Zimmerman defense lawyers won't argue 'stand-your-ground' in Florida shooting case

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/13/zimmerman-defense-lawyers-wont-argue-tand-your-ground-in-florida-shooting-case/?test=latestnews ^

[MNDude]

attorney for the man who shot and killed unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin said Monday he'll seek to get the case dismissed using a traditional self-defense argument and not the state's "stand your ground" statute. Mark O'Mara, who is defending George Zimmerman against a second-degree murder charge in the fatal February shooting, said the traditional self-defense approach is appropriate because the facts suggest his client couldn't retreat from a beating Martin was giving him. Zimmerman's attorneys had said last week that they would use Florida's controverial "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force -- rather than retreat -- if they believe their lives are in danger. "The facts don't seem to support a `stand your ground' defense," O'Mara said. Martin's Feb. 26 death in a gated community in the Orlando suburb of Sanford first drew national attention on March 8, the day his relatives held their first news conference to lament that Zimmerman hadn't been arrested.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/13/zimmerman-defense-lawyers-wont-argue-tand-your-ground-in-florida-shooting-case/?test=latestnews#ixzz23WkwXCXZ

[onemiddleamerican]

Sorry, I see anyone walking down the street, Black kid or otherwise, and I ignore him. He ain’t bothering me, so I could care less about where he goes or what he does.

That's all well and good by most people.

Until someone they care about is victimized by a thug who is later found to have a houseful of pocketbooks, credit cards, cash, jewelry, etc., that belonged to a bunch of other people's grandmas, sisters, moms, daughters.

And then the question becomes, "He's been doing this for years; why didn't somebody stop him before he hurt so many people?!"

If I see something that does not pass the smell test, I'm going to make the phone call. I don't want my mother, sister, daughter or granddaughter to be the thugs' next victim.

YMMV

[Uncle Chip]

If someone is following you rather ominously at night, why do YOU not have the right to confront that person?

Following someone is not a crime, especially when it is along a public walkway where you have the right to be.

Even confronting another person verbally is not a crime.

However putting your hands on another person is a crime, and the prosecution has already admitted that Martin was on top of Zimmerman doing just that.

for all he knew GZ could be some sex pervert into teenage boys.

Isn't that "profiling"???

Call the Justice Department.

[Beach_Babe]

. . . GZ’s community had a recent string of burglaries, all committed by young black males, some violent . . .

---

Which were the violent burglaries?

[Beach_Babe]

... Until someone they care about is victimized by a thug who is later found to have a houseful of pocketbooks, credit cards, cash, jewelry, etc., that belonged to a bunch of other people's grandmas, sisters, moms, daughters ...

---

Are you saying that Trayvon had a houseful of pocketbooks, credit cards, cash, jewelry, etc., that belonged to a bunch of other people?

[Beach_Babe]

George had multiple opportunities to avoid any confrontation.

[Cyber Liberty]

So Zimmerman’s life is saved, and his livelihood is forever destroyed. Good day’s work, Mr. O’Mara. A public defender could have done as well.

[onemiddleamerican]

Read my comment and the other Freeper’s comment that I was replying to. That will answer your question, presuming it was an honest one.

[Uncle Chip]

George had multiple opportunities to avoid any confrontation.

Not every confrontation is avoidable. Not every confrontation is a crime.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Poor sentence structure on my part. I was FReeping in the car ... from my phone ... at a stop light.

I was referring to the young black males not the burglaries.

[Beach_Babe]

Above is TWO YEARS of reported incidents for the 240 residence, 3 street neighborhood. A grand total of 30, including the shooting of Trayvon Martin … not what I’d call a crime wave. If I recall correctly, SIXTEEN of those "crimes" were reported by Zimmerman.

He did not mind his own business. According to Zimmerman’s 47-page 911 Call History, dating back to 2004, he reported a man driving with no headlights, a biker popping wheelies, dogs, potholes, trash in the street, vehicles driving slowly, vehicles driving fast, open garage doors, and loud parties. “Quiet hours” must begin at 11:00pm … he called at 11:01pm.

He really enjoyed getting people in trouble with the law ... even children. He reported teens playing basketball the clubhouse and jumping fences, kids playing in the street, a boy walking alone, and children not tethered in car seats.

He was also concerned about black men in the neighborhood. In August 2011, he called to report a black male standing near the development's back entrance. Three days later, he called to report two black teens in the same area. On October 1st, he called about 2 black males near the development's front entrance. On February 2nd, Zimmerman called to report a black man near Frank Taffee’s house. Taffee, who had left his windows open and was not at home, said he received a call from Zimmerman about the man at 6:30pm but Zimmerman didn’t notify the police until 8:30pm that evening.

Whatever happened that night .... it was in reaction to Zimmerman having stalked and menaced an innocent child while armed. People seem to forget, that Trayvon was doing nothing other than trying to get home.

It is George, who from before 7:09pm until 7:17pm, had Trayvon in his sight, both figuratively and then literally. The only reason Trayvon would have to approach Zimmerman ... in any way ... was in reaction to Zimmerman's creepy behavior. It's 100% the initiation of Zimmerman's aggressive and menacing behavior that lead to a death that night. Zimmerman is 100% responsible for initiating that entire situation. Zimmerman alone.

What gets to me most deeply about this case is the absolute and total innocence of Trayvon ... minding his own business, oblivious to his surroundings, trying to avoid getting too wet, and talking to his girlfriend. He was totally unaware that he was being targeted. Sadly, on top of this senseless horrible murder, Trayvon is villainized over and over again by his fan club.

[Emperor Palpatine]

You get no arguments from me.

Its some of the others here who want to canonize Zimmerman the same way they whine the left is doing to TM.

[Uncle Chip]

You certainly have been drinking the watermelon juice over there and smoking their dopey narratives.

child

yeh sure -- that is one large baby huey at 7-Eleven trying to buy blunts.

trying to get home

He wasn't in that big a hurry. He found time to commit an assault and battery along the way -- hey all in a night's trying to get home.

Zimmerman is 100% responsible

yeh -- he punched himself in the nose, banged his head on the sidewalk, and sat on his own chest -- an amazing contortionist feat.

targeted.

You mean "reported" to the NEN as someone possibly on the verge of committing a crime -- and he was right. Two minutes later he was committing an assault and battery and was in no hurry to get home.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Zimmerman had no business involving himself. He was told by the authorities to back off, he didn’t. He has no one to blame for the situation he’s in but himself. If this caee puts a dent in this cliquish vigilantism, good.

Sorry, NW fascists, like HOA totalitarians, are petty neighborhood Nazis on power trips. I dislike them intensely and all they stand for. Nebby busybodies and tinhorn tyrants. To Hades with ‘em.

I’ll defend ME and MINE, screw my neighbors...most of whom I despise as it is.

[Beach_Babe]

Zimmerman: The Power of Circumstantial Evidence

[Uncle Chip]

If that’s where you are getting your information no wonder you are confused. He probably still thinks it was ice tea and TM was a little child of 12.

[varmintman]

The collected works of Trayvon Martin

" this artist wrote in a stream of consciousness style and it may appear repetitive at times but there are many pearls worth sharing with others. I will add a few of his most idiosyncratic quotes in the hope that you will search the full document for more, please write the word "quote" and the quotation of his tweet in your comment so that I can easily search for comments of his best quotations add them to the list here. I hope doing so will help many more people to understand what a beautiful mind we have lost, and what wonderful treasure we have found in his work."...

Trayvon Martin was a statistic looking for a way to happen. He'd been tossed out of school for posession of burglary tools and women's jewelry, was walking home from a trip to procure the components of the new-gen drug concoction called "purple drank", was almost certainly high and was most likely casing one or two houses in the neighborhood with the intention of furthering the string of burglaries which had been going on there. His failed attempt to kill George Zimmerman may in fact have been motivated by viewing Zimmerman as a competing burglar on his turf.

[Beach_Babe]

Shooting the messenger because you don’t like the message?

[Beach_Babe]

was almost certainly . . . was most likely . . . may in fact . . .

In other words, you weren't there and it's sheer conjecture.

[PhatHead]

A “stand your ground” defense is not necessary for a pretrial hearing, dismissal of charges and immunity from civil liability. Zimmerman has already requested that hearing.

[Uncle Chip]

You can't be serious. Are you tying your credibility to this nutcase who denies all the factual evidence in favor of his non-existent "circumstantial" evidence???

BTW Have you told them that it wasn't ice tea but Watermelon Juice yet??? I dare you to do that.