Why isn't this murder?

[Docfeelgood]

Zimmerman was carrying a standard .38 pistol. He's stated the weapon was in the pocket of his jacket, the same type of jacket issued to scholastic lettermen. The pockets on that type of jacket are too shallow to conceal a pistol with a standard barrel, so the weapon would have been visible. Basically what's being said here is that if you're unarmed and being stalked by a man with a gun you are obligated to allow him to get off a shot before you attempt to protect yourself.

you've gotten some bad information somewhere. it was a holstered 9mm

[molly bloom]

Shut up and eat your...

(consults reference)

..."Poteen," biznatch.

Poteen is an alcoholic beverage produced in Eire. Poutine is a cheesy stuff produced in Canada, although William Shatner currently resides in the U.S. .

[Pax]

Congratulations for being a fool, anyway, even if you weren't directly or indirectly involved in ruining the life of a guy who appears to have basically done nothing wrong.

EDIT: Nice DanS. I decided to make my post slightly more polite in response. But, given your limited knowledge of the US legal system, you may be surprised to learn that being a cunt is not actually a crime.

You seemed outraged over Zimmermans' ruined life but nothing for Martins' lost life?

[Sava]

HC is a ******.

[Docfeelgood]

HC is a ******.

lso

he enjoys azz kissing also

[Jaguar]

Wow, this thread is worthless.

[Jaguar]

I love people making up terms like "principal choreographer" and acting like they're referring to a real thing that matters in a courtroom.

If you want an actual legal term that will end up being significant in this trial, read up on "lesser included" offenses. That's where the money is.

[Donegeal]

I haven't followed the case word by word or anything, but is it correct that the events went something like this?

Zimmerman rings cops because a young black kid is out on the streets at night
Cops say back off
Zimmerman ignores cops and follows unarmed minor in the dark
Zimmerman tells cops he's lost the minor
Zimmerman and minor have a fight, no-one but Zimmerman knows who started it
Zimmerman shoots unarmed minor

Am I missing anything? How exactly is this not at least manslaughter? Only in America can you ignore the police and end up shooting a child on the streets and that's just considered fair game.

A big thing you're missing is that dispatchers are not cops. They are civilians. They aren't authorized to give orders to anyone. If a sworn police officer had given him orders, then it would be a whole different ball game.

Oh, and there is no way Zimmerman knew Martin was a minor. Hind-sight information like this is mostly irrelevant.

I'm certainly not defending Zimmerman here, he was a colossal idiot; unfortunately, being an idiot is not against the law.

[The Mad Monk]

I'd say that's actually fortunate. We're spending too much on prisons as it is.

[Patroklos]

I haven't followed the case word by word or anything, but is it correct that the events went something like this?

Zimmerman rings cops because a young black kid is out on the streets at night
Cops say back off
Zimmerman ignores cops and follows unarmed minor in the dark
Zimmerman tells cops he's lost the minor
Zimmerman and minor have a fight, no-one but Zimmerman knows who started it
Zimmerman shoots unarmed minor

Am I missing anything? How exactly is this not at least manslaughter? Only in America can you ignore the police and end up shooting a child on the streets and that's just considered fair game.

No.

Zimmerman sees Martin and begins to follow because he thinks its suspicious.
Zimmerman calls cops who SUGGEST (they never order him to do anything) he stop following him.
Zimmerman loses sight of Martin.
Zimmerman agreesto not follow but goes down the street to get the nearest address so the dispatcher can route the cops on the way.
Zimmerman can't find an address so heads back to car.
Zimmerman is attacked by Martin and is only the only one with wounds indicating he is losing. All witness indicate Martin is the aggressor.
Zimmerman's story is while getting his ass beat Martin felt and went for his gun at which point Zimmerman gailed control and shot Martin.

If this has been a dad at a playground approaching a creepy dude at the swing set there wouldn't be any controversy, so lay off the "vigilante" BS. There is no indication Zimmerman confronted anyone.

[Wezil]

A big thing you're missing is that dispatchers are not cops. They are civilians. They aren't authorized to give orders to anyone. If a sworn police officer had given him orders, then it would be a whole different ball game.

This has been pointed out numerous times since the event. It's selective amnesia when people keep spouting "the cops told him to stop".

[kentonio]

No.

Zimmerman sees Martin and begins to follow because he thinks its suspicious.
Zimmerman calls cops who SUGGEST (they never order him to do anything) he stop following him.
Zimmerman loses sight of Martin.
Zimmerman agreesto not follow but goes down the street to get the nearest address so the dispatcher can route the cops on the way.
Zimmerman can't find an address so heads back to car.
Zimmerman is attacked by Martin and is only the only one with wounds indicating he is losing. All witness indicate Martin is the aggressor.
Zimmerman's story is while getting his ass beat Martin felt and went for his gun at which point Zimmerman gailed control and shot Martin.

Bull**** supposition that relies on believing the killers version of events at all times. Guess Zimmerman didn't have any reason to sugarcoat his account after all, considering all he did was shoot an unarmed kid.

If this has been a dad at a playground approaching a creepy dude at the swing set there wouldn't be any controversy, so lay off the "vigilante" BS. There is no indication Zimmerman confronted anyone.

But it wasn't, it was an adult vigilante on a power trip stalking an innocent kid on his way back from the store. Put yourself in that boys shoes a second, he went out for M&Ms and was followed through the rain by a creepy guy with a ****ing gun.

[kentonio]

This has been pointed out numerous times since the event. It's selective amnesia when people keep spouting "the cops told him to stop".

Oh please, when you ring the cops its a complete copout to try and claim that because its a dispatcher telling you to back the **** off, that it somehow doesn't count.

[PLATO]

Oh please, when you ring the cops its a complete copout to try and claim that because its a dispatcher telling you to back the **** off, that it somehow doesn't count.

It is different though. As far as legally, anyway. The dispatcher's statement is in the realm of "advice" and not "lawful order". As far as the law is concerned, it is a huge difference.

[kentonio]

Sure it's different legally.

I'm actually sat in disbelief right now at the number of people who don't give a single **** that a young boy got brutally murdered for literally nothing. I'm not including you in that btw Plato, you're a good guy.