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In Zimmerman Trial, Prosecution Witnesses Bolster Self-Defense Claims (the New York Times?)
The New York Times ^ | June 30, 2013 | Lizette Alvarez

Posted on 06/30/2013 8:14:48 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

As the trial of George Zimmerman enters its second week on Monday, it appears that the prosecution is struggling to meet the burden of proving him guilty of second-degree murder, legal analysts said.

The first week of the trial featured testimony from prosecution witnesses that in many instances bolstered Mr. Zimmerman’s argument of self-defense rather than the state’s case, the analysts said.

“When you are talking about state witnesses as if they are defense witnesses, that is a problem for the State of Florida,” said Diana Tennis, a prominent Orlando defense lawyer who is following the case. “And any time you end each day with either a zero-sum game or the defense coming out ahead, that’s a problem when you’re the prosecution.”

In light of the first week, analysts said that prosecutors should have charged Mr. Zimmerman with manslaughter instead of second-degree murder, which involves a showing of hatred, spite or evil intent. The jury can still consider manslaughter, but doing so could complicate closing arguments and deliberations.

“The state is overreaching, and I think that may well come back to bite them in terms of credibility,” said Michael Band, a longtime Miami prosecutor and now a defense lawyer.....

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: florida; kangaroo; railroaded; trayvon; trayvonstroops; zimmerman
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To: Fee

With respect you are arguing a different point.

I merely said that you have no basis for a statement you made that was presented as fact, when it was anything but.

“When GZ decided to follow TM after the 911 operator told him it was not necessary he entered a legal no man’s land.”

There is NO evidence that this ever happened - this notion is nothing but race-baiter speculation repeated without respite. Saying something over and over again does not make it true.

As for the point you seem to be trying to make most recently, the state’s own witness testified that TM had reached home. For the two men to have encountered one another where they did, TM must has turned back; otherwise he would have spent the evening sharing Skittles and watching TV.

So who was following who here?


81 posted on 07/01/2013 1:59:41 AM PDT by John Valentine (Deep in the Heart of Texas)
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To: Fee
1) GZ isn't some yahoo, he's the neighborhood WATCH captain.
2) As the neighborhood watch captain, he is trained to follow from a distance.
3) The state's own witness who trained GZ admitted watch captains are trained to follow from a distance. Also she said GZ passed all his training.
4) GZ has done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law. He gets a little more cred because he is the neighborhood WATCH captain.
5) He's also on the phone with the police during the so called follow, even more cred he's not some vigilante.

If St Skittles was concerned about being followed, he should have called the police. No call, negative cred.

If GZ was chasing and waving a gun at the thug, then GZ has a problem. There is no evidence that GZ brandished a weapon. The forensics point to the gun being fired during the fight on the ground.

If you understand the LAW, GZ is innocent.

The following nonsense is an OPINION and not the law.

82 posted on 07/01/2013 2:43:11 AM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: John Valentine

The forensic witnesses are next. They will shed light to where GZ SUV is located, where the two men laying on the grass was found by the arriving cops and the condo that TM was trying to get to. Jentel testify that TM told her on the phone he is almost at the condo, then there was a thud and the call ended. We can assume that he is near the condo and almost home, but the location is not firmly established. If GZ and TM is both found laying in a location far from the condo, then TM must have followed GZ as GZ walked back to his SUV. If forensic indicate that, then GZ would be off the hook for manslaughter. He can initiate the event by following TM but once he breaks the move and turns back to his SUV, no matter how TM feels about GZ initially following him, he cannot become angry and chase GZ down. He now becomes the aggressor in the situation.
If GZ never followed TM then the DA has no case. I think GZ said he was going back to his SUV when TM confronted him, and punched him. You do not go back to your SUV unless you left it to find out where TM went when he walked down the backyards of the condos. IAW GZ did attempt to follow. The DA is using this act as the initiating event that lead to the fighting and shooting.


83 posted on 07/01/2013 2:53:53 AM PDT by Fee
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To: GilesB
I believe my reply #58 should have been directed at Fee.

Heads up to John Valentine


84 posted on 07/01/2013 2:55:38 AM PDT by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: toldyou
I’m sure someone put a bug up her ass to go after GZ. I wonder who that person is?

Pam Bondi, Ben Crump, Alvin Parks, Congresswoman Wilson, .....

Take your pick ... there was a whole pack of them including the national media but it was ultimately her decision and she will take the fall for it along with Baldo

85 posted on 07/01/2013 3:09:24 AM PDT by Uncle Chip
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To: Fee
Another red hearing. No one is disputing there was a fight. Neither retreated otherwise there would be no fight. The gun was introduced during the fight. What was where, who started what, is again irrelevant to self defense with a WEAPON. St Skittes participated in a fight where he assumed the opponent was unarmed. A fatal mistake.

The forensics point to a single shot fired at very close range. No one again is disputing GZ fired the gun.

What is left is the self defense law. Suggest you read up on the self defense law before you start spouting more opinions instead of the law.

86 posted on 07/01/2013 3:13:59 AM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: TigersEye

There was also a black woman who fired a gun over her husband’s head who Corey put away for 20 years that has had the black community in an uproar including Congresscritter Wilson.

This case was Corey’s demonstration as to how fair she is — that she is an equal opportunity railroader.


87 posted on 07/01/2013 3:20:30 AM PDT by Uncle Chip
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To: null and void

“...the fact that Zimmerman is being railroaded to placate the black racist masses who will riot for any perceived slight.
When the Raiders lose there are riots in Oakland.

When the Raiders win there are riots in Oakland.”

That will be given a pass, though, because it’s just part of their “culture”.


88 posted on 07/01/2013 3:43:36 AM PDT by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like it)
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To: soycd

I’m still waiting for a major media to point out the fact that Zimmerman is being railroaded to placate the black racist masses who will riot for any perceived slight. America is getting stupider by the day.


Point it out?! My Goodness, their salivating worse than Pavlov’s dog over the chance of being able to report about Race-riots!


89 posted on 07/01/2013 4:11:17 AM PDT by The Working Man
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To: VRWC For Truth

Agree.

And, for clarity...GZ is a neighborhood watch coordinator.

Don’t use Captain, as this plays in to the media perception that he was an LEO wannabe.


90 posted on 07/01/2013 4:18:13 AM PDT by NOVACPA
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To: Friendofgeorge

bttt


91 posted on 07/01/2013 4:20:56 AM PDT by spacejunkie2001
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To: piytar
"Idiocracy was a documentary."

For these guys, Idiocracy is an operating manual.

92 posted on 07/01/2013 4:54:12 AM PDT by Jabba the Nutt (The Stupid Party, they've earned it.)
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To: UCANSEE2

Cory Booker is a Democrat mayor in some NJ town...forget which one. Announced he’s running for the late Frank Lautenberg’s Senate seat.

Angela Cory...that who you mean?


93 posted on 07/01/2013 5:09:47 AM PDT by txrangerette ("...hold to the truth; speak without fear". - Glenn Beck)
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To: txrangerette

Newark.


94 posted on 07/01/2013 5:12:55 AM PDT by Mouton (108th MI Group.....68-71)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
After watching the trial for two days, the First lady asked me, "doesn't the prosecution go first?"

5.56mm

95 posted on 07/01/2013 5:19:04 AM PDT by M Kehoe
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To: Venturer

Maybe “the State”, AND the prosecutor,

are going through the motions of a trial in order to appease the feral population and/or delay the violence & rioting that will follow letting Zim go.


96 posted on 07/01/2013 5:20:43 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Fee

Well yeah, Zimmerman was on neighborhood watch. He was trying to watch where Martin went. That is not any sort of initiating criminal event to what followed. He was acting within the law and within his role as neighborhood watch. There is nothing wrong with what he did. You could argue he didn’t have to do it, that he could have ignored Martin’s presence and his activities, however, he was SUPPOSED to be keeping a neighborhood watch. There is no way that can be PROPERLY used as the basis for blaming Zimmerman for what happened after that. The prosecution is trying to do that because they’ve got nothing, without that attempt.

The problem is, that dog won’t hunt.


97 posted on 07/01/2013 5:21:48 AM PDT by txrangerette ("...hold to the truth; speak without fear". - Glenn Beck)
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To: Red Steel

Heard some guy on Hannity Friday claiming that Martin was “standing his ground” because Zimmerman was threatening him.

Sorry, mister race-before-truth, but once Zim was not a threat, ie, subdued on the ground, Martin’s continued beating of him constituted a deadly assault.

Doesn’t matter at that point, Zim is still entitled to defend himself.


98 posted on 07/01/2013 5:23:08 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: MrB

Of course that is what they are doing. How long did it take for you to figure that out?

Of course it won’t work.


99 posted on 07/01/2013 5:41:15 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Thanks to Jesse and Al, they caused this whole trial fiasco based solely on race. After two days of the whole world watching/listening to sweet little Dee Dee, they must be proud of their accomplishment. They’ve shown what being black really means?


100 posted on 07/01/2013 5:43:27 AM PDT by showme_the_Glory (ILLEGAL: prohibited by law. ALIEN: Owing political allegiance to another country or government)
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