you follow me back to my vehicle and attack me, then I shoot you in self-defense.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

But Zimmerman was armed and deliberately sought a confrontation with him, not the other way around.

No, what Zimmerman did was observe Martin from a distance and call the police, he didn't seek to confront Martin. It was Martin that described Zimmerman with a racial slur, confronted and attacked Zimmerman.

Witness: Trayvon Called George Zimmerman A ‘Creepy-A**,’ ‘White, Kill-My-Neighbors Cracker’
Zimmerman trial blockbuster — Eyewitness says Trayvon on top punching Mixed Martial Arts style

You're right, Martin wasn't a perfect angel.

Has State Opened Door to Defense Introducing Martin Fight Video?
Zimmerman judge excludes Trayvon Martin fighting, social media and marijuana use

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

MARTIN WAS NOT WALKING AROUND IN A PLACE WHERE HE SHOULD NOT BE.

Martin was behaving in a way that a neighborhood watch volunteer (Zimmerman) found to be suspicious, which caused him to call the police, and agreed to meet the dispatched officers when they arrived. Martin described Zimmerman with a racial slur, then confronted and attacked Zimmerman.

Witness: Trayvon Called George Zimmerman A ‘Creepy-A**,’ ‘White, Kill-My-Neighbors Cracker’
Zimmerman trial blockbuster — Eyewitness says Trayvon on top punching Mixed Martial Arts style

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Martin could have just left the area instead of acting tough.

Is that your take on Stand Your Ground laws? I'm pretty sure Stand Your Ground laws say you don't have any duty to flee an area you are lawfully in. That means if Martin felt threatened he had no duty to leave as you say he should have. He can stay and stand his ground.

Funny thing is, if this were reversed, that is, if Zimmerman was being followed by Martin, and Zimmerman confronted Martin starting a confrontation which ended with Zimmerman shooting Martin, the same people defending Zimmerman now would still defend him. They'd just say, Stand Your Ground, Self defense "I'd feel threatened if someone were following me. Damn right I'd confront them!" But, in this case, Zimmerman followed Martin and shot him. Therefore Martin had no right to defend himself or confront his pursuer.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Freddybear]

That is just utterly ridiculous. Getting out of the car makes no difference to the right to self defense.
Even "confrontation" makes no difference. The only thing that would negate the self-defense plea is if Zimmerman actually physically attacked Martin and then progressed from fighting to shooting.
And there is absolutely no evidence nor testimony that he did so.

It would be ever so refreshing if people made the slightest effort to understand the law before they started blathering about it.
I know, too much to ask.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Culture20]

Batman hates guns.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[clarkkent09]

Did Dwight feel his life was in danger?
 
That's your problem, right there. It doesn't matter what Dwight feels. The question is whether a 'reasonable person' would conclude that Dwight's life was in immediate danger. That's what the law says. To me it seems obvious that this test does not pass in case of Martin (guy follows him) but does in case of Zimmerman (guy sitting on him and pounding him in the face)

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course he did. But he didn't have the right to go all nigga-with-attitude on that crazy-ass-cracka who he spotted following him.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Your understanding of self defense is wrong. Only one person can claim self defense. One person is the aggressor and one is the responder. Only the responder can claim self defense. Who is the aggressor is a question for the jury and is an objective standard. One can't just claim "I felt threatened." The jury has to agree that your feeling of danger was justified.

The aggressor can only lose that status with a clear sign that they are giving up. Like tossing the gun down (or putting it away) and saying "sorry" or something to the effect of I retract my actions. It has to be objectively clear. You can't take the stand and say, "I was pointing the gun at him, but I wasn't really going to shoot him."

The aggressor can also lose the status if the other person takes out a disproportionate amount of force. That is, you start a fist fight (you're the aggressor) and the other guy pulls out a knife (he's now the aggressor). You then pull out a gun (this doesn't necessarily make you the aggressor the question would be whether that person with a knife is equal to you with a gun - you can kill him could he have killed you with the knife? It's situational).

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Fortunately the people who wrote the stand-your-ground law were a whole lot smarter than you.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Would you quit posting this complete bullshit in every fucking thread in this article? Your lies are getting tiring.

Look, we know the government has an agenda to disarm everyone. We know they don't want people defending themselves. They want people completely helpless and totally dependent on the government. Shills like you are part of that effort.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Your idea sounds like a police state to me, and exactly the opposite of how I think a community should be. Very unfriendly and very threatening.

See I like the idea of being able to walk without being accosted by somebody who thinks they're in charge of things, who is suspicious and confrontational.

Spare me from your community.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Freddybear]

When "confront his pursuer" means "knock him down and beat his head against the sidewalk" then I think there's possibly a minor flaw in your argument.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[tompaulco]

You can get out of your car, but if you shoot them, it'll be due to a confrontation you initiated through your actions, thereby destroying your claim to self-defense.

So, let me get this straight. If I get out of my car, and someone assaults me and I shoot them, then that is not self defense? Because my getting out of the car was "asking for it"?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[LordLimecat]

. If Zimmerman showed Martin he had a gun, that is all that is required for Martin to incapacitate Zimmerman.

Im pretty sure having an unconcealed firearm on your person is not justification for someone attacking you.

In fact I believe its a constitutional right to have one, I do believe I read that somewhere.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

I suppose you could argue that Martin felt threatened when Zimmerman reached into his pocket to get his cellphone.

Seems to me that would qualify under the "stand your ground" law - Martin had a reasonable belief of an unlawful threat and that he did not have an obligation to retreat. Cops shoot people all the time for exactly the same reason, Martin would be justified in hitting Zimmerman first if the thought Zimmerman was in the process of drawing a weapon.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[LordLimecat]

Actually, it's an obvious case of confrontation, because George Zimmerman chose to get out of his car, thereby putting Trayvon Martin at risk for his life.

Wait, what?

What sort of paranoid fantasy world do you live in?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[tompaulco]

So, if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be, you are not allowed to get out of your car? Why don't we just lock up the law

MARTIN WAS NOT WALKING AROUND IN A PLACE WHERE HE SHOULD NOT BE.

No, clearly he was visiting his mother, his father, his father's fiance, a friend, etc, depending on which story you read.
If true, of course, he had every right to be there, and when asked by a security guard, he should have stated his business and thanked the security guard for keeping the neighborhood safe.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

Martin had broken contact with Zimmerman while Zimmerman was on the phone to the police. Zimmerman had agreed to meet the police that were dispatched to the site and was on his way when Martin confronted and assaulted Zimmerman. Martin had previous used a racial slur to describe Zimmerman. It was Martin's choice to confront Zimmerman. Since he was ahead of Zimmerman, Martin could have continued on his way to his house instead of confronting Zimmerman.

Witness: Trayvon Called George Zimmerman A ‘Creepy-A**,’ ‘White, Kill-My-Neighbors Cracker’
Zimmerman trial blockbuster — Eyewitness says Trayvon on top punching Mixed Martial Arts style

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

That's why it is a case of pure confrontation and aggression.

Absurd. Getting out of the car to see where someone suspicious is going is not a confrontation nor is it an act that requires that person to double back from just outside the house he was going to, jump the guy, and begin to administer a beat-down. You're a troll, or an idiot, or both.

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

In this case, yes, because you may not have noticed, but Zimmerman wasn't getting out of his car to go about his normal everyday business, but stopped and called the police about somebody somebody who he thought was suspicious, then got out of the car. He chose that confrontation with Martin, Martin did not.

I could maybe understand how my words might be ambiguous, but I somehow suspect from reading the rest of yours that it's not really the problem here.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

it's because his actions were confrontational

His actions were not confrontational. And Zimmerman was jumped while walking back to his truck. You know this, we all know this. So, you're just repeating your BS justification for the violence that Martin began. Seeing where someone out of place is going in your neighborhood is not violent. The only person who made the situation violent was Martin.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

Actually, yes you do lose your right to self-defense if you're told to back off.

Not that that's actually true, but it doesn't matter. Because nobody told him to. The said that Zimmerman didn't need to keep following Martin. And even if you choose to interpret that as direction (the person who said it, the dispatcher, has already testified that it was not instruction to Zimmerman), a dispatcher has no authority whatsoever in such matters.

I have the right to racially profile you

Yes, you do! You can look right at me, and say, "I see that you're white: that probably means all sorts of bad things, by my standards." You can racially profile me all you want. Because doing so means nothing when it's a private citizen doing so. You can also behaviorally profile me ... you know, make personal conclusions all your own based on what you seem me doing as I hide my face cruising through your neighborhood. Why? Because doing so isn't a problem. Because that's not assault.

follow you anywhere you go

You have absolutely no expectation of privacy on a public street. Are you saying that Martin was followed into the house where he was staying? Because ... he wasn't. It was Martin that doubled back towards Zimmerman (who was walking the opposite direction), to attack him.

and I can shoot-to-kill if/when you panic cause an unknown armed man is following you around at night.

No, but you can shoot when someone jumps you and starts beating your head into the pavement, which is what happened. Day or night, doesn't really matter.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

Not when you've provoked and threatened them. Which is exactly what Zimmerman did.

See, that's the thing. That didn't happen. You are lying. Why are you lying?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

At least half what you claimed happened is not even mentioned in those links. In fact, some of it seems to be contradicted by those links. I don't really know what happened, but when someone starts in with the citations that don't support their claims, I generally start to think their bias is an insurmountable barrier for them to find out the truth,

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Has it ever occurred to you that many of us post as anonymous because we rarely post? Why should I create an account if I've posted fewer than five times since Slashdot went online?

A username or lack thereof does not determine the worth of a post.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[MouseTheLuckyDog]

How do you justify " if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be" with a young black teenager walking on a public street? Are you that much of an twit or just that good of a troll?

Except it was not a public street but a walkway in a gated community. Private property.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Also, if you are wearing a short skirt and flirting, you are asking for it.

So don't do that.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[I'm New Around Here]

Only handheld ones. His vehicles have all sorts of projectile launchers built in to them.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[I'm New Around Here]

This is an obvious case of self defense, if the thug that attacked Zimmerman wasn't an African-American, there would be no trial. There was too much race baiting and fake charges of murder were trumped up to appease the Martin family.My message to the Martin family is clear. If your son was not a THUG, he would be still be here.

by Anonymous Coward ~~~~ says it all.

And if the term for those not logged in was "Brave Whistleblower", would you have the same reaction.

It is just a label after all. One chosen by the site designers long ago.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

Your view about "insurmountable barriers" is interesting. Sometimes one's political views form the basis for that, and no amount of evidence helps.

Here you go, knock yourself out. The police call transcript and map are helpful, as is various aspects of the other material.

Map and timeline of incident

Trayvon Martin shooting death -- initial police reports and '911' call transcript

Witness: Trayvon Called George Zimmerman A ‘Creepy-A**,’ ‘White, Kill-My-Neighbors Cracker’

Zimmerman trial blockbuster — Eyewitness says Trayvon on top punching Mixed Martial Arts style
Zimmerman Trial Day 5 – Analysis & Video – State’s own witnesses undercut theory of guilt
Zimmerman Trial Day 6 – Analysis & Video – State’s witness Chris Serino seriously undermines charge
Zimmerman Update Exclusive — Mid-Day 8 — State Wins Evidentiary Battle, Loses Testimony War
Zimmerman Case: Experts Call State’s Scream Claims “Absurd” “Ridiculous” and “Imaginary Stuff”
Zimmerman Prosecution’s Voice Expert admits: “This is not really good evidence”

GMA Shows Exclusive Images Of George Zimmerman’s Head Injuries From Night Of Trayvon’s Death
Autopsy results show Trayvon Martin had injuries to his knuckles

Trayvon Martin's legal troubles reportedly covered up by police
Has State Opened Door to Defense Introducing Martin Fight Video?
Zimmerman judge excludes Trayvon Martin fighting, social media and marijuana use

Lest we forget: NBC News Apologizes for Editing George Zimmerman's 911 Call (Which falsely mad Zimmerman appear to be racist.)

Zimmerman Case: The Five Principles of the Law of Self Defense

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[fustakrakich]

Is that what happened? Well damn, let's just send everybody home then..

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

So Zimmerman is a security guard now, huh?

Whose story are you reading?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

No all thugs have the means to obtain a firearm. Martin attacked Zimmerman and was shot in self-defense. Take a look at the police photos, they tell all. Look at the character witnesses too. Zimmerman had never been in trouble with the law and had, in fact, even helped to stop criminals in the past.

Almost immediately after the shooting, Martin's family actually trademarked his name in order to gain monetarily from his death. That doesn't sound like a grieving family, that sounds like a greedy family trying to take advantage of the situation. Deep down, I think even they know that Martin was a violent young man.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

ABC news LIED about Zimmerman's injuries in an attempt to appeal to the bleeding heart, race card playing, overly sensitive crowd. They said that Zimmerman was unharmed, but the police pictures tell quite a different story.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Confrontational? Zimmerman was walking back to his car when Martin assaulted him from behind.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[stuntpope]

Interesting that you omitted the fact that after Zimmerman told the dispatcher he'd meet police at the mailboxes, he changed his mind and asked that the officers call him so he could tell them where he was.

Zimmerman: Um, if they come in through the gate, tell them to go straight past the clubhouse and, uh, straight past the clubhouse and make a left and then they go past the mailboxes you’ll see my truck. [3:10]

Dispatcher: Alright, what address are you parked in front of? [3:21]

Zimmerman: Um, I don’t know. It’s a cut-through so I don’t know the address. [3:25]

Dispatcher: OK, do you live in the area?

Zimmerman: Yeah, yeah, I live here.

Dispatcher: OK, what’s your apartment number?

Zimmerman: It’s a home. It’s 1950 – oh, crap, I don’t want to give it out – I don’t know where this kid is [inaudible] [3:40]

Dispatcher: OK, do you just want to meet with them at the mailboxes then? [3:42]

Zimmerman: Yeah, that’s fine. [3:43]

Dispatcher: Alright, George, I’ll let them know you’ll meet them at

Zimmerman: Could you have them call me and I’ll tell them where I’m at? [3:49]

Dispatcher: OK, yeah that’s no problem.

Zimmerman:My number you’ve got it?

Why would he need to tell police in the future (when they arrived) where he was, if he just told the dispatcher to tell the police he'd meet them at the mailboxes? Because he wasn't going to be back at his vehicle by the mailboxes. He was going to lead them straight to Martin, and to do that, he needed to find Martin and possibly detain him until police arrived.

Again, please explain this: If I tell your friend to tell you I'll be waiting for you at the mailboxes, why then would I later ask you to tell your friend to call me when he arrived in the general vicinity, so I could tell him where I was? Don't they know I'm at the mailboxes, since I already said I'd be there?

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

When its your son or daughter that loses their life over an incident like this then I wonder on what side of the fence you'll stand.

So Martin is a "thug" for beating on someone but Zimmerman isn't for killing him? So someone stalks you and confronts you and is armed, what do you do? Wait to get killed or fight for your life?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

So, if someone is walking around in a place where they should not be, you are not allowed to get out of your car? Why don't we just lock up the law

MARTIN WAS NOT WALKING AROUND IN A PLACE WHERE HE SHOULD NOT BE.

No, clearly he was visiting his mother, his father, his father's fiance, a friend, etc, depending on which story you read.

If true, of course, he had every right to be there, and when asked by a security guard, he should have stated his business and thanked the security guard for keeping the neighborhood safe.

Papers, please.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah your 'cites' are clearly not biased at all.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

It is about perceived threat. You don't have to wait until the gun is out of the holster. Plus, this was a case where Martin was being stalked. The gun coupled with Zimmerman going for something in his pocket and Martin being unarmed, if the same thing happened to me, I would would have attempted to kill Zimmerman, or at least knock him unconscious.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

One was a female friend of Martin - the one that was on the phone with him during the incident, the other was a witness to the assault. You might be projecting. Ask yourself why you think they are biased? Is it just because the evidence looks bad for Martin?

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

When its your son or daughter that loses their life over an incident like this then I wonder on what side of the fence you'll stand.

That depends, was my son or daughter beating someone's head against the sidewalk after jumping them? Did my son or daughter start the violence?

So Martin is a "thug" for beating on someone but Zimmerman isn't for killing him?

Right, because Martin, not Zimmerman, committed assault and was the one committing the actual violence. Zimmerman didn't commit violence, he stopped the person who was committing violence.

So someone stalks you and confronts you and is armed, what do you do?

Gee, I don't know, talk to them? What I wouldn't do would be to wait until the guy is walking back to his truck, then run up and sucker punch him, knock him down, and begin bashing his head into the sidewalk.

Wait to get killed or fight for your life?

Why are you asking that question? Those weren't the choices presented to Martin. He had all sorts of choices, including just walking into the house he had gotten to (according to his friend, the prosecution's witness). Instead, he turned around, and ran back to Zimmerman, who was walking back to his truck. And attacked him.

You're not actually paying attention, are you?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Black Parrot]

Also, the rest of us need to carry a gun to make us think our dick is as big as Batman's.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

I didn't realize it was ok to seek out, confront, and then shoot someone, as long as that person is a THUG?

Who has said that's OK? Are you talking about some scenario other than the trial at hand? Because what you're describing didn't happen. You need to be more clear that you're not talking about the Zimmerman/Martin trial when you say that. Otherwise people might think that you're being deliberately misleading.

But Zimmerman was armed and deliberately sought a confrontation with him, not the other way around.

Ah, so you ARE being deliberately misleading. Why are you doing that? What's the point of lying about it?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

Or would you try to charge Martin with homicide if he had killed Zimmerman?

Yes, because Martin was the one who committed the assault, not Zimmerman.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Dishevel]

and if you attempt to kill me (what ever the thought you have in your head), and I am armed, I will shoot you.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

Why would he need to tell police in the future (when they arrived) where he was, if he just told the dispatcher to tell the police he'd meet them at the mailboxes? Because he wasn't going to be back at his vehicle by the mailboxes. He was going to lead them straight to Martin, and to do that, he needed to find Martin and possibly detain him until police arrived.

There are plenty of reasons why he might want to be contacted by the police when they were nearing the designated meeting place, such as the possibility of them arriving sooner than expected while Zimmerman was still traveling to that point. That way he could coordinate with them.

Do you have any actual evidence for Zimmerman intending to detain Martin? That didn't appear to be his intent during the call, nor with his behavior prior to the call. So far it looks like you have a pet theory not supported by evidence.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

You're right, it's surrounded by signs that say a neighborhood watch patrol is in effect. They are posted on the gates and the fences surrounding the community. And George did exactly what the neighborhood watch policy states to do, he called a non-emergency police number and reported what he believed to be suspicious activity. Everything after that is speculation at this point up until the point Trayvon is shot and the police arrive.

And the eye witness testimony thus far does not detail George following anyone or breaking any laws. One witness testified he saw Martin on top of Zimmerman punching him, Zimmerman on his back in the grass.

When George was later interrogated by the police, the police came back and told him his story did not match the video footage of the events. Zimmerman's response to hearing everything was on video (as shown in the police video to the courtroom) "You have it on video? Oh thank God!"

But hey, keep on believe that Trayvon was innocently walking home, did nothing wrong and somehow ended up on top of Zimmerman and was shot for it without escalating force. Remember, self defense, self defense not "stand your ground" has in the statutes set forth that even if you were the initial aggressor as you and so many others seem to believe you still can end up claiming self defense if the other party escalates and you now have a reasonable fear for your safety and well being. Obviously that is a much harder case to prove, but since you have zero evidence to support the claim that Zimmerman initiated the conflict other than "he was following Martin" which you can not prove either, you should sit down STFU and look at the evidence you do have.

The ignorance of the "common man" regarding the law is astounding. I hope to hell I am never tried by a "jury of my peers."

I also should point out neither side has made any kind of argument what so ever that anyone was racially profiled or that race played any role in the events. You've been brainwashed by too much HLN and Nancy Grace. Look at the trail and do not listen to media pundits. The prosecution has no fucking chance in hell of proving the case of a 2nd degree murder charge with respect to Florida state law, but in a country where OJ Simpson was found not-guilty we know that a jury may still decide to convict him.

George can only hope the jury members are smarter than you and actually do their job instead of speculating wildly out the ass.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Dishevel]

In this scenario, I have a gun.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am and I just got out of my car after following you several blocks.

At NO point do I lose my right to self-defense despite repeated verbal warnings to back off? I'm sorry, but you're insane. You've just given stalkers a blank check to murder anyone they choose by simply claiming "self-defense" when their victims resist/fight back/attempt to run away.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am and I just got out of my car after following you several blocks, and I have just stopped following you and started back to my vehicle.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am and I just got out of my car after following you several blocks, and I have just stopped following you and started back to my vehicle when I am attacked from behind by the person I was following.

In this scenario, I have a gun and I am following you home and its night time and you don't know who I am and I just got out of my car after following you several blocks, and I have just stopped following you and started back to my vehicle when I am attacked from behind by the person I was following. I am now having my head smacked into the pavement repeatedly.

What was your point again?

You do not have one if the whole story is told?

Call NBC. They can fix that for you.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[NeutronCowboy]

Even "confrontation" makes no difference. The only thing that would negate the self-defense plea is if Zimmerman actually physically attacked Martin and then progressed from fighting to shooting.
And there is absolutely no evidence nor testimony that he did so.

Conveniently, the reason that there is no evidence or testimony that he did so is because the only other person that saw everything is now dead. To make it really clear: the only story we have about how everything unfolded is from the guy who shot the other guy. Pretty much everyone else has barely any idea what happened, could only sort of hear certain things, and could only sort of see what was going on. And we're left with one dead guy, and one guy somewhat hurt.

The moral of the story: in Florida, if you get into a fight, make sure you kill every witness.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's a reason not to believe Zimmerman's version of the story: He shot a teenager who went for a walk in a middle class neighborhood to get some skittles and an iced tea. He might have a reason to lie, or to maybe shade the truth a little so that it doesn't look quite so much like a fucking racist murder.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

You can attempt to shoot me. I will most likely incapacitate you before you get it out of the holster, as long as you are within arms reach of me. I will try do as much damage to you as I can before you kill me and hopefully you will be tried for manslaughter.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[NeutronCowboy]

For some reason, you seem to believe every word that Zimmerman says. You know, the guy who shot and killed another guy. Why is that? Are you so gullible you believe whatever anyone says?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Trayvon Martin said "He looked like a creepy ass cracker". And they're saying Zimmerman was racially profiling and racist? Ridiculous. That testimony should be held firmly AGAINST Martin to show his character as being racist and to show the low moral calibre of his associates. For fuck's sake, the girl was SMILING when she said "creepy ass cracker", like it's a fucking joke or something.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

According to the guy on trial for murdering a teenager who stepped out to pick up some Skittles and an Iced Tea.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[NeutronCowboy]

No, but you can shoot when someone jumps you and starts beating your head into the pavement, which is what happened. Day or night, doesn't really matter.

Next time I shoot someone in the dark, I'll make sure to tell everyone the other guy jumped me. Maybe I'll even put my butt into a puddle to make it believable. I wonder what you'll think if the person I shot is your son.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

I suppose you think all blacks are thugs unless proven otherwise.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

There is no evidence Martin was the aggressor. All we have is Zimmerman's side of the story and his admission of homicide. Whether it was justifiable or not is what this trial is about.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Dumping a buttload of random citations is just as bad. Really, you see it all the time with scams like super-foods - they have a million citations, but they don't tell you what the citation is supposed to support about their claims, and in the rare case of when they do make specific claims about a specific citation, it often turns out that their citation is contradictory, or at least orthogonal I see the same sort of mode here with your two responses.

What is even more damning is that you responded to my original post with something that was only mildly related to what I wrote, it certainly didn't contradict it - a statement that was made to point out the irony of the original post. You've got vibe of a zealot.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's where you are mistaken. You are thinking of this as a conventional criminal case where the state has to prove you did something.

In this case, Zimmerman can't rely on the benefit of the doubt. There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Zimmerman was the person who shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Yes, the prosecutor is presenting that information, but that's a matter of court record, not because it's actually in dispute. Zimmerman is not going to argue he didn't do it. He would be a fool if he did. He has to make an affirmative defense. The jury should not be looking for evidence to convict him, the action he conducted is not denied by Zimmerman. He's looking to present evidence to exculpate his actions.

You should not be looking for doubt. You need to believe his story is true and genuine. Were he denying that he shot Trayvon Martin, that would be an issue for doubt.

This is a case of certainty. You need to be certain you believe his story enough that you excuse him. Otherwise you are saying that Trayvon Martin's life is of no merit to you.

That you're trying to reason things the wrong way only shows how you don't understand what is really happening, but are falling back on principles you've been taught in the past, which for their purposes are valid enough, but not applicable here.

Seriously you need to reverse your attitude towards this case. It's not innocent until proven guilty when your defense is affirmative, it's guilty unless you can show you are absolved within the boundaries of the law. For example, in regards your auto theft case, perhaps the alleged thief admitted having the car, but says they confused it for their own, or perhaps they had some emergency and had to get somewhere very quickly, so they took the car.

Do Trayvon the courtesy of respecting and valuing his life, make the person who undoubtedly shot and killed him prove that his actions were justifiable.

But while I think you are too racially biased to do that(due to your support for the grandparent), that is it a waste of time, still I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're merely ignorant of the legal duty of the juror here.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Except Zimmerman did nothing and said nothing to insinuate that he is racist. Martin called Zimmerman a "cracker", betraying any kind of race card that you or his family might try to play. In addition, Zimmerman is half Latino and half Caucasian. Being multi-racial, he'd be the last person who would be racist.

The real story: Zimmerman leaves his home, driving north, whereupon he spots a suspicious individual. Suspicious because he was at a point in the gated community away from either of the entrances, which means he could have only gotten their either by jumping a wall or because he was really on the lookout for homes to burgle. Suspicious also because he was decked out in attire that is commonly worn by gang members (dark clothing, hoodie, baggy "low-rider" style pants). Zimmerman follows Martin a short distance in his car, while Martin hurls racially charged epithets. Zimmerman contacts 911 to inform them of a suspicious individual and then exits his car in order to provide an exact location to the police. At this point, Martin had already rounded a corner and was some distance away from Zimmerman. As Zimmerman turned around and proceeded back to his car to wait for the police to arrive, Martin assaulted Zimmerman from behind, breaking or dislocating his nose and inflicting deep cuts on the back of Zimmerman's head. Zimmerman draws his firearm and shoot Martin in self-defense. Character witnesses in the area describe Zimmerman as a good man who had helped police to foil a number of attempted burglaries in the past. Police state that Zimmerman had never been in trouble with the law. The Martin family instantly plays the race card and posts pictures of Trayvon Martin when he was five years younger in order to gain sympathy, then proceed to trademark Trayvon Martin's name to financially gain from the incident. The trial begins.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Owned by the HOA for use by residents and their visitors, of which Martin was one.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

According to witness testimony as well.

Also, what do Skittles and an iced tea have to do with any of this? You're grasping at straws because you have no argument and you are trying to make 6 foot tall, 17 year old (adult) Martin look like the innocent pre-teen in the picture that his family circulated after the incident.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

That's just epic stupidity. Ive sparred with fighters who are many times better than I will ever be in my wildest dreams, and even they couldn't possibly incapacitate me before I draw a gun. Best they could hope for would be a lucky one-punch knockout, which would be pretty amazing against even a minimal defense - assuming no attempt at offensive action.

You'd need to put an armed opponent completely out of commission in less than a second, two at best. That means you'd have to strike without warning and be 100% successful. That's only possible against an opponent who isn't expecting conflict or isn't capable of defending himself.

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

So someone stalks you and confronts you and is armed, what do you do?

The obvious answer is to wait for them to turn their back then bash their head open, just like any reasonable person would do.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[KingMotley]

It is interesting that all the people defending Martin are posting as an Anonymous Coward, and those that aren't actually put their name to their posts.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

It's all fine and dandy for you to be e-tough, but what would happen in a real life confrontation? I'm betting you'd get a bullet between the eyes before you could piss your pants and run away.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

You're trying to play the "think of the children" angle and it's not working. It just makes you look like a tool. Trayvon Martin was a six foot tall adult, not the little schoolyard kid that you are trying to make him out to be.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess you missed the Wikipedia article with the police taken pictures of Zimmerman's injuries. If you're going to lie, at least do your homework.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[cold fjord]

Simple question, did I, or did I not write this?: "The police call transcript and map are helpful, as is various aspects of the other material.

The top two links in my second post to you make much of the previous post reasonably clear. My suggestion is to open the map in one web browser, and the transcript in another, and simply read.

The racial slur used by Martin? Shown in the third link which shows that it was testified to in open court by the woman he was speaking to on the phone during the incident.

Witness: Trayvon Called George Zimmerman A ‘Creepy-A**,’ ‘White, Kill-My-Neighbors Cracker’

From the police call, Martin was ahead of Zimmerman and had disappeared. From the map it is clear that Martin could have continued to his home if he didn't want a confrontation. He didn't do that. Why? Maybe his interest in martial arts fighting, fight club like activities, drug use, burglaries, and other activities might indicate the trajectory he was on, figuratively which acted out literally?

The rest of the links tend to show the prosecution's case falling apart. Even their own witnesses are undermining it. Many of the witnesses are providing evidence in Zimmerman's favor, although not all. And that isn't addressing some of the prosecution's questionable behavior before the trial.

What the jury will do is the biggest mystery here.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Cutting through some front yards is criminal trespass. And people like you wonder why Zimmerman thought he was suspicious.

Also, what does candy and tea have to do with this? I am a 35 year old man who sometimes enjoys candy and tea. Does that mean I should be able to get away with a brutal, blindside assault on someone because I am somehow innocent for possessing such items? I could even post up some pictures of me when I was 12 to show just how innocent I am.

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Except, being neighborhood watch, it was his normal, every day business. Zimmerman didn't confront Martin, Martin blew his top because some "creepy ass cracker" (Martin's very own words) was watching him and then proceeded to attack Zimmerman from behind.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Ahh, so "Beavertank" is your legal name, huh?

If not, then it adds precisely zero credibility to your post versus an AC post. You are reduced to an ad hominem because you can't argue the facts.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Freddybear]

Your ability to conjure up fantasies has nothing to do with the witnesses and the evidence in the trial.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

And at no point would you call 911?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, the skittles and iced tea he dropped off at his Dad's place before beating down the crazy-ass-cracker.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Character. It's all about character. Zimmerman was well known and liked in his neighborhood for actively participating in neighborhood watch and even helping the police to arrest burglars. He was also attending college to better himself and had no prior troubles with the law. Immediately after the shooting, he turned himself into the police instead of trying to hide or formulate an excuse. When questioned, his account did not waiver and he even expressed relief that the police had video footage of the incident. This, to me, doesn't not sound like a dishonest man.

On the other hand, you believe every word of some morally questionable people who weren't even there and saw nothing.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

If one side was beating my side's head against the pavement, I'd probably draw and fire as well.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, he was.
Idjut.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Even "confrontation" makes no difference

Those quotes make all the difference. "Confrontation" can mean a lot of things.

"It would be ever so refreshing if people made the slightest effort to understand the law before they started blathering about it."

Indeed.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Simple question, did I, or did I not write this?: "The police call transcript and map are helpful, as is various aspects of the other material.

If you think a couple of lines followed by, what, 10+ links, is meaningful, you are living in a bubble. The fact that you keep going on and on about this to someone who clearly barely gives a fuck shows you are a zealot.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[moronoxyd]

In addition, Zimmerman is half Latino and half Caucasian. Being multi-racial, he'd be the last person who would be racist.

Thats BS.
Everybody can be a racist. Being racist is neither limited to one race nor are people with mixed heritage excluded.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

"Stand your ground" has nothing to do with this case. It's a pure case of self-defense.

You sure about that? From the Wikipedia article on "Stand Your Ground"....

In the United States of America, stand-your-ground law states that a person may justifiably use force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of an unlawful threat, without an obligation to retreat firs

Though you have been been awarded a +5 "informative" and speak from a point of authority, you seem to have a few facts incorrect.

In fact, what the trial here is about how to interpret "stand your ground". If one initiates a confrontation against and innocent individual who may himself feel threatened, are you standing your ground or are you starting a fight?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[quantaman]

Even "confrontation" makes no difference. The only thing that would negate the self-defense plea is if Zimmerman actually physically attacked Martin and then progressed from fighting to shooting.

Even if Martin did start the fight if Zimmerman was winning the fight (and it was Martin who was yelling for Zimmerman to get off of him) wouldn't that also negate the self-defense plea?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[unitron]

"Stand your ground" has nothing to do with this case. It's a pure case of self-defense.

You sure about that? From the Wikipedia article on "Stand Your Ground"....

In the United States of America, stand-your-ground law states that a person may justifiably use force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of an unlawful threat, without an obligation to retreat firs

Though you have been been awarded a +5 "informative" and speak from a point of authority, you seem to have a few facts incorrect.

In fact, what the trial here is about how to interpret "stand your ground". If one initiates a confrontation against and innocent individual who may himself feel threatened, are you standing your ground or are you starting a fight?

"Stand Your Ground" has to do with one not having a duty to retreat first, which they did under the previous wording of the law.

Florida's Justifiable Use of Force law is here.

776.013 (3) is the SYG part

But according to Zimmerman's version, duty to retreat or lack thereof doesn't matter because he was unable to retreat.

776.032 is the immunity part.

That is the part which meant that the police were legally prohibited from arresting him if they could not offer any evidence to disprove his self-defense claim, and to begin with they could not. They were free to keep investigating, which they did.

776.041 deals with the exceptions that allow someone who was the initial aggressor or instigator to still use force in self-defense.

Basically if you're trying to withdraw from the fight and the other person won't let you, and you fear great injury or death, you can use force, including deadly force, to defend yourself against them regardless of who started it.

The only application of SYG here would be if Martin had survived and was being charged with something.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of idiots who refer to the entirety of Fla. 776 as SYG, or the SYG law, and this creates confusion and makes people think Zimmerman was claiming to be "standing his ground" when all he was doing was claiming regular old self defense.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[quantaman]

He does not lose his right to self-defense because some 911 operator told him to back off. So he followed a guy walking around in the rain in an area that had recent burglaries. So perhaps he 'profiled' him because he wore a hoodie, perhaps because he was black. Perhaps he did a poor job as a neighborhood watchman, he got too zealous in protecting the neighborhood (not as much as some mall cops but whatever). None of this has any baring on the fact that once Martin jumped on him and started bashing his head against the pavement (as all evidence suggest he did) he had the RIGHT to defend himself with lethal force. A legal right, as in under the law in force at the time. Charge him for sucking as a neighborhood watchman, or for following the guy (whatever crime that is) but there is no rational reason to charge him with murder. It is pure mob justice of the worst kind.

Here's what we do know.

Martin was walking home in a way that made Zimmerman suspicious. Zimmerman then started following him and called the police, at the same time Martin called his friend and apparently told her about the guy that was following him.

The next thing we know is there was a fight that Martin was probably winning until Zimmerman drew his gun and shot Martin.

Zimmerman's attempt to fill in the blanks has Zimmerman walking back to his car, Martin coming up from behind, confront him, punching him (breaking his nose), knocking him down and bashing his head against the side walk, seeing the gun and saying either "You're gonna die now" or "You're gonna die tonight", at which point Zimmerman drew his gun and fired.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that story has a lot of BS.

Maybe the confrontation happened when ZImmerman was going back to the car, or while he was continuing to follow. But there was probably some sort of escalating discussion before it turned into a fight, Martin certainly gave a good shot to the nose but the marks on the head could just be scuff marks from struggling on the sidewalk. And Martin seeing the other guy has a gun, and responding with "You're gonna die now" or "You're gonna die tonight" is frankly a bit over the top.

Now I don't know what actually happened, and the true story might still be valid self defense, but I'm sure there's some embellishment since Zimmerman's current tale basically has Martin going nuts for no reason while he's a saint. And we know Zimmerman lied, he clearly told Hannity that he never ever heard of stand your ground, while this witness said he taught Zimmerman in a course where stand your ground was a main topic.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[unitron]

Even "confrontation" makes no difference. The only thing that would negate the self-defense plea is if Zimmerman actually physically attacked Martin and then progressed from fighting to shooting.

Even if Martin did start the fight if Zimmerman was winning the fight (and it was Martin who was yelling for Zimmerman to get off of him) wouldn't that also negate the self-defense plea?

If Martin started the fight, and Zimmerman was winning, and Martin attempted to withdraw, then Martin would have justification for using force, even deadly force, under Florida 776.041, which is a portion of Florida's Justifiable Use of Force law (but NOT the SYG portion, 776.013 (3), or the immunity portion, 776.032), but it would probably take a few Supreme Court rulings to sort out whether, in that hypothetical, Zimmerman could keep on fighting and claim he felt that Martin's attempt to disengage was just a ruse.

But at some point Zimmerman would have to go from winning the fight to losing it to justify pulling out his gun and firing.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[unitron]

From what I've read, it corresponds to the 911 transcript. The operator tried to get him to back off.

Then you've read the wrong thing, as Zimmerman did not call 911.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[unitron]

Congratulations, at least 10% of that wasn't in error.

But a whole bunch was.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[unitron]

Yes, the skittles and iced tea he dropped off at his Dad's place before beating down the crazy-ass-cracker.

Leaving aside that it wasn't actually tea in that can, did the can and the bag of Skittles magically teleport themselves back into Martin's pocket?

Because that's where they were found by the authorities long before they had any clue that he was staying in the neighborhood.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[unitron]

It is interesting that all the people defending Martin are posting as an Anonymous Coward, and those that aren't actually put their name to their posts.

It seems more that, for the most part, and with exceptions, those who are more familiar with the known facts in the case are not posting AC, which in and of itself is not necessarily indicative of "taking a side".

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

That is just utterly ridiculous. Getting out of the car makes no difference to the right to self defense. Even "confrontation" makes no difference. The only thing that would negate the self-defense plea is if Zimmerman actually physically attacked Martin and then progressed from fighting to shooting.

So, I get out of my car and show you my gun. I ask to see your wallet and ID. You hit me. Do I get to shoot you in "self defense" now?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Yup, about 200' to travel in just under 3 minutes between when Zimmerman stopped and the fight started yet Martin ended back with Zimmerman.

We also have testimony (and a statement taken the night of the incident) from a neighbor who opened the door and observed Martin, on top of Zimmerman, doing a "ground and pound" on Zimmerman and "raining down blows" on him.

You have a right to walk around your neighborhood. Same right applies to both of them. I can follow you all over the neighborhood and your correct option is to call the police- not to start beating me.

We also have testimony from Deedee that she lied in her statement to protect the mother's feelings because the prosecution picked her up- took her to the mother's house and took her statement in front of the mother. In what world does the prosecution take witnesses to the victim's mother's house to make their official statements?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

The 911 operator said, after Zimmerman said he was following martin: "We don't need you to do that."

"We don't need you to do that."

Not "back off." Not "stop following him."

"We don't need you to do that." And Zimmerman replied, "Okay."

Also, 911 operators have no authority to command people what they should do. They are not police. This operator seemed to understand this as demonstrated by the passive way he expressed his desire.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[unitron]

Here's where you are mistaken. You are thinking of this as a conventional criminal case where the state has to prove you did something.

In this case, Zimmerman can't rely on the benefit of the doubt. There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Zimmerman was the person who shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Yes, the prosecutor is presenting that information, but that's a matter of court record, not because it's actually in dispute. Zimmerman is not going to argue he didn't do it. He would be a fool if he did. He has to make an affirmative defense. The jury should not be looking for evidence to convict him, the action he conducted is not denied by Zimmerman. He's looking to present evidence to exculpate his actions.

You should not be looking for doubt. You need to believe his story is true and genuine. Were he denying that he shot Trayvon Martin, that would be an issue for doubt.

This is a case of certainty. You need to be certain you believe his story enough that you excuse him. Otherwise you are saying that Trayvon Martin's life is of no merit to you.

That you're trying to reason things the wrong way only shows how you don't understand what is really happening, but are falling back on principles you've been taught in the past, which for their purposes are valid enough, but not applicable here.

Seriously you need to reverse your attitude towards this case. It's not innocent until proven guilty when your defense is affirmative, it's guilty unless you can show you are absolved within the boundaries of the law. For example, in regards your auto theft case, perhaps the alleged thief admitted having the car, but says they confused it for their own, or perhaps they had some emergency and had to get somewhere very quickly, so they took the car.

Do Trayvon the courtesy of respecting and valuing his life, make the person who undoubtedly shot and killed him prove that his actions were justifiable.

But while I think you are too racially biased to do that(due to your support for the grandparent), that is it a waste of time, still I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're merely ignorant of the legal duty of the juror here.

You really don't understand that whole "presumption of innocence, the burden is on the state to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt" thing, do you?

Whether you like it or not, that's how our system works.

This is a conventional criminal case where the state has to prove he did something.

That something is to have done what he did for a reason or reasons that make it murder and not self-defense.

The issue in dispute here is not whether Zimmerman fired the shot that killed Martin--everybody agrees there was a homicide (that's where a human ends the life of a human--if you kill yourself, it's still a homicide, if you get killed by a grizzly bear he may get shot but he doesn't get arrested and put on trial).

The question is whether the homicide was 2nd degree murder (or the lesser included charge of manslaughter), or whether Zimmerman engaged in a justifiable use of deadly force in self-defense.

Determining that is why a jury is hearing the evidence.

The defendent says self-defense.

The state says murder 2.

The burden is on the state to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they are right and the defendent is wrong.

If Zimmerman's use of deadly force was self-defense under various parts of Florida's Justifiable Use of Force act, then he is not guilty of murder or manslaughter, and until the state convinces the jury otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt, that is the presumption to which he is entitled, which is why the burden of proof is on the state and not the defendent.

Don't like it?

Leave the country or get the law changed.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Wrong. Multi-racial explicitly excludes one from being racist, but thanks for playing, dumbass.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Go read and learn, you uneducated, uninformed little fuck.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Just be careful...
These parts are from Zimmerman's testimony.

Noticed you have a holstered gun and has attempted to grab it, and
Threatened you.

The beating was observed by an eyewitness and it was a world class beating with blows "raining" down on zimmerman in a "ground and pound" MMA type maneuver. The eye witness's story hasn't changed since the night of Martin's death (unlike some of the other witnesses) and he said then and now that Martin was on top of Zimmerman (specifically the guy in the hoodie was on top of the guy in the red sweatshirt).

I don't trust zimmerman but I do trust that when in attempt to break him, he was told there was a video of the entire event he said, "thank god" and was relieved.

And I trust the 911 tape which shows that zimmerman stopped for close to 2 minutes after losing Martin. Martin had ample time to go home yet 3 minutes later he's on top of zimmerman delivering a beating.

Sounds to me like he got mad and went back to confront his follower.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Your understanding of self defense is wrong. Only one person can claim self defense. One person is the aggressor and one is the responder.

That's not what I see here in the /. comments. What I see here is that, as soon as the aggressor starts losing the fight, he gets to claim self defense. This has made me realize that "aggressor" and "responder" change blow-by-blow: I throw punch #1 as aggressor, but if you counter-punch, then you become the aggressor and me the defender. Although, as near as I understand, if you shoot me instead of punching, then you retain your status as defender.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Actually, yes you do lose your right to self-defense if you're told to back off.

Read the transcript. Zimmerman wasn't actually told to back off.

Zimmerman: Down towards the other entrance to the neighborhood.

Dispatcher: Which entrance is that that he's heading towards?

Zimmerman: The back entranceâ¦fucking [unintelligible]

Dispatcher: Are you following him?

Zimmerman: Yeah

Dispatcher: Ok, we don't need you to do that.

Zimmerman: Ok

Dispatcher: Alright sir what is your name?

Zimmerman: Georgeâ¦He ran.

Dispatcher: Alright George what's your last name?

Zimmerman: Zimmerman

Dispatcher: And George what's the phone number you're calling from?

See? I bolded the part in question. Zimmerman wasn't told to break off pursuit, but rather that the authorities didn't need him to do that. And I might add that a 911 dispatcher doesn't have a legally recognized authority.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[unitron]

Says the guy who doesn't even know that Zimmerman called the non-emergency number that night, and not 911.

Who does not know that there was no need for Martin to jump a wall to enter the neighborhood if he didn't utilize either of the gates.

Assuming you're the same AC as the one to which I responded.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Actually you just have to "feel" your life is in danger to take defensive violent action.

I believe the usual standard is that a jury agrees that a reasonable person would feel and do the same in the same situation.

If you see someone coming at you with what you believe is a weapon then you can defend yourself from them under stand your ground law.

As noted by the other replier, this is not a "stand your ground" issue.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

On the 911 call Zim did chase down Martin for about 20 seconds until the 911 operator said, "we don't need you to do that" and he stopped (and he's already winded- terrible shape).

Zim talks to the operator for about 2 minutes and then the call ends.

Then about a minute later the fight is being observed by witnesses with martin on top of zimmerman.

Zimmerman is likely lying about several things (i.e. what martin said while beating Zim). But the 911 data shows that martin had ample time to get home (about 200' -five houses away on the maps).

If I were on the jury, I would have reasonable doubt about whether Zim committed 2nd degree murder and vote not guilty.

---

My personal theory is that a 17 year old hot head with fighting experience went back to beat up the creepy guy following him.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Maybe I'll even put my butt into a puddle to make it believable.

Make sure you break your nose and have the guy you're going to kill, bash your head into concrete a few times to make it look good. Juries lap that shit up.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Perhaps it needs to be more specific.

We have testimony from an eye witness (mr. good) that martin was beating zimmerman in a "rain" of blows "MMA style" in a "ground and pound".

Agree?

We have a timeline from the 911 call that shows Zimmerman stopped and talked with the operator for close to 2 minutes.

Agree?

Martin's house was about 200' away from where he was last seen. A normal person walks that in under 60 seconds. It seems reasonable that Martin could have gotten to his house but didn't go there.

Agree?

I'd be unable to convict for 2nd degree murder if I were on the jury and I've been on several jurys.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Except the actions started on a street ( where Zimmerman parked his truck ) and then moved to a walkway.

Even on private property such as gated communities there is public space. It is a limited version of public because it is gated community and you neeed permission to get into the community but once you are inside you can wander on any street without permission from individual members of gated community who own/rent particular sections of property inside the gated community.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

If some car follows me for blocks on a dark, rainy night, then a guy gets out of the car and comes in my direction, I'm damn well going to try to lose him. Depending on how I feel about my right or responsibility to defend the neighborhood, I might try to confront him. If I do, it's damn sure going to be by surprise tackle, because I'm pretty sure that creepy guys sneaking around behind me at night intend harm and come equipped with tools to impose harm.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Well, those links do back his observations.

The fact that you keep going on and on about this to someone who clearly barely gives a fuck shows you are a zealot.

I have a suggestion here. How about you change your mind from "barely give a fuck" to "don't give a fuck" and leave this debate to the grown-ups?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Note

[2:28] (Z stops)
Z Talks to operator
[4:07] (call ends)

--

Martin fails to cover the 200' to his house while running since M is back on scene about 3 minutes after Zim stopped.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Spare me from your community.

Unless you live in isolation from any communities, you already live in such a community. People do not universally trust other people unless they have a medical condition or mental handicap. And it turns out that they have good reason not to trust other people unconditionally.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Evidence submitted by the state shows ZImmerman had a history of this kind of thing.

i.e. calling the police and reporting suspicious circumstances to them and not being overly aggressive.

It was very strange that they would submit all those 911 calls but apparently they were trying to show Zimmerman had reached the breaking point.

To me, it felt like they were making the defense's case for them.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

That's why it is a case of pure confrontation and aggression.

So why is getting out of a car "pure confrontation and aggression"?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Testimony from eye witness Mr. Good is that Martin "in the black hoodie" was on top of and winning while "raining" down blows on Zim "in the red sweatshirt" and that it was "probably" Zim who was calling for help. Wasn't sure since Martin was facing away from Mr. Good.

OTH, why would I be beating the hell out of someone and calling for help.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

Next time I shoot someone in the dark

Are you making a reference to the Martin/Zimmerman case? Because it may have been dark when Martin attacked, but that really doesn't have much to do with the "being shot" part. He was shot while on top of Zimmerman, having already run up behind him to attack, punched him in the face and broken his nose, and was proceeding to bash his head into the sidewalk. He was shot while on top of him and throwing more punches. A six-foot guy, continuing to beat up the guy he'd turned around and gone back to attack.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

For some reason, you seem to believe every word that Zimmerman says.

Come up with evidence that contradictions Zimmerman's testimony. Where's the reason not to believe Zimmerman?

We can't just jail people merely because it's in their interest to avoid jail. Otherwise everyone would be in jail aside from the occasional crazy looking for six months of free meals.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

and the youth had the right to not be harassed by an adult in the middle of the night

No. He doesn't actually have that right.

Therein is the problem, laws should not be based on "feelings". So called "stand your ground" laws are bad policy.

Too bad reality got in the way of that sentiment. Sometimes, circumstances aren't optimal. In those cases, we may be forced to go on "feeling" rather than perfect information.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Funny thing is, if this were reversed, that is, if Zimmerman was being followed by Martin, and Zimmerman confronted Martin starting a confrontation which ended with Zimmerman shooting Martin, the same people defending Zimmerman now would still defend him. They'd just say, Stand Your Ground, Self defense "I'd feel threatened if someone were following me. Damn right I'd confront them!" But, in this case, Zimmerman followed Martin and shot him. Therefore Martin had no right to defend himself or confront his pursuer.

It's evident that you don't understand the issues here. Martin was bashing Zimmerman's head into the concrete and Zimmerman had a reasonable expectation that his life was in danger. There are certain conditions where one forfeits a right to self-defense. Show they apply here. As has been repeated noted, merely following someone doesn't forfeit the right to self-defense.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, yes you do lose your right to self-defense if you're told to back off.

Read the real transcript. Zimmerman wasn't actually told to back off.

Zimmerman: Down towards the other entrance to the neighborhood.

Dispatcher: Which entrance is that that he's heading towards?

Zimmerman: The back entranceâ¦fucking [unintelligible]

Dispatcher: Are you following him?

Zimmerman: Yeah

Dispatcher: Ok, we don't need you to do that.

Zimmerman: Ok

Dispatcher: Alright sir what is your name?

Zimmerman: Georgeâ¦He ran.

Dispatcher: Alright George what's your last name?

Zimmerman: Zimmerman

Dispatcher: And George what's the phone number you're calling from?

See? I bolded the part in question. Zimmerman wasn't told to break off pursuit, but rather that the authorities didn't need him to do that. And I might add that a 911 dispatcher doesn't have a legally recognized authority.

Remember there are fake versions out there such as the one which was tampered with to make Zimmerman look bad.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

If you initiate confrontation - that is you go trolling for it - you lose it the self defense and stand your ground aspects.

If he was fearing for his life then certainly he wouldn't have gone trolling for attention. Also, ever had your head smashed to pavement and been walking around after that? his head wasn't being smashed to pavement.

Zimmerman just comes across as a guy who would have gone to physically touch the "nigger" to initiate something to justify self defense, a bully. It's basically what he had been doing for months.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

If someone who is armed with a pistol is stalking me on a rainy dark night, you damn well better believe I'm going to defend myself in any way I can.

Lock that turd up and throw away the key.

Martin has been buried so there is no need to jail him.

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

When its your son or daughter that loses their life over an incident like this then I wonder on what side of the fence you'll stand.

Since you insist on playing this stupid game, let's wonder what you'd do if your son or daughter was Zimmerman. Sounds to me like you're someone who couldn't make a unbiased decision in that case.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[gl4ss]

how do you shoot someone who is beating your head to the ground? it should be obvious from the entry angles at least.
ever hit your head on pavement?

Zimmerman wanted some vigilante action.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Zimmerman is likely lying about several things (i.e. what martin said while beating Zim).

What's your basis for that claim?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Le Marteau]

> Therein is the problem, laws should not be based on "feelings". So called "stand your ground" laws are bad policy.

It's not about "feelings". It's about "state of mind". And "state of mind" has EVERYTHING to do about the law.

Medical doctor touches a hotties ass in a clinical setting, that's therapeutic.

Pervert touches a hotties ass in a subway, and gets locked up.

Same action. Only difference is state of mind.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, what's up with these fuckheads spouting "Skittles and Iced Tea" as if it were some kind of mantra... as if it were some kind of talisman.

Show me someone who says "Skittles and Iced Tea" and I'll show you a lisping, prancing, flaming homosexual of the highest order. Seriously.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

So Zimmerman didn't get out of the car?

That did happen. Why are you lying and claiming it didn't?

Getting out of the car, when your reason for doing so is because you are suspicious of a person, takes your actions from the routine everyday business of your life to the confrontational. You can believe Zimmerman's excuses about just trying to keep an eye on him, or getting the street address for the police, or whatever other nonsense he's put out about being back on the way to his vehicle, but that doesn't change the reality that he got out of the car because of Trayvon Martin.

Even Zimmerman won't try to come up with a lie that blatantly false.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

"I don't trust zimmerman but I do trust that when in attempt to break him, he was told there was a video of the entire event he said, "thank god" and was relieved."

QFT

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Well, those links do back his observations.

Along with saying a whole bunch of other shit. Note also they all come from the same site, a site with an overt bias.

I have a suggestion here. How about you change your mind from "barely give a fuck" to "don't give a fuck" and leave this debate to the grown-ups?

Don't want me to respond? Go have your debate as a response to someone else's posting.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Jherek Carnelian]

You know how to tell when someone is a nutter?

They have a prepared list of links to post - links that include titles and html-formatted href links, not just bare URLs.

They've put this list together so they can just dump it into any conversation with the utter faith that if people would just read all the articles on the other end of the links the conclusion would be completely self-evident. They have little to no commentary about what each link means, its just so obvious that it doesn't need any sort of editorial summarization. The readers are just supposed to knock themselves out proving whatever he thinks his points are for him. No work at all because it is so obvious. No chance of coming to alternate conclusions because it is all so obvious.

Or, there is always the chance that it wasn't prepared ahead of time, they just spent 30+ minutes assembling it on the fly as if the effort of cataloging it all proves it has a straight-forward and obvious meaning.

In either case it is a sign the poster is delusional.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

I do the very same thing all the time. You meet someone at a place and you call them when you get there in case they moved or you can't find them.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[shmlco]

In 2005, Zimmerman was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. The charges were reduced, then dropped when Zimmerman entered a pre-trial diversion program. Also in 2005, Zimmerman's ex-fiance filed a restraining order against him, alleging domestic violence.

Zimmerman's application to be a police officer had been rejected by a Virginia police department. Zimmerman wanted to do police ride alongs. He also chose to participate in the Neighborhood Watch Program. And Zimmerman choose to arm himself, despite the fact that the Watch Program discouraged its participants from doing so.

But at the time of the attack, Zimmerman wasn't on watch. He chose to follow Martin. He chose to disregard police instructions. He chose to get out of the car. As the one "trained" and armed with deadly force, it was his responsibility to see that the situation didn't escalate out of control. It did.

Personally, I'd characterize Zimmerman as a police officer wannabe. He wanted to be a cop and was rejected. So he armed himself and continually went out on "patrol", looking for trouble and a chance to be a hero.

That night he found it. And he allowed the situation to escalate totally out of control. Faced with an actual confrontation, he panicked and resorted to using deadly force. Result? One dead kid.

Zimmerman carries complete and total responsibility for the shooting.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[shmlco]

"Zimmerman had never been in trouble with the law."

In 2005, Zimmerman was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. The charges were reduced, then dropped when Zimmerman entered a pre-trial diversion program. Also in 2005, Zimmerman's ex-fiance filed a restraining order against him, alleging domestic violence.

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[shmlco]

"He had all sorts of choices."

Choices? Zimmerman chose to participate in the Neighborhood Watch Program. And Zimmerman choose to arm himself, despite the fact that the Watch Program discouraged its participants from doing so.

But at the time of the attack, Zimmerman wasn't on watch. He chose to follow Martin that night. He chose to disregard police instructions. He chose to get out of the car. As the one "trained" and armed with deadly force, it was his responsibility to see that the situation didn't escalate out of control. It did.

Personally, I'd characterize Zimmerman as a police officer wannabe. He'd wanted to be a cop and was rejected. So he armed himself and continually went out on "patrol", looking for trouble and a chance to be a hero.

That night he found it. And he allowed the situation to escalate totally out of control. Faced with an actual confrontation, he panicked and resorted to using deadly force. End result of Zimmerman's choices? One dead kid.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[vux984]

No, what Zimmerman did was observe Martin from a distance and call the police,

By which you mean he followed him.

he didn't seek to confront Martin.

Who was following who? Oh, right.

It was Martin that described Zimmerman with a racial slur, confronted and attacked Zimmerman.

Wasn't Zimmerman in his car when he called 911? ... checks transcript... yes... yes he was. So, why didn't he just drive away?

Your theory is the guy with the gun sitting in is car, somehow got attacked by an unarmed man and had to shoot him to save his own life?

Yeah, maybe. But I'm glad we're having a trial.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[vux984]

Ah, so you ARE being deliberately misleading. Why are you doing that? What's the point of lying about it?

Zimmerman was armed, and in his car and Zimmerman was following Martin, not the other way around.

Your scenario amounts to:
"The armed man in a car following an unarmed man on foot was unable to avoid a confrontation in which he shoots the unarmed guy."

Yeah, sure, maybe. I'm glad there's a trial.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[tompaulco]

I suppose you think all blacks are thugs unless proven otherwise.
What difference does it make whether someone is black or not? He was wearing a hoodie in summertime. How would you know it was someone black or just some punk ass white kid trying to be gangsta? Either way, he wasn't recognized as being someone who should belong in the neighborhood. This is a case where I wish Trayvon would have been white, we wouldn't even be having this trial. Another punk white kid jumps somebody and got killed for it. Moving along.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

municipal street == public street
public street != municipally owned street
privately owned street != (! public street)

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[MrNaz]

"he turned himself into the police"

I just changed my view of this trial. No Mighty Morphing Power Ranger could ever be guilty of cold-blooded murder.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Feel free not to trust people. It's in your head, that's your business. It's when your distrust leads to action towards others that your community becomes a police state rather than a place I'd want to live.

I do not live in such a community, there are probably individuals here who want to act such a way, but I like the fact that I can walk down the street without somebody feeling they have any right to inquire about my business.

And I surely do not want them following me. Or calling the police to go after me.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Any "reasonable person", given the circumstances of being alone in the dark and being stalked like prey by a man in a vehicle, would feel their life was in danger when they saw that man exit their vehicle and continue stalking them.

And that's the problem. Both sides pass the "reasonable person" clause of the stand your ground law.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Khyber]

"a dispatcher has no authority whatsoever in such matters."

A dispatcher is an officer of the law as much as the street police. Ever been inside a dispatch office? They all have badges.

That means they are indeed allowed to give orders. I've had dispatch give me orders to begin CPR and instructed me on timing and breathing when my friend's aunt died in-home.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[artor3]

If I'm being pursued by a strange man with a gun, you can bet your ass I'll try to knock him down and get his gun away from him. I'm not going to sit there passively, hoping that it's just an overzealous neighborhood watchman. Trayvon was trying to save his own life. Trayvon was exercising his right to self defense. Being chased by a man with a gun absolutely gives him a reasonable expectation that his life was in danger.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[TFAFalcon]

What if an armed person tells you they're going to shoot you? I'd consider that a pretty good reason to try to get their weapon away from them (attack them).

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Because shadowing/stalking behaviour without identifying yourself puts you in a bad situation. All the gun nutters want Zimmerman to win because it justifies their use of guns, regardless of whatever circumstance Zimmerman did to aggravate the situation.

Let's face it, neither of the two guys are angels. Martin was a kid who wasn't necessarily on the straight and narrow, but he didn't deserve to get shot. Zimmerman was an aggressive jerk who wanted to project his authority. The fact that Martin was black and Zimmerman had a gun is just the worst combination on top of this.

The fact that the law declined to arrest and prosecute in the beginning is telling. Zimmerman will likely win the criminal case but likely lose a civil one.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[mysidia]

In fact I believe its a constitutional right to have one, I do believe I read that somewhere.

The constitutional right is to keep and bear arms.

There's not a constitutional right to transport around on one's person a ready-to-go firearm holstered in public or around someone else's property, such that a person could fear for their life.

You see a random stranger walking up to your place of residence with a gun prominently displayed, holstered or not, --- that is a direct threat, and an indication that you are in immediate danger.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[mysidia]

I'm betting you'd get a bullet between the eyes before you could piss your pants and run away.

And that's why one should be wearing a bullet-proof facemask, helmet; kevlar bodysuit, and leggings at all times.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Freddybear]

Sorry but that fantasy of yours is not supported by either evidence or testimony. Stick to the facts as known.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[theArtificial]

For the record I don't have any dogs in this race. This whole thing is a media circus and ultimately the result of poor decisions by all parties. The media has used many angles from race baiting to misrepresenting photos and statements much to the detriment of those involved.

In 2005, Zimmerman was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

With the way charges are trumped up this could mean anything from saliva, to merely brushing up against the officer and not immediately complying. If you haven't already seen videos of police running up to someone saying stop resisting, there are plenty on youtube. In fact there is a story about a girl thrown in jail for buying water. "...Nevertheless, Daly was charged with two felony counts of assaulting a law enforcement officer after she grazed two agents with her SUV trying to flee, and one felony count of eluding police..." which sounds really bad until you read that they're plain clothes, have guns drawn, and tried breaking her windows. Where do they find these tools, have you ever mistaken packaged bottled water for booze? Ridiculous!

He chose to disregard police instructions

Dispatcher != police. Why am I pointing this out? Because you're implying that dispatchers are police officers. Dispatchers can tell you something, but it isn't a lawful order. It carries about as much weight as me telling you not to put salt on your food or to shut up. Maybe a car analogy will work, it's like the warning light coming on to check your engine. It's a good suggestion, but it is not a command.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Swordsmanus]

Martin's autopsy is publicly available (PDF). Now tell me: in the autopsy report, how many wounds did Martin have at the time of death? What was the cause of the wound(s)? Does this support or refute the assertion that Zimmerman attacked Martin first?

There are also publicly available photos of Zimmerman immediately after the encounter. Given the location of Zimmerman's wounds, does this support or refute the position of the prosecution or the defense? Further, are you aware that strikes to the back of the head are illegal in sport fighting because they carry a risk of serious injury or death?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

Your scenario amounts to:
"The armed man in a car following an unarmed man on foot was unable to avoid a confrontation in which he shoots the unarmed guy."

What? How does his being armed as he walked back to his truck have any bearing on the fact that Martin - who had already made it to his destination - doubled back, and ran up behind Zimmerman to sucker punch him and begin the physical assault from which Zimmerman had to defend himself? Carrying a pistol doesn't magically control people who are sneaking up behind you to attack you.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[misexistentialist]

And Martin was a wannabe gangbanger. They were destined for each other, and the resolution was the right one.

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

Choices? Zimmerman chose to participate in the Neighborhood Watch Program.

Right. Because he was tired of crime in his neighborhood. A perfectly normal reaction, and not only legal, but actively supported by law enforcement.

And Zimmerman choose to arm himself, despite the fact that the Watch Program discouraged its participants from doing so.

Right - such civic groups do not want to be sued into oblivion if a member has an accident while participating. So they take the policy stand that it's not them, but the members themselves that make that decision.

But at the time of the attack, Zimmerman wasn't on watch.

Which doesn't in any way reduce Martin's responsibility for doubling back from his dad's house in order to attack Zimmerman, and then actually committing that assault.

He chose to follow Martin that night.

Right. Because he didn't recognize the person taking an unusual route through the private community while hiding his face. Thought he'd call the police to report it, and take a moment to see where the person was going. Again, a perfectly reasonable response, and in no way illegal.

He chose to disregard police instructions.

See, now you're just lying. Why? The only time he spoke to police was once they arrived on the scene. On his phone call, he was talking to a dispatcher. A dispatcher has no authority to tell anyone to do (or not do) anything, and the dispatcher in question has already testified that no such instructions were given. You've obviously heard the transcript, so you know that the dispatcher remarked that they didn't "need" Zimmerman to follow the suspicious person. The transcript shows no instruction, the dispatcher - who has no authority either way - said that no instructions were given or intended as such.

He chose to get out of the car.

Right - to see where the person was going. Which he did, and then he turned around and walked back towards his truck.

As the one "trained" and armed with deadly force, it was his responsibility to see that the situation didn't escalate out of control.

And it did not get out of control. He observed, he talked to the dispatch on the phone, and he walked back to his truck. Do you consider that to be out of control? The next situation had nothing to do with him - because it involved Martin leaving his destination, and deliberately coming up from behind, having decided he wanted to dish out a beating. That situation had nothing to do with Zimmerman, who was walking the opposite direction.

Personally, I'd characterize Zimmerman as a police officer wannabe.

Which in what way caused Martin to run up behind him and start beating on him?

So he armed himself and continually went out on "patrol", looking for trouble and a chance to be a hero.

Which is you characterization, and appears to be false (in terms of his motivation) by all reports. Regardless, how did his interest in slowing down the rate of crimes in his neighborhood cause Martin to run up behind him and start beating on him?

he allowed the situation to escalate totally out of control

By turning his back on they guy and walking back to his truck?

Faced with an actual confrontation, he panicked and resorted to using deadly force.

No, faced with a punch in the face, a broken nose, and having his head pounded against the sidewalk and being told he was going to die, use his gun once. I supposed you'd have preferred that he allowed Martin to continued bashing his head against the pavement?

End result of Zimmerman's choices? One dead kid.

No, that was the end result of Martin's choice to - having already made it to his dad's house - turn around, make his way back to Zimmerman, and begin a physical assault.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

that doesn't change the reality that he got out of the car because of Trayvon Martin.

What are you talking about? Your lie is that doing so is a confrontation. Zimmerman was walking peacefully back to his truck, and Martin had made it to his dad's house. You are clear on that, right? Because if you say you're not, you're lying. Martin, instead of going into the house, decided to turn around, and run back to dish out a beating on the "cracker" in question. What's your agenda, in leaving out the most important detail, here?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

A dispatcher is an officer of the law as much as the street police.

This is not true. The dispatcher testified to the fact that mentioning to Zimmerman on the call that they didn't "need" him to follow Martin was not instruction to Zimmerman.

I've had dispatch give me orders to begin CPR and instructed me on timing and breathing when my friend's aunt died in-home.

You're very confused about this, aren't you? When you call 911 and ask them for help with a medical emergency, their advice to you to do CPR is not the same as being told by a police officer what to do. Are you really that obtuse?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

They seem implausible to me then and now. Some of it sounded like something out of a cheap dime store novel. I couldn't see martin making the leap to killing someone because they were carrying a gun to I could see him beating someone like he was observed doing.

Look up "King hit" and you can see how easy it is to kill or severely damage someone with one blow.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

For some reason, you seem to believe every word that Zimmerman says

No need to. The prosecution's own witness established that Martin had already returned to his dad's girlfriend's house. For him to have been beating on Zimmerman where the attack occurred, he would have to have turned around and chosen to go back and go at him. The evidence backs this up exactly, even the evidence provided by a witness the prosecution chose.

You know, the guy who shot and killed another guy.

You mean the guy who stopped his own murder from happening? That guy?

Are you so gullible you believe whatever anyone says?

No, otherwise I'd have to believe some of the nonsense that the prosecution tried to trot out (like the BS voice analysis the judge very rightly kept out of the trial).

Re: Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

That's what everybody should have been asking George Zimmerman.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

So they "seem" implausible, but you don't have any actual evidence for your assertion.

Look up "King hit" and you can see how easy it is to kill or severely damage someone with one blow.

Look up "multiple stab wounds" and you'll see how hard it can be to kill someone via multiple stab wounds.

Sure, one blow expertly placed might have disabled or killed Zimmerman, but where's the evidence that Martin has any knowledge of dealing such "king hits"?

Further, why isn't shooting Martin a justified response to how Martin was beating up Zimmerman? Even if he didn't have intent to kill, I see a reasonable expectation of grievous bodily harm, which probably meets the criteria for self-defense.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[vux984]

How does his being armed as he walked back to his truck have any bearing on the fact that Martin

Why did he get out of his truck in the first place? To follow Martin.

How does his being armed as he walked back to his truck have any bearing on the fact that Martin - who had already made it to his destination - doubled back, and ran up behind Zimmerman to sucker punch him and begin the physical assault from which Zimmerman had to defend himself?

Yeah, that's one version of the story.

So your saying Zimmerman's been following this guy who he views as a dangerous threat, then he even testifies the guy notices he's being followed, and then a few minutes later he's walking along with his guard down and gets jumped from behind?

Carrying a pistol doesn't magically control people who are sneaking up behind you to attack you.

He wouldn't be doubling back and sneaking up behind you if you weren't sneaking around following him around in the first place.

Does following someone around somehow justify being attacked? Of course not, but it robs you of credibility when you say "I was just minding my own business, walking back to my truck, when he jumped me." I have a reasonable doubt about the truth of that claim. Maybe its true. Maybe its not.

We need a trial to sort it out. I'm not saying Zimmerman is guilty and I'll assume the jury makes the right decision based on the evidence presented at trial, regardless of whether they acquit or convict.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[sjames]

One concern about fear for life, if Zimmerman seemed to be displaying the gun to Martin after following him around, then Martin had reason to believe his life was threatened.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[TheEmperorOfSlashdot]

Martin, instead of going into the house, decided to turn around, and run back to dish out a beating on the "cracker" in question.

See, that's the thing. That didn't happen. You are lying. Why are you lying?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Khyber]

Um, you still don't understand, so I'll leave it at this. Resuscitation order by wish of the patient. A dispatcher has EVERY AUTHORITY to order you to help that person in that circumstance, and is an order given by a officer of the law. The only thing a dispatcher is powerless to do is arrest you, and that's actually by law.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

That didn't happen

Which part? The part where he was at his dad's girlfriend's house? The prosecution's star witness quoted Martin himself as saying he was. Are you saying that the prosecution and their witness are lying? Interesting.

Or are you referring to the part where he referred to him as a "cracker?" That's the prosecution and their witness saying that.

Or are you referring to the part where Martin was beating on Zimmerman? Because there are eye-witness reports of that. He was seen doing so.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[ScentCone]

The only thing a dispatcher is powerless to do is arrest you, and that's actually by law.

Nonsense. Dispatchers - in almost every jurisdiction - are civilians trained in handling such calls and performing dispatch duties. Union rules and contracts very often prevent even injured cops from booking time as dispatchers, as those are not law enforcement positions.

I know people in this line of work in half a dozen local jurisdictions surrounding a major metro area. In no cases do dispatch employees have any legal authority of any kind, and cannot direct people to do anything - medical or otherwise. In fact they are required to ask people if they would do this or that to help an injured person, and always say "please" because the are, essentially, asking a favor of the caller. They can't make them provide CPR (or anything else) and people who can't or won't do what a dispatch employee suggests face no consequences because they absolutely are not acting with legal authority of any kind.

All of which you know, so it's kind of mysterious that you're pretending it's otherwise, unless your understanding is limited to your own county or city where they perhaps don't do what they do most everywhere else. Regardless, the Martin/Zimmerman case does not involve a copy giving orders to Zimmerman. The dispatcher said, "OK. We don't need you to do that." And testified that it wasn't an order, meant to me one, or coming from anyone who could give one.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

So he followed a guy

He was doing more than following and profiling... he was investigating without a license, and compulsively stalking an innocent high school student. If the prosecutor could prove felony stalking, it wouldn't even matter if it really was a self-defensive killing. Any death in the commission of a felony is murder.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

You do lose your right of self-defense in the commission of a crime, especially a felony. If you're robbing a bank and someone comes at you with a knife with the obvious intent to kill you and you shoot them dead, that is, in fact, murder. If you are feloniously stalking Trayvon Martin and he kicks your ass for it, and you then shoot him "in self-defense," and he dies from your gunshot... that's murder.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

would be ever so refreshing if people made the slightest effort to understand the law before they started blathering about it.

Your mighty self-defense defense is worthless if Zimmerman was committing a crime, like, say, stalking, or even private investigating without a license, when Martin was killed. If the crime is a felony, it doesn't matter how Martin died, it's an automatic murder conviction (no trial or nothing!)

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

I have a suggestion here. How about you change your mind from "barely give a fuck" to "don't give a fuck" and leave this debate to the grown-ups?

How about you look at all the evidence rather than just the testimony that supports your prejudice.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

My personal theory is that a racist when hunting blacks, found one, and killed him.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

No, it's not a constitutional right, nor a Constitutional right. The Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms. It does not guarantee the right to carry a firearm in public. Some states allowed unconcealed carry, some don't unless you meet certain qualifications such as being a police officer.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Mr. Good's testimony was contradicted by other witnesses. Are you picking and choosing because you were told by God that Mr. Good is the good guy or because you are prejudiced?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Your mighty self-defense defense is worthless if Zimmerman was committing a crime, like, say, stalking, or even private investigating without a license, when Martin was killed. If the crime is a felony, it doesn't matter how Martin died, it's an automatic murder conviction (no trial or nothing!)

Where's the evidence for such a crime? It's kind of like saying that Martin would have been justified in assaulting Zimmerman because Zimmerman was firing his death ray at Miami and speaking in a fake German accent. If the scenario didn't happen and/or there isn't any evidence for such a scenario, then it's not very relevant to what actually did happen.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Come up with evidence that contradictions Zimmerman's testimony. Where's the reason not to believe Zimmerman?

Uh, witnesses' testimony? BTW, Zimmerman has not testified.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Correct.

However, I've been a juror multiple times and you don't have to have evidence.
In 2 of my 3 juror trials, one or more people lied and we had to decide who was telling the truth.

You asked if I thought zimmerman was telling the truth when he said that martin said those things and I said that i don't. If I were on the juror, I would not believe martin said those things to Zimmerman. As a juror, I don't NEED evidence to decide someone is lying under oath. They look at the person testifying and make a gut check and a comparison of the testimony to the hard facts (video, 911 call, physical locations).

Martin was an experienced fighter (there is video evidence for that).
And an eye witness (mr good) saw Martin at extremely short range on top of Zim and "raining" blows down on Zim MMF "Ground and pound" style. Mr Good's statement and testimony match. I just it as a result. He has no incentive to lie and certainly didn't the night of the shooting.

As a juror, I don't have to justify shooting Martin for beating Zimmerman. All I have to do is have a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman committed 2nd degree murder. And I do. So I would vote not guilty.

However, Any hit to the face (not just a "King hit") can be instantly fatal. If someone is hitting you in the face, they can kill you each time they hit you in several places on the face (either temple and the nose-- plus very likely to shatter your the fragile bones around your eyes, break your jaw, etc.) There was substantial damage to Zimmerman's face (including what looked like a broken nose) and the only damage Martin had were a couple scrapes on one finger.

Given that Martin had ample time to get away (close to three minutes) and the calm language Zimmerman was using on the 911 call- it seems like Martin came back in the mood to confront Zim for following Martin.

---
Anyway, i think we are in violent agreement that Zimmerman is not guilty of 2nd degree murder of Martin.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

No because deedee testified that she lied on her statement on the stand and two of the other witnesses admitted under cross examination that they had changed their story between when they made statements and the testimony they were giving. And one of the witnesses was contradicting the live 911 call and hard physical evidence (saying she heard Zim shoot Martin three times from behind) (martin was shot 1 time from the front- there were not shots on the 911 call she was on).

Meanwhile Mr Good's statement taken the night of the shooting and testifying on the stand were the same.

Also, Mr. Good was very close to the incident (it was apparently right out side his house).

Also Mr. Good had no incentive to lie the night of the shooting.

Also Mr. Good was an EYE witness- not an "EAR" witness. He saw the person "in the black hoodie" on top of and beating the person in the "red sweatshirt" in a "ground and pound" fashion.

It's clear to me you are not listening to the testimony of the case or you would know how terrible the other witnesses are proving to be for the state.

Almost every state witness has either turned out to think Zim was a polite, great guy or was caught lying or exaggerating or changing their story right on the stand by the defense attorney on cross.

I've been a juror three times. I could not convict Zim on 2nd degree murder. I have a reasonable doubt.

In fact, after the testimony, it's much stronger than doubt about 2nd degree murder and I'm pretty convinced it was a good self defense shooting and if he hadn't shot Martin, we would have been reading about a hunt for a person in a black hoodie who beat a neighborhood watch guy to death or shot him to death with his own gun.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Yea... the same racist who lead protests against the police (and got the disciplined) for kicking a black homeless guy.

And the same racist who helped underprivileged black kids.

And the same racist who called 911 to tell them what was going on right before he shot someone. Real bright, hunting people to kill them but calling the police in right before you shoot them.

I rarely call anyone an ignorant moron. In fact, I may have never done so.

But you-- are an ignorant moron.

Go read the testimony. Then... you'll just be moron.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

In 2005, Zimmerman was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, after shoving an officer while a friend of Zimmerman's was being questioned about underage drinking. The charges were reduced, then dropped when Zimmerman entered a pre-trial diversion program.

  Also in 2005, Zimmerman's ex-fiance filed a restraining order against him, alleging domestic violence. Zimmerman requested a reciprocal restraining order. Both orders were granted.[67][68] The incidents were raised by prosecutors at Zimmerman's initial bond hearing. The judge described the incidents as "run of the mill" and "somewhat mild" and rejected the prosecution's claim that the incidents demonstrated that Zimmerman was violent or a threat to the community.[3][69][70]

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

2:23 Dispatcher: Are you following him? Maybe the Dispatcher interprets the background noises as Zimmerman running.
Zimmerman: Yeah.
Dispatcher: Ok, we don't need you to do that.
2:28 Zimmerman: Ok.
Zimmerman has stopped and talks to the dispatcher for 1m:38s.
4:06 Click and the call ends.
---

A running Martin had close to 2 minutes to get to his house 200'-300' away (5 houses away) before the end of the call.

It's almost another minute before the calls about the fight start- not near martin's house.

Obvious conclusion- Martin decided to confront Zim and did not go to his house but came back to confront Zim.

Within seconds the state's only eyewitness, Mr. Good, (the rest are just 'earwitnesses) saw Martin (guy in the black hoodie) on top of Zim (the guy in the red sweatshirt) and Martin was beating Zim so badly that Mr. Good immediately called 911.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

Oh yea and Zim has multiple injuries and a broken nose while Martin only has cuts on his hands and a bullet wound.

If Zim hadn't shot Martin, we would be reading how a mysterious person in a dark hoodie killed a guy on neighborhood watch by beating him to death or shooting him with his own gun.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

However, I've been a juror multiple times and you don't have to have evidence. In 2 of my 3 juror trials, one or more people lied and we had to decide who was telling the truth.

No evidence? What did you do? Flip a coin to decide who was lying? When I was did a stint of jury duty, we still had such things as the person's demeanor in court and being able to compare how someone's narrative evolved over time (and it happened to be a case similar to the Zimmerman case where someone killed someone allegedly in self-defense without witnesses present. The defendant's consistent and forward testimony both to law enforcement and in court did a great deal to convince us that he wasn't guilty of second degree murder). I consider those just as much evidence as a coroner's report.

Anyway, i think we are in violent agreement that Zimmerman is not guilty of 2nd degree murder of Martin.

Agreed.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

Uh, witnesses' testimony?

I asked for testimony that contradicts Zimmerman's claims.

BTW, Zimmerman has not testified.

Yet. He has given extensive statements to the police. I considered that (incorrectly) to be testimony.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Self defense if you kill someone, not if you attempt to defend yourself from someone who has been stalking you, and who got out of his car and reached into his pocket? ARE YOU JOKING??!!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!? how the hell could he have known it was just a phone..for all he knew zimmerman was a serial killer about to draw a gun and kill him. but oh no, heaven forbid the kid who got shot and died actually be allowed to defend himself..its all his fault for getting shot...

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Dishevel]

Why would I be tried for manslaughter if you tried to kill me?

Public education is destroying our future.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[dadelbunts]

Thats silly. If a guy rushes at me with a knife i should be able to kill him and not go to jail. All i did was protect my own life after all. Im ok with dueling.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

"The fact that you keep going on and on about this to someone who clearly barely gives a fuck shows you are a zealot."

And the fact that you keep replying makes you just as bad. For someone who "barely gives a fuck" It's pretty obvious that either one of some combination of the following:
A: you actually DO "give a fuck"
B: do not understand the meaning of that phrase.
C: have a mental issue which compel you to reply to everything someone posts to you
D: are a troll.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[datastew]

Just a suggestion- You'll be a lot harder to shoot if you are running away than if you are sitting on the guy. You know- in case this situation ever comes up.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

When someone else keeps dragging you into the conversation you aren't a troll.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[LordLimecat]

What do you think "bearing arms" means if not carrying it around on you?

Do people really think that the second amendment is so we can have, but never use or carry (except for hunting purposes), fire arms? I really fear for the state of education and our country's future, if so. Heres a hint: the second amendment is explicitly for the purpose of defense-- whether personal, or societal. It is explicit that we have the right to carry ("bear") arms. It is implicit that we have the right to use said arms when the situation calls for it.

Its notable that the supreme court has repeatedly struck down state laws attempting to curb the right to carry firearms, and its depressing that people keep calling for further attempts.

You see a random stranger walking up to your place of residence with a gun prominently displayed, holstered or not, --- that is a direct threat, and an indication that you are in immediate danger.

I would recommend that you acquaint yourself with the law surrounding the second amendment before you go attacking someone carrying a holstered gun; you will save yourself a lot of trouble.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[LordLimecat]

You don't have to wait until the gun is out of the holster.

Yes, you do.

Remember kids, its CONCEALED weapons that require a permit, not unconcealed ones. As I recall, the second amendment is quite explicit about our right to BEAR arms, and the courts have repeatedly upheld this right. It can be abridged in certain locations (ie, courthouses), but thats about it.

So sure, attack someone carrying an unconcealed firearm; if he doesnt shoot you, you'll probably be arrested on assault charges.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[LordLimecat]

hopefully you will be tried for manslaughter.

Luckily for all of us, hopeful thinking doesnt change the law, and what slashdotters think the law says doesnt change how judges rule / have ruled.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

He told three different versions to police.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

Martin was killed on a winter night, February 26. It was 62F at 19:09 and lightly raining. I cannot take anything you say seriously at this point when you have no basic understanding of the events.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[Maxo-Texas]

When both people are saying opposite things and are equally credible, you really have to go on slim pickings. Mostly gut feel or it may be as simple as having a motive to lie while the other has no apparent motive to lie.

One had one older criminals testifying against the other criminal and we based that on the fact that his testimony was impossible (i.e. you couldn't see the location he said he saw from his porch). After the trial, the court appointed defense attorney said we had probably chosen correctly since the two had had bad blood before the incident.

I would consider hard evidence over any human testimony if they conflicted because I know how unreliable even well meaning humans are.

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[khallow]

He told three different versions to police.

Of course, he did. He was questioned more than once. In the adversarial language of the courts, that's three different versions no matter how consist they happen to be. So are those differences substantial enough to count as contradicting his own statements to police?

Re:Whole Trial is bullshit

[strikethree]

Hm. I mostly agree with you. I am curious though, did Martin attack Zimmerman because he felt threatened? For myself, I would be utterly creeped out by some guy following me around while I am minding my own business. I would also feel threatened. If I would have had a phone, I would have called the police to report the situation.

Honestly, it seems that Zimmerman bears some responsibility for causing the situation to occur in the first place. Should it be murder in the first or second degree? I doubt it, but I do not know enough about the case to say for sure.

Holy sh$% look at the comments from TFA

[Anonymous Coward]

omg... just wow... some audience this blog has.

Re:Holy sh$% look at the comments from TFA

[Anonymous Coward]

No shit.

Obama wants the Zimmerman trial to result in riots. Why else would he inject himself into the dialogue by saying "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon Martin".

Once the race riots start...Obama can declare martial law...and he is just looking for a reason to do this. Why else do you think the Social Security Department, HHS, the EPA and Homeland Security have been stockpiling weapons and ammo.

430 upvotes for that.

Re:Holy sh$% look at the comments from TFA

[Black Parrot]

Batshit crazy isn't limited to politicians. In fact I suspect that a lot of them are faking it, to win the votes of people like the one you quoted.

Re: Holy sh$% look at the comments from TFA

[Anonymous Coward]

When did the EPA start enforcing with firearms?

Re: Holy sh$% look at the comments from TFA

[lgw]

The rural right hates the EPA with the burning passion of a million suns, because the EPA will show up out of no where and tell you that the way your family has been earning a living for many generations is now illegal. That makes them a handy go-to villain for conspiracy theories, much like the US in certain parts of the world.

Re:Holy sh$% look at the comments from TFA

[Anonymous Coward]

Replace "Obama" with "The powers that be" and that comment would find much support on Slashdot. It's only the overt anti-Obama sentiment that turn off slashdotters.

Re:Holy sh$% look at the comments from TFA

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure there's a bit of everything... drudgetards, CNNts, etc...

Re:Holy sh$% look at the comments from TFA

[unitron]

If "The Powers That Be" had a son, he'd look a lot more like Romney's kids than either Martin or Zimmerman.

And if Trayvon had been white, Zimmerman would have been Hispanic a lot sooner.

Destination account?

[msauve]

Both sources said the calls were being made to the witness. The courtroom was seeing the prosecutor's screen. I'm pretty sure the calls were being made to the prosecutor's account, not the witness's.

Re:Destination account?

[Anonymous Coward]

for what it's worth i modded the skype comments up and the armchair lawyer comments down.

It didn't help.

Re:Destination account?

[Paradise Pete]

The courtroom was seeing the prosecutor's screen. I'm pretty sure the calls were being made to the prosecutor's account

When I make Skype calls it shows me who I'm talking to. Therefore....

Wirness?

[Anonymous Coward]

What the fuck is a wirness box?

Re:Wirness?

[Stormwatch]

It's a stupid-editors-don't-even-check-spelling box.

Re:Wirness?

[ArcadeMan]

You'll only see those kinds of errors on Slqshdot.

WITNESS box.

[Anonymous Coward]

FFS timothy, why do you even bother logging in?

Re:WITNESS box.

[Anonymous Coward]

Even because most likely logging in takes lots of retries, as he keeps pressing the wrong keys while typing the credentials.

Florida must be liberal when it comes to testimony

[Virtucon]

Wow letting a witness "phone it in." He didn't even use Skype Audio, he used a land line for testimony.. funny.

I'm surprised that this case hasn't already been declared a mistrial...

skype privacy option

[Anonymous Coward]

Skype has an option to "accept calls from contacts" that would have solved this problem.

--Sam

Re:skype privacy option

[Time_Ngler]

How do you know it just wasn't the prosecutors friends playing a joke on him? In that case, they would already been in his contact list.

Re:skype privacy option

[MouseTheLuckyDog]

Actually the fault lays with Mantei. The prosecutor. instead of setting the option he just kept declining calls. When there was a break there was a deluge of calls.
By the time tech fixed it, the judge was very intemperately ordering them so shut it off. One thing that keeps bothering me about this judge is that when the jury is in the room she acts all sweetness and light but when they aren't there she acts like a total bitch.

Re:skype privacy option

[Internal Modem]

Skype has "Do Not Disturb" which would be even more useful.

Re:Florida must be liberal when it comes to testim

[Black Parrot]

Wow letting a witness "phone it in."

They wanted to make sure the NSA got a transcript of it.

WTH??

[JeanInMontana]

This murderer is going to walk on technicalities! The court itself should be setting up and Skype calls and hopefully have someone who knows what the hell they are doing!

Re: WTH??

[Anonymous Coward]

Murderer? He just whacked a future felon. We should give Zimmerman a medal.

Re: WTH??

[Anonymous Coward]

This murderer is going to walk on technicalities!

He is not a murder because he was defending his own life against a thug.

Jean, you really need to shut the fuck up. You are a stupid cunt, regardless
of your gender.

Re: WTH??

[ScentCone]

This murderer is going to walk on technicalities!

No, you're confused. The person attempting murder was stopped in the act by his victim. The entire trial is a bad joke, and the Skype episode is just frosting on that bitter cake.

Re: WTH??

[Anonymous Coward]

Forget dickless Jean. I want to know when Martin's mother and father finally get nailed to the wall for being one of the worlds worst parents. They raised this little punk-ass nigger to live a niggerly lifestyle. They should be brought up on charges for endangerment to society.

Re: WTH??

[Anonymous Coward]

Your word: "victim."

You are confused. The killer could have avoided the entire outcome by not stalking his victim.

Re: WTH??

[JeanInMontana]

This murderer is going to walk on technicalities! The court itself should be setting up and Skype calls and hopefully have someone who knows what the hell they are doing!

Why is this rated as flame bait? That is bullshit as someone who has modded plenty of sites including this one my comment is in no way flame bait. However these personal attacks below calling me a name I won't repeat, and dickless; most women are and of course you three as well. The racist hate speech, now those should be removed and the people making those comments banned.

by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 03, 2013 @07:29PM (#44184561 Murderer? He just whacked a future felon. We should give Zimmerman a medal.****** by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 03, 2013 @07:35PM (#44184597) He is not a murder because he was defending his own life against a thug. Jean, you really need to shut the fuck up. You are a stupid cunt, regardless of your gender.******** by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 03, 2013 @09:19PM (#44185241) Forget dickless Jean. I want to know when Martin's mother and father finally get nailed to the wall for being one of the worlds worst parents. They raised this little punk-ass nigger to live a niggerly lifestyle. They should be brought up on charges for endangerment to society

Noted Anonymous Cowards have lots to say as they hide behind the monitor mommy and daddy got them for 'school'. Stick to Facebook kiddies until you grow up enough to stand behind the shit spewing from your Anonymous Coward keyboard. ~~~~ That's Flame Bait!! However I don't waste my time on racist misogynistic cowards, so this is my final comment.

Re:Florida must be liberal when it comes to testim

[Anonymous Coward]

What's wrong with testimony via phone? They still get identified and sworn in; what's it matter how they communicate?

Re:Florida must be liberal when it comes to testim

[Anonymous Coward]

landline? no such thing

"in the wirness box."

[Anonymous Coward]

I just watched an interesting old video on UNIX, whereby someone uses pipes and some oddly named programs to implement a simple.... Spell Checker!

Re:"in the wirness box."

[Le Marteau]

I just used a dictionary, and found the perfect phrase to describe what your faggotty passive-aggressive ass needs to do: "Shut the fuck up".

FTFY

[thegreatbob]

"Today during the George Zimmerman trial, an ex-professor of Zimmerman's was allowed to testify via Skype while on vacation. When setting it up"," the prosecution didn't have the sense to "obscure" the destination account. The result, according to The Smoking Gun, was a flood of callers to the des"t"ination account"." "This" result"ed" in the connection being terminated"," and cross examination being done on a cell phone in the wi"erd"ness box."

Mob Rule

[Anonymous Coward]

It is pure mob justice of the worst kind.

Welcome to modern America, where its not only mob rule, its driven by the out of control ( and biased ) media.

Our founders would be ashamed.

Re:Mob Rule

[Anonymous Coward]

"Our founders would be ashamed."

What the founders would have been ashamed of is, seeing what niggers have done to this country, and not having gotten rid of them while there was still a chance.

The place is going down the fucking toilet, thanks to niggers, starting with Obama. You know that, I know that, everyone knows that. Bad karma, our country has.

What a tragedy...

[malv]

One dead nigger who attacked a person protecting his community from the crime the nigger was likely committing. Fuck this nigger-loving country. When the riots start, I hope they burn down all those Liberal ivory towers so they can feel the effects of their social policies.

"Jumped" is the operative word

[Anonymous Coward]

No one except Martin and Zimmerman saw how the altercation started, but common sense suggests that Zimmerman's account is bullshit. (Zimmerman admitted on the 911 call that Martin ran away, and Zimmerman decided to follow him. Why would Martin run away from him, then turn around and jump Zimmerman without cause?) The only "witness" to how the fight started is Rachel Jeantel, and oddly enough, she disputes Zimmerman's claims. Also, Martin wasn't six feet tall, and he was 50+ pounds smaller than Zimmerman.

Re:"Jumped" is the operative word

[ScentCone]

The only "witness" to how the fight started is Rachel Jeantel

And of course, she said that was not able to say anything about how the fight started, only that Martin was at his Dad's house. Which means that Martin turned around and ran back to do the assault.

Re:"Jumped" is the operative word

[khallow]

(Zimmerman admitted on the 911 call that Martin ran away, and Zimmerman decided to follow him. Why would Martin run away from him, then turn around and jump Zimmerman without cause?)

Zimmerman also admitted on the phone to breaking off pursuit.

Re:"Jumped" is the operative word

[ScentCone]

but common sense suggests that Zimmerman's account is bullshit

Other than the part where his account is completely consistent with the evidence, and with actual eyewitness accounts. Other than that part.

Why would Martin run away from him, then turn around and jump Zimmerman without cause?

For the same reason he was thrown out of his house (for being violent)? For the same reason he tweeted about hitting people, showing off a gun and drugs, and generally cultivating his gangster/thug persona? For the same reason that he was the only person involved who used a racial epithet to describe someone? His friend on the phone (the prosecution's witness) was the one that provided the evidence that Martin was already back the house when he turned around to go and assault the "cracker" he was beating on.

oddly enough, she disputes Zimmerman's claims

No, she didn't dispute any of his claiims. When asked, she admitted that she had no idea what happened because Martin ended his phone call before he started beating on Zimmerman.

I read this as 'skype overlord'

[Anonymous Coward]

Which much improved the story.

Re:I read this as 'skype overlord'

[unitron]

Which much improved the story.

Shhh!

You're giving away the plot of "Terminator 5".

Damn....

[Dcnjoe60]

Damn, I was subpoenad to testify once and had to cancel a trip to Hawaii. I never heard of once's leisure time taking precedence over the court's schedule. While the theory of remote testimony might work, as evidenced by the problems they had, who can say if and how the jury was influenced? Will they remember what the guy was saying or all the popups and interruptions?

Nice circus, though, with the defense attorney telling lame jokes and laying on the floor one day and skype failures on another. This is a capital murder trial, right?

Re:Damn....

[Le Marteau]

"This is a capital murder trial, right?"

No. Zimmerman cannot receive the death penalty.

they deserve it

[slashmydots]

This is an obvious advertisement for Skype. It's just as bad as some overly-dramatic crap show on network TV using Skype with a big logo on the screen to act all super high tech and impressive. In reality, a 10 year old can use it, it's been around forever, and it's just a paid ad placement. So whoever convinced (paid) them to use Skype obviously didn't bring in a Skype "expert" and I use that term loosely. I would have thought of not broadcasting the username over live TV after about 3 seconds of setting up that system. So I suggest that the court system:
Actually take this case seriously
Stop doing stupid gimmicky bullshit
Stop taking money from Microsoft
Bring in any single person who at least vaguely knows IT to set it up better

Re:Whole /. conversation is bullshit

[cundare]

Yikes. Ya gotta love the I-ANAL conversations here. You got Wile E. Coyote experts on both sides yapping away, each lecturing the other about what "the law" states and neither citing a reference because, quite obvoiusly, neither "expert" appears to have a clue. I hate to be an enabler, but maybe this will help: CLUE #1: criminal law, including homicide law and the rules governing criminal defenses, although generally sharing common principles, vary greatly from state to state. Even if you understand how the law works in California, that doesn't mean you have an idea about how it works in Texas, New York, Hawaii, or, most definitely, in an outlier state like Florida. So continue debating your navels if you like, but cite some code to support your conclusory statements -- and to prove that you're not just some YOU-ANAL enthusiastic about convincing somebody (daddy? mommy?) that you're the smartest person in the room, but too lazy to spend five minutes to look up a primary reference.

Snarl.

that never happened, you vile, racist little worm

[Anonymous Coward]

Everything you say is unsubstantiated bullshit, but this part in particular is terrible:

For the same reason he tweeted about hitting people, showing off a gun and drugs, and generally cultivating his gangster/thug persona?

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/martin.asp http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/martin.asp http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/martin.asp http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/martin.asp

you know damn well which part you despicable worm

[TheEmperorOfSlashdot]

Martin didn't "decide to go back and dish out a beating on the 'cracker.'" He encountered Zimmerman while Zimmerman was in his car (possibly exchanging a few words at this point). At some time shortly thereafter, Martin ran away from Zimmerman, running back in the direction he came from.* This means that in order for Martin to continue home, he needed to turn around and return to where he first saw Zimmerman. A few minutes later, Zimmerman and Martin met each other a second time, leading to the fatal shooting.

You have absolutely no basis to declare that Martin returned with the intention of starting a fight, no explanation of why Martin would run away and *then* decide to ambush or attack Zimmerman, and absolutely no evidence (except Zimmerman's own word) that Martin was the one who started the altercation.

*This is a reasonable thing to do when being followed by a potentially dangerous stranger. If Martin had simply run towards his house, and Zimmerman followed him, Zimmerman would have discovered where Martin was staying, potentially putting Martin in danger. Zimmerman understood this as well, which is why he didn't give the 911 dispatcher his home address when he was asked.

Re:you know damn well which part you despicable wo

[ScentCone]

OK, so you ARE saying that the prosecution and their star witness are lying about Martin's return to and arrival at dad's girlfriend's house. Thanks for clearing that up.

Re:you know damn well which part you despicable wo

[TheEmperorOfSlashdot]

Martin never returned home from the 7-11. Literally no one who matters claims that he did. What nonsense and drivel have you been reading?

Re:you know damn well which part you despicable wo

[ScentCone]

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

He never went in the house. But he was talking on the phone as he walked up to the back of the house (the same conversation during which he used the racist epithet). This according to his friend, who testified to that. The "drivel" part is you really, really wishing that he hadn't, because that takes all the fun out of your narrative.

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

[TheEmperorOfSlashdot]

You misunderstood Rachel Jeantel's testimony as badly as you've misunderstood every other part of this case.

Re:Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

[ScentCone]

There really isn't any room for misunderstanding the testimony of the witnesses, of the police that interviewed Zimmerman, or the rest. There's no misinterpreting Martin's father's initial (honest) reaction to the recording he heard. Understanding the trial is about understanding the motivations of the people who put it on in reaction to craven political pressure. Understanding the facts is also very straightforward.

Re:Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

[ScentCone]

RJ: "he was right by his daddy's house"

A good nigger is a dead nigger

[Anonymous Coward]

If Zimmerman didn't put the bubble lipped wolly headed nigger down, some other gang homie nigger would.

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

[TheEmperorOfSlashdot]

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

We will say this as many times as it takes to sink in.

You have repeatedly claimed that Rachel Jeantel testified that Martin returned home after the first encounter with Zimmerman, but you've provided no citation, transcript, source or quotation to back you up. Don't worry, though; the Emperor has done the research for you, and tracked your claim back to this tweet. The tweet, in turn, cites a blog post, but unfortunately the blog post doesn't corroborate the tweet.

Obviously numerous other sources have reported on Jeantel's testimony, and absolutely none of them make any mention of Martin returning home. The same can be said of the numerous timelines and maps that have been drawn about the shooting. Now, which of these two scenarios do you think is more likely: that a single Twitter user picked out a key piece of Rachel's testimony that was somehow missed by every credible news source, or that the single Twitter user was simply mistaken?

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

So exactly how close is "right by," ScentCone?

[TheEmperorOfSlashdot]

Some people would say that Proxima Centauri is "right next to" us,because it's only about four lightyears away. Presumably Martin was within four lightyears of his home, so that statement is true even if rather ambiguous.

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

Martin never returned home from the 7-11.

We will say it as many times as it takes to sink in.

Re:So exactly how close is "right by," ScentCone?

[ScentCone]

So exactly how close is "right by,

Close enough that the witness also thought that his dad being there in the house, or not, was relevant. She pointed out that though Martin was there, his dad wasn't. Which is important because if we're talking about Martin being half a block away (not "right by"), the dad being in the house or not would have been meaningless.

Ridiculous

[Anonymous Coward]

Can someone please explain to me how if someone follows, then leaves a safe place (car) to confront (more than likely aggressively) an individual who they consider to be a criminal, gets into a fist to fist fight (that they precipitated by pursuing the so-called criminal), takes an ass whopping via the other persons hands, then kills the person with a gun..... How can that be self defense?? Fuck the "stand your ground" law! Seriously, how can that be self defense when if he would have just followed the "person" out of the neighborhood while riding in his car or actually he could have just called the police and let them handle the situation....how can I, or anyone else claim self defense when I aggressively pursue an unknown individual??

This whole trial is stupid and lacks logic.... something that I see most Americans don't understand.