Warlordtrooper: You do not get to claim self defense if you provoke the confrontation. Martin was the only one who had the right to stand his ground which he did by attacking the guy stalking him

Zimmerman's actions are not sufficient (legally) to provoke a self defense response.

He didnt break the law, but he's on the wrong side of public opinion. Its a stupid farking law they have there, but if you dont like it, vote in some liberals to get rid of it. Stop cherrypicking who gets thier ass covered by it.

Buncha whiny biatches who want it both ways screaming for blood.

I wonder what Obama thinks....

Hobodeluxe: so the troll consensus here is that Trayvon had no right whatsoever to defend himself against someone with a gun and no authority pursuing him and attempting to detain him?
Trayvon had no right to stand his ground?
But Zimmerman had every right to profile,stereotype,pursue against the direction of authority and his own training,try,convict and execute Martin because he started a fight and was losing?

There's no indication that the gun came out until after Martin started beating on Zimmerman. How is beating on someone who has a gun you don't know about "defending yourself"?

SilentStrider: Is Trayvon Martin still dead?
Yes?
Then no. No dropped charges.

***SPOILER ALERT***

You've ruined it for everyone, you know.

Here's some no name law professor from Harvard who may be able to explain to you why the answer to the question in the headline should be an emphatic YES.

Bonus: He also explains, for all of you who remain confused by it, how the law allows for an "instigator" to still legally meet violence with violence.

Double Bonus: He lays out in this and a previous article why the conduct of the Prosecutor is both unlawful and unethical.

There is, of course, no assurance that the special prosecutor handling the case, State Attorney Angela Corey, will do the right thing. Because until now, her actions have been anything but ethical, lawful and professional.

One less person in the daily rat race, I say.

I also say, who cares.

Would I fight someone chasing me? Yes

Would I chase someone looking sketchy in a neighborhood that's been vandalized? Maybe

I don't care what the final verdict is, so long as there is a legitimate investigation.

CPT Ethanolic: Prosecutor is/was a moron for going for 2nd degree.

Uh wrong. You should prolly look up the concept of lesser-included offences. Better for the prosecutor to charge the 2nd degree and get a whole truckload of LIOs should the main charge fail.

Beef Swellington: Is this the thread where the white people defend the killing of an unarmed kid using thinly veiled racism as their justification? Sweet.

Hell yes.

Let me repeat that again so you don't muddle it ..

HELL YES

(because you have no idea what racism is, and you fling that word around like a Holy Cudgel, desperate in your basement to find importance in your pitiful world of gray by mimic-ing the Approved Phrases of your Masters, Dance, puppet, dance. They like it when you dance so prettily)

If a black guy had done the shooting we wouldn't be having this discussion. Hell, he'd probably already be sentenced.

<b><a href="http://www.fark.com/comments/7117709/76997962#c76997962" target="_blank">FloydA</a>:</b> <i>Zimmerman followed Martin down the street. He did not have to.
Zimmerman got out of his vehicle. He was asked not to by the 911 dispatcher.
Zimmerman confronted Martin, rather than observing him while awaiting the Police. He did not have to.

Zimmerman was not acting in self-defense. He started the confrontation. Had he stayed in his vehicle, Martin would still be alive. Dershowitz is full of s**t.</i>


Well with a name like Dershowitz, what do you expect?

Actually the only thing anyone can agree on is that Jessie Jackson and al sharpton are race baiting dicks

Danger Mouse: I wonder what Obama thinks....

His son would be just like him.

Crazy idea by ABC.. I mean come on! I think the trial should be judged by internet forums, user comments and misinformation spread by wanna-be Angela Lansbury's and lack of actual evidence and proof of all the details of the case.

spawn73:

Ah, you edited away what I was quoting as to put words in my mouth.

fark you. :)


OOPS, sorry.



spawn73: FloydA: Zimmerman followed Martin down the street. He did not have to.
Zimmerman got out of his vehicle. He was asked not to by the 911 dispatcher.
Zimmerman confronted Martin, rather than observing him while awaiting the Police. He did not have to.

Zimmerman was not acting in self-defense. He started the confrontation. Had he stayed in his vehicle, Martin would still be alive. Dershowitz is full of s**t.

Yes, if you leave your car you deserve to be knocked to the ground and pummeled MMA style.


Yea, that's all he did. Got out of his car. He didn't stalk anyone or anything like that.


/better?

FloydA: Zimmerman followed Martin down the street. He did not have to.
Zimmerman got out of his vehicle. He was asked not to by the 911 dispatcher.
Zimmerman confronted Martin, rather than observing him while awaiting the Police. He did not have to.

Zimmerman was not acting in self-defense. He started the confrontation. Had he stayed in his vehicle, Martin would still be alive. Dershowitz is full of s**t.

The facts you are citing are not necessarily telling as to the important question here. Self defense, in almost all states, merely requires that the defendant be the non-aggressor at the deadly-force level. Zimmerman was 100% within his rights to follow and even verbally confront a suspicious person. Confronting someone does not entitle the other person to slam your head into the ground and punch you MMA style.

Currently, all the evidence indicates that, even if Zimmerman had initiated the contact, he did not initiate any physical altercation. Martin, it appears, was the actual aggressor. Certainly, if the evidence suggests he was pounding Zimmerman's head into the ground, that would qualify as deadly force and therefore justify the shooting.

This whole case is reactionary BS. I wasn't there, but assuming the media knows all the relevant facts at this point, I can tell you that I would never prosecute this case because there simply is no evidence that Zimmerman was the aggressor at the deadly force level. Consequently, he would (in most states at least) be justified in using deadly force to repel Martin's attack.

There should be a jury trial, and it should be televised. It's the only chance of avoiding riots, and it's still just a slim chance.

Clemkadidlefark: Beef Swellington: Is this the thread where the white people defend the killing of an unarmed kid using thinly veiled racism as their justification? Sweet.

Hell yes.

Let me repeat that again so you don't muddle it ..

HELL YES

(because you have no idea what racism is, and you fling that word around like a Holy Cudgel, desperate in your basement to find importance in your pitiful world of gray by mimic-ing the Approved Phrases of your Masters, Dance, puppet, dance. They like it when you dance so prettily)

Aren't you precious?


/what's it like to be an angry racist these days? Probably a bummer...

meow said the dog: I have the curious question because I genuinely do not know this information but does the standing of the ground of you law in Florida require a death? If this answer to this is that it does not then is it possible for two people to simultaneously utilize the defense of this?

Officially, no. It covers death, but it is not required.

Unofficially, dead men tell no tales.

/Don't like the "Stand Your Ground" law as it is
//As the law stands, Zimmerman is Not Guilty
///Not Guilty != Innocent

abfalter: SilentStrider: Is Trayvon Martin still dead?
Yes?
Then no. No dropped charges.

This.

Nothing else needs to be discussed, Weeners summed up everything that needs to be said on this topic.

Hehe yeah, a terrible crime occurred and the public rushed to judgement without actually seeing any of the evidence in the case. Under intense pressure the DA decided to file charges. I've never seen this happen before.

<b><a href="http://www.fark.com/comments/7117709/76999267#c76999267" target="_blank">12349876</a>:</b> <i>CPT Ethanolic: Prosecutor is/was a moron for going for 2nd degree.

Knowing what I know, I would definitely be leaning towards stalking and involuntary manslaughter. I'm starting to believe the shooting itself was accidental but we need to get it into these dumbasses heads that you don't confront in these situations. Stay away and let the real cops handle it, self defense is only for situations where you can't stay away.</i>

REally? The shooting was accidental? So the gun just jumped into his hand and he slipped and pulled the trigger? Once you pull out your gun, a shooting is no longer accidental. Accidental would be if it went off in his waistband and shot off his dick.

spawn73:
Yes, if you leave your car you deserve to be knocked to the ground and pummeled MMA style.


falling backwards while tripping over a curb and hitting your head on the sidewalk because the guy you're harassing turns to ask you what the fark you think you're doing, is not being pummeled MMA style.

/u funny

Ohthisthreadagain.jpg

Seriously...y'all werent there... Let the legal process unfold

What's most interesting about this case is that there is a reasonable middle ground along the lines of "this is what happens when two idiots meet in a dark alley", but everyone argues "America's Hero vs. The THUG" or its opposite. This will go on for 1000 comments.

I'll also caution George Zimmerman's supporters to not publicize their support of this guy too loudly to friends and family8 because he's going to embarrass you. There's a reason Zimmerman's lawyers never let him talk. The reason is that he's dumber than a sack of doorknobs. Just wait. You'll see it.

He accosted and then shot a fourteen year old. I don't care if the kid fought back, he's scum.

0/10

LasersHurt: dittybopper: jayg22: PonceAlyosha: He accosted and then shot a fourteen year old. I don't care if the kid fought back, he's scum.

He was 17.

No, he was a small 12 year old kid who was on the football team, and who had a cherubic face and who was a perfect angel who got good grades and who never got in trouble in school.

Zimmerman, on the other hand, is a couple of feet taller and a couple of feet wider than poor, innocent 11 year old Trayvon was when Zimmerman senselessly snuffed him out at the tender age of 10 years old.

Yes, yes, some people still get it wrong, so Zimmerman is the most oppressed person ever. Back it off a tad, man. We get it. Being factually wrong is bad.

Yeah, that was a stupid mistake on my part.

I'm not sure that SYG laws allow you to administer a beating to someone because they're following you. This entire case is going to turn on how the confrontation actually started, and how aggressive Zimmerman was in actually following Martin. I'm kind of puzzled about people who cite the 9-11 operator's instructions ("we don't need you to do that") as a basis for convicting Zimmerman. Keeping in mind that the entire burden here is on the prosecution: 1) I'm not sure the statement constitutes an order; and 2) I'm not sure that someone calling 9-11 is required to follow the instructions of the 9-11 operator, so long as they follow any applicable laws. (I find this whole strategy of appealing to the authority of the 9-11 operator kind of bizarre - if Trayvon Martin had called 9-11, I'm pretty sure the operator would have counseled against giving Zimmerman a beating too.)

Frankly, I will be absolutely stunned if this results in a conviction at this point. Which is a tragedy, because a young man is dead, and Zimmerman's hands aren't clean here.

One of the first things we were taught in journalism school was never start a story with a question, and certainly not in a headline. And I still think George should be charged with manslaughter.

Hey, I'm just glad there wasn't a white person involved in this, or we'd never hear the end of it

Pantubo: >Zimmerman was not acting in self-defense. He started the confrontation.

Good thing he called 911 first.

Every time I stalk and murder someone for fun, I like to call 911 so the cops have a recording of it.

Don't be obtuse. Most people are not accusing Zimmerman of first degree murder.

The fuse is set. One little spark and we get to relive the 1992 riots all over again.

CrabPirate: He accosted and then shot a fourteen year old. I don't care if the kid fought back, he's scum.

0/10

Nah that was me being sincere, just wrong with facts.

/embarassingly >.>

hbk72777: Hey, I'm just glad there wasn't a white person involved in this, or we'd never hear the end of it

Amen!!

Babwa Wawa: This should be a fun thread.

All the TM/Zim threads are a hoot. I think someone should do a psychological study on how some people will cling to a poor jump to judgment despite new facts showing their initial assumptions were completely incorrect.

I can't wait for the actual trial.

RminusQ: Should any editor who makes a headline in the form of a question be impaled with a pine cone?

I'm just asking questions

For the record pine cones make poor impalement material.

The real question should be can Zimmerman get a fair trial?

LasersHurt: Silly Jesus: Here's some no name law professor from Harvard who may be able to explain to you why the answer to the question in the headline should be an emphatic YES.

Bonus: He also explains, for all of you who remain confused by it, how the law allows for an "instigator" to still legally meet violence with violence.

Double Bonus: He lays out in this and a previous article why the conduct of the Prosecutor is both unlawful and unethical.

There is, of course, no assurance that the special prosecutor handling the case, State Attorney Angela Corey, will do the right thing. Because until now, her actions have been anything but ethical, lawful and professional.

It is not known how the encounter started. That means Martin could have been defending himself. That warrants the case being continued.

I think a lot of people are confusing "charges dropped" with "found not guilty."

The prosecution has admitted that there is no evidence of Zimmerman starting a physical confrontation.

Someone is following me in a car. They're getting out of their car and confronting me. I would be scared and would probably defend myself. That's stand your ground. You can't just follow people then confront them. That's being an initial aggressor. Martin saw a threat coming and defended himself. Zimmerman was getting his ass kicked so he pulled his dick replacement out and shot him. Zimmerman made contact with Martin after being told not to. You call 911 for them to handle it. You don't call them then go in on your own, especially when they specifically say not to. Lock the racist prick up before every neighborhood watch guy thinks he can just start blowing "suspicious" black people away and get away with it.