The Zimmerman Trial

[Berzerker]

My main issue in all of this is that surely it stopped being self-defence when Z got out of the safety of his car. At that point, by approaching the person, surely he's the one that becomes the aggressor?

Surely neighbourhood watch people are supposed to 'observe and document' and call the cops? Not actively seek out a 'confrontation'.

Z didn't even know where M was, he lost sight of him and was walking back to his truck when M walked up behind him.

I'm just saying he went looking for a confrontation when he didn't have to.

he was trying to meet the cops near the location M was last seen

how do you confront someone while walking from them?

Interesting, so Martin decided to viciously attack Zimmerman while simultaneously talking to his girlfriend on the phone?

The GF heard the beginning of their conversation and she confirms Z's version, she heard M identify the cracker and she heard M start asking questions. You're somehow assuming Z walked up to M and started asking him questions, thats backwards.

So, if in an alternate universe, Martin pull his gun and shot to death his stalker, you would be cheering for a "not guilty" verdict for the hero Martin over the creepy Zimmerman?

Z wasn't a stalker and that should have become obvious to M when Z responded to "why are you following me" by asking M what he was doing there.

We already know that's true. Zimmerman said so "He's suspicious, he's black". That was right before the 911 police officer told him not to stalk the poor black kid but Zimmerman ignored her and instead ran off to go kill the poor kid.

Z didn't know where M was, the same tape - and not that edited BS from NBC - shows Z telling the dispatcher he couldn't see him. Z even started to tell the dispatch his phone # but he stops because, and this was on the tape, he was afraid M could be nearby somewhere and he'd hear the number. Martin was standing (hiding from sight) near the T while Z walked by twice.

[PLATO]

Please don't let the facts stand in the way of the debate.

[Berzerker]

we dont need no stinking facts

Z has to pay for centuries of slavery and Jim Crow and the countless black folk abused and spat out by a racist judicial system

On the PC ladder, African Americans > Peruvian Jews

[rah]

I do find it ironic that Zimmerman wears a vest to protect himself from vigilante justice because of all the threats he's received.
Yep, wouldn't want people taking the law into their own hands now, would we.

[MrFun]

"Stand your ground" laws allow people to take the law into their own hands in some instances, rah.

[Uncle Sparky]

"Stand your ground" laws allow people to take the law into their own hands in some instances, rah.

Only if they feel they are threatened. If you were black and knew Zimmerman was nearby, would you feel threatened?

[MRT144]

Only if they feel they are threatened. If you were black and knew Zimmerman was nearby, would you feel threatened?

Well now, god yes. I'd feel unsafe as a black person period in Florida given the outcome of trial. Thats the biggest danger, not that there are riots or ****. Those pass. The real threat is there will be more Zimmermans.

Totally Relevant:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/criminal-justice/is-there-racial-bias-in-stand-your-ground-laws/

[The Mad Monk]

I take it that some of you were just as adamantly supportive with the O.J. Simpson verdict, right?

After all, the prosecution was the one who failed. WHERE'S THE BURDEN OF PROOF!?!?

Please, PLEASE tell me that you were adamantly supportive with the O.J. Simpson verdict!

[The Mad Monk]

Well now, god yes. I'd feel unsafe as a black person period in Florida given the outcome of trial. Thats the biggest danger, not that there are riots or ****. Those pass. The real threat is there will be more Zimmermans.

Totally Relevant:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...r-ground-laws/

Totally irrelevant. Stand your ground had no standing in this case.

[MRT144]

Relevant for my comment.

And I dont think this case would have happened in WA. Because we dont have weird ambiguities that allow people to shoot one another.

[The Mad Monk]

Well, no. Your comment was that you'd feel unsafe as a black man because of the result of this trial. Stand your ground had no bearing on the trial.

[rah]

"Stand your ground" laws allow people to take the law into their own hands in some instances, rah.

whoosh

[regexcellent]

Disappointed but really the prosecution should be pilloried for being so bad at this. **** Florida.

The prosecution had no hope of winning which on any charge which is why Zimmerman wasn't prosecuted from the start.

Relevant for my comment.

And I dont think this case would have happened in WA. Because we dont have weird ambiguities that allow people to shoot one another.

We've just been over how every state but Ohio has the same self defense rules that were relevant in this case as Florida does.

[Berzerker]

I thought people just wanted the trial, now there's a WH petition to charge him with some other crime

we want a trial that goes our way

does an acquittal strengthen a slander lawsuit vs NBC or would it matter?

[The Mad Monk]

I would like to think it matters.