of course,,

Id want accountability/justice

The prosecutions case is falling apart very quickly. The prosecutors had a look of dread on their faces at one point today.

Hopefully the prosecutors will realize the horrible mistake they made and will drop charges ASAP!

But, bottom line is. Z carried a gun. Why? If he feared for his life enough to carry a gun, why go out where he feared? A CHL is for personal protection not for patrolling a neighborhood, alone. First thing they will tell you is not to carry a weapon and have a person with you. Z took it upon himself to be a one man patrol. Bad choice.
Guilty.

shouldn't have profiled
shouldn't have used hateful language on the 911 call
shouldn't have lied at the bond hearing



there is plenty of negative weighing against the defense,,,,,its a toss up ,,, but at least it was taken to trial to give the family some sense of an attempt at justice

From another forum.....

After a day of very solid cross confirmed testimony in the Zimmerman / Martin case, it turns out that in spite of the fact that Trayvon Martin was pounding the daylights out of Zimmerman's face and skull on a concrete surface, Zimmerman never went for his side arm until he realized that Martin noticed he was armed and appeared to go for the gun saying, "You're gonna die tonight" to Zimmerman.

Only at that point of life or death decision did Zimmerman grab his weapon and fire one shot into Trayvon's upper torso.

Zimmerman testified that he did not realize that he hit Martin... he assumed that when Martin said, "You got me". Martin meant he was going to stop assaulting Zimmerman as Martin leaned back off of Zimmerman's chest.

Zimmerman then testifies that he slipped out from Martin where he was pinned down and jumped on Martins back to restrain his hands to stop his attacker from executing any further blows.

Zimmerman tossed his gun to the side and held Martins arms down as Martin lay face down.

It seems to me that the average person who took a beating from a larger stronger attacker, would go for his weapon much sooner and would not have stopped firing until he was sure the attacker was profoundly incapacitated.

Most people in that situation would have emptied their magazine on the attacker to assure their own survival.

Based on testimony and evidence, George Zimmerman exercised extreme restraint in the use of deadly force. And the single spent, shell casing proves that restraint beyond a doubt.

issue is,, it wasn't a 'beating from a larger stronger attacker',,, there was only a one inch difference between the two and Zimmerman is fifty pounds heavier than the kid who beat him

seems to me, the average person, after seeing someone turn around to follow them in a car. and then get out the car and pursue them on foot BETWEEN homes,,,would feel in imminent danger and have the right to not have to 'exercise extreme restraint'

especially if said person reaches for something,,,,

police justify shootings this way, reasonable THREAT, its called

treyvon just didn't have a gun, he only had his fists,,,

too bad z didn't have the restraint to let police do their job and leave his behind in the car,,,

but that's the awe of this case,,,,

what 'seems' to be reasonable between cultures doesn't always line up

The prosecution had little evidence from the beginning and based on the consistent witness testimony so far things are going very well for the defense.
We'll see what happens with the other witnesses and evidence but I think that George Zimmerman will be found not guilty by the jury.
I'm doubting that he will be charged with manslaughter or anything else unless the prosecution can somehow prove that George Zimmerman wasn't acting within the law beyond a reasonable doubt.

he isn't charged with manslaughter

he is charged with second degree murder

Im having doubts he will be found guilty, due to his network (his witnesses have a better mainstream acceptance and credibility)

although I believe he should be held accountable , at the very least, for criminal negligence,,,

and I believe he is a liar who has on his side that the only other person to know what HE DID that night is dead

I know that he's not charged with manslaughter.
I said that it would be unlikely for the prosecution to charge George Zimmerman with a lesser charge if they weren't able to successfully charge him with Second Degree murder.

he could be charged with stalking and/or culpable negligence in this death


like oj was found 'responsible' in civil court although not guilty in criminal


there are other ways to hold him legally responsible for this death

The prosecution would have to prove that George Zimmerman was stalking Treyvon Martin which I highly doubt they'll be able to if they decided to go down that road.
I don't think they'll be able to get him on negligence either.
Not without credible evidence of it anyways.

We'll see where this case goes though.
Maybe the prosecution has something that doesn't help the defenses' case that they haven't presented yet.

stalking " To prove the crime of Stalking, the State must prove the following element beyond a reasonable doubt:

(Defendant) willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly [followed] [harassed] [or] [cyberstalked] (victim).

Definitions.
“Harass” means to engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress in such person and serves no legitimate purpose.







culpable negligence: To prove the crime of Culpable Negligence, the State must prove the following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. (Defendant)

Give 1a or 1b as applicable.
a. [exposed (victim) to personal injury].

b. [inflicted actual personal injury on (victim)].

2. [He] [She] did so through culpable negligence.

Give if 1a alleged.
Actual injury is not required.




..these wouldn't be too difficult to show through the actions admitted to that night,,,



but we will see how the case goes, I think the prosecution has ALREADY shown inconsistencies that don't help the defense case

Yeah, Zimmerman wanted to be a one-man patrol, but does his action really fit the definition of murder?

that's what the jury will have to decide when all evidence is presented



7.4 MURDER—SECOND DEGREE
§ 782.04(2), Fla.Stat.

To prove the crime of Second Degree Murder, the State must prove the following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. (Victim) is dead.

2. The death was caused by the criminal act of (defendant).

3. There was an unlawful killing of (victim) by an act imminently dangerous to another and demonstrating a depraved mind without regard for human life.

Definitions.
An “act” includes a series of related actions arising from and performed pursuant to a single design or purpose.

An act is “imminently dangerous to another and demonstrating a depraved mind” if it is an act or series of acts that:

1. a person of ordinary judgment would know is reasonably certain to kill or do serious bodily injury to another, and

2. is done from ill will, hatred, spite, or an evil intent, and

3. is of such a nature that the act itself indicates an indifference to human life.

In order to convict of Second Degree Murder, it is not necessary for the State to prove the defendant had an intent to cause death.

Yes..

Well, I you want to murder someone. A good way would be.

1. Carry a loaded gun.
2. Go somewhere fairly isolated at night.
3. Find a victim
4. Shoot them at close range.
5. Claim it was self defense.

Whether that was Z's motive, who knows? Has he shown any remorse for what happened?

I don't think he inflicted those head injuries on himself... and Martin was not a child. Young, but he was a lot taller and pretty strong.

Martin was still legally a minor.

The minor claim flies out the window when dead thug assaults Mr Z