Posted on 07/09/2013 11:46:40 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
*On Monday (7/8) the defense attorneys in the George Zimmerman trial brought forth testimony from a parade of witnesses who vouched that the screams for help on the 911 tapes were those of Zimmerman and not Trayvon Martin.
Legal analysts called it a victory for the defense, claiming the testimony of Trayvon’s father Tracy Martin was weak and contradictory. However, the father did raise one simple question that seems to be largely overlooked – why did Zimmerman leave his car in the first place to go after his son?
It would seem the prosecution’s best strategy would have been to camp on the 911 call where the dispatchers clearly instructed Zimmerman not to pursue Trayvon stating “We don’t need you to do that.” What was the timeline from that directive to the fatal shot? Zimmerman’s claim that he was looking for the name of the street location is weak. For someone who has lived on that complex for three years – to be as diligent and concerned a watchman as he portrays – and not know the location he was patrolling is incredible. Reportedly, there are only three street names throughout the entire complex.
To claim that he could not gather his thoughts through all the excitement and adrenaline flowing doesn’t add up as police and other witnesses reported that they found him to be too calm and collected for someone who had just shot another human being.
So it appears the prosecution should have focused on Zimmerman’s neglecting to follow the instruction of law enforcement professionals – that’s the cut bank where the defense would erode.
The Florida Supreme Court defines negligence as follows:
“Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care. Reasonable care is that degree of care which a reasonably careful person would use under like circumstances. Negligence may consist either in doing something that a reasonably careful person would not do under like circumstances or in failing to do something that a reasonably careful person would do under like circumstances.” (Florida Standard Jury Instructions, 4.1).
Zimmerman’s case should be likened to a drunk driver who rear-ended another vehicle resulting in loss of life. Zimmerman was intoxicated with his own agenda and ambition, plain and simple. The trial should be focused on the initial impact – that is how Trayvon was impacted once he realized he was being followed by someone who did not identify himself as he should have.
By the way, in identifying who in fact is screaming “help” on the 911 tape, I’m reminded of a story I once heard where upon viewing her dead husband’s body a woman thought it did not resemble him and complained to the funeral director, “That’s not my husband” to which the director replied “How do you know…you’ve never seen him dead before!” So I ask, how can anyone be sure of who is in fact screaming on the tape when they’ve never heard what the person in desperation may sound like in the face of death?
I thought that it was another gay marriage thread.
These people never get tired of creating new theories as to why Zimmerman is guilty. Reminds me of the four white guys who supposedly killed OJ’s wife.
It seems as though the pursuit of the truth is unimportant. Everything is reduced to a game plan or a strategy to achieve a desired outcome as though this is some kind of athletic competition where you root for your home(boy) team. I understand attorneys have a job to do, but how do you live with yourself knowing you are framing someone, with no regard for what happens if you are successful in swinging a wrong verdict? It seems the guy who wrote this piece is willing to convict on a theory. Doubtful theories are not the threshold of evidence proving guilt the last time I checked, or, maybe they are.
Mister author... just because you are black do you have to be such a racist?
If Zimmerman was out to kill Martin, why didn’t he shot him sooner?
Make that “shoot”.
No worries. I was just affirming your well stated point.
Having attended a number of funerals over the years, my conclusion is that a dominant emotion among many who are present is guilt.
Given what I've learned about Trayvon's family history, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that there is a large dose of parental guilt going on here, covered by expressions of anger and externally directed blame as a means of denial, deflection, rationalization and coping with the underlying reality.
The problem with the cops is they decided to tell the truth.
The problem with the lesser included offenses is that every theory requires the jury to find Zimmerman started the fight and the evidence as it has come in just doesn't support that.
The title is the picture of a straw dog and the author, Larry Burford, is that picture.
Sorry, defense already Nuked the author’s argument on cross examination to the 911 dispatcher.
I think there was a sign warning people that there was a town watch in effect in that neighborhood. . Any suspicious behavior was going to be investigated according to the sign if I remember correctly. I don’t think Zimmerman did anything outside the scope of that sign. Anyone within its boundaries should have expected neighbors that were on the alert for trouble. What ever happened to “ See something, say something” that was being touted by Homeland Security ?
Does anyone know how far Trayvon’s worthless body was from GZ’s truck? It’s clear that they were pretty close, close enough that it’s hard to argue that GZ followed in any significant sense.
Precisely sir. The racial industrial complex is in full cry, braying for the judicial system to lynch an innocent man. They desire to shield their lumpenproletariat shock troop thugs from all sudden shock and in the process, intimidate the rest of us into cringing away from a righteous and forthright defense of Zimmerman.
It aint gonna work with me.
What bothers me about using his mother as an authority on his voice, is that she gave him up when he was two. How would she have any familiarity with his voice as a young adult?
The after effects of epinephrine (aka adrenaline) are interesting - while it’s still in the system and no longer needed, once it’s out of your system and you’ve got no blood sugar left, and (as might happen to GZ after a year of fear over this kangaroo court) after a large number of epinephrine events (PTSD).
While it’s still in your system, you can seem jumpy because you react far too quickly to little things, or you can seem unnaturally calm because you have a lot of subjective time to process what is being said/done before it’s time to respond, so that your reactions all seem extremely rational and smooth.
As for once the epinephrine clears your system, it’s a lot like an athlete an hour after a marathon or championship game. You don’t seem like you want to do anything or react to anything - apparent calm.
And in the long run? Zimmerman will probably get meaningful death threats for a long time, and multiple threatening actions that may be real or just intended to intimidate/provoke. If he avoids PTSD, it will be a miracle.
He won’t escape it. If he survives 5 years, I’d be surprised.
Yes.
Trying to see where a suspicious person went while the police are en route is not anything remotely approaching a crime.
“If the state wanted to file charges with a reasonable chance of being successful (and fair for that matter), it would have to be a negligence case, not Murder 2.”
A negligent homicide would be one you did not intend; but that you were careless and caused. As far as we know, the gunshot that killed Martin was not an accidental discharge.
BTW, where I live, self defense cannot be used as a defense to a negligent homicide because self-defense is an intentional act.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.