I am glad that charges will be filed. Let the truth come out during the trial. So many people are complaining that he has already been convicted. How is that possible when he hasn't even been arrested? At least now the truth can come out.

GTY---could it be the price that was put on his head? The court of public opinion already found him guilty

I was afraid of this development--being charged. Especially after his self-appointed attorney's got their coverage.

I don't think George Zimmerman will be convicted, but at least the cry babies--ol' Al and Jessie--will be pacified--'PUN INTENDED!'

Yeah, we got to keep the mob satisfied or they will act like petulant two year olds and destroy everything in sight. Kind of reminds me of Burn, Baby, Burn.

Amen - I never liked this thing being tried in the court of public opinion, but the family was using the only leverage they had. George Z should have his day in court where the facts will come out one way or the other.

I am so happy charges were filed. This has been tried in the media-which is not fair to either Zimmerman or Treyvonne.

We have a criminal justice system for a reason. During a trial, both sides present their evidence, and the jury makes a decision based on the facts. That is exactly what is needed in this case.

If what he did really was self defense, he will have the opportunity to make his case and be found not-guilty. If it was not, he will be found guilty and sentenced. That is the way it is supposed to work.

No fair trial for sure.

Finally some justice for this poor family. Can't believe that Hannity and Fox News tried to paint THEM as the racists in this whole affair. It takes a woman to bring justice. I will never use the phrase "man up" again. Hillary and this prosecutor and Rice (both of them) show us that "WOMAN UP" is the correct metaphor!

If it was a bad shoot it is in the interest of those who are in favor of self defense to want justice. We're not vigilantes. Standing up for a bad shoot undermines legitimate acts of self defense.

OK then...Now let's seat a jury of his peers.......12 men and women with CCW Permits....

Just in case you have forgotten in The USA you are presumed Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. I do not know who was the aggressor in this case. I was not there to see what happened. Neither were any of you! Zimmerman may prove to be guilty or Innocent but it is not our place to decide. However, The media has certainly tried and convicted Zimmermen in the court of public opinion!. The New Black Panthers have posted a large reward for his death. Even President Obama and Attorney General Holder believe he is guilty. When did all this become the norm rather than the exception?

The only downside is that, even if he is found not guilty in court, there will still be all these race mongers our there screaming for his blood, saying that it's an "injustice".

And I'm wondering if they will even let him come foward to turn himself in on these charges, or if, as soon as he comes out of hiding some vigilante will attack him and/or shoot him before the trial can be held.

Well, what did you expect after they didn't send it to the grand jury?? Not a good situation but Zimmerman is innocent of murder, period. The threats of total riots if he isn't convicted are very disturbing but not unexpected from the "he's gotta be guilty" crowd.

We'll see if they can find him to even stand trial now . . .

This was hardly rocket science. That police determined that Zimmerman was right to kill this boy and had closed the case based on his version of events is an outrage. If it weren't for the protests, no one would have investigated this at all.

It shouldn't take a ruckus to attain simple justice in this country for anybody. Sanford Police will have to answer for their acquittal of Zimmerman.

Neither Obama nor Holder ever said he was guilty!

Obama said it was a tragedy. It was. An unarmed 17 year old is dead. That is sad regardless of the situation.

Holder said there should be an investigation to see if there should be a trial where a jury would decide if he was guilty.

Agreed....while I believe he should be charged for something....I can't figure out what would work.

Strike down the law that caused Zimmerman to feel like he had extra "protection" in a confrontation or clearly confine it to your residence or property.

But now the court has to worry that if Zimmerman isn't convicted of some offense to pacify the race baiters that they will riot.

By the way...how many people do you think realize the "gated" community is a glorified apartment complex?

Kim, you live in China?!

Everybody who has a bone of common sense knows Zimmerman will get his day in court. But then there are the people day in and day out and at every moment non-stop want to impress upon everyone that Zimmerman isn't guilty at all. And they are the same people day in and day out and at every moment the issue of race MIGHT rear its head, want to impress upon everyone that it isn't.

At a certain point, you start being a racist. Yes, he might be innocent. But from the day the story broke, it was obvious that something might have been up. Sure, he could have been innocent. And then, he also damn well could have been guilty. Arguing for Zimmerman over and over, and over again, being innocent because, well, from these certain limited pieces of information interpreted in such and such a certain way...no, after 3 days of it, you start turning into a racist.

I'm willing to wait for a trial. I'm willing to let the courts determine if he is innocent. But at this point, you only reveal your own prejudices arguing for this guy anymore.

Since WHEN did the prosecutor announcing more information about the case amount to charges being filed??? Wouldn't they arrest him and then make the announcement?

The media is making this out to be so much more than it is.

OMG!!! the lawyers dropped Zimmerman!!! OMG the prosecutor has more info on the case!!! OMG OMG OMG!!! He's being charged!!!!

Please.

Totally correct

This will definitely be interesting.

The charges against George are all politically motivated.

The problem with getting a trial is... can he get a fair trial? There have been several high profile cases in the past where they threw out a guilty verdict even with circumstantial evidence at best. If a Jury is let in on this, they'll probably be getting death threats constantly, demanding they find him guilty. Even moreso for the judge. So the question is, do you throw the mob a bone, or do you get actual justice? I've long given up on justice in America. It's about who you know, and how publicized the case is.

Kim Kard gets hit with a bag of flour? Locked up and charges pressed. Someone very dear to me gets their life's work stolen from them in a single night? We're talking a LIFETIME of gathering specific tools for their trade? Yeah. They never caught the guy and said screw it, swept under the rug never to be heard from again. I don't doubt it'll be the same way here. The mob screams justice, and to keep riots from breaking out, and to please Jessie and Al, they'll lock him up and throw away the key.

If he is guilty, I hope he rots... but if he's not guilty and they find him guilty, well... this is a good case to watch how America does justice. Take note, world, this is a good way to evaluate America as a whole. We let Casey Anthony go because she's a pretty white girl, watch them throw this chubby half-hispanic guy away without a second thought.

Trial by media and public opinion. What a joke.

There are far too many people who are making this about something its not, and that is the politics of gun control.

The question I have though for those that don't want a trial is this, does owning a gun give you the right to take a life and then claim self defense without proof? The detective that investigated Zimmerman never believed his story, it really doesn't make sense so why are we allowing this to go without a trial? Its essentially making murder legal, as long as you don't have a witness to deny it. The evidence should be given the chance to speak for a victim and now they are doing that. Its just a shame that it has come to the point that it has.

This isn't about race, this is about two people in a confrontation and one of them ended up dead. The justice system has a responsibility to investigate it to the fullest extent, how does anyone support making murder that easy?

The stand your ground law doesn't save lives, if your life is in danger, every state allows for self defense. The difference in Florida is, you can legally murder someone and claim self defense and they won't question it. Its about the wording of the laws not whether guns should be allowed or not allowed.

Mr. Williams is incorrect. Florida is one of the few states where 1st degree murder charges do NOT require a grand jury indictment. The prosecutor can choose to bring 1st degree murder charges if she sees fit to do so.

We just became a nation of men, and not laws.

You can now get someone else arrested if you yell loud enough at a rally, march in the streets, and accuse public officials of racism.

Unfortunately it will not be a "fair trial." Treyvon's side will never come out - Zimmerman made sure it wouldn't.

J. Merle Stanley - what you fail to address is the fact that the police investigating the night everything happened wanted to charge Zimmerman but - for some odd reason (could it be that daddy was a judge) weren't allowed to.

Manslaughter at the least... possible 2nd degree, depending on evidence.

What kind of charge r they going to go for? I just wish the kid would have called 911 instead of his girlfriend if he was worried about this dude following him. That would certainly squash Mr. Zimmerman's self defense theory. He was a young proud African American male-even I would be ready to ATTACK someone who is apparently following me at night-after calling 911 first of course.

It should be up to the courts to determine guilt or innocence. If Trayvon was the aggressor then there will be evidence on his hands. If his hands are clean then we know for sure that Zimmerman was the aggressor. However, based on the 911 call, it appears that Zimmerman is guilty.

Stand your ground does NOT apply if you follow somebody and accost them on the street. Zimmerman's use of this defense will make it harder for actual "stand your ground" deaths to hold up in court. The 911 operator instructed Zimmermand not to follow Trayvon.

I don't care what Trayvon looked like, the fact is he was just walking down the street. There was NO REASON for Zimmerman to get out of his car and follow him. If he was truly worried about Trayvon then it would have been logical for him to stay in his car and follow him that way.

DUANE-552524

Just in case you have forgotten in The USA you are presumed Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Too bad for Trayvon, Zimmerman decided to be the prosecutor, the judge and the jury. Should have let the police to handle this (if there was anything to be handled). Instead he killed the kid. Sorry, the minute the police told him not to follow and he did, he became the aggressor.

Zimmerman committed Homicide, and needs to be tried for that. He needs to see serious jail time for his deeds.

"Zimmerman, whose father is white and whose mother is Peruvian..." Why is this relevant? Why is it relevant the man who was killed is black? How do these facts contribute to anything more than confusing what happened?

We cannot become a color blind society as long as race is dragged into every discussion.

she would not bring the case to a grand jury; to much information the jury had, they would not bring back a true bill ; to calm the matter down she will charge him with a lesser Homicide, delay the thing for about a year; let the heat blow over; if the facts are what has already been revealed; there will not find a jury to ever convict him, hung jury every time; his lawyers were told yesterday, that is why they had to resign, Zimmerman family are not wealthy, he will need a IDO lawyer for his defence, the prosecutor knows all this, she is just bowing to political pressure .

This is a kangaroo court to appease the Boot stomping civil rights groups. They will not be happy until Zimmerman is convicted and hung. If he did use self defense on Trevor it will not matter now. You have to keep people happy forget justice.

Derek-381097

You highlight the problem with good old fashioned disagreements. Now, maybe I'm wrong but it seems like since you have decided that race MUST be a factor you have also decided that anyone who defends what happened MUST be a racist?

That isn't logic. That is having an very inflated opinion of your thought process.

Whether he's convicted or not, I am glad the trial will happening in a legal courtroom. With the Justice department scrutinizing every move and the eyes of the nation--the world (see the Trayvon Martin marches in London in front of our embassy) finally we can start to get some answers, not the regurgitated biased slants we have been getting from the news media.

In the end though whether he's convicted or not, his life has forever changed. No matter who started it, his gun took the life of a young man with a lot of life and potential (even if you think he was a thug--people can change) and Zimmerman will have to live with that for the rest of his life. He will have to look himself in the mirror every day and be comfortable with the person looking back at him.

And if there is a God and you are judged when you die, then no matter what human judgment is handed down, his God, if he believes in one, will give him what he deserves.

We may never know the truth of the matter. But in the long run, it's not going to make a difference in whether the sun rises tomorrow, it's not going to make the rain stop falling, it's not going to make the earth stop spinning, so let's take a step back, breathe deeply, put it all in perspective, and let the dice fall where it may.

Should have never taken this long. Finally this will go to a Court of Law with the FACTS.

If Casey Anthony can get a fair trial, so can George Zimmerman.

J Merle, there is no eye witness that saw that. That is a lie, and the boy is dead. If this was a case of self defense then it will come out in the trial but for you to say you know that George Zimmerman was innocent is ridiculous. If eye witnesses had been there from start to finish there wouldn't be so many conflicting stories on it.

Apparently murder is acceptable to you, are we becoming a nation that allows anyone to take a life without question because they claim self defense? If this was your son walking down the street and the police didn't investigate it would you still be claiming that?

If this is the case, I am just glad to see him charged and let the real story come forward, unfortunately dead men tell no tells so its his version whether you believe him or not...and the jury is not a guarantee either way just look at the Casey Anthony case...nothing is sure!

As I've assumed would happen from the start: a trial will commence.

Now, the hard part: where in the hell are you going to find 12 impartial jurors? The media has all but crucified Zimmerman daily since the story broke-- and that fact has divided people into two loud, stubborn camps of equal ignorance. It's going to be damn hard to find anyone who hasn't already made up their mind about the case before ever laying eyes on the courtroom.

Let the circus reconvene in the district court-- all clowns will have their opportunity to perform in the spotlight, the ringmaster will preside. Come one! Come all! The fun is about to begin.

Nice try brian. Except I'm not only obviously alone, but the vast majority of people out there have been waiting for this obvious shoe to drop.

Maybe some projection going on over there about inflated opinions? Because I already acknowledged the guy could be innocent. Just saying, Shakespeare said it best when he said (paraphrased for modern English), 'You protest too much.'

MY question is -- Why is PMSNBC still using the outdated photo of Zimmerman in the Oragne shirt? The media TRYING to put it's own spin on the story as usual insted of simply stating the known facts.

All I can say is it is about time. There was non way that this was going to end without Zimmerman standing trial. Had the special prosecutor failed to file charges there would have been screams of cover-up and it likely would have resulted in the feds stepping in and filing civil rights charges. At least now 12 people from the community will get to hear the evidence and decide if Zimmerman is guilty or not. That is the way our legal system is supposed to work.

One thing I m getting tired of seeing in the press is statements like this one:

Police questioned Zimmerman but decided against pressing charges.

This is completely false as the police wanted to arrest Zimmerman the night of the incident but they were overruled by the DA. Even the police had serious doubts about Zimmerman's self defense/stand your ground story in light of him ignoring instructions from the 911 operator not to follow Martin.

Now all of the evidence will come out in a public trial and we can put an end to all of the conjecture and half truths from both sides that have passed for news on this story. The media should be embarrassed about their coverage of this story right from the start. In the media's rush to be first to get something out, they completely failed in their obligation to confirm information before publishing it. I can remember the days when no responsible journalist would publish information that they only had one source for. The rule had always been that without a confirmation from a second, independent source it did not get published. In today's instant news environment on-line, these types of journalistic checks as well as journalistic integrity have gone right down the toilet.

if casey anthony, oj simpson and michael jackson got a fair trial, so can zimmerman...

not much of a betting man, but if i were, i'd put my money on zimmerman 's fled the country. set up the website, took the money and ran.

To all the people who think that this shouldnt go to trial, wonder what you will say if this was your son or daughter or relative...a trial in the beginning would have solved this whole thing

As much as I hated the outcome of the trial of Casey Anthony, the jury did the job. There wasn't evidence to support beyond a reasonable doubt that she had caused the death of her child. Its possible that Zimmerman will get a fair trial but then again, its very possible he won't survive jail.

"GTY---could it be the price that was put on his head? The court of public opinion already found him guilty"

If you have listened to the family of Martin they have not convicted him. They have called from the beginning for nothing more than a fair investigation. That of course had not previously occurred. They are the people that matter. They lost a son. Tied of hearing Zimmerman whine through his own media and advocates. He is after all still alive.

Many on the the Right have however already exonerated him. Listen to Hannity or Limbaugh. They HAVE exonerated him from responsibility. After listening to a co-workers horrific racist rant on this case (which I won't soon forget) I am glad to see these charges. The prosecution would not be proceeding if they did not believe they have a substantive case. We will now see the actual evidence when the case comes to trial.

Under our system of justice Zimmerman is entitled to the presumption of innocence until found guilty by a jury of his peers. These charges mean he is not however exonerated from prosecution.

It's too bad this has turned into a media three ring circus. There will be no justice for anyone now. If Mr.Zimmerman was to be charged; it should've been done right away.

If you don't think Zimmerman will get a fair trial and that the court of public opinion has already convicted him, you can thank the Sanford Police Dept. They botched and booted this case from the very moment the shooting happened. If they had charged Zimmerman from the start and set the court proceedings in motion, no one outside of that county would have heard a word about this case, whatever the outcome. The Sanford Police is the real culprit in this whole affair. Do-nothing dumb-asses.

Prosecutor in; No representing attorneys.

George Zimmerman could be charged with a Racist motivation (hate crime) of Trayvon Martin's murder.

It all depends if there is a total Black Jury; guilty, or if it is of mixed races; a Hung Jury.

Will all the evidence come out if he tried to defend himself against Trayvon. Will the Prosecutor and the Jury be fair.

If found guilty, maybe a couple of years in jail---this is one case that has no 100 per cent witness proof, and the 911 tapes between Z and the operators were "doctored" in favor of Martin.

It is a Lynch Mob along with Jesse Jackson, Sharpton, maybe Farrakhan holding a White again for misjustice. They always come in several times a year to jolt all Americans that Racism exists, although we have a Black President who is adored.

Stirring up trouble, Zimmerman is a caged animal, maybe committing suicide before the trial. Lynch mobs out to get him--all premeditated, by S&J---What would have happened if this was a white on white murder?/or vice versa?

My heart felt condolences to the Martin family---they did not deserve this; nor did they deserve getting used by the Hucksters. .

Unlawful discharge of a firearm. How do you plead Mr. Zimmerman?

"Guilty. One year probation."

"Next case!"

ForePlinger,

Adios, America. Hola!, Peru.

That just cracked me up. "I am George Zimme...er... Juan Epstein, and I bring you the finest coffee beans."

BTW, this idea being promoted by people that seems to support the notion that anybody should stand trial on any accusation without solid evidence that a crime actually took place are standing on an extremely slippery slope.

The fact that 'charges' will be brought was leaked- if anyone remembers, the Prosecutor herself stated there would be no further comment from her office UNTIL she announced it in the press release.

The only thing that is known is there will be a press conference at 6 pm EST.

While I'm not saying they aren't pressing charges, I wonder if whomever leaked that charges were going to be pressed will lose their job?

I simply hope they have an 'ace' up their sleeve regarding evidence, because everything they have is extremely circumstantial to their case- what we've seen thus far corroborates Zimmerman's story more than it damns him.

Was there sufficient evidence of a crime by Zimmerman or was this merely "caving in" to political pressure ?

Only time will tell.

NBC? NBC the Race Mongers? NBC the rece mongers that edited phone convos to stir up Race riots? THEY are reporting this? And ANY of you believe it? WOW! Do you all forget that fast or you all that easily warped?

@ J. Merle Stanley-2759623 - Eye witness? What eye witness?

USA1967 you state "Zimmerman is innocent of murder period", how is it you know this for a certainty? Were you there, have you seen the evidence in the case, have you spoken with Zimmerman, have you spoken with Treyvon? Your statement isn't any better than the ones saying he is guilty beyond a doubt. None of us knows and NONE of us has actually seen the evidence involved.

The case needs an actual investigation and if that evidence warrants a trial then a trial needs to be conducted. It is up to a jury and judge who will actually get to see all the evidence to make the decision on guilt or innocence.

Hi Jan,

No, owning a gun gives no one a right to take a life and them simply to claim self-defense. Whether Zimmerman will ultimately be found guilty, or not, we don't know, but there are some facts we do know. I don't know how the injuries happened to Zimmerman but it is obvious he has injuries. Since the state is the party with the burden of proof, not Zimmerman, it will be the state's burden to show that those injuries came in such a way that the use of deadly force to stop them was not justified. See, for any other possibility, the state will be proving Zimmerman had the right to use deadly force.

So, whether Zimmerman followed Trayvon or not, or heeded the advice of the dispatcher to stop following him or not, is largely irrelevant. You being followed doesn't give you the right to beat on someone's head, just as much as owning a gun gives you no right to kill someone and claim self defense. This case long ago left the realm of seeking justice and became an effort to seek a political outcome. I hope Zimmerman can get a fair trial. And to whoever who said it, they nailed it--whatever happened in this situation we may never know, but a young man is dead, and another's life is changed forever, and these things are tragic.

If Zimmerman is acquitted, can the white hispanic community cheer and praise the justice system like when when OJ was acquitted or would that be racist too?

Just to be honest, if these charges or trial aren't motivated by race then where were the "disgusted" black folks and their rioting mobs fighting for truth, justice, and the American way in the mid 90's during the O.J. Simpson trial and subsequent "Not Guilty" verdict?

I agree with the bringing of charges against Zimmerman, if only to allow for both sides of the story to be presented without a bias towards one or the other. And I also agree with those who say that it will be impossible to find an "impartial" jury given the incessant media coverage and the numerous pro-Trayvon protests around the country. Perhaps a bench trial is the prudent way to go.

Well I think the 2 biggest bigots in this country are Al and Jesse. Neither were there, neither KNOW what happened. If Al and Jesse were as smart as they thought they were, they would be PI's or Judge's. Sad that in America a couple people of their mentality can stir up such a mess. Don't get me wrong, if Zimmerman is PROVEN guilty, then by all means put him in Prision. Then, you have the Black Panthers, then, Trike Lee, then President Obama. There is absolutely none of these people that KNOW what happened. We do know that IF George Zimmerman is innocent, it won't matter. He's already been convicted in the eyes of everyone that know nothing for sure. CSI want a be's. If he is PROVEN GUILTY, then by all means, lock him up and throw away the keys. JUSTICE FOR ALL,

Mike in SA -

That's a load of crap. You yourself say that "Trayvon showed no bodily injuries". Since there were no injuries to his HANDS, Trayvon could NOT have had a lengthy altercation with Zimmerman - his hands would have displayed signs if he had punched him.

And why bring up the jewelry? That has nothing to do with this case. One thing for sure, Trayvon did NOT have a history of violence. But Zimmerman certainly did. How convenient you omitted that from your expert analysis.

oh yes, poor porr zimmerman.. its al politically motivated.. its all just race baiting.. lets never evr mind that a guy with a gun followed another one ten years his junior who was unarmend and walking home. after having no authority to do so and being SPECIFICALLY TOLD NOT TO he confronts a kid who doesnt know him from adam, follows him, harrasses him and likely ends up getting his a$$ beat for it which he DESERVES, and then pulls a gun and the kid who was walking home doing NOTHING illegal ends up dead.

race, politics, doesnt matter. george zimmerman started this and trayvon died as a result.

there is simply no debating that. whether or not they try and get him with aggrivated assault, or manslaughter, HE DID THIS. whether or not they find it was somehow justified or not and let him off or not, he DESERVES and should get a trial. then its up to a jury, like it should have been in the first place.

no zimmerman following him home with a weapon, no dead trayvon.

its really that simple. trayvon was the one "standing his ground." and i DO hope zimmerman felt alot of pain from each blow in his whooping he got. he deserved it. the kid did nothing wrong. after his likely 8-10, trayvon will still be dead. he should count his blessings. at least HE still gets a chance at life.

When I hear the tapes of that 911 caller and can hear in the background a person yelling, screaming for help, it's chilling. It's obvious the person crying out is a black teenager. You can tell he did not want to die, wasn't prepared to die, he wanted to LIVE. He knew he was in mortal danger and you can hear it in his screams for help. Anyone that feels differently when hearing that has serious issues.

Then the sound of a shot and silence. Ice ran through my veins hearing that.

He was only 17 years old. I remember when I was 17. I had my whole life ahead of me, a clean slate to build a life with. And so did Treyvon, but not any more. He will not get a chance to experience all the things in life, good and bad, that make all of us who we are. His right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was snatched from him in that instant.

Zimmerman's primary worry about is how to get out of trouble. If he has remorse for what he took from that boy, it's a secondary consideration.

In this tragic story, there is a villain. We all know who that really is. His trial will happen.

Derek-381097 - If arguing in a forum that Zimmerman may not be guilty makes a person a racist, what does arguing without proof that he is guilty make you? I think their race is irrelevant. What matters is who threw the first punch and whether or not it can be proved.

Nothing like a lynch mentality. Im still waiting for Holder to press charges against the black panthers for putting a bounty out on his head!

There is no denial that Zimmerman shot Martin. This means that Zimmerman is guilty of taking a life with an handgun, and there is no dispute in that case. Zimmerman should be on the hook to have to prove that he was assaulted and thus defended himself. If the evidence that comes out shows that his story is faulty, then he should be guilty of murder.

key2joy

FINALlY, his KILLER is CHARGED.

Question is...WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG!?

yea...right....why didn't we just pull Zimmerman out of his house and string him up while Al Sharpton screamed into his bullhorn and Spike Lee and the New Black Panthers danced the boogaloo in the background....

Spot on, Fedupwithfed! Holder's arrogance in ignoring the bounty is an outrage. He has a racist chip on his shoulder the size of a boulder.

It seems certain the decision to charge would have included political motives. If Zimmerman were not charged, there would be nationwide riots. Trust me, I am not as Stoopid as I say I are.

Unfortunately for Zimmerman, even if he were found not guilty, his life is ruined. He will be incarcerated for the next year or two until trial, he will get a lousy public defender for free, or pay every cent his family owns to a private lawyer. A not guilty verdict won't overturn the already guilty verdict in the court of public opinion.

Myself, I think he's likely guilty.

John-2032532

Unlawful discharge of a firearm. How do you plead Mr. Zimmerman?

"Guilty. One year probation."

"Next case!"

...and the unlawful discharge just happened to be into the chest of an unarmed teenager, taking his young life. Wow! what a callous, heartless comment. And I bet you call yourself a "pro-life" Christian. (smh)

My sympathies go to both families. There are no winners here. May innocence or guilt be proven in court. May justice prevail! God Bless America.

Now that you got him where you wanted him lets persecute him..

TFNJ

That was Juan Valdez that picked the finest coffee beans. Juan Epstien said "up your nose with a rubber hose" and brought in absence notes signed "Epstiens Mother".

Jim, the problem is that you're talking to a vet who has been in a physical altercation or two. And you know what? Not once have my hands shown bruising and I'm white. That Trayvon's undertaker saw no bruising -- especially when he wasn't even specifically looking for it -- should come as absolutely no surprise and proves nothing.

And the stolen jewelry absolutely does tie to the likelihood that George Zimmerman's statement on his call to police that Martin looked suspicious because he was looking into peoples windows was truthful. Who's more likely to be staring into peoples' windows in the dark and rain, the guy without a history of stolen merchandise or the guy WITH the history of stolen merchandise?

I keep asking. Why would Zimmerman pick a fight with Martin if he was the only one that knew the Police were just minutes away ??...And knowing they were just minutes away, still found it neccessary to shoot a gun to defend himself....

Is it just me, or does Trayvon's father look like Isaac Hayes? Every time I see his picture it reminds me of "Gandy" (Gandolph Fitch) from Rockford Files, he was played by Isaac Hayes.

So much misinformation and speculation, so much media bias, especially with MSNBC. Zimmerman's 'lawyers' and I use the term loosely, are frauds looking to get their faces in the news, just like Jesse and Al and all the rest. Holder claims ol' Al is the finest person on two feet (birds of a feather, and the birdies aren't cute) and completely ignores the racist rants of the 'New Black Panthers' along with the bounty and the hit put out on Zimmerman.

Then ol' Spike and fat cow Barr tweet addresses, one of them being an elderly white couple, no relation to Zimmerman and the circus commences. What a sham, how pathetic and sad.

The cops screwed the pooch on this one from the word go so welcome top the circus! The media has been a huge help in getting everyone riled up as well so no matter what happens Zimmerman will not get a fair trial and if he does get exonerated he will have to go into some sort of a witness protection program. I am not saying that he is innocent but no matter how you cut it, slice it or dice it this case was bungled in the beginning and somebody is going to pay for it...probably Zimmerman.

PEOPLE! Stop collapsing the comments!

Mike in SA:

Who's more likely to be staring into peoples' windows in the dark and rain, the guy without a history of stolen merchandise or the guy WITH the history of stolen merchandise?

And whose more likely to be guilty of assault with deadly force? The 17 year old with no history of violence or the man with the history of assault on an officer and domestic violence?

Zimmerman claimed that Martin (the DEAD black kid in this case) hit him in the face and bounced his head off the pavement -- yet in the video of Zimmerman being taken to "booking" (where he was NEVER charged with anything), there is ZERO evidence of a bloody nose, and ZERO evidence of any injury to the head (and it would definitely show through that stubble he had at the time).

Based on that alone, it is clear that George Zimmerman LIED about what happened. George Zimmerman should have been charged that very night -- instead of simply "questioned and released".

p.s., independent experts have already shown that the person screaming for help in the 911 tapes is NOT Zimmerman. He LIED about that, too.

And this surprises who? You have a town being held hostage basically by thugs who live there and the ones bused in from Atlanta and where ever. Then you have the racists black panther party calling for his killing and a blood bath against the evil doing blond haired,blue-eyed sometimes brown eyed evil devil whites. Shows their mentality. Plus shooting a police car up. They have to arrest him or they will burn the town down before it's over.

Yup to post 1.99. A witch hunt commenced and if ever there was a racist group it is the 'New' Black Panthers. Love how they use racist and hateful terminology and get away with it. Holder is beyond a joke, now he's got Al and Al is the bestest fellow of them all. Wonder if they will do anything about the NBP? Nah, only racism is white folks, ignore all the racism coming from a pathetic group of black neo-nazis.

Kim-1577662 I disagree with that of a fair trial . Because he can it will be based on the evidence that the D.A. presents to the court as proof for the jury to hear,and for the defence to try and disprove the charges. What matters now is what they bring to the court room . One only has to look at last summer in July when the D.A. failed to prove their case to the jury in the case of the State vs. Casey Anthony. What a bunch of angry people I saw there, Mad as Hello they were Sh*t she get off Scot free for the murder of her daughter. No they (D.A.) failure of proof I still fell he has to be accountable for the life he took away,because he (IMHO) he had other options but he took the one that killed someone. And I feel it was a needless killing And If Zimmerman is or has lied about things that will come out. (Or maybe not though) Both the Prosecutor and the defending attorney will weed out people that they think will not be neutral in the thinking of his guilt or innocence To be impartial

USA1967

It is good to see more than one liners from you today on this congratulations, but you are guilty yourself of being one sided or closed minded, saying he is not guilty of murder. (just like those you say are saying, are one sided to his being guilty of murder)well they might be charges of 2nd degree murder or manslaughter There are a number of charges that I do not even have a clue to what they may come up with. And still he could end up with no jail time or maybe lot. That is for a jury to decide and a judge to sentence time if he is guilty. I hope that people can live with the outcome.

P.S. If there are mistakes sorry but it is dinner time GTG .

Finally!

Next in line for charges stemming from criminal misconduct, Chief of Police Bill Lee and Florida State Attorney Norman Wolfinger. Have a feeling this is going to get messy, but will be very interesting to see what transpires.

George Zimmerman has been taken into custody and will face criminal charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin

about friggin' time!

Referencing 1.45; I was wrong.

As of 11 April, 1650 CDT, Zimmerman in custody. Sorry, Dora chill yo' culo with Boots and crew. ;)

p.s., independent experts have already shown that the person screaming for help in the 911 tapes is NOT Zimmerman. He LIED about that, too.

WITNESSES said it was Zimmerman screaming for help

PLEASE get your stories straight!!

mygirl; if MSNBC upsets you so much - why bother coming here? What is it that drives your anger and how do you see posting such anger filled hate as helping your cause - whatever that cause is.

Conservatives who constantly come here to rant, don't know how to ask questions of them selves. Do they really not get how the business of the media works? I guess they can't figure out the mystery of how and why publications like National Enquire exist either - sensationalism works for all media forms (Fox is nothing but an ethos tugger) - good luck fighting that.

I can't even think of one reason why I'd go and confront the posters at FOX - just like Zimmerman, some people are just wired to confront others.

So it is "racist" to point out that had it been Martin who had the gun and shot Zimmerman, Martin would have been charged within 12 hours of pulling the trigger......... Instead, Zimmerman gets to spend more than two months as a free man before he is charged with ANYTHING. All because Zimmerman is the son of a white lawyer -- and Martin WAS the black "trouble-maker". Freakin' outstanding.

And "chief fighting a battle", based on your posts I cannot help but wonder if you are just another apple...or worse.

Fedup, those witnesses said it "sounded like" Zimmerman screaming. Yes, there IS a difference.

They are going to let him go, just like OJ Simpson. Or maybe not, this is Flordia and not California.

Justice will be served. All Trayvon's parents asked was that Zimmerman be arrested and charged. Now let a jury decide his guilt or innocence.

If Treyvon HIT

You Must AQUIT!

Just to make this perfectly clear I am white and 64. This whole thing has nothing what-so-ever to do with equal justice. The whole thing to this point has been racially motivated and the cards were stacked against Zimmerman. The Black community here in Anchorage Alaska were even having rallies to protest the situation and Zimmerman not being arrested and charged. The Black leaders fueled this to the point where there has been perifial violence or an eye for an eye as they say. I am not really interested in if this man is innocent or guilty, thats for the prosecutors to prove and jury to decide now. I hope all of those who have protested are proud of themselves and you have to ask yourself this. Had Zimmerman been killed and Martin not arrested would you have protested on a national scale. I can anser this for you, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so this is racial pure and simple. Now to be fair if those of you who protested so hard and fought to get this man arrested then why not prove your not biased and do the same thing in order to get the Black Panters arrested for placing a bounty on Zimmermans head which is as bad as the killing itself. Lets see just how fair you are. My two cents.

sure hope they put him in protective custody or the blacks in prison will kill him before we can get to the truth

Thankfully this murderous thug is now in custody. It is difficult to fathom a legitimate and proper reason for an adult male to exit his vehicle to follow a teenager while packing a loaded weapon!

Wow, second degree murder. I would have guessed manslaughter. I wonder what they know that we don't.

sure hope they put him in protective custody or the blacks in prison will kill him before we can get to the truth

So true. It's remarkable how obsessed black people are with skin color. The rampant collectivism that's been displayed is insane!

It will be interesting to see the facts come out...but one fact I am sure of...after all the media coverage they will never find a jury that has not already made up their mind on his being innocent or guilty before the trial ever starts. I bet they could skip the trial and evidence and everyone on the jury would still be able to judge him.

No matter what evidence is produced from either side in the trial it will not likely sway the jury and thus will not prove him innocent or guilty. I can pretty much assure everyone he will be found guilty before the trial ever begins.

flowerchild, and who is more likely to be the assault victim, the person with no bruising or the person with a broken nose gashes and bruising to the back of his head and who multiple eyewitnesses who said he was on his back on the ground? Zimmerman didn't do that to himself! What, you think some kind of ghost did that and then just *poof* disappeared?

Based on the distances involved, the layout of the scene, and normal rates of movement, Martin should have easily been safely at home, especially once he ran. But Martin didn't run or even walk home -- which was a straight and short path of about a 100 yards from where Zimmerman got out of his truck. Why not and what was Martin doing instead??? Again that's something that supports Zimmerman's account of the incident.

If MARTIN had pulled the trigger and ZIMMERMAN were the one killed, and MARTIN were not charged with anything at all -- how many of you would now be hollering "racism"?

Look, I am "half white,1/4 Indian, 1/4 Hispanic", but none of that actually really matters -- because I WAS RAISED WHITE. Unless Zimmerman celebrates Cinco de Mayo, and all the other "Hispanic" holidays EVERY year, he ain't any more "Hispanic" than Newt Gingrich is Asian. It is more the culture you live that makes you "whatever" -- not your "bloodline".

The obsession with SKIN COLOR is from all those who are crying "racism" now that ZIMMERMAN has been arrested and charged.

first...i was not there to witness what took place. second...neither were any of you. third...neither was al sharpton or jesse jackson. fourth...if you watched the press conference the prosecutor was all smiles, asking for prayers for travon and his 'sweet parents'. no mention of prayers for a fair and just trial for the accused. fifth...the hate mongers (sharpton and jackson) are spouting their vile racist words which should anger everyone, black, white, green or purple. they should not be given the amount of media attention that they are given but that is what sells. sixth...this man is already condemned to a guilty verdict due to the extreme amount of coverage, leaked information and the fact that there are not twelve people in florida that can say they would render a verdict BASED ON FACTS AND EVIDENCE!

sad situation in any case. a young man is dead, another will be on trial for the rest of his life wether proven guilty or not!

just sayin!

The Quacked One, you should look into the case of Carl England and Pernell Jefferson. Carl England was the father of the Tulsa shooter and was killed by Pernell Jefferson. Same scenario only with the black man shooting the white man (and that Pernell was a long time convicted felon who earlier was breaking into England's daughter's residence). Pernell Jefferson is not being charged with any crime related to the killing even though he had threatened to come back to the scene with a gun and there were several eyewitnesses. So, how many white demonstrations decrying "racism" have you seen regarding that incident???

Seems there is a legal precedent established in Florida(see link below). If Zimmerman was in a place that he had every right to be and was attacked, he has the right to defend himself with lethal force. Doesn't matter if he followed Martin or not. Following is not illegal. Assault is. Before the stand your ground law you had to exhaust all avenues of escape before you could use lethal force in self defence. If someone is straddling you and pummeling you and you scream for help for close to a minute(as eye witnesses have sworn to police that Zimmerman did),then you have no avenue of escape. I don't think stand you ground is even an issue in this case. Any way if you read the story in the link, the stand your ground defense was successfully used in cases a lot more questionable than this.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/article1222930.ece

Sorry......this is a DISGUSTING, political OVERCHARGE! As someone who spent 32 years in law enforcement, most at a very high level, I can say with some authority that this prosecutor is using the tried and true loading of the deck knowing that the proofs are not there for second degree and hopes that a jury will bend to the public pressure and find Zimmerman guilty of manslaughter. (Admittedly, all facts have not come out and certainly the prosecutor has knowledge that has not surfaced but......even with what has leaked out there is NOTHING to subtantiate 2nd degree.

If Zimmerman elects to go with a jury trial (a mistake) the prosecution will NOT be able to impanel a jury in Seminole County and a change of venue is absolutely assured. If a country that does not have a significant black population is chosen and a fair jury is selected Zimmerman will walk. Likewise, if he chooses to go with a bench trial I am convinced that a judge will find him not guilty of all charges because the prosecution will NOT BE ABLE TO PROVE GUILT BEYOND A REASONALBE DOUBT! The facts are not there (again, admittedly, this is based upon what has been leaked and COMMON SENSE!).

This is another Rodney King situation and I will guarantee riots will ensue. After a "not guilty" verdict there will not only be riots across the country but the U.S. Attorney General's office will almost immediately announce that they are going to try Zimmerman for human rights violations. This is going to be a very bad time for the country and based on the class warfare that has been promoted by the occupant of the White House and the anger that has been building in the white community it could be one of the blackest periods in our domestic history (no pun intended).

And the media keeps it up by showing the old mug shot. So now that he's in jail what is mom going to do with the profits from patenting Trayvons nane??? Maybe people should begin protest demanding the arrest of the New black panther leadership who put the hit out on Zimmerman? How many gang banging racists wil be in the jail Zimmerman will be held at??? Is he goig to be protected long enough to stand trial??? Maybe that was part of the point of applying the political pressure and threats of riots. To get him in jail so some gang banger can kill him. I think that's the only justice that alot the these bigoted racists have been looking for along. Many posters have come right out and said so. And to the idiots that were stating Zimmerman would take the defense money and run...WRONG, EPIC FAILURES!!!!! Where can we send defense money now that he's in jail?? Trayvons parents could have avoided all this just by taking parental responsibility and grounding the kid after suspension #3.But thats right, we can't lame dad bcause he's black. The fact is many of you posters are so hypocritical whe I see your user names on other stories flat out damning parents for not taking responsibity. YEt here, when it suits your agenda, saying so makes me a racist. When then so be it if you say so. don't really care what some anonymous idiots think anyway. Many on this story right now are still refusig to face many facts such as the tapes were edited there is no real proof of who was screaming on the tape and none of your opinions=the truth, stating that Zimmermans step father is the reason e asn't arrested, again no proof!!!

Republican Guide to Killing Someone and Getting Away with it.

Step 1) Find target and wait until they are walking out in public at night.

Step 2) Slow your car down and slowly follow, making it apparent that you are following your target.

Step 3) Stop the car and emerge with a loaded gun, concealed or visible.

Step 4) Follow target around neighborhood, keeping slight distance but making sure it is apparent that you are following them. Employ predatory behavior, make sure to scare target as much as possible.

Step 5) Human behavior dictates that your target will trigger their psychological "flight or fight" response. If "flight" is chosen, start over tomorrow. If "fight" is chosen, await until the first attack lands.

Step 6) Once target begins to attack you, after their psychological "flight or fight" response is initiated, you are now free to unload as many rounds into the target as you want.

Step 7) Contact Fox News and explain that the target attacked you, after you followed them which is legal, and you were reacting in self defense.

Bonus) Set up website to collect money from Fox News audience... profit.

Thank you, Republicans, for supporting this type of legalized murder. You are truly doing God's work.

Derek-381097

I'm willing to wait for a trial. I'm willing to let the courts determine if he is innocent. But at this point, you only reveal your own prejudices arguing for this guy anymore.

Yo Derek,

To use your logic at this point you reveal YOUR own predudices arguing for Martin anymore. How funny.

patrick1315

We'll see if they can find him to even stand trial now

Patrick, did you even read the article or are you being like too many others who are basing their posts on nothing more than opinion? The guy is already in custody, but hey, don't let facts stand in your way.

Unlawful discharge of a firearm. How do you plead Mr. Zimmerman?

"Guilty. One year probation."

"Next case!"

One year probation? Are you effing serious??? It's not just unlawful discharge of a weapon, it's the killing of a seventeen year old!!!

Sure as hell hope YOU don't come across a judge like you if YOUR kid is killed!

Certainly glad you're not a judge! We have enough corrupt loonies running our courts as it is!

The court of public opinion already found him guilty

Oh really? Judging by comments made here and other places, just as many think that he acted in self defense and is innocent. He may well have and in that case should be aquitted. But you can't do that without a trial. This case needs to go to trial because a 17 year old, unarmed kid was killed by George Zimmerman. Or, are you afraid that he may be found guilty beyond reason?

I think it's a fair decision to run things through the system. It would have proven worse to have avoided it, even if it wasn't really justified. So let the judicial system handle it.

Remember, if it ever gets to a trial, it will take 12 men or women to make a unanimous decision.

I really like Zimmerman's new attorney. He seems like a no nonsense straight shooter.

So game on! It's an interesting case that is worthy of examination - by the system we created to examine these issues.

In the meantime, I'll probably go find something else to talk about for a few weeks.

This case is a perfect example of why we need to implement some new tough gun control laws right away. Zimmerman has a long history of irratic behavior, yet he was allowed to carry a weapon. Community Watch commander? Community Watch members are supposed to be unarmed.

Also, Florida's Stand Your Ground law is a perfect example of why states' rights have far outlived their usefulness.

It is my expectation that a fair trial is held and the country settles down no matter what the outcome. It is also my expectation that the Federal government files charges against the Black Idiot Panthers. Come on Holder/Obama, are you really so stupid to allow this to take place. Clean you ARs and buy more bullets. The race wars are coming if Zimmerman is found not guilty.

Here are the reasons charges were filed.

!, Martins Family paid off the prosecutor .

2, The New Black Panthers put a bounty on the Prosecutor.

3. Obama called the Prosecutor and said "charge him, or find yourself in Gitmo"

4 T%he Black Community said, "Charge him or we riot"

Hey, my opinion is just as good as any of you jerkoffs that want to convict Z.......................innocent!!!!!!!!

17 years old classifies him as a child whether you like it or not

I agree on manslaughter charges, because of Z using disproportionate force to defend himself. But they aren't going to rest until Z is charged with a hate crime. Lights out, bud. Sad, when a by the media riled up mob can dictate the outcome of a trial.

And for Pete's sake, quit collapsing comments.

i dont think you really need a trial to get justice. since this is florida, you just follow zimmerman around until he confrounts you, then blow him away and say it was self defense, he scared you. course, since hes packin too, you might need a couple of armed people, or if zimmerman has armed guards, you might need a posse with genade launchers or rpgs. kinda like the old west, or maybe afghanistan. maybe florida could change its name to new afghanistan. southern christians who post on here sound like taliban to me. enjoy, you brainless, toothless idiots.

"FOR PETE"S SAKE"? Watch you mouth, AL Sharpton will be leading demonstrations on behalf of every negro named Pete in the world! The most hilarious thing I ever saw on T.V. was a skinny soul brother whip the do-do out of BIG AL SHARPTON when AL ran his mouth @ him. This was a skinny little dude;he went upside AL's head,knocked him clean out of his chair. Sharpton's fat ass hit the floor and actually bounced,Al got up and made a show,but he didn't want none,I bet the brother weighed less than the 130lbs. that they claim for the retard that attacked Zimmerman. Anyway he jacked fat-boy's @!$%# up. I think it was on the DICK CAVAT SHOW,it was the late 70's;we should axe Sharpton do he remember dat.

SoTired had one thing right. The racists Sharpton, Jackson, Panthers and certain poiticians will NOT REST until the yget their way to have Zimmerman chare with a "HATE CRIME". It does't matter one little bit that he never said any racist thing on any tape. Just on the EDITED version which many idiots still chose to believe. wouldn't surprise me one little bit if this"special prosecutor" is bowig to political pressure. Why? Let the damn racists riot!!! Jus tbecause there is a black president doesn't mean that they can mob rule this country. Riots start, call in the Natinal Guard.

Step 7) Contact Fox News and explain that the target attacked you, after you followed them which is legal, and you were reacting in self defense.

Disclaimer...Step 7 doesn't work unless you are a wasp being white isn't enough unless you're lily white

Second Degree Murder? Well, looks like another Florida DA overreaching with a count they most likely won't get a conviction on. But, then, maybe that is the plan from the start.

First, I'd like to state that I don't know what the outcome of this will be.. guilt or innocence... I don't have all of the facts, and neither do any of you... I don't even have an opinion of whether or not Zimmerman is guilty or not... I just don't like to formulate such an opinion half-cocked.

And even though I consider this a local story that's been blown up to national proportions by the media for ratings and some other agenda, I am curious... Hypothetically, if Zimmerman happens to be found not guilty, what are all of you, who have been condemning him constantly and fervently screaming to see his head on a pike, going to say? Will you accept the verdict with a crumb of humility and apologize or just scream it was a bull@!$%# trial and a killer is walking free? The same goes for those who are ardent about his innocence and wailing that this charge is politically motivated.. what will you say if he's found guilty? Will it be accepted or will be a big miscarriage of justice to you? ... Just curious..

I'm also curious about when this whole damn business is over and done with, what story of basically no national importance will all of you glom onto instead of the seriously heinous crap that's been going on this country on a national level.

It really doesn't matter if you or I think he is guilty or innocent.... that will be up to a jury to decide, as it SHOULD be. It is what Trayvon's parent were asking for!

@Joe-755363 - Your mouth spews arrogance. I know a young man who just turned 14 years old and he is 6 ft. tall! The height and weight of Trayvon Martin does not make a difference here. Neither does the fact that he enjoyed wearing gold on his teeth, wearing a hoodie, or made some mistakes in his youth. Most youth do make mistakes. It's in the bible: Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. Psalms 25:7. Obviously you were a youth once too. Since there are no perfect human beings on this Earth, I rest assured that you also made mistakes and so have your own kids, if you have any. During youth people are going to make mistakes and hopefully mature to a less sinful person, having learned that the consequences of those mistakes are not good. None of the mistakes Martin ever made in his whole life could justify murdering him. I see other people are assuming that Martin's parents failed to discipline him for the trouble he was in at school previously. None of you know what his consequences were. That's just arrogant judgement. This world is full of arrogant, judgemental, overly critical, blind to reality, hateful people! But, amazingly, God still gives us another day, another breath, another chance to serve Him and love one another.

Very good post, My.2.cents.worth. I wanted to say something similar to Joe but can't add anything to what you've already so eloquently stated.

One thing, though, I must point out... When you said:

But, amazingly, God still gives us another day, another breath, another chance to serve Him and love one another.

... didn't exactly apply to Trayvon Martin. Just like Joe, with all of George Zimmerman's arrogant assumptions about him, he'll never have another day. I wonder if deep down George Zimmerman might think he made a mistake.

naughtynumbernine

Wow, second degree murder. I would have guessed manslaughter. I wonder what they know that we don't.

The facts. The law. Zimmerman murdered Trayvon in cold blood.

@Mrperryrice

naughtynumbernine

Wow, second degree murder. I would have guessed manslaughter. I wonder what they know that we don't.

The facts. The law. Zimmerman murdered Trayvon in cold blood.

Nope. The prosecutor in this case is known for overreaching-- she once tried to charge a 12 year old as an adult for murder in the 1st-- in the end, it's all for show. She starts big and then plea deals to a lesser charge. Zimmerman will get no worse than Manslaughter-- and he may not even get that.

Lotsa comments from the uneducated peanut gallery. Jesus Christ you people are stupid. It's amazing how bad public education has become to result in the mindless drivel you brainless ilk post as commentary.

It's interesting to see so many comments by people who seem to be absolutely sure about what happened, without ever actually reading a transcript of the '911' call. Here is a brief summary of the salient point, with a link to the transcript to verify for yourself;

Key Facts from the transcript and statements of witnesses;

• Zimmerman calls police about a suspicious person, follows him at a distance and calls police.

• Police dispatcher tells him an officer will be sent.

• Trayvon first starts approaching Zimmerman, then runs.

• Zimmerman tells dispatcher he lost contact with Trayvon and stops looking for him.

• Zimmerman arranges to meet an officer at the mailboxes, near his truck, and hangs up his phone - something he certainly wouldn't do if a confrontation was imminent.

• A confrontation occurs, wherein Zimmerman claims he was attacked from behind.

• A struggle ensues, and an eye witness says they see Trayvon on top, beating on Zimmerman.

• The eye witness heads down to help their neighbor (Zimmerman) and hears a shot.

• When the police arrive, Trayvon is dead and Zimmerman has injuries consistent with a beating.

By bet is that the State's case is exceedingly weak, and a conviction is unlikely - especially with a charge of 2nd degree murder which is to claim that Zimmerman chased him down and shot him in cold blood .

Here's a link to the Transcript, for all to read;

http://phoebe53.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/zimmerman-911-call-transcript-trayvon-martin/

Mr. Wilson, I have to take issue w/ some of the "salient points" you alleged are contained in the transcript.

Zimmerman tells dispatcher he lost contact with Trayvon and stops looking for him.

Mr. Zimmerman simply said, "I don't know where this kid is". The transcripts do not contain a statement... nor any implication... that he was going to "stop looking for him".

Perhaps you have an alternate source...but it's not in the transcripts.

Zimmerman arranges to meet an officer at the mailboxes, near his truck, and hangs up his phone -

Not true. He initially agrees to meet them at the mailboxes...but before he "hangs up the phone"...he changes his mind and asks the dispatcher to have police call him upon arriving so he can, "tell them where I'm at".

If Mr. Zimmerman was truly going to "stop looking for him"...and was planning to meet the responding officers at the mailboxes...why would the officers need to call him to determine his location when they arrived?

A confrontation occurs, wherein Zimmerman claims he was attacked from behind.

This is also not true.

According to GZ himself, he was "walking back to (his) SUV when Trayvon approached him from behind, and they exchanged words". Mr. Zimmerman did not claim "he was attacked from behind".

A struggle ensues, and an eye witness says they see Trayvon on top, beating on Zimmerman.

Will the anonymous witness you mention even be willing to testify?

Because the two eye-witnesses who heard a "young person" (their description) yelling for help and then seconds later saw Mr. Zimmerman straddling TM's dead body... are certainly willing to testify.

Zimmerman has injuries consistent with a beating.

Or consistent w/ slipping on wet grass or pavement and falling down while chasing after a "suspicious" teen. Or, consistent w/ starting a fight...and losing.

The mere presence of blood doesn't validate GZ's account of events nor (necessarily) justify his use of deadly force.

For his affirmative defense to work, George Zimmerman will have to testify in open court that the beating he was enduring caused an immediate, justifiable fear for his life.

The will be difficult considering the injuries he sustained during this life-threatening beating...were hardly visible moments after receiving basic treatment on scene...and the fact that he refused a trip to the emergency room.

Yes, the "enhanced, re-digitized" video does show abrasions on the back of his head...but there's no profound swelling....no dried blood...not even a bandage.

Same for his allegedly broken nose. No swelling, no disfigurement, no bruising, no blood....no bandage.

By bet is that the State's case is exceedingly weak, and a conviction is unlikely -

You may be right...even in states that don't have SYG laws...self-defense homicide cases are tricky. And the shooter's side of the story often prevails because the victim is dead. That doesn't mean no crime occurred...only that one can't be proven.

especially with a charge of 2nd degree murder which is to claim that Zimmerman chased him down and shot him in cold blood .

Once again, not true. What you describe is premeditation...it's 1st degree murder. Mr. Zimmerman is charged w/ 2nd degree murder....AKA no premeditation.

widewillie

For his affirmative defense to work, George Zimmerman will have to testify in open court that the beating he was enduring caused an immediate, justifiable fear for his life.

Actually the statute only requires "reasonable belief" of death or serious injury. fear for life is ONE requirement another is reasonable belief of serious injury is imminent.

The will be difficult considering the injuries he sustained during this life-threatening beating...were hardly visible moments after receiving basic treatment on scene...and the fact that he refused a trip to the emergency room.

George would not be the first person to delay going for medical treatment and still have significant injuries. No actual injuries or death are required to present the SYG and self defense.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2010/776.013

(3) A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

Much lower bar than actually receiving injuries.

Granted this is a big IF but IF trayvon got his hand on Georges gun that meets the bar. We have NOT seen Georges actual statement to police that night that I know of. RUMOR has it stating Trayvon found Georges gun and was trying to get it out of his waistband.

I like that you acknowledge that self defense is tricky. Also that NOT GUILTY does not mean innocent. FL SYG though puts an end at things with the NOT Guilty. No suing him in civil court unless found guilty. Not sure there is anything to sue asset wise if they get that far. He might make a dollar a day in prison and I think that may be shielded so he can afford the basics of life behind bars. His home is probably shielded since he has a wife and she is entitled to basic shelter (it isn't a beach front mansion).

The REACH on the charges is 2nd degree murder based on depraved indifference and profiling. The profiling charge, imho, is based on he profiled based on black males being the perps committing the crimes. Generally SYG failures yield manslaughter if they aren't attempts to cover 1st degree murder. Not sure when the last instant is the DA can add charges to the docket.

GZ would be insane to not opt for a bench trial.

If it was a bad shoot it is in the interest of those who are in favor of self defense to want justice. We're not vigilantes. Standing up for a bad shoot undermines legitimate acts of self defense.

So a Hispanic, (he is not white) George will be charge for ??? I wander how the Hispanic community will react in FLA, and nationwide.

Good luck to all. I feel for the Matrin family and also the Hispanic family of George.

I guess we need a couple prominent Hispanics to stand up and act as stupid as jesse and al .

Sorry ol thing, Hispanics can be white. And, his father was not Hispanic anyway.

another person heard from that doesn't know the difference between race and ethnicity.

Im sure Jose Baez will take the case....will THAT Hispanic work for you?

same ol, I think you meant "wonder" -- unless you intend to hoof it around the "Hispanic community" to gauge reactions. Besides that, the rest of your comment confuses me immensely. What, exactly, do you mean? Are you suggesting that he should not be charged because he is Hispanic on his mother's side? That somehow this monolithic "Hispanic community" will rise up in his defense because his skin tone is closest to theirs, no matter what he may or may not have done? Or are you saying that the his father's white family is not to be pittied, but everyone else is? I'm really not sure how focusing on the angle of the race issue is very helpful or enlightening at all, actually...

Oh yeah, and one last, quick observation here; why should the Martin family attorney have to call for people in the community to "remain peaceful?"

So, does that mean if they'll riot if they don't get their way?

How would anyone in this room like to be on the butt end of a criminal prosecution, that was spurred on by local officials fear of a riot happening, if charges were not pressed?

Nice way to run the justice system, eh?

He is definitely guilty of taking a life. That was established when he admitted to it. The only thing that most people have been asking for is a legitamte proof that this life was taken because of self defense. If it was not, then Zimmerman has indeed broken the law, and needs to be punished. If he can prove that his actions were in self defense, then he has no reason to worry or hide.

MR. St...

LMAO at Baez... the guy that defended Scott Peterson was yapping about this case and Zimmerman's lawyers as well. Baez and Gregoros (I can't remember Scott Peterson's lawyer) are both clowns.

George Lopez... where are you???

Yes we can all understand that hispanics can be racially "caucasian". Technically so are Middle Easterns and Native Americans. That doesn't mean that when we are talking about predjudice in America that Latinos and Whites are synonymns. They aren't. When talking about white predjudice we are talking about European Americans not Latinos. If you doubt it try taking a Mexican to a KKK rally and see what happens. The point is that when it suits them Latino, Middle Eastern, Indian... all count as "brown people" but when it doesn't... they are suddenly white? Maybe we should all remember this lesson on race next time there's a law targeting illegal immigrants that we don't like, after all it's not racist... most Mexicans are White!

J Merle,

If the police had listened to their lead investigator 44 days ago, there would not be any problems. It was only when the events of the night were attempted to be swept under the rug, and this noted by the media, that a real investigation was actually looked into. This has nothing to do with race or ethnicity, but that's what it has been turned in to by ALL sides. Now, you have a pissed off community who wants justice to work, regardless of who knows whom in the system. This is about Zimmermans father pulling strings to get this swept under the rug, and they all got caught because the facts do not support the story being told by Zimmerman. They got caught because it was brought to light in the media, and they were FORCED to actually serve justice without bias.

The only thing that most people have been asking for is a legitamte proof that this life was taken because of self defense

Zimmerman doesn't have to prove this- the state has to prove it wasn't self defense.

Yes, he as already been convicted by a kangaroo court.

What does the Hispanic Community have to do with this? Zim's Mom is not Hispanic , she is Peruvian!

I don't consider updating a story hours before it comes to what should have been a forgone conclusion (self-appointed armed security guard Zimmerman being charged in the shooting death of an unarmed teenager) being "a little slow" !!

The media finally got what it wanted

He can't be "CONVICTED" if he hasn't been CHARGED....that's the problem, the hue and cry was for charges...not conviction. This was not a first degree murder...period. BUT it was a CRIME of some sort, we'll see what sort of crime the Florida procecutor thinks the evidence supports soon enough. WHATthe81...the family and the good citizen's of America got what they want...CHARGES...acknowledgment that there was a crime committed, that it is a crime even in Florida to shoot down an unarmed kid walking home from a convenience store..period...it is sad that isn't what YOU and your ilk wanted too!

Mom 1010

Zim's Mom is not Hispanic , she is Peruvian!

Peruvians are hispanic!! it's like saying Britsh, American, and Australian people aren't Anglo. Do you see how dumb you sound? Use wikipedia, it will prevent you from making a full out of yourself.

..the sow pig Nazi spawn cops...

First off, saying sow pig is redundant.

Second, you always interject Hitler into your postings. I just got done reading another one of your posts on the FB article. You went further on that one though. You brought up Hitler, weapons, the military, France and revolution in an article about using Facebook on an employers dime.

Look up Godwin's Law please.

Zanilth,

Thank you for agreeing with me. So the lead investigator did not believe that Zimmermans story added up, and wanted charges pressed against him so they could take the legal avenue and have their time in court. Why why was he overruled? Here we are 44 days later, and back at the same place because someone tried to pull a fast one at the beginning of this case. It had to be dragged into the public view to force what the lead investigator wanted in the forst place. Had there not been the attempt to coverup this case, there would not be any public outrage as there is today. We would have another unfortunate event that was being handled by our justice system.

Why did it take the Prosecutors this long to charge Zimmerman.

He may not make it to the trial; doing away with himself; as reported his mental condition is very bad, losing a lot of weight.

Then Justice will never be served. Racism still exists in this country. People are making it stay "alive".

But one must ask themselves, what is the real truth in this fight; hearing the 911 tapes, which were doctored; to make it look like Z was a Racist, and all the Civil Rights Leaders out again to show they have Power and Importance; Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton. They are guilty as well of feeding off the public view.

Will the jury be all Black, or of mixed Races---that may determine the outcome of the sentence.

No @!$%# he's charged. You stalk a guy and pull a gun on him because you have "suspicions", the target won't have much choice but to fight back or run away. For all it's worth, it looks like you're trying to mug him. Would a mugger be able to shoot someone in "self defense"? Of course not.

Xina the Awesome, I have never in my life heard any Native American refer to himself/herself as "White". It has nothing to do with "suiting them" and that was insulting as hell. Racist much? Really, you just trump all "brown" people into the same category? They ALL switch sides from "brown" to "white" when the whim takes them. Why don't you try judging a person by his/her actions instead of what you presume their "brown" skin will cause them to do!

Also to clarify something for you, Native Americans are not IN ANYWAY classified as white. If you want to get into the anthropolical background of Native Americans they share the same ancestory as Asians. Do a bit of research before you post about all those "brown" people.

I can give you a bit of history on another area of your post as well. Take a "white" woman who has a mixed baby to a KKK rally and see how they treat her or a "white" man married to any other race than caucasion and see what happens to him. There is a vast history of the KKK hurting and killing "white" people as well as "non-white".

Know your facts!

What difference does it make who is mother is and her national origin? FINALLY! he will have CHARGES brought against him, that's the important thing. It's not the media that is satisfied..it should be the American people, and Trayvon's family, because it IS some sort of crime when a 17 year old kid, armed with skittles and ice tea, is shot and killed walking home from a convenience store, apparently, even in Florida! Lets see what evidence supports what charges.

Took a lot of prodding, but justice at last!

@james3318716

So then Obama is white too, right? If someone that is half White & half Hispanic is white then someone that is half White & half Black is White as well? Guess that throws a wrench in your assertion doesn't it?

Even if a fight did ensue, and Zimmerman was such a coward that he felt threatened enough to use a gun against fists; and thus gets off on a pathetic "self-defense" excuse..... he should still be held accountable for his actions which created the situation that led to the death of an unarmed 17 year old who was initially just walking home.

There is no excuse for a grown man with a CCW to act with such incredibly poor judgment that it leads to the completely uneccessary death of a teenager, self-defense or not. You can't let people get away with that sort of fatal irresponsibility.



Took a lot of prodding, but justice at last!

Not really. Justice is Truth. Although the courts do their best at finding the truth and issuing justice, it may never happen. Justice is beyond simply what is unproven and unproven. He could be convicted and the truth is he's completely innocent ... that would NOT be justice. He could also be let off, despite being completely guilty with a bunk story - that would not be justice either.

So, either the original DA screwed the pooch on this, or, the state prosecutor appointed by an elected official especially for this task is making politically motivated decisions. It will be interesting as more details come out to see which one it is. And, stop blaming the police; it wasn't their call to arrest Zimmerman or not. They brought him in, gave what evidence they had, and the DA made the call whether there was enough to convict or not.

To all the white people who really don't know anything about much of anything outside of being ...white people... here is a bold "FACT"...

If you have a white parent, and a hispanic parent... you are not hispanic in the eyes of the hispanic community... you are plain and simply a white person to them... a white boy... a wetto...which is why there isn't one hispanic community in this country who is standing up beside this moron Zimmerman....

People who are born Mexican, or any other Latin heritage will certainly tell you this is FACT...!

So what is all this talk about this or that community backing this fool up... in any way... all of a sudden with this fool Zimmerman... he needs a community to back HIM up... did anybody back Charles Manson because he is white... no... did anybody back up Jeffrey Dahmer because he is white... no... what about Ed Geen... or Bundy... or all the other freaks of nature... no... so why is this Zimmerman any different... why does he NEED the support of anybody other than his immediate family or defense attorney's...???

All of a sudden he gets up a web site begging for money... and people are throwing him money... like they are betting on a race... or playing the lottery... LOL...!

There sure seems like a lot of people with seriously bankrupt minds and lives to jump on this guys bandwagon.... LMAO...!!!

The alleged injuries to Zimmerman may tell all about the outcome of this case.

In the videos, all of them were "grainy"---so no exact information could be determined about his claims of broken nose, etc. No close ups of the injuries.

Records from the doctors may reveal surprising information. Trayvon Martin also had a history of bad behavior. He was suspended from school for using drugs. Pictures taken when he was murdered were that of a young kid. Many Wild Cards here to play..

Is the Hoodie going to be a part of the trial as well. Another TV Trial Circus, just like the OJ Simpson one.

Forget the white/black/hispanic issue altogether. What this case tells me is that (in Florida) I can go out in public armed with a weapon whose only purpose is to kill human beings and choose someone I BELIEVE is "suspicious", confront and harass them until they punch me, and then shoot them and claim it was self defense. I mean isn't that what happened? If Zimmerman wasn't armed and looking for criminals (victims) and didn't decied to mess with Martin the kid would still be alive. Period>

If only justice was done earlier, this never would have been the circus it has become...

Hopefully some resolution will come from this case. A trial will at least clear out some of the bad air, put all the facts on the table, and hopefully Martin's death will not be in vain.

Hopefully also the mudslingers from both sides will go home. There has been enough venom from a lot of posts, and quite frankly, I wonder how such folks can sleep at night...

Shuklock,

Agree with everything except the part where Zimmerman was a coward for fearing for his life. It still hasn't been proven that Zimmerman's version of the story is incorrect. If it is proved to be true, then, he most certainly had reason to fear for his life. If you've ever been jumped or mugged (quite frankly, they are the same thing to me) then you'd know that if someone surprises you and can get in a shot that stuns you, they can do a lot of damage banging your head off concrete before you recover your senses. It doesn't matter if that person is 5'5" and 145 lbs. or 6' and 190 lbs. Welterweight boxers weigh between 140 and 147 lbs. That's guys like Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, and Manny Pacquio. Wouldn't want to get surprised by someone even remotely like that in an alley between two townhouse rows.

I'm glad charges are finally being filed. I wonder if Zimmerman asked to be put on trial in his conversation with the prosecution. If I was in his shoes (assuming he's innocent) I'd want a trial at this point. There is no other way to move past it.

to what_the_81..... HISPANIC is a bull sh it term Peruvians are not from Hispania. They are from peru.

Great.

And when he's acquitted ? Here come the riots.

AC,

You're post didn't make a lot of sense. I'll only say this... my wife is Hispanic and she supports Zimmerman's account. Also, many of her relatives are half-Mexican and yet Hispanic. Saying that Hispanics won't accept a half Hispanic is ridiculous and quite frankly offensive.

poor george!!!????........zoroaster, if thats the case then knuckle up and fight....i was taught you are a weak coward if you bring a weapon into a fight when the other person doesnt have one and is unarmed. zimmerman had no business following and harassing this young boy. all that stuff about trayvon not being an angel etc is total BS. None of us are angels and to try to justify an unarmed teen getting murdered because of past minor UNVIOLENT juvenile things is severely irrational. bottom line self defense is when you use equal force to protect yourself. where does it say anywhere in the laws that if someone punches you you can shoot them? THIS WAS MURDER!!......ITS VERY SIMPLE TO ME.

"Looks like Manslaughter to me, 30 years +"

Here is my take on this whole thing: I can't say if the shooting was justified or not. I don't know the facts nor does anyone here really know them. I just hope that these charges are brought because of the facts of the case and not because the system is bowing down to public pressure.

Justice will be served; not only for Trayvon Martin, but for us all and for the very freedoms we all hold dear. Stalking and hunting anyone down, especially a child, is an inhumane act! Those are the facts and a young teen was murdered.

Blessings to all who have been impacted so greatly, and sleep well, Trayvon as you rest in His care.

AC 1213193 your comments on mixed white and hispanic is not completely correct. True some in the Latin comunity feel that way,but rare. I have a child with a mexican woman. As she is mixed, she not once was considered white by any hispanic community. She's been throughout Southern California and Mexico where her grandparents were born. Everyone has called her a Mexican. She has never been called white or Italian whch is my ancestry. So in my experience growing up in L.A. that rarely happens when you have a mixed person such as Mr. Zimmerman

The same ol thing!

The Hispanic in me wants justice.

He identified himself as Hispanic on his voter registration...

Well this is a test of the Fla. Self defence law. The Law is apparently too broad. I think Zimmerman was looking for a fight. I'm a gun owner too with permits etc. but I damn sure don't go looking for gun fights etc . He could have easily just followed and watched. Zimmerman obviously provoked the teenager. I figure. Defense is one thing against a thug.......I'm 60 years old and have guns but I don't stupidly hassle kids walking in my area. That is insane and asking for trouble. They invade my home is another story. YES CHARGE Zimmerman!!!!!! He was out of line!!!!!!!!!

PEOPLE! Stop collapsing the comments!!

The charges should have been filed when the officer wanted to do it. The point here is Zimmerman put himself in this predicament when he chose not to listen to the 911 operator and when he chose to follow him with a gun in his pocket! The only one who could shed some light on this is dead! If Zimmerman was punched or attacked who is to say it was not because Martin feared for his life being followed when all he had on him was a bag of skittles...A life was taken because someone chose to not listen and let the police do what they needed to do! To me it does not matter about the race..this was a life not a race that was taken. This was a young man who will never have a chance to tell his side of the story. I really wish people would focus on this and not the race...the law in Florida has major flaws.

I don't give a fig about Mr. Zimmerman's race or ethnicity. I only care about his behaviour, especially on that night he shot Mr. Martin.

Secondarily, I am personally frustrated that the Special Prosecutor teases the public with uspecified charges yet to be brought. Trying to tantilize the public, perhaps?

Black or white...somebody's baby is dead. I dont have children but when I head that little boy screaming for his life it gave me chills. Maybe it was an accident but the game changed when he tried to cover up the truth.Not much for thinking it was racial.I would hope that if it happen to anybody of any race that we would all rise to ask for justice....

bottom line self defense is when you use equal force to protect yourself. where does it say anywhere in the laws that if someone punches you you can shoot them

No, actually self-defense is simply defending yourself, the legal ability to use lethal force is anytime you feel you are in imminent danger of losing your life or sustaining serious bodily injury. Typically, this comes into play when a lethal instrument is entered into the equation, you are faced with an attacker much larger than yourself, there are multiple assailants, or you are unable to get away from the situation and are being attacked repeatedly. Zimmermans story asserts that a lethal instrument (the cement his head was being it against) was introduced and he was unable to remove himself from repeated injury (again, his head being beat against the ground). If his story is true, then he certainly had reason to believe he was in imminent danger of death or serious injury.

As for your assertion of Zimmerman following and harassing this boy, there is absolutely no evidence that he continued to follow him after he told the 911 operator he lost sight of him. The only evidence, made public, to the confrontation is Martins girlfriends statement that Martin asked Zimmerman why he was following him and Zimmerman responded by asking what he was doing there, the one eye witness who claims to have seen Martin on top of Zimmerman, the 911 tapes of the neighbors of someone yelling for help, Zimmerman's alleged injuries and Martin's dead body.

Whether it is manslaughter or self-defense is yet to be determined, it all depends on what actually happened. Whether Zimmerman was returning to his vehicle and Martin jumped him, as Zimmerman asserts, or whether Zimmerman was able to again find Martin, didn't like Martin's attitude and showed his gun, giving Martin good reason to hit him.

Christian Grandma,

Are you saying that Zimmerman would have had more cause to follow Martin if he was packing slim jims and Redbull?

I hope they have evidence to convict him if they charge him. If not, I hope he sues the police/prosecutor for malicious prosecution because that means that they just bowed to the mob/political pressure to charge him without enough evidence.

People that say to just charge him and let a court decide need to understand that there has to be enough evidence from an investigation to lead one to believe a crime took place. Just saying that maybe a crime took place, so we will charge him and try him is wrong.

If you are charged with a crime, and go to trial, you are talking about bankrupting your family. Even if you are found innocent, you have still lost everything. Many people wind up selling everything they have to pay for their defense. They lose their job because they cannot work while on trial.

So you cannot just say that maybe there was a crime and maybe there was not, so let's just let the jury decide. If they did that it would be unfair to innocent people.

Zanilth

The law in Florida must be very different because the way I understand our laws is that the prosecutor has to prove that the act was commited y the defendant and if the defendant wants to raise a self defense then the defendant has to prove that it was indeed in self defense.

immerman claimed that Martin (the DEAD black kid in this case) hit him in the face and bounced his head off the pavement -- yet in the video of Zimmerman being taken to "booking" (where he was NEVER charged with anything), there is ZERO evidence of a bloody nose, and ZERO evidence of any injury to the head (and it would definitely show through that stubble he had at the time).

Based on that alone, it is clear that George Zimmerman LIED about what happened. George Zimmerman should have been charged that very night -- instead of simply "questioned and released".

p.s., independent experts have already shown that the person screaming for help in the 911 tapes is NOT Zimmerman. He LIED about that, too.

Thanks Natedom,

At least there are a few people who are able to separate emotion and fantasy from what has been presented. I think too many people look to tv in order to understand the potential outcomes of a simple fist fight. People have died from a simple fist fight that ended with their head coming in contact with concrete. Unless you are manly like Freedomist and can take on 5 men and Chuck Norris with your hands tied behind your back, all it takes is a lucky shot and you won't have the wits to defend yourself from someone banging your head into a pulp. Not to insinuate that this is what happened with Zimmerman and Martin; just to point out that, should Zimmerman's story hold up, his life very well could have been threatened.

IWonder-932455 you shouldn't insult a Nazi that way. I find that the truth is in the collapsed comments or the true feelings of people. That's the ones i usually read. I leave all the politically correct smooch smooch kissy kissy alone.

...if the defendant wants to raise a self defense then the defendant has to prove that it was indeed in self defense.

Not in Florida, where you now have the right to shoot someone as they are running away -- because they "made you feel unsafe". It means you get to shoot them in the back even when all they did was look at you "in a threatening manner" - and then turned to leave. Yep, that's the basic gist of that updated "Stand Your Ground Law" they have in Florida.

Ugh! Quacked One, stay current. High Definition versions of those same tapes clearly show injury to the back of Zimmerman's head. The 911 tape anaylsis indicated that the voice was not Zimmerman's. They also said that they had no recording of Martin so they couldn't prove that the voice was Martin's either. Unfortunately, just because they couldn't match up to Zimmerman's voice doesn't mean that the voice on the 911 tape would definitely match up to Martin's.

Blusician - you're totally correct right up to the point where you say Trayvon would still be alive - the correct statement would have been he would not be dead due to Zimmerman. He could still have died in the past 44 days in any number of other ways.

Uh, Quack,

You'd have a hard time proving self defense if you shot someone in the back...

don't expect a conviction of any magnatude because unless the jury is 3/4 black, whites will not convict him and then it's an appeal, big time.

Okicize Wicasa Yata Pi, those comments get collapsed because of all the votes they get -- not because they are so full of "truth".

p.s., nice name, "chief fighting a battle".

Don in MO,

Zimmerman could have run him over on the way back from grabbing skittles on a later, rainy night. So, it should be stated that we would not be dead as a result of the events set off by Zimmerman following him that night. Or, the events set off by Marin buying skittles? I've heard so much about skittles that I know they played an important role. Shouldn't the makers of skittles be investigated?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g4yF3Xu-wg

That's his self defense claim- moreso than any evidence against him they can possibly drag up at this point in time.

Christian Grandma,

So if I am walking through my neighborhood and I see someone that is suspicious to me. Maybe they are looking for a house to break in. So I follow them. They then confront me about why I am following them, I ask them why are they in the neighborhood, and they punch me, knock me to the ground and start slamming my head on the ground.

So you are saying that I do not have the right to defend myself after someone punched me, knocked me to the ground and is on top of me slamming my head on the ground because I was following them? I just have to lay there and hope that they stop pounding my head on the ground before they do serious damage because I was following them?

Does it matter if they were really trying to find a house to break in, or were just innocently walking through the neighborhood? Do I deserve to be attacked because I was suspicious and following someone? So because you mistaken about their intentions you have no right to defend yourself after being punched, knocked to the ground, and having your head pounded on the ground? Even if at the time you have no idea if you are mistaken? All you know is that you were suspicious about a person, they surprise you and punch you, knock you to the ground, and pound you head on the ground?

Does it matter if the person you were following was frightened? If you following frightened them so much that they though they needed to attack you first? So then because you are mistaken, and they were mistaken you cannot defend yourself after someone punches you, knocks you to the ground, and pounds your head into the ground?

Shouldn't it be whoever started the physical fight be the person that is the aggressor? Shouldn't the other person be able to defend themselves if they were punched, knocked down, and had their head pounded into the ground?

Put yourself in Zimmerman's shoes for a second. You see someone, you are suspicious. You call police. Tell them about the person. You are following them and due to many beakins, you want to keep an eye on them until the police arrive. The dispatcher say that you do not need to follow them. But you decide to anyway. The person runs. hmmm, maybe they are hiding something. So you give chase. You lose the person, start walking back to your car when you are confronted with the suspicious person. They punch you, knock you down, and are pounding your head into the ground. You are wondering if this person you were suspicious of and has now attacked you is going to kill you. You wonder if the next time he slams your head into the ground you are going to be brain dead. You defend yourself with your gun. Your gun that you have while you are running errands, not on a neighborhood watch patrol.

Sure, you could have been mistaken about the person's intentions, he could have been mistaken about your intent to harm him. These wrong assumptions culminate in a person being dead. Just because everyone was making the wrong assumptions does not mean that you cannot defend yourself after being punched, knocked down, and having your head pounded into the ground.

This all of course is based on what Zimmerman said. Which should stand until there is some evidence that it happened any other way.

uh, Zoro, the way the law is written there is no requirement to prove anything at all.

And, uh, Zoro, where was Zimmerman's bloody face/nose? Did the cops let him use a wet-wipe while they were transporting him to the jail -- where he was NOT charged?

Zoroaster, not really. When I moved to Houston a man shot two thieves in the back as they were running from his neighbors house after breaking in...he got away with it...

Dalia,

If that was the case every person that shoots in intruder in their home would be charged, jailed and tried. After all, they shot someone. They killed someone. So they only way that it can be determined to be self defense is by a jury?

Quacked, He was treated by EMTs at the scene. Although, I couldn't notice any swelling which I would have expected. But, I don't know enough about the circumstances to know if my expectations were realistic.

CMT, true. As was another case of home invasion that brought out the Stand Your Ground Defense. So, apparently, you shouldn't break into people's houses and then run away - if you value your health.

Jim in Auburn, the issue is NOT about whether anyone has the right to defend themselves - it is about whether DEADLY FORCE is needed to stop someone from punching you in the face. If you're dumb enough to be close enough to get punched in the face before you even know why that "suspicious person" is there to begin with, then I think you might deserve a good drubbing.

There is, so far, only ONE person who can say definitively whether Martin was looking for a home to burglarize. That ONE person is the same person who killed Martin. There are ZERO witnesses to Zimmerman "asking" Martin what he was up to, there are ZERO witnesses to whether or not Martin began punching Zimmerman first -- or if Zimmerman simply decided to play Vigilante. The ONLY thing that is clear is that it was ZIMMERMAN who pulled the trigger, resulting in a "suspicious person" being killed.

Unless YOU were there, even YOU have ZERO clue as to who started what and who was actually being "suspicious".

Jim in Auburn said:

If you are charged with a crime, and go to trial, you are talking about bankrupting your family. Even if you are found innocent, you have still lost everything.

Everyone wrapped up in this case has lost. the Martins lost their child. Zimmerman lost his security and confidence knowing he killed an unarmed person. The police department has lost credibility. Some people are gong to lose their jobs over this. And Trayvon lost his life, the ultimate loss, because who knows what he would have become, what he would have done with his life? We will never know now because a bullet and some bad decisions took that potential away. There are people saying he's a thug and he deserved it--but everyone can change, especially someone as young as Martin.

Whoever started it, whatever happens, Zimmerman knows his gun took another life. That is inescapable. He will have to live with that for the rest of his life, He will have to look himself in the mirror for the rest of his life knowing that he took a life, and if he believes in a God, that God knows what is in Zimmerman's heart and mind and will judge accordingly.

To.. Eric True and Noah... AGAIN... let me break it down for you AGAIN... gee... are you guys third graders or something....???....

You guys really need to read just a little slower... and really think about something BEFORE claiming something... and Noah... it made complete and utter sense... you just don't seem to know what it is you read after you get done reading it.. or you just can't read...! You too Eric...!

Eric in particular... you speak about what you know and have seen ONLY in this country... you speak nothing about Mexico, you speak nothing about Nicaragua, or any other South American country for that matter....gee... you speak nothing about a true hispanic... "country"... you only speak of ..."communities" ... here in this country... and only within the limits of what you have seen HERE in this country alone, and you speak of nothing about true Latin countries at all... so what true knowledge do you bring to the table here on what I said... NOTHING...! A Tomato vs Tomatoe argument...!

You go take your kids to Mexico or to a south american country and try, just try and pawn them off onto the cultures there and just try and convince them that your child is hispanic, and they will laugh at you... Just because you say that you have a certain bloodline from a certain culture does not grant you certain culture prominence... are you kidding...?

And you and Noah telling that you married someone who is half this or half that, and they were born in this country does not in any way reflect what someone who was born in and raised in the cultures of Mexico for instance...would do or say, or if they would even be accepted in, for instance...Mexico...

And another thing... when you have lived down in a Latin country, and you actually have learned about the cultures in those countries, then MAYBE you can come back here and contradict what I said... until then... you are merely just comparing apples to oranges...!

And so what if you spouse agrees and stands by Zimmerman... there are black people who think he is not guilty of anything also... and he is not black in any of light...!!! So in what kind of way does your statement have any sense of weight on anything...?

And Eric... get off the fence BEFORE you comment, because it looks just a little insane to say... yeah.. you are right... but then say... "But let me introduce you to a straw man argument here for a minute"... You sound like one of those people who take up a Spanish class... learn how to speak Spanish, then go to Spain and think you are one of the guys... because you can speak the language... LOL...!!!

So, Martin had a piece of "stolen jewelry" in his pocket? That must mean he actually broke into a house and burglarized it! NOT!! I have had things "stolen" before -- and then found them laying right where they got "stolen": In the yard, in the driveway, on/under the table I was working at, etc, etc, etc, etc. I have also found many "stolen" things for other people in the same way.

But because Martin is now dead, we have only the word of a man who has been arrested for violence, including assaulting a police officer (which I always thought was an automatic felony)............

Quacked One,

It is my understanding that he was treated at the scene by the fire department/paramedics. So I would think that he would be cleaned up a bit. Also I have seen reports that the police took pictures of his injuries. I imagine any pictures that were taken were a lot better than what would show on a security camera. Plus there is probably information in police reports about any injuries. I am sure all of this will come out in any trial. If the police report says he had a bloody nose, and contusions, I really do not care what the video shows because it is not high enough resolution and does not show his state immediately after the confrontation. If I bang my head on a door and it starts hurting and then you see me on a video camera at a store a few hours later, you cannot tell that I banged my head earlier, or if it is still hurting.

At 17, a teacher would have been fired and ruined for having sex with a 17 year old. Yet this man can kill a 17 year old and walk free.

This man can defend himself after being attacked by a 17 year old. All depends on how you look at it, remember innocent until proven guilty?

It doesn't matter if he's guilty or not he's the sacrificial lamb.

He figured he would be charged, that is why he was raising bail money on his website. Time for the lame stream media to move on, this is no longer news.

Well I’ve always thought that Zimmerman should be charged with a crime as he had no business getting in this guys face to begin with. That being said though I sincerely hope that he is being prosecuted because the law requires it and not just because we are trying to appease certain highly irrational, reactionary members of our society. Politics should never decide these kinds of cases and as a society we should never give in to mob mentality. Ever since the last big riots in Los Angeles though this is often the case. Government officials will encourage the prosecution of someone in a racially charged case whether that prosecution is warranted or not just to keep a bunch of overzealous idiots pacified. Hopefully that is not the case here though.

Zimmerman was just taken into custody by police today someplace. Nice to hide out for so long. Think he now doesn't have some dings on his head to say it happened that night? He deliberately leaned his back against wall in police garage video which contaminated jacket evidence. However forensics will show the paint from police wall and not concrete from sidewalk on the back of jacket, when he said he was getting his head pounded onto sidewalk. Stand your ground huh? He runs away and hides........

Quacked One,

So if someone gets the jump on me and attacks me, that is my fault? Does that apply to other things? If someone gets the jump on me, they can rob me and it is my fault? I imagine rapists get the jump on their victims, so it is the victims fault I guess.

Yes, you list off all the stuff that no one knows. What is known? Zimmerman was suspicious about Martin (911 call), Martin was on top of Zimmerman punching him with Zimmerman yelling for help (witness), Zimmerman's injuries (police/EMTs), and Zimmerman's statement. Given that, I would say that there is plenty of reasonable doubt about Zimmerman just executing Martin.

Everything could have happened exactly like Zimmerman said. Martin could have attacked him out of self defense because he was frightened by this guy following him. Martin could have defended himself after a suspicious guy attacked him. Zimmerman could have just really hated Martin and shot him dead on the spot. Who knows? No one knows but Zimmerman and Martin, and Martin is not talking. And since it could have been any of those, even if one is more likely, that is reasonable doubt. Maybe 80% chance that Zimmerman just executed him. But if there is a 20% chance that it happened as he said, that is reasonable doubt.

Ken-

So if i get in a heated argument with my neighbor on the sidewalk, about his dog pooping in my yard, he has the right to attack me, and I do not have the right to defend myself if I feel my life is in danger? Really?

Starsailing -

You would stay at your house after all the publicity on this case? After the Black Panthers put a price on your head? After people tweet your address in a veiled call for people to go to your house and harm you? Really?

Do I deserve to be attacked because I was suspicious and following someone?

Do I deserve to be followed and accosted by an armed vigilante w/a history of violence who is in flagrant violation of multiple Community Watch guidelines ...and who ignores the directives of the 911 operator...because he's suspicious?

You may not "deserve" to be attacked in that circumstance...but, you do lose the right to claim self-defense, IMO.

So because you mistaken about their intentions you have no right to defend yourself after being punched, knocked to the ground, and having your head pounded on the ground?

Does an innocent teenager have no right to defend himself when he's walking alone through a neighborhood he doesn't know that well...at night...in the rain...being followed aggressively by an older man in a car, and then on foot?

Being "mistaken about their intentions" may come w/ consequences....like getting your ass kicked. If you can't deal w/ the consequences...don't follow people around. Shooting them in self-defense" is not the answer.

Zimmerman has already been convicted. Anything less than the death penalty or life, will result in violence like after the Rodney King verdict. Either way, race relations in this country has taken yet another step back and is never going to improve because we have race baiters in the black community and in the media and in our White House. If Zimmerman gets the death penalty.... will it make us all finally 'just get along'? Don't hold your breath.

Widewillie,

He was not even on a neighborhood watch patrol. He was just driving in his car and had his gun on him legally. Everyone has a right to follow someone on public property if they think they might be up to no good. The 911 operator has no authority to forbid you from keeping an eye on someone you find suspicious. They tell you not to follow them because it opens them up to liability. Because then you become an agent for them, and if something happens to you, you could sue them because they were leading you into a dangerous situation.

So if I am following someone who I find suspicious, and they run and then jump out at me and start attacking me, I have to just sit there and take it and hope they stop before they kill me? I have lost the right to claim self defense if I fight back. Good to know.

So you agree then that if Martin was not killed, and did indeed attack Zimmerman because he was mistaken and thought that Zimmerman wanted to do him harm, that Martin should have been charged with assault?

What I am saying is that everything that happened before the first punch does not matter. It all comes down to who attacked who. If Martin, a person who Zimmerman though was suspicious, attacked Zimmerman because he thought he was out to do him harm, then Zimmerman had a right to defend himself and would not be expected to just lie there and not defend himself when he is being punched and having his head slammed on the ground.

If you reverse things, and use your logic, if Zimmerman thought that Martin was up to no good, and found him threatening, Zimmerman would have the right to attack Martin and jump on him and be pounding on him. And that Martin would not have the right defend himself because he was mistaken about why Zimmerman was following him? Even though the fact that Zimmerman attacked Martin shows that he is indeed suspicious and wanting to cause him harm?

I will put it simply for you.

Imagine you are walking through your neighborhood. You see someone that you find suspicious, for whatever reason. You follow them. They get the jump on you, attack you, knock you down, and are pounding on you. What do you do? Do you just lay there and take it because maybe you were mistaken and this guy pounding on you really was not up to anything. Or do you defend yourself? Would you be faulted for defending yourself from this guy you thought was suspicious while he was pounding on you?

This poor guy (Zimmerman) has been tried and convicted by MSNBC, ABC, CBS, Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Barry Obama and Eric Holder. He will be sentenced for a number of years in prison and if he is put in the general population he will not last one year before he is murdered by some black criminal paid for by the Black Panthers or some other racist group.

Let’s look at the facts as they are known, Zimmerman is as white as Obama (Obama is half white Zimmerman is half Hispanic). Zimmerman was doing his job as neighborhood watch. He saw a suspicious looking person in the neighborhood and started following him and called the police. At some point either Zimmerman or the suspect confronted the other. The suspect attacked Zimmerman, knocked him to the ground jumped on top of him and began to slam his head to the ground or pavement. At some point Zimmerman, now fearing for his life shot the suspect. There is argument that Zimmerman was not injured when he arrived at the police station, based upon the surveillance tapes. However, if you review the enhanced tapes where you can see Zimmerman’s head close up there is clearly a cut that appears to be two inches or so long on the back of his head. By this time (an hour or so after the incident) his nose and head would have stopped bleeding. This is all in the police reports look it up. Zimmerman is a victim of racist (Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Obama) to the highest degree. The media is as much to blame in this as anyone and perhaps more because they began showing a picture of Martin at the age of 11 or 12 when he is clearly 17+ and they continue to show pictures of him as a young child not the pictures of him with his ganster look flipping the bird with both hands. This is not a good person and the world is better without him.

Jim, IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING THEM, it is your fault for getting close enough that they can "jump" you. Just what about that do you fail to understand? If you were to follow me just because I "look suspicious" -- you can bet your arse that I WILL do something about it.

I find it quite telling that a former prosecutor has taken the case...

Well, let's wait and see what happens.

Stories like this really bring out the ignorant in our society.

The prosecutor didnt take 44 days. The police found no reason to press charges. The media got involved. The DA looked into it and found no reason to press charges. The media incited a near riot. A special prosecutor was brought in. Charges filed.

Nate,

Your post should be deleted for stupidity. A young person being approached by someone with a gun doesnt mean its time to hit the guy with the gun. If teens follow your advice we will have more Trayvon Martin's on our hands.

NO ONE WOULD AMBUSH A WOULD BE ATTACKER.

Take off the rose colored shades and turn off CNN. Trayvon had many homes to approach and ask for help. He did not. He chose to lay in wait and attack. Unfortunately the guy he attacked was armed.

If Zimmerman is convicted then we have taken a very large step backwards and I cant wait for the next black person that kills a white person. We will have the 100 million angry white people march. See what that gets us.

America is done.

Wendy:

At some point either Zimmerman or the suspect confronted the other.

And you don't know WHO did what -- yet you are somehow 100% sure that it was Martin who was 100% at fault..... And IF there was a "2-inch" cut on Zimmerman's head, it would have shown up even in the "un-enhanced" video. "An hour or so after the incident"... I have knocked my head on the ground more than once, and each time had a nice goose-egg WITHIN TEN MINUTES. I have also had my face injured a few times, and WITHIN TEN MINUTES swelling, if not bruising.

Those EMTs must have given Zimmerman some really good, new drugs that prevented (or at least DRASTICALLY slowed it down) all that swelling, since it didn't show up much at all in those videos........

Just to enlighten everyone,no matter if GZ was following TM, if reports that TM physically attacked GZ out of fear (SYG law) as soon as GZ was attacked he too was protected under the SYG law and acted out of fear and fought back. The only difference is GZ was legally armed and TM was not.

crouton man

HISPANIC is a bull sh it term Peruvians are not from Hispania. They are from peru

I agree, hispanic is an outdated term and only because of tradition is it still used. It's not wrong to call Peruvians, Mexicans or Cubans hispanic though, that's why it's better to call them 'Latino' instead.

Joe-Dirt - and there is evidence that causes doubt that Zimmerman was attacked. Maybe Zimmerman should have done what he was told! Too bad Trayvon won't get his day in court!

I'm really, really, really sick of all of this publicity. It seems to me every time a black person is murdered by a white person, all hell lets loose. Personally, I can't understand why so much is being made about Martin. It happened , it is sad, but it is life...

The first photo of him, by the way, shows a very young boy...first mistake.... press! Rounding up THE WORLD, including the president [my goodness!} to wear hooded shirts is the second mistake ....press

Third, hate crime...thank you press!!!...COME ON FOLKS,,,,Keep out of this and let the policee do their work...Stop pointing fingers and acting like every black [ and yes, all ethnic groups,white included] on earth are angels..go back to work people and move on..Bad things happen.I 'm unhappy this all happened, but don't forget about the starving, poor, needy and also those fighting for freedom. Let's not abuse this right. Peace, please...Give it a shot.It is time to calm down..If you are not involved, then move on and let those involved get this mess solved. To picket is wrong and dangerous.

I would have had more compassion for all involved, but now it is frustration and a game of who gets to be the winner..There are no winners..The press tho,sure is selling its stuff...Joy!

A.C,

several
points need to be made. Those living in Mexico are not the arbiters of ethnic
identity anymore than are Americans in a place to challenege the ethnicity of a
given individual born in America. True, we in a given community could get mad,
disagree, and argue that a hypothetically American born individual isn't truly
American, but that would be utterly fallacious. So when you say:

"And you and Noah telling that you
married someone who is half this or half that, and they were born in this
country does not in any way reflect what someone who was born in and raised in
the cultures of Mexico for instance...would do or say.."

is irrelevant. You are assuming that to be a certain ethnicity requires the
inhabitants (as a whole) of the country in which the said ethnicity originates
must accept you into their way of life.

You
then claim:

“when
you have lived down in a Latin country, and you actually have learned about the
cultures in those countries, then MAYBE you can come back here and contradict
what I said”

This is a strange requirement for anyone. There are plenty of people who have not lived
in a Latin country and yet still are considered Hispanic…I’m one of them. I have never lived in Mexico, nor has my
mother. But my grandparents did and they
came here for my mother. Both my mom and
I have grown up in the United States. I
am…Hispanic, even though I have not lived nor entirely learned about the
nuances of the cultures in Latin countries.

I understand your frustration when people say they
can easily switch ethnicities simply by being married with someone, but I would
be careful in how you understand the implication of what you say. Yes…..whether you like it or not…white and
black people CAN be Hispanic given specific conditions. Is it common…no. But is it possible…undeniably. Because of this modal possibility, we can no
longer legitimately define race and ethnicity as one and the same. It’s simply misleading.

JiA

Everyone has a right to follow someone on public property if they think they might be up to no good.

And, everyone who gets followed around on public property...by someone unknown to them... has the right to view that action as provocative....even threatening!

Following someone you think is suspicious at a distance while waiting for LEO's to arrive...fine. Getting out of your car to chase them down...is a provocative act.

The 911 operator has no authority to forbid you from keeping an eye on someone you find suspicious.

It's not about authority...it's about the viability of Mr. Zimmerman's self-defense claim.

His comments and conduct on the 911 call as well as his decision to ignore the operators directive demonstrate a confrontational mindset.

When you're confrontational w/ someone...it mitigates (or even negates) a claim of self-defense after the fact.

Good to know

Glad I could help!

What I am saying is that everything that happened before the first punch does not matter.

You're entitled to believe that.

But, according to Florida law, if Trayvon Martin had a reasonable belief that Mr. Zimmerman's conduct constituted a threat...he has a right to kick the ever-loving-@!$%# out of George Zimmerman!

Assuming it was Mr. Martin who struck the first blow.I submit it was within the realm of reasonability for Mr. Martin to conclude that Mr. Zimmerman's conduct constituted a threat.

I will put it simply for you.

I appreciate that..and while I'd like to return the favor...I've already put it as simply as I can. Following people around may come w/ the unwanted consequence of getting your ass kicked.

If you can't deal w/ the consequences...don't follow people around. Shooting them in "self-defense" is not the answer.

What do you do?

What would I do? I'd learn a lesson about following people. What I wouldn't do...is shoot the person I've accosted and claim "self-defense".

It's funny, to hear you tell it...getting punched justifies murdering someone in "self-defense". Yet initiating the events...aggressively following someone in a car...then chasing them down on foot after ...doesn't apparently warrant any measure of self-defense?

what_the_81, people are "Hispanic" only when they want to be equal to/with the White, European, Middle-class Society they live in. When someone wants to be "more" than just "Hispanic" -- then they are "Mexican", "Peruvian", "Spanish", "Italian", or whatever nationality they happen to be of. Of course, people are "Mexican" when the White, European Middle-class Society doesn't want them around, too......

Stereotyping is "fun" ain't it? Look at your own avatar picture: "Village People" gay man who frequents "biker" bars. Seen that type many times in a place called "The Gay Nineties" (used to have some of the best food and music in Minneapolis - which is why it used to be one of THE places to go, even for many politicians). Bet you ain't really anything like that, though (at least, not much like it).

I "happen" to "part white, Indian and Hispanic" myself, but really I'm not any of those -- I'm just a guy who has pale skin.

Fine AC I willi expand, my comments since you twist with the little info I left the first time. My wife was born in Mexico, came her at the age of 12. My daughter has been to her hometown in Mexico several times. Guess what people there called her Hispanic. She has been to Peru, Brazil, Niceragua, Ecuador, and Chile. And not once in any of those countries has she been called white by people who knew she has a white father. NOT ONCE EVER. I have been to Mexico on numerous occasions, even spending an entire summer in my wifes hometown, so I am aware of their culture. I have met very few people in latin America that think that way, very few. That is not a normal or popular viewpoint in Mexico, Latin America, or here in USA. that just doesn't happen that frequently. And on your first statement about no latin community has stood up to defend this guy, is it not possible that every latin community that is aware of these events are disgusted by his actions, not by his mixed heritage.

And... "ricklightgo"... is another example of the... "knee jerk response"... from someone who has never lived in a Latin culture... but just because he calls himself ... "hispanic"... he has some imaginary wisdom about it... something instinctive perhaps... wow...!

You can call yourself a lampshade... but would anybody truly accept you as one...?

Frustration wasn't in any statement I wrote.... but thanks for the assumption on YOUR part...

You are not an authority on anything except YOUR own assumptions...

If you never learned the ..."nuances" of the culture... who are you to make a statement about the culture...? All you basically did was critique my grammar... and you didn't even do a good job of that...if that was even what it was you were trying to do....

When you have something of substance to talk about... why don't you come back and debate about it... or... just do one of your free grammar checks... or how about a free sentence structure tutorial...

Black or white...somebody's baby is dead.

Trayvon was not a baby. He was a 17 year old.

I dont have children but when I head that little boy screaming for his life it gave me chills.

Trayvon was not a little boy. He was 6'3".

If Zimmerman isn't Hispanic then barry isn't black.

Eric... knock it off... ! What's with the ..."twisting"... crap...?

And you STILL have not spoken anything relating to having ANY knowledge about the culture... only what you have seen... and what someone did or didn't say... wow... how naive...!!!

And you base your so-called knowledge on a ..."summer" in the country... wow...!

You are only an American boy who has no real knowledge on this topic, and just admit it and get off the ride...!

Here's another little tidbit for you to squirm around with...

"There are things you will never hear someone say when you are not around them"...

Do you understand THAT little piece of information...???

Now I suppose you'll come back with something like..."People don't talk about someone when they aren't around"...

Yawn....... I can't believe that I actually went that far down on the education level with you... and I'll bet you will STILL not get it...! LOL...!!!

AC you are right on 1 fact. People do say thinks differently to your face than behind your back. I've been around enough to see that. And you say I'm just an American boy with no real knowledge, yet you know absolutely nothing about my life to verify that statement. I get that you want to insult instead of having a real discussion, by sitting here and saying our conversation is dumbing you down.

Well instead of insulted this dumb white american, why don't you educated me with facts to back up your staements, that no latin community will accept my daughter or Mr Zimmerman as a latino. I haved argued against it because I have lived it and experienced it, and yes I am well aware that in Latin countries they do treat me differently to my face and behind my back.

I made my arguments against your statements based upon talking with my wife, my inlaws , and friends who all have been born and partially raised in a latin country disagree with you. I also base upon my experiences with my wifes family and friends families while in Mexico, and spending time in 5 other latin countries. I never said your original post was absolutely false, I have seen it happen to my daughter. But my argument is not every latin person, here in America or in latin countriies feel that way. Most people will still call her hispanic or latina regardless of my race or ethnicity.

My knowledge on this subject is a lot more than 1 summer in Mexico. Growing up in Los Angeles, experiences the latin culture, way of life and thought process is something I have experienced my whole life. I grew up around it, and I have spent more than 3 months in a latin country. Overall my time in Mexico is close to 2 years now, and just over 3 years overall in any latin country.

If you want to debate me, by all means do but at least leave the insults and being "dumbed down" by other posts out of it and maybe bring some facts and reasoning behind your thought proccess from your first post. That being someone of mixed race would not be considered latino by the latin community. And maybe share how much time you've spent in a latin country.

Widewillie,

But, according to Florida law, if Trayvon Martin had a reasonable belief that Mr. Zimmerman's conduct constituted a threat...he has a right to kick the ever-loving-@!$%# out of George Zimmerman!

Assuming it was Mr. Martin who struck the first blow.I submit it was within the realm of reasonability for Mr. Martin to conclude that Mr. Zimmerman's conduct constituted a threat.

So if Zimmerman had a belief that Martin punching him and knocking him to the ground, and pounding on him constituted a threat, he did not have a right to defend himself according to Florida law?

So if I yell at someone in Florida, and they take offence and attack me, I have no right to defend myself because I yelled at them? What if I yell at someone and they start shooting me, then can I defend myself?

Why is it so hard for you to see that if Zimmerman thought Martin was suspicious, and then was attacked by the person that he found suspicious, that he would have a right to defend himself if that person was on top of him punching him?

They probably both had the right to do what they did under the law. Martin in attacking Zimmerman (if he did) because some crazy guy was following him as far as he knew and Zimmerman in shooting a person that he found suspicious who then proceeded to attack him.

Wasn't there some report that Martin's girlfriend was on the phone when she heard Martin ask why the guy was following him and the reply from the guy was what is he doing in the neighborhood? Or something like that? If that was the case, then if Martin had chosen to just say that he was there visiting his fathers girlfriend, then end of story, no one dies, no one gets attacked. But if instead he decides he needs to attack Zimmerman, then that escalates it from a non physical altercation to a physical altercation.

TiA

he did not have a right to defend himself according to Florida law?

This is one of the many issues w/ SYG laws. At what point does a person's method of standing their ground constitute a threat to others? More than likely, this issue will come up at trial.

So if I yell at someone in Florida, and they take offence and attack me, I have no right to defend myself because I yelled at them?

If the wrong person perceives your yelling as a viable threat...you won't need to worry about defending yourself...you'll be dead and your question/concern will be entirely moot.

Again, that's the problem w/ SYG laws.

Why is it so hard for you to see that if Zimmerman thought Martin was suspicious and then was attacked by the person that he found suspicious, that he would have a right to defend himself if that person was on top of him punching him?

In part because I listened to the 911 call...and nothing he described to the operator was cause for suspicion. And in part because if I was in Trayvon Martin's position, I would have concluded that Mr. Zimmerman's conduct was suspicious and threatening.

Let me ask...would you be defending Trayvon Martin if he'd shot and killed Mr. Zimmerman for his suspicious and threatening conduct?

They probably both had the right to do what they did under the law.

Perhaps they did...."under the law"...but it's a bad law.

Any law that allows for deadly force to be used in response to perceived threats...is a bad law. For a third time... following people around may come w/ the unwanted consequence of getting your ass kicked. DEAL W/ IT!

Wasn't there some report that Martin's girlfriend was on the phone when she heard Martin ask why the guy was following him and the reply from the guy was what is he doing in the neighborhood?

Yes...and the account TM's girlfriend offers is vastly different than what GZ told police. According to her the physical altercation started when GZ cornered TM and ask the "what are you doing here" question... she believes that Zimmerman started the physical altercation by pushing TM.

Mr. Zimmerman, OTOH, claimed that he'd "lost sight of TM and was head back to his truck when he was attacked by TM from behind."

starsailing -- I doubt, very much, that the police have Zimmerman's jacket. They said no charges and sent him home. That jacket has surely been washed/drycleaned/disposed of.

wendy breeze -- The enhanced image also makes the policeman's face look like he has been in a fight.

Yes, the two of them fought. Even Trayvon's girlfriend who was talking to him on the cellphone (reportedly substantiated by phone records) heard the scuffle begin and then the phone went dead. I believe that Zimmerman had injuries though it is definitely not clear that they were severe. He was cleaned up at the scene. He was not taken to the hospital. If his nose was broken, the doctor who treated him did an excellent job, judging from his photo taken yesterday.

Last monday on Dancing With the Stars, Melissa Gilbert hit her head as her partner spun her around. This was in the last half hour of the show. She was rushed off in an ambulance before the show was over because she became very dizzy and had other physical signs that something was very wrong. So that was roughly within twenty minutes of hiting her head. She had/has a concusion.

It seems to me that if the paramedics who cleaned up Zimmerman saw any signs that he had injuries sever enough that a concusion was even a remote possibility, they would have taken him to a hospital. They certainly know a concusion is nothing to ignore or mess around with.

What I watched and noticed the most in the video of Zimmerman arriving at the police station the night of the shooting, was the policemen touching the front of his jacket in various places without gloves on their hands. I thought emergency personnel and policemen were taught to wear gloves if there was any sign of blood. Also a consideration of contaminating evidence?

So, I am thinking, here is Zimmerman on the ground and Trayvon is on top of him. Zimmerman is getting beaten up so bad that he fears for his life, gets to his gun and shoots Trayvon. Wouldn't Trayvon's blood be on the front of Mr. Zimmerman's jacket and/or shirt from such a close range shot? Since the wound was reported to be in the chest, I would think Trayvon would collapse on top of Zimmerman and there would be a lot of blood coming from that wound.

Would Zimmerman be a bit dazed from all of the reported head pounding and slugging? Relieved that his strugle was over? Pause to gather himself and assess his own physical condition before standing up and all the while Trayvon's blood was exiting the wound? Wouldn't he push/roll Trayvon's body off of his in order to stand up? Wouldn't that leave Trayvon's body face up? And yet he was reportedly seen standing over Trayvon's body which was face down. So this man who was severly beaten took extra effort to turn Trayvon's body over and there were apparently no signs of Trayvon's blood on Zimmerman's jacket or shirt.

I do wish the police had Zimmerman's jacket! Evidence most likely lost.

okay A.C

I was simply trying to engage in a converstaion, but it's clear you don't want to have an actual "debate." You're not engaging in argumentation, or giving any positive accounts of what some of us are misunderstanding by your lights. You failed to address what I pointed out: the absurd requirements you laid out--in order to be hispanic you must live or lived in a latin country. This is rather counterintuitive given the many people who are born in the united states who claim, and have been claimed, to be hispanic, even without living in a latin country.

And again, you're simply repeating your points without addressing the potential problems with your assumptions. You keep saying "would they accept you?" I pointed out that you're assuming that identification is based off of an acceptance from people in a given country. I'll give the example of a white person denying a black person an American identity by simply appealing to their phenotype. Clearly, that would be absurd. So, it's not perceived admittance that determines identity.

you said
"If you never learned the ..."nuances" of the culture... who are you to make a statement about the culture...? "

I never made a statement about the culture.

And I wasn't critiquing your grammar. Where did you get that from?

Rick, I agree with you. Also if you notice how he bashed me for not knowing anything about Latin culture, since I was born in the Los Angeles area, and not in a latin country. He refused to back up his statements to you or myself. Yet how does a 39 year old man living in LA with a hispanic aunt and cousin, and hispanic wife and child and countless hispanic friends not now about the latin community?

But as you can see, since RC has not posted in a few days probably is trolling somewhere else.

I dont belive this is a case of how the hispanic community will react , this should not be a case of race, what this comes down to is an unarmed Child , yes he was a child , was shot and killed . Wheter or not Zimmerman acted in self defense is still to be seen. A Mother has lost her child , this is a horrible thing to endure . A Father has lost his son , imaginge this if u can. Zimmerman who has run from the press, had lawyers speaking for him, whom he chooses not to repersent him , has been allowed to walk free. Finally charges will be brought against him , and now a proper investigation is being done . I think these so called make my day laws are a legal way to murder some one all in the name of self defense. Lets hope that justice prevails , and we can stop this from happening again . And that a family can finally lay their son to rest , and gain some peace in this senseless killing

The media and most people posting have already convicted Zimmerman. He may be innocent as it took so long to bring charges. Conflicting witnesses now. They say they administered medical care to Zimmerman then you see him in a grainy video. I think the public who was not there is driving this case. Let justice prevail. Just imagine what will happen if the truth comes out and the shooting was justified? They determine he was scared and in a fight and used poor judgement in defending himself. Will we have riots then?

The whole thing is sad for both families.

Mario 69: I see you believe in free speech as long as it agrees with your ideas! You can join the Army at age 17 with your parents' permission and go kill people. Stop calling the "kid" a kid when he is an adult at his age. He was a football player and they are generally in good physical shape and good at knocking people down. Couldn't Martin have used his brain and ran far away from Zimmerman? I thought football players trained to run fast? A wise man runs from trouble but a fool stays to flap his mouth and to fight.

Not for nothing . . . but this "child" was 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, tattooed, gold tooth grilled and went by the screen name "no_limit_nigga" (read some of his posts and your mental image of the poor-little-kid will be completely erased). He'd been suspended from school multiple times, once for possessing drug paraphernalia and another time for having on his person what was described as a "buglary tool".

While I personally think Zimmerman was a azz-hat, wanna-be cop . . . and ultimately, THAT is the reason this occurred in the first place - it is also my personal feeling that it was Trayvon that set the course for violence. Zimmerman (who, by the way, mentored black kids) may have been a doosh for acting like he was a cop, but that is not illegal. Trayvon, turning and assualting, is illegal. Shooting someone while they are attacking you is not illegal (at least not yet). The notion that Zimmerman "hunted" Trayvon down and shot him is ludicrous on its face.

Motive? Proof? There will be none.

Oooh.... I carry "drug paraphernalia" AND "a burglary tool" every day! Guess that means I'm just a "nigga thug", too..... NOT!!

As for "turning and assaulting", if I was being followed by someone who is likely acting like a paranoid Wyatt Earp wannabe on a chilly, rainy night -- I would probably "turn and assault" whoever it is, too. Actually, I have done it.

Oh, and looking into windows? I do that, too. I enjoy getting new/different indoor decor ideas that way. Does that make me a "nigga thug", too?

Kathy,

A Child? Really? Go turn on the television and tell me if you still feel that way. 17-18 year olds if I am standing in a theatre line, and there are kids around, and all you hear is f this and f that, and I tell them to shut their mouths, do you think I get a "yes sir?" The Beaver and Wally, (I'm suprised no one ever told you,) was a television show my dear. 50% of kids are scum, or at least act it out in front of their friends. They will back mouth me all day long, and some might want to step up. I don't play Parent 101 with these guys and ask them what is wrong, do you have self esteem issues. That is mommy and daddy's job. I demand they conduct themselves properly in public. That is my responsibility. I saw three boys (about 16) throwing soda, napkins and making a total mess in a BK. The dining room attendant had down syndrome, and went over and asked them nicely to stop doing that. They all made spastic movements with their hands and talked like her and then laughed. One threw his cup on the floor and went to head outside. I met them at the door. I put my face about 6 inches from him and very quietly asked him what his f-ing problem was. I am 6' 1" 200 lbs, and am not a happy person, so I can throw the psycho look with the best of em' and naturally he did not have a problem with me. His voice was even wavering. He was about 5' 5" and 130 pounds. I would have pounded on him if he would have made me. Some people would condemn me for that, but my attitude is if you want to play big boy games, you have to play them out the whole way. I would have called them "boys", but when do they have responsibility for their actions? When do they drop the "boys will be boys"? If you act like that, you might face some consequences. Zimmerman carried a gun, I bet he wishes he didn't have it now. That carries with it some responsibilities that people are not ready for. Trayvon might have ran his mouth. I saw the grill, I saw the photos, he might have just "wanted" to play up the tough guy routine in the photos. But maybe that was his persona. Maybe he didn't take sh!t from anyone, so as soon as George said something to him, he took issue with it, just like the fine young men at the theatre or the BK. When a 17 year old kid, holds the door as I am walking in, or even looks me in the eyes and says hello, I look at my wife and make a comment like, "there is hope in the world," or something to that effect. That is a sad world we live in if you take notice of those types of behaviors.

Good gosh Kathy, please stop, you have me crying.

just because you 17 or for that matter younger doesn't mean you can kill someone. In my town a 17 knocked out a 50 year old left him on the road and a cop ran over him. He is still walking around the the father of the 13 yr old who couldn't pull him out of the street is not. I am finding it very hard to not be mad at those pulling a race card on this one. If you are white, black, brown, or purple if someone describes you guess what you are just that. Now if he had used other terms to describe Martin that would be different.

Actually it makes you a creep and a peeping tom....and probably a thug!

When the chief of police doesn't even know how to apply these new (conservative drive) laws, you got major problems. Giving more rights to one group at the expense of others, isn't how America solves its problems, it just makes new problems. How can the same group that constantly whines about their lost freedoms, defend a law that strips others of their freedoms?

Hmmmm..."50%" are "scum" or act like it -- so that means ALL kids are scum and that Trayvon Martin definitely was scum? Interesting. Guess that means that the kids who are not scum are just pretending to not be scum.

Hey, Steve, maybe YOU don't remember how YOUR elders looked down on YOU for being "scum" when YOU were young. Or were you really just a little clone of what the old fogies in your town thought of as "right"?

BG, if you don't want people looking in your windows -- close the blinds/drapes/etc. Making sure the whole world can see into your house at night -- THAT is creepy!

Art W. wrote "Turn and assualt me and you will become rapidly dead . . . kinda like Trayvon." Yep, another Wyatt Earp wannabe.

As for "rather be judged by twelve than carried by six", it is clear that you are of the "shoot first, ask questions only after everyone is dead" crowd. Are you also a Christian?

Are you as ignorant as you seem?

Thankfully this murderous thug is now in custody. It is difficult to fathom a legitimate and proper reason for an adult male to exit his vehicle to follow a teenager while packing a loaded weapon!

Auto1Rn

The blowout on the wheels of Justice have just begun. I don't agree with George Zimmermans actions. He could have handled it in a much smarter manner, and murdering teenagers is never the right choice. However, it should never be up to public opinion who gets arrested and who doesn't. When we smash the rule of law that regulates this country with brute force, then we can only expect a rise in vigilantism and mobacracy.

2nd degree was too much... he's going to get off.

They should've gone with manslaughter.

Thank God the man has been charged. This is the most true thing I've read on this whole crazy incident so far...

http://www.rosebudmag.com/serious-stuff/blood-money-therealgeorgezimmerman

It will be interesting to see the facts come out...but one fact I am sure of...after all the media coverage they will never find a jury that has not already made up their mind on his being innocent or guilty before the trial ever starts. I bet they could skip the trial and evidence and everyone on the jury would still be able to judge him.

No matter what evidence is produced from either side in the trial it will not likely sway the jury and thus will not prove him innocent or guilty. I can pretty much assure everyone he will be found guilty before the trial ever begins.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus."

Didn`t realize these two are also prosecutors?

So sad that Mr. Zimmerman has been tried and convicted by the media and the court of public opinion. Sure glad I'm not him. Now, if you don't mind, I prefer real facts and evidence; oh yes, that would be a trial in the court system. People, WHEN are you going to learn to have the patience to wait for the whole truth to come out? Seems to me the only 2 people who honestly know what happened are Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Martin. Unfortunately, Mr. Martin is dead. Let's let the police and judicial system do their jobs instead of being in such a hurry to judge anyone.

I tend to believe the louder people scream, the more I want to see REAL evidence, not just what the herd mentality has to offer.

Mark-423819 I disagree. Should be 1st degree murder. This vigilante should not have been roaming around with a gun!

Steve Trayvon was walking home with a bag of skittles and ice tea while talking on phone. maybe he said this or that? YOU saw he had the grill and Maybe he doesn't take @!$%# from anyone?.....So your sky in your world is the same color as Zimmermans. Looking a certain way in your mind gives you the right to call police and then stalk him with a gun and shoot him? Show me your picture, I will decide if you should be stalked and shot.........Now that is what you are saying! You think it is ok to decide that you or Zimmerman can be judge, jury and executioner at your whim?.................Jesus......you need counseling......

First, Trayvon may have been a child in the eyes of the law, but if you ask me, at 17 they are no longer a child. A juvenile, a minor yes but not a child.

Second, I don't care how tall he was, how much he weighed, or what he wore, he was an innocent person who was killed while defending himself.

I think it's a good bet that Trayvon did hit Zimmerman but he was justified. If you are justified shooting someone for hitting you under "stand your ground" then I certainly think you would be justified for hitting a stranger who was stalking you. If Trayvon had turned and shot his stalker instead he would have been justified under "stand your ground". He didn't have a gun so he hit him (if that is indeed what happened).

I was taught that if I'm walking alone and someone follows me I should first cross the street to be sure I am really being followed and if I am still followed I should (if unable to get away) confront the person who is following me. That's just what (it seems) Trayvon did. Remember, this guy stopped his vehicle and got out to follow, and Trayvon started walking fast or running to try to get away. That was what Zimmerman said himself on the 911 tape.

John Doe, I have to disagree. I am proud that the voice of the people have finally gotten justice in this case. I too think manslaughter would probably have been a better call, but clearly there was a crime committed and he was going to get away without any charges whatsoever. There comes a point when people should get involved as long as it is in a productive way. I wouldn't want to see someone take matters into their own hands, but he needs to have his day in court. If you are kill someone with your car while you are talking on your phone or after a drink or two, you can face criminal charges. Why shouldn't he face charges for taking a life do to his stalking.

Just Wrong - too bad Zimmerman didn't wait to have the law takes its course but apparently that wasn't good enough for him.

I keep going back to the realization that had Zimmerman been black and Trayvon white we would not have had to wait for Zimmerman to be arrested. He would have been arrested the same night.

I'm so happy this is going to trial. A trial in a real court is preferable to a kangaroo court.

May Zimmerman serve the hardest time ever served by an inmate. Let his candy-assed "I need a gun to be a big man" attitude fail him repeatedly during many years of incarceration in prison.

How does someone live with taking an innocent life, acting as George Zimmerman had done, not being pursued but presumably acting as the pursuer, inflaming a potential life altering situation with no training in assessing for potential probable cause on Trayvon Martin's part? Lawmakers now have to live with this as well as George Zimmerman. Tracy Martin and Sabryna Fulton have conducted and lead with Grace, Solidarity, Dignity and TRUE BRAVERY in the face of grief at the senseless loss of their son. Unless someone attempts to take your life within your home or you are traveling in a high crime zone there is no need to protect yourself outside of Law Enforcement.

I don't think the age, race, or background of either party matters. One person was an aggressor and his aggression resulted in the death of another person. If Zimmerman did not do what he did Martin would not be dead. Simple. Zimmerman should be held responsible for causing the situation that led to Martin's death. All of the other stuff does not matter.

Only a person born in Spain is a Spainard. An hispanic is someone born in a spanish-speakung country or the decendent of someone born in a country were the native language is spanish. ie; Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, Columbia, Cuba etc., etc. Zimmerman (Jewish?) is Caucasion, Hispaninc & may have had a Jewish ancestor. And most African- Americans who's famalies have lived here for a few generations are also part white. All you have to do is compare an American Black to a native of Africa to see a world of difference. As a native of S. Florida & having lived here for 70 years, I can pretty much tell by looking which are Cuban & who is from Centra or South America & by the variation in their spanish accent. Let's not lump all hispanics under one umbrella. It's like saying a French & German are the same because they both live in Europe

“Zimmerman is standing over Trayvon’s body,” remembers Cutcher. (Like a lot of people, she uses the last name to refer to the killer and the uncommon first name to refer to the victim.) “He’s straddling him. He has his hands pressed on Trayvon’s back. I called out, ‘What’s going on over there?’ But he’s facing away from us, and even when he turns it’s not like we can see his facial features.”

(from Slate)

We have two witnesses who both claimed to hear the shot, then look to see Zimmerman atop a face-down Martin, pinning him down. That, alone, is damning if true. And if the gunshot residue test shows residue on the back of Martin's jacket, that would indicate that he pinned him down, shot him in the back, and continued to hold him down as he bled to death.

It's entirely possible that this guy went well beyond his legal rights and tried to detain Martin for the police, since he knew they were near, and didn't want another one 'always get(ting) away'. And if he did try to detain him, without legal power to do so, he would have been the aggressor -- and Martin would have been the one who had the right to 'stand his ground'.

Richard Kurtz of Roy Mizell and Kurtz Funeral Home in Fort Lauderdale said there appeared to be a gunshot wound in Martin’s upper chest area, but he received the body after the autopsy was completed so it was difficult to tell whether he had other injuries. He also could not determine the bullet’s entry or exit point.

(from CNN Nancy Grace)

The Funeral Home director claimed that he could not ascertain whether the holes were entry or exit wounds. And this would be quite consistent with a close-range shot. Bullets, when they travel longer distances, start to tumble/wobble. At close-range, such a wobble wouldn't have had time to build up. And if the shot didn't hit bone, both holes (entry and exit) would be about the same size.

That jacket, which so many racists have criticized him for wearing, may turn out to be the one piece of evidence that convicts Zimmerman. If it has gunshot residue on the back, Zimmerman's entire 'self defense' argument flies out the window.

The gunshot residue test may well be the key evidence here.

I'll betcha Zimmerman doesn't serve one day. What we think about this idiot, and what really went down, is irrelevent. No DA in Fla that prosecuted any of these cases has won any of them since the "Stand your ground" was enacted.

This whole thing will just turn into another Casey Anthony fiasco. Mark my words!

The moment Zimmerman was told by the police dispatcher not to follow Martin is what Zimmerman should have done. He decided to play Police Officer and pursue Martin and the moment he did that there can not be self defense. He pursued Martin after being told not to, confronted Martin and in the process of getting his butt kicked shot and killed Martin. He caused the act by pursuing Martin so forget self defense. The charges are correct and Zimmerman should hard time.

One of the issues now is that Zimmerman has a bounty on his life and thus getting a fair trial or living long enough to have a trial is in doubt.

If we switched roles and Martin was Zimmerman, I do believe in my heart that Martin would probably been arrested, at least quicker that Zimmerman has been. Now I could be wrong, but I do believe that since there is so much black crime that prejudice in the system is there and thus blacks will get treated differently. BTW, I know by personal experience that men are treated differently in the system as well. So if there is a domestic issue the man is assumed to be the guilty one and especially if he is big and the wife is small. I have seen this 1st hand. So the court system is prejudiced about many issues and getting a fair trial is not easy no matter your color.

So I am conceding bias in the system and frankly within society. What I think is utterly disgusting is that if any white organization put a bounty out on anybody including a black person, the media would immediately call for an arrest. I believe the justice dept would arrest ASAP. However no arrests have been made regarding the bounty called for by the New Black Panther group. It isn't like they hid their call. They made it loud and clear and threatened blood in the streets over and over again. So if there is blood in the streets over this, or Zimmerman gets killed, I would hold Eric Holder personally responsible because twice now he has refused to arrest members of that group. It is like he is waiting for them to do permanent damage first before acting. I just do not get it.

People think he deserves 1st degree?! Are you insane? The man carried a gun on him, because he had a license to do so. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. He was on the neighborhood watch, of course he is going to confront someone if he believes there is a motive to do so. You never know what people are capable of doing these days whether they be white, black, blue, purple... it doesn't matter. By what people wear and what they say is what defines them...not the color of their skin. I know Martin was 17, and it's sad he passed. He doesn't even deserve 2nd degree...I think it is wayyyy to high, and he'll probably be found not guilty on such a charge. Zimmerman was wrong to shoot, and he should pay for what he's done, but I believe it wasn't driven by hatred.

Considering all the information from all sides released so far, this is the scenerio I believe:

Martin doubles back after Zimmerman FINALLY stops following him. Martin attempts to confront (not initially attack) Zimmerman. Zimmerman (the man who called 911 46 times on NYE) either has already pulled his gun or makes a move for it (being the paranoid nut-case that he is, he feels that Martin's mere approach is a life-threatening event). Martin reacts to a completely REASONABLE belief that his life is in immediate danger and attacks Zimmerman in an attempt to disarm him and save his own life, screaming for someone, anyone, to come to his aid.

Listen to the 911 tape and consider the 46 times Zimmerman called the police on NYE. This guy was a nut-case tragedy just waiting to happen.

Zimmerman was so deluded, paranoid, and adrenalized, that you just can't convince me that he (Zimmerman), without knowledge of Martin's location, did not 360-degree the whole way back to his car, making a rear suprise attack by Martin impossible. Jeesh folks!

I've had guns and knives pulled on me and I'm still here. You do not hesitate. If it takes beating the perp senseless in order to disarm said perp, that's what you do. IN SELF DEFENSE. That's not even covered by "Stand your ground". It's meeting deadly force with what-ever degree of force is necessary to eliminate a threat to life and/or limb.

Kathy Roan-Harper

Wheter or not Zimmerman acted in self defense is still to be seen. A Mother has lost her child , this is a horrible thing to endure . A Father has lost his son...Lets hope that justice prevails , and we can stop this from happening again . And that a family can finally lay their son to rest , and gain some peace in this senseless killing.

Kathy, Well said.

Trayvon Martin has human rights.

His family has legal rights.

Reasonable people were asking that our justice system follow standard legal procedures.

Trayvon was not a threat to anyone.

He should not have been killed.

We all should have the right to walk within our communities and elsewhere and because of the color of our skin. An investigation, an arrest and a court trial is more than fair. This is the legal process at work.

Zimmerman has been arrested.

He will have his day in court.

For both families, this case is not easy.

However, indisputably, the Martins have lost the most...the life of their 17 year old son.

May justice prevail.

Zimmerman was not a police man Erika. He killed an unarmed teen after being told by the police back off. I am against the death penalty when it meted out for convictions based on circumstantial evidence. In this case Zimmerman made a decision to shot a 17 year old. If convicted Zimmerman should face the death penalty.

correction:

We all should have the right to walk within our communities and elsewhere and because of the color of our skin not end up dead.

Instead of doing what Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson has done by making white's against blacks I believe the white's need to make it a Hispanic against blacks and blacks against Hispanic's. Of course that wouldn't be any fun for Sharpton, Jackson and the majority of blacks.

I am simply relieved that some justice has prevailed. The jury will decide his guilt or innocence. This has been painful for all of us, but the pain on his parents' faces is hard to witness. Whatever the charge, he will be judged by a jury of his peers. They will never be able to hug their son again. What a tragedy.

The "Special Prosecutor" by passed the Grand Jury process because a no bill would have precluded having a show trial to placate the aggitated masses. The burden of proof in a criminal trial still remains "beyond a reasonable doubt" so at the very least they'll wind up with a hung jury or even an aquittal. All they will have done is to have post-poned the riots and wasted alot of taxpayer's dollars.

It's about damn time. Now all those people saying that he deserves a fair trial seem upset that he's going to have to face one.

@Quacked one. Let me ask you this. If a really nasty fight breaks out at a highschool, and I mean one of those nasty bloody ones. How many of these kids will intervene and help the one getting a beating, or will it just be too hard to put down the iPhone because they want YouTube hits. That by my definition means you are a piece of cr@p. What's even worse is that the parents have no clue what their kid is really like, and if they were the ones getting beaten down and no one helped, they would turn around an sue. I was not an angel. Hell, as a graduation gag, we ran and stole some hurdles from our school track and had the cops chase us. They never caught us, and you know what, we returned the hurdles back on our own. We didn't throw them through the school windows, light the school on fire, beat someone down to an inch of their life, kill 10 cats etc. If they would have caught me, I would have used the words "sir." That is what I was taught. Kids challenge authority continuously under the cloak of a PC society. Just because the kids nowadays act like idiots doesn't mean they are. They are sharp as tacks and are knowledgeable on just how much latitude they can have. Mommy and daddy are embarrassed by their brats behavior so what do they do? The doc is glad to write up a diagnosis of ADHD.

Who if anybody could accept this if it happened to their child under those circumstances without anykind of investigation? I think none. If the police shoot a person there is an investigation into it..why should this have been different. Im all for self defense but this law has misconstrued the whole thing. From what I have seen, the Martin family only wanted an investigation into why they have a dead child. Thats not too much to ask. I ask again, if this happened to your child or relative, would you just say "oh well" I guess it was justified because the shooter said so? What has our country become. It boggles my mind that it has come to GOP vs Democrat on this and right vs wrong has been secondary. All racial issues aside, the whole thing from the facts we do know with the 911 call alone justified an investigation alone. Whether zimmerman is convicted or not, the tragedy should be aired out in some kind of judicial manner in order to prevent the same incident from happening. In my view there was an instigation on zimmermans part at the very least when he was advised to not pursue Martin but defied 911 operator and confronted a person who also had rights but no gun. Im all for firearms rights but personally dont want to live in the wild wild west days of gunfights to settle disputes. Its pure wack job way of thinking and is going to only end up with no good outcomes. I believe that the police really botched this bigtime and have shown a complete lack of judgement on this. Does this make you feel good about your children going to the store or movies or anywhere? doubt it.

I think this is good and fair.

Let the system work. As much as I don't have any faith in Rick Scott or Pam Bondi, this was the right thing to do do. Kudos.

cornmeal

Mario 69: I see you believe in free speech as long as it agrees with your ideas! You can join the Army at age 17 with your parents permission and go kill people. Stop calling the "kid" a kid when he is an adult at his age. He was a football player and they are generally in good physical shape and good at knocking people down. Couldn't Martin have used his brain and ran far away from Zimmerman? I thought football players trained to run fast? A wise man runs from trouble but a fool stays to flap his mouth and to fight.

We live in America where a wise man is almost as invisible as a deity is. Today people don't raise their kids to be smart they're raised to be complete and total idiots who think violence is the best way for us to evolve. America focuses more on new ways to make a good soldier instead of strategic placing. Just wait And people will see what I'm talking about. America says we have the strongest military force in the world when we don't even have the best soldiers in the world. No offence to anyone who will read what I've said and get offended it's just the truth.

Hey Floyd, The police decided not to bring charges, Trayvons parents contacted Sharpton and others because of this. FBI is involved as this is considered a hate crime. Zimmerman said racial slur on 911 tapes. lead investigator wanted to bring charges but was interfered with. DUHHHHHHHHH! With the help from public, and national coverage Zimmerman evidence was looked at and NOW he is charged of murder. Blame Sharpton for this? There was a police coverup.........it is now exposed. Justice can now move forward. As I, quite a few soldiers found no matter what the color of skin on the battlefield and in hospitals, the color of blood is always the same. Some of you people need a little time on a battlefield to learn this.

SeekingSanity

I keep going back to the realization that had Zimmerman been black and Trayvon white we would not have had to wait for Zimmerman to be arrested. He would have been arrested the same night.

I doubt that.

I think that if Zimmerman had been just a guy walking around and then got in a fight with another guy (and shot the other guy) he certainly would have been arrested, no matter the race/color.