Here's how I picture that all-woman jury room.
Posted on 07/12/2013 1:53:47 PM PDT by Tunehead54
From an article linked:
George Zimmerman studied self defense, including Florida's controversial Stand Your Ground Law and got an A in the course, his college instructor told a courtroom today, appearing to contradict Zimmerman's claims shortly after he killed Trayvon Martin.
Capt. Alexis Francisco Carter testified today that he taught Zimmerman criminal litigation back in 2010 at Seminole State College. Carter, who is now an Army prosecutor, called Zimmerman one of his "better students," noting that Zimmerman received an A for his work.
The testimony is aimed at undermining Zimmerman's credibility because he has denied prior knowledge of self defense laws.
When asked by Fox News' Sean Hannity "prior to this night, this incident, had you even heard stand your ground?" Zimmerman responded "No Sir." Again Hannity asked " You have never heard about it before?," Again the same answer: "No."
Zimmerman, 29, is on trial in a Florida courtroom, charged with second degree murder in the shooting of Martin, 17, on Feb. 26, 2012. He maintains he killed Martin in self-defense.
Carter's testimony was made possible after Judge Debra Nelson handed the prosecution a legal victory before court resumed today by allowing Zimmerman's criminal justice course load, and his failed application for a Virginia Law enforcement job, to be entered into evidence. The ruling opened up Zimmerman's past to scrutiny.
It was the first time in eight days of testimony that jurors heard about Florida's "stand your ground" law.
Zimmerman had waived a pre-trial immunity "stand Your ground" hearing before a judge, which would have exonerated him from all future criminal and civil proceedings if a judge ruled in his favor. Zimmerman's attorney had argued that the former neighborhood watch captain wanted this case decided by a jury.
(Excerpt) Read more at 12newsnow.com ...
GZ will be found guilty of something...
2nd degree, manslaughter, child endangerment, hell, maybe the EPA will get him for bleeding on the sidewalk. But, I believe he will get nailed for something. I don’t have enough faith in the justice system to think he will be acquitted. They want to be able to say, we did what y’all wanted, we took him to trial, went through all the evidence, and found him guilty of ... The aftermath is not our fault.
Interesting and helpful analysis. You may be right about ineffective assistance of counsel. O’Mara was doing some fancing dancing with SYG. Here’s his explanation of why he didn’t bring it in under SYG explcitly, but was looking at getting an immunity hearing anyway:
“If the “Stand Your Ground” portion of the law was to be applied to the Zimmerman Case, even if George had an ability to retreat, he would not be required to do so before utilizing deadly force. In this particular case, George did not have an ability to retreat because he was on the ground with Trayvon Martin mounting him, striking blows, therefore the “Stand Your Ground” “benefit” given by the statute simply does not apply to the facts of George’s case: it is traditional self-defense. Of course, the immunity provision still does apply, and we will take full advantage of the immunity afforded by the Florida Legislature.”
Honestly, I do not understand his analysis. I would think SYG would still apply to at least some of the scenarios leading up to the moment when the gun was fired.
What I cannot recall is whatever happened to this immunity hearing. Did it just not happen? If not, why not, because O’Mara was clearly considering it at one point. I don’t know the pretrial timeline.
Pay close attention to 776.012 and 776.032 ...
This is actually just a vanity questioning why there was no SYG hearing - the article I plucked to throw the Admin’s off the scent of a bare vanity ... ;-)
Speaking of wasted bandwidth ... are you projecting maybe?
Not saying I’m right, just saying that the facts can’t be ignored. It’s easy (and sometimes fun) to get caught up in the minutiae but the facts based on evidence are usually what decides any case case.
If the facts decide this case, there’s no way GZ gets something other than either an aquittal or at worst a hung jury. In no way would I ‘think’ the decision between aquittal/hung jury or conviction is a coin flip.
i dont think home owners covers bullet holes in walls either.
Here's how I picture that all-woman jury room.
It’s the “JUST US” Dept........WHITES will go to prison...BLACKS will go free.
Eh, reversible error by a judge is a great way to get a do over.
Win or lose - his “normal life” is over. Seeing how many fed agencies go after him may be revealing starting with Holder’s Justus Dept.
I don’t know if I can agree with that explicitly. No judging, one way of the other, there are more blacks in prison, per capita, than other races.
The issue here is obviously the opportunity for Al Notsosharpton, Jesse Jackwithemsome, the MSM, et al, to make a buck off of some poor slob, whether that be GZ or TM. It doesn’t matter to any of them, so long as they get noticed, and make a few bucks on the side.
Let me try again - The SYG applies in any case claiming self-defense. Since the defendant is immune from arrest, prosecution and civil liablity the LEOs must first establish probable cause that the defendant committed a crime.
Once charged, the dismissal hearing is available to short-circuit all the hoorah of a trial to quickly determine if the actions of the defendant were legitimate self-defense. If so, case dismissed and the family of the “victim”cannot sue him for damages. Another plus. ;-)
Is that simple enough for your hostility?
I think O'Mara probably correctly assumed that no FL judge would have the b***s to declare Zimmerman not guilty in a stand your ground hearing.
Z would then have had to proceed to trial anyway, with a loss chalked up against him already.
I could be wrong, but at this point I believe O'Mara did sufficiently well at trial that there is little chance Z will be convicted. Hung jury more likely.
Keep your powder dry, you may need it.
Does the jury have a time limit this evening?
Yes, I get the positives of SYG. I do *not* get O’Mara’s attempt to distinguish the Zimmerman facts based on whether or not at some moment retreat was or was not possible. That sounds wrong. If you or anyone else can explain it, I’m all ears.
No hostility - just rushing around - isn’t mentally infirm like calling someone retarded? The prosecution did put it in front of the jury ... jus sayin’
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