With all due respect, that information is not complete:
Sure, the teen was 6’3” tall. For some reason, his height is being used as some kind of evidence here. But, did you also know that, at 6’3”, he weighed only 140 lbs.? His nickname was Slimm, and Zimmerman outweighed him by 100 pounds:
http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/246108/250/Teens-death-renews-debate-over-Stand-Your-Ground
Btw, I think this is the teen’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Trayvon-Slimm-Martin/1353307542
Secondly, he was not almost 18. He was born in 1995; he’d just turned 17. I have a son almost the same age; I have to ask him to reach things for me, but height doesn’t mean they are grown men at that age. It also doesn’t mean they’re streetwise.
Thirdly, he was reportedly on a five-day suspension from school for lateness (hardly a serious offense):
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/os-trayvon-martin-shooting-tension-20120317,0,4288837,full.story
At this point, he’s hardly coming across like a gangsta-wannabe. Zimmerman is the one coming across as a wannabe-a-cop.
I don’t believe Zimmerman committed premeditated murder. My speculation is that both Zimmerman and Martin were suspicious of each other. Martin might’ve believed he was being followed by a gangbanger. Even if we give Zimmerman the benefit of the doubt: Suppose Martin did come at him when he got out of his vehicle. Well, Martin had been trying to get away from him. Now, suddenly, this man who’d been following him is out of his vehicle and coming toward him. Maybe Martin was “standing his ground” and acting in self-defense. Zimmerman is a young man in his 20’s, but maybe out-of-shape physically.
Whatever the case, the family is right in demanding further investigation, charges... a trial.
I will say one thing that’s been bothering me, though: With a son the same age, I can’t understand why the father didn’t go looking for his son when he didn’t return home right away. Why didn’t he notice something happening just 70 feet from the house where he was staying? I read somewhere that he called police the next morning. (I don’t know where I read that now.) Why not call that night? And why didn’t the girl on the phone call the parents to tell them something had happened? Maybe I’m just a very protective parent, but there are lots of unanswered questions in this story.
His height is being used as evidence, because Zimmerman is 5'2" tall. Outweighed Martin, but seriously shorter. 6'3" Slimm was on top of 5'2" Zimmerman beating the snot out of Zimmerman's face, and pounding his head into the ground. Sounds like self-defense to shoot "Slimm" in that scenario.
“With all due respect, that information is not complete”
Agreed.
The kid does sound like a good kid after reading the info you posted. He certainly is a sympathetic figure,especially with his misleading angelic photos from a much earlier age saturating the internet.
However,the most critical information though is who attacked who during the altercation. An eye witness saw the kid on top of Zimmerman punching him in the face. He said that Zimmerman was the one calling for help. For one who was outweighed by 100 lbs, the kid was giving a good account of himself. Perhaps he started the fight by sucker punching Zimmerman? I donno.
If the kid could have gotten control of the gun in Zimmermans waistband Zimerman would be toast so he had a good reason to fear for his life, which would enable the SYG Law. Maybe Zimmerman started pushing the kid first. Who knows at this point. That is why the Grand Jury is necessary.
I read that Zim followed the kid to keep him under observation. I read that the 9-ll operator told him “You dont have to do that” which under my understanding of English is not a prohibition to do so. Perhaps this negates a SYG law defense. Again, I donno.
A lot depends on how Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law reads. Evidently the local prosecutor thought at the time of Zimmermans release that his arrest on manslaughter charges would not hold up in court.
But when you think about it all this legal prudence is irrelevant. Zimmerman is in the sights of a National Lynch Mob. Any politician or govt official who refuses to go with this mob will be ruined. Innocent until proven guilty has been thrown out the window.
Good points.
Investigate, provide evidence to the DA, let the law proceeses take its course. If it leads to trisl, fine, but so far there has been no probable cause to result in arrest/charge, almost thirty days and nothing.... Tells me something.
I do not doubt that teh feds will either pressue teh local law or themselves respond to the “uprising” mentas;lity- a true manufactured crises to be levered.
Alas, teh rule of law is dying, or so it seems.
pls excuse my spelling, had a knee scope done today, so a bit foggy still.