In the course of the trial, which I watched attentively, often with painful emotions, I found my view changing because even the prosecution witnesses brought on by Trayvon's lawyers, confirmed piece by piece that the evidence supported Zimmerman's version of the story.
I even scribbled out a "scorecard" of facts/allegations and as I went down the checklist, everything Zimmerman said had physical evidence behind it. Zimmerman did not attack Trayvon.
There were grass-stains all over the back of Zimmerman's clothes, lacerations of his scalp and contusions of the back of the head consistent with being thrown backwards to the ground, and his head being pounded onto the concrete. There were bruises all over him including two black eyes and a broken nose. But -- think of this --- no abrasions of the knuckles.
There were NO signs of beating-injuries on Trayvon, no bruises at all, except he DID have abrasion of the knuckles (consistent with beating somebody hard and repetitively with your fists) and grass and mud stains on the very bottom of his pants legs ONLY (consistent with ALWAYS BEING ON TOP. Zimmerman never landed an effective punch on him, they never even rolled.)
My conclusion is the same as the juries', when they actually saw the evidence: GZ had been decked by surprise, grounded and pummeled, and was in fear of his life. When his jacket was pulled up and his gun became visible, they were both reaching for it. GZ grabbed it and shot once, with the gun pointing upward because Trayvon was above, on top of him. Trayvon died.
I feel very bad about this. But the jury came back with the only conclusion they could, completely consistent with the evidence.
Like I said, I feel bad. But having watched he trial, I think they brought the truth out. I am sorry Trayvon is dead. But it is right that GZ has been acquitted of murder. It was not murder.
I pray for both these two men, one living and one dead. May God be the ultimate Savior of both their suffering souls.
You might wonder why my tone was so conciliatory. It's because she is "thinking with her feelings" and she needs to look at the evidence and "think with her brain."
She might not ever respond, but she needs to hear this.... and hear it from someone who come off as friend, not enemy.
Nice.