George Zimmerman Acquitted on All Charges!

[jordan179]

A great moment for American criminal justice today, as George Zimmerman was acquitted on all charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, despite the obvious attempt, orchestrated from the White House and US Justice Department, to convict Zimmerman as a political maneuver.  George Zimmerman walks free, now able to recoup the money he was forced

Comments

[oronoda]

I resisted and lost posting this on facebook:

Beyond reasonable doubt, people. Beyond reasonable doubt based on a case made up of primarily circumstantial evidence. If you know exactly what happened that night, tell me where you found the TARDIS and tell me why the Doctor did not intervene. Or how you got Professor X's powers to read minds. The thing is, this case became an inkblot test to people's pet cause whether it was gun control, racial profiling, or gun rights. People just filled in the details we didn't know to prop up those causes. It is insulting to Trayvon's memory to use him as a political prop. We just don't know. There were many possibilities on how it went down with evidence to support each scenario. I mean, I think it was a misunderstanding that got out of hand and the death was entirely avoidable. But that is just what I feel. I don't know what went down that night just like everyone else. The only people who know for certain are Zimmerman and Martin. You have what you speculate. That's it! That is not enough to send someone to prison based on a speculation.

[philmophlegm]

That is the single wisest paragraph I have seen written about this case.

[luagha]

I think this is too kind, even. :)

All the real evidence pointed to Zimmerman's version of events.

All the imaginary made up stuff that didn't happen, often reported by the press, pointed the other way.

But I understand, perhaps, your being kind on facebook.

[itzwicks]

This is why I keep a light on the back porch for Live Journal. Sensibility can still be found on the nets.

Bonus points for working in a Doctor Who reference! ;-)

[philmophlegm]

Yeah, I thought that too!

[fervid_dryfire]

Agreed on all counts. =)

[benschachar_77]

Exactly my thoughts.

[ford_prefect42]

Can you tell me a "story" of the events that *isn't* the one presented by Zimmerman and is still consistent with the irrefutable evidence? The irrefutable evidence being the 9-11 call, the injury photographs, the eyewitness testimony, etcetera?

I ask because I haven't heard one. I haven't heard anyone suggest how George got those injuries, or how, after the "he ran" in Zimmerman's 9-11 call, the 2 of them ended up talking again *other* than the sequence of events proposed by Zimmerman.

It's not "too soon" anymore, the trial happened, all the facts are out there. We *do* know what happened.

[oronoda]

Zimmerman perhaps grabbed Martin as he said, "what are you doing?" which can be considered as initiated the confrontation (I don't buy the whole stalking = justification to punch someone in the face. That is not initiating the confrontation). He was quickly overpowered by Martin who thought he had to protect himself. Landed several punches and slammed Zimmerman into ground, Zimmerman pulls the gun to regain the upper-hand.

Off topic but I think Trayvon's friend's testimony kinda indicates that Zimmerman had more malice at Zimmerman than the opposite. After all, I call people fucking punks when I'm driving into DC 5 days a week I don't mean them harm but mere annoyance.

[luagha]

Not bad but doesn't explain why Trayvon did not go 100 yards from his location at the end of Jeantel's telephone call to his abode during the four full minutes he had to do so before Zimmerman's screaming started, his neighbor called 911, and the screaming was caught on the phone.

Also doesn't explain a lack of bruising on Trayvon's arms where he was gripped and struggled free enough to punch and break Zimmerman's nose. Remember, Trayvon's only injuries are grazing on the knuckles from his punching, and the gunshot wound.

[oronoda]

Grabbing someone doesn't necessarily leave a bruise.

[jordan179]

True, and as an unwanted touching it would constitute assault and battery and hence derail Zimmerman's claim of self-defense. However, it is notable that the prosecution never claimed that this happened, which implies that they had absolutely no evidence for it.

Which is of course not the same thing as stating that it definitely didn't happen, but is suggestive.

[oronoda]

Yep. I mean that is absolutely true. There is no evidence to claim that it did happen but just because there was no evidence of that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[prester_scott]

Actually, the way Florida law is written, it is possible for the instigator to claim self-defense. If A "throws the first punch" (not deadly force), but then backs down and announces his attention to withdraw or surrender, and then B attacks A with deadly force anyway, then A may lawfully defend his life. That is theory however, I'm not aware of this situation ever coming to trial.

[jordan179]

I'm sorry, I wasn't polite by liberal standards. Let me try again.

"Waah! You're disagreeing with me! You're an evil racist crypto-Guelph! I have no answer to your point and this makes me angry! (*obscenity obscenity*) I'm banning you to preserve the integrity of my precious cranial fluids!"

Naah. Not my style, and I like you anyway. :)

So no liberal politeness.

(if you're curious of what I speak,

http://kent-allard-jr.livejournal.com/369507.html?view=comments
).

Didn't surprise me, but saddened me a bit.

[oronoda]

Oi... this person must have access to the TARDIS to speak with that much conviction!