I had to stand my ground last night ....

I squished a mosquito on my arm ....

Right, Bigbenalaska is killing Texas size mosquitoes, George is taking the stand and mean while the local imates are trying to figure out a nick name for George, What the heck is this world coming too?

Jumpmaster82 ....

I'm not sure ....

All American's just need to get along ....

Many American blacks have been in this country longer than many whites ....

We put on this circus ....

While all the illegals love the diversion away from them ....

Also, the prosecutor has an uphill battle to prove 2nd degree murder.

My thoughts exactly. Are they even bringing a secondary manslaughter charge for the jury to consider? Because at the moment I doubt there's enough for a murder charge.

Zimmerman pleading "not guilty" is breaking news? What else would he plead?

"I'm sure since Zim is innocent he'll take the stand during the trial. He has nothing to hide."

He'd be a fool not to, so much of his defense will have to be based on his version of the timeline, if he doesnt go on the stand he is basically admitting that he pursued trayvon after the 911 dispatcher told him not to which kills his self defense claim.

Is it just me, or does GZ look like a brown Hispanic in that photo?

Boy for an average kind of person,this guy gets the best lawyer! It said appointed lawyer.Mr. Lawyer looks like he's been around the block a few times.Looks very very crafty!

If his attorney invokes his speedy trial right, the trial will start by the end of the year. My bet: Negligent Homicide with probation and his weapon permit revoked

Going on the stand is smart as he can give his version of the story. The prosecution has little esle to go by and as long as Zimmerman sticks to his story and can make it stick that he was defending himself then this 2nd degree charge won't hold water. Even a lesser charge of manslaughter may not hold.

Evidence may be lost but there is a statement of fact that is not in dispute: Zimmerman shot and killed Martin. Now the only thing that is necesarry is evidence that shows the chain of events. You will have a timeline that features neighborhood witnesses and what they heard or saw before or during the confrontation (there was a witness who was walking a dog). You will have prosecutors calculating the time it took to walk from the store to where the confrontation happened. After all this publicity there will be a store clerk or time stamped camera footage that shows when Trayvon left from the store. There will be timestamps attached to Zimmermans pre-confrontation 911 call as well as the pre-confrontation call Travon was on with his girlfriend. Then there will be timestamps attached to the post-confrontation calls made by the neighbors as well as their sworn eye witness testimony. All of this information already adds up to something to the prosecutor and this is why she has charged Zimmerman. This lady does not look like the type type to go to war without the big guns on her side. She has something solid and she looks extremely confident. Prosecutors don't like to lose. Remember - most proscecutors have to prove that a person committed a crime by using timelines and motives. In this case whats done has been admitted to. Here the prosecutor only needed to discover whether Zimmerman defended himself against an illegal attack or if Zimmerman himself provoked the attack and then killed his victim after the victim started to get the better of him. Think about this. How does this end if Martin survives the attack given that we already know why he was in the neighborhood as well as why he was walking through the neighborhood at the given time (halftime of NBA all-star game). Imagine Trayvon on TV saying I was walking back from the store with my skittles and ice tea and there is a car following me and then this guy gets out and comes after me.... whatever happen after this point happens because Zimmerman approached him. The girlfriends call, Zimmermans 911 call, and the gunshot itself will all have time stamps. All this happened really quick and anything anyone says will have to fit within some well define points of time that have been captured and established.

Zimmerman will probably not take the stand. The State will have to show that in fact he was not attacked as he has claimed. The idea that anyone has to take the stand to debunk the prosecutions theories is absurd and goes directly against their Constitutional rights. There are witness that said there was a fight so hard luck there. The only thing we can do now is wait the trial is on it's way.

It's totally amazing after all this time and people still don't know the facts and are making stupid statements (hs321 - Is it just me, or does GZ look like a brown Hispanic in that photo?) where have you been he is Hispanic just like Obama is Black.

OK Miss Biggot, check it out: Black, White, Indian, Asian, (Just to give you some examples on RACE..) Hispanic is NOT A RACE. You have blacks and whites (all colors) that are Hispanic. Take your own advice and learn your facts

midwesterner;He has'nt been tried convicted or sentenced.I live in Florida not far from Sanford and I'm familiar with this prosecutor.She is by the book straight up and tenacious.If Zimmerman is guilty he will go to jail.My opinion is if the stand your ground defense is what Mark Omara uses and it is his only defense then the timeline of events will play a big role.Omara is a great defense attorney and I don't believe he was court appointed.This will be a very interesting fight

What a mess! The court pressured into bringing charges to appease a specific interest group.

Yeah, Can you believe it?? I figure that the law would treat everyone equally?? Go figure that a specific interest group has to stand up for themselves??

LMBAO!!!

When you are telling the truth, you don't get mixed up with the lies and contradict yourself. If he takes the stand, he will have his opportunity. If he doesn't testify or can't keep it straight, as a juror, I would definitely hold that against him. Good cross examination can bring out a lot one way or the other. Just going out with a gun, getting into a fight with someone you had no right to follow or approach, and killing them because you are losing, is going to take a lot of explaining to produce any reasonable doubt. Not to say he is guilty, just that it better be a consistent explanation of why it happened. I haven't even tried to get all the facts, as I don't think they have been presented yet. I just find the overview pretty compelling that this was at least manslaughter and he should have been charged by the next day. Carrying a firearm requires a higher standard of behavior from the person as it can be dangerous to the possessor if they don't take proper responsibility for its use and care. Standing your ground has everything to do with how you got into the situation in the first place. I am anxious to see how this unfolds.

as a juror, I would definitely hold that against him.

That's the problem, as a juror you cannot do that.

He has a right to remain silent.

I don't want to suggest that the lamestream media is exploiting this case, but there are 5, count 'em FIVE, separate articles concerning it clustered around this one on the MSN News page. Man, how they love to stir the race pot!

wcf said:

All I have to say is thank G-d that nobody involved was white or a Jew!

On the police report Zimmerman identified himself as Zimmerman, George Michael, W/M, DOB 10/5/1983, Adult, 5'09", no weight or DL given.

For people wholy defending their side of the matter and or stand your ground please give your opinion on this matter.

Seriously, just read this the other day and this is messed up!

OK Miss Biggot, check it out: Black, White, Indian, Asian, (Just to give you some examples on RACE..) Hispanic is NOT A RACE. You have blacks and whites (all colors) that are Hispanic. Take your own advice and learn your facts

Okay, Mr. Know-it-All, then explain to me why my local grocery store has a "Hispanic" aisle where they sell their Mexican food items?

Perhaps so as to ensure equal justice for all and to not allow for media bias in a case where all the facts have not yet been determined our President should say "IF I HAD A SON HE'D LOOK LIKE ZIMMERMAN". Now that would equalize things. No media bias in this case is there!!!!

Lets beat the white out of him! I think we must perform the exorcism before his trial!

Demon: What an excellent day for an exorcism.
Father Damien Karras: You would like that?
Demon: Intensely.
Father Damien Karras: But wouldn't that drive you out of Regan?
Demon: It would bring us together.
Father Damien Karras: You and Regan?
Demon: You and us.

Actually an attorney yesterday talked about this law and said that 16 other states had that law. Actually the law according to this liberal lawyer is just more clarification of what already was in place a long time ago. So the law is saying to the person in danger that he/she doesn't need to flee a scene if in trouble and can instead stand up to the threat and use deadly force if necessary to stop the threat. The threat goes for both parties. So this law was meant for both Zimmerman and Martin. Originally Martin was the one being pursed with somebody with a gun. If he felt in danger he had the right to either flee as he was doing, or to stand his ground and confront the threat. So he did both. However, Zimmerman then felt threatened when Martin confronted him, and thus the stand your ground then applied to that threat from Martin which according to Zimmerman were real.

We need to let justice work.

He doesn't have to testify, thats his right. And most lawyers would rather not have there client testify because the prosecutions will be able to ask him anything they want and attack him anyway they want. And the last thing they want is a surprise witness or evidence coming into the trial that the client being on the stand have to explain.

Race wars, War on Women, Class Warfare... I thought it was the Republicans that loved war?

hmmm my link didnt post :(

Hmmmmm I'm looking at Zimmerman and, funny thing, can't see evidence of him being beaten in the face. And, clearly his nose was NEVER broken. What happened to all that damage?????

dirt52

Funny how the Mom changed her tune from being an accident to Zimm chasing down her son and killing him in cold blood after they said that is what it would take to convict him of 2nd degree murder. What a joke.

No...your statement is a joke. His mother has nothing to do with the evidence. She wasn't there. She can say what she wants and change her mind as much as she wants. It doesn't change the facts of a dead 17 year old with a bag of skittles in his hand. Zimm will have to convince the jury that it was self-defense. Not the dead 17 year old's mother.

Kornfed

Race wars, War on Women, Class Warfare... I thought it was the Republicans that loved war?

it is...we're just talking about it...you're waging it!

@Smlfry2,

Okay, Mr. Know-it-All, then explain to me why my local grocery store has a "Hispanic" aisle where they sell their Mexican food items?

Ignorance is bliss....... Just fall back and let the adults chat.........

it is...we're just talking about it...you're waging it!

Oh ya? How's that? This ought to be good hehe

I am amazed that still we are doing nothing but trying this man in public. Does anyone on this site have the evidence? Were any of you there? If not then you need to sit back and let justice have her day. And if justice decides that Zimmerman was justifiably protecting himself the I hope that the Black American community (Calling you African American is stupid, you are no different then any other American) will let it lie rather then stupidly burn down their places of employment and commerce because this does nothing but hurt yourself. And if they do act like this, what are the communities going to do when Obama loses the election because he has no record and nothing but divisiveness to run off of. It is time to let go of the past and get with the present. And before you start yelling, I am of Hebrew birth and I have grandparents and great uncle and aunts I lost from the Holocaust, you do not see us burning our houses, rather it is better to remember and build with understanding instead of living in the past, it is better to forgive then to live off of hate.

AreYouBuyingThis?

Really?? Racist war mongering? Is that how you see it??

Sticking up for a family where there may/may not be racial profiling centered around it??

I feel sorry for you. Rev. Al and I will pray for you in church on Sunday.... no wait.... I'll pray for you everyday

@Tbenton,

While I agree with you FULLY, there is one small component in your argument that is missing. When you, as Hebrew, Me as a black man, and any other white guy walk in the room..... Everyone can SEE who is the different one..... makes for some interesting reactions.

You should try living with that one for a while....... It's, as Mr. Spock says, "Fascinating" (one eyebrow raised...).

to the top 777....

silly...its drop the obama kids off at the pool.....

Most of you guys here are nutty. This is about not charging someone that was told to back off. That is why people are upset. I think second degree murder is a silly charge and it will not stick. I could have seen manslaughter charge, but not second degree murder. We (including myself) do not know the whole story or have all the facts. All the attention got a trial, so now let it play out in the court system and accept whatever the verdict might be. As far as this is concern, I am done with it. He is charged and the justice system will do the rest. Move along...nothing else to see here trolls.

"Okay, Mr. Know-it-All, then explain to me why my local grocery store has a "Hispanic" aisle where they sell their Mexican food items?"

This has to be THE most STUPID comment I have ever heard in all of my LIFE!

Mexican isnt a race either idiot. But Mexicans have "hispanic" background. I just..... I dont even know how to really respond to such a stupid question..... So the previous person being correct that Hispanic isnt a race is debunked because some dumb as in your local grocery story labels the section that sells Mexican food, as the "hispanic" aisle????? Cause ALL Hispanic people are the same, and All Hispanic ppl east the same exact cuisine.

For the last time Hispanic is not a race, it has never been a race... and the only reason you THINK its a race is because the US govt made up a name for EVERY spanish speaking person in america regardless of their racial backgrounds. No EVERY SINGLE HISPANIC person has Origins that can be TRACED back to EUROPE, AFRICA, ASIA, or the AMERICAS or a MIX of any of those 4. This is why Hispanic isnt a race... a NEW race doesnt magically appear in under 200 years... Just because a white person and a black person mix, doesnt mean they become some BRAND NEW THING with NO lineage to the previous 2. And clearly ppl simply go by which side is the visually dominant side when they see a "black person" who is mixed or a "white person" who is mixed. Obama is a mixed race person, but everyone considers him black, because well.... THATS WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE THE MOST. He himself also considers himself to be so.

Zimmerman is a white male who is Hispanic... His FATHER is a white man who is GERMAN, and his mother PERUVIAN....

HALF of Peruvian people are "INDIAN" (Americas) NOT hispanic origin and the other half is WHITE-INDIAN mix (white European spaniards), WHITE (see previous), or even ASIAN (because of the Japanese immigrants). But Since we have never seen a picture of his MOTHER we dont know is see is fully Indian... or if she is White..... or if she is White Indian mixed... Or even Asian.... But worse case scenrio even if she is a White Indian Peruvian she wouldn't be some new race... And it wouldnt change the fact that Zimmerman is a White Hispanic...

Are you trying to tell me that George Zimmerman And David Ortiz of the Red sox have the SAME racial background??? If you think so then you are a moron... this is WHY hispanic is NOT a race... and the US govt corrected this stupid mistake DECADES ago. But so many of you are too stupid, and brain washed to correct yourselves with them.

IF Martin tried to run away from the confrontation and Zimmerman got out and followed, then Zimmerman committed assault. Assault, different than Battery, requires that a threat to personal safety is presented.

IF Zimmerman committed assault, then his shooting of Martin is de facto manslaughter.

IF he committed assault, then coupled with his statement to the dispatcher - prior to the confrontation and not 'in the heat of the moment' - that Martin was a 'f-----ing punk', it is clear that he targeted Martin specifically for his assault.

That's 2nd degree murder.

What were you saying about Al Sharpton?

@Seeking Sanity - I was saying the SAME THING! That broken nose healed up pretty quickly.

Actually, in an AFFIRMATIVE defense (which is what self defense is) he DOES need to present evidence to assert it. Don't forget that in order for him to claim self defense he is saying that Mr. Martin was attacking him so he needs to overcome Mr. Martin's presumption of innocence. He's not asserting "Hey, I wasn't there, it wasn't me" he's saying that "I was being attacked and needed to kill the other person in order to save my own life." The burden of THAT defense is on HIM showing it is how he says it is, not on the prosecution proving that he wasn't trying to defend himself. If he is asserting an affirmative defense and does NOT take the stand then his defense loses.

So in her heart of hearts, mom truly believes it was an accident and only wants an apology? Then WHY are they getting everyone all riled up? Hmmm, the democratic way of deflecting from the dismal failure of Obama and his dismal economy perhaps? You betcha!

"Prosecutors contend Zimmerman provoked confrontation..."

That's the biggest 'No duh!' in the history of jurisprudence. Then he claims a right to "stand his ground" and is released without charges. Media firestorm ensues.

If anyone had a right to stand their ground it was the unarmed teenager who was being harassed by a pistol packing wanna-be cop neighborhood vigilante.

Mom apparently hadn't heard what we all just found out, which is that the prosecution thinks Martin ran away and was chased down by Zimmerman.

That changes things dramatically. I would imagine mom would change her tune, wouldn't you?

In an interview Thursday morning on NBC's TODAY show, Sybrina Fulton had said: "I believe it was an accident. I believe that it just got out of control and he couldn't turn the clock back."

After Fulton's remarks drew widespread media attention, Ryan Julison, a spokesman for the Martin family, emailed a statement to MSNBC TV saying her comments had been "mischaracterized."

How was that mischaracterized? SHE SAID IT! I HEARD her say it!

"Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and followed Martin," it says. "Zimmerman confronted Martin and a struggle ensued," "

That leaves out the significant part - That Zimmerman lost sight and stopped chasing when Trayvon ran, and said he was returning to his truck when Trayvon attacked HIM from behind. An eye witness has confirmed that Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman and beating him before the shot was fired. If you want to read the full 911 transcript, here is the source;

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

Self defense is an affirmative defense, which means that somebody has to get up on the witness stand and say that Zimmerman was attacked and in reasonable fear for his life. It's not 100% sure that the only person who could do that is Zimmerman, but that is usually the case, and all other things being equal that is how I would try the case.

When the defendant is charged with 2d degree murder, the jury can convict him of any lesser offense for which there is any evidence at trial. The judge will cover that in his instructions at the end of the case.

ObamakilledOsama,

It's that kind of thinking that get's us into trouble.

A defendant has an absolute right to not take the stand. Regardless of their guilt or innocence. Your statement clearly alludes to that if he doesn't take the stand, he has something to hide, and by association, you make that person look guilty.

An innocent person can refuse to take the stand for an entire host of reasons. Their appearance my be such that to prejudice the jury, which happens all the time. They may be terrible on the stand making them appear guilty.

But most of all, the prosecutor, who is a skilled interrogator, can easily make any completely innocent person look like a terrible and guilty criminal on cross examination.

Hey, we believe you. She said it. You heard it. Who cares? I myself wrote this morning that GZ made a mistake about TM at the very beginning, then acted foolishly on his mistaken assumption. That could be characterized as an 'accident'. What I hadn't heard until an hour ago is that the prosecutor believes GZ chased down a fleeing TM. That's no longer just acting foolishly, that's assault. Do I have your permission to change my mind now based on this new info? Does mom?

midwesterner-742861

This poor guy is tried, convicted, and sentenced before the facts. So much for equal justice under the law.

Must be why Casey Anthony is not in prison. Stop repeating BS no one believes except people who read the Enquirer.

If Zimmerman is found guilty of any criminal action (based upon what has been documented) this will be a travesty of justice. To find someone guilty of a CRIMINAL action, a jury of 12 people must be 95 - 100% certain BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT! This is how O.J. got off. BUT, the case will go to a civil matter (after the criminal trial) and he will be found guilty of wrongful death or some other issue which only requires a 50%+ concept of guilt by the jury.

I AM NOT saying Zimmerman is innocent or guilty - I'm just saying that "If our courts and jury system work in a consistent manner, there will be at least 1 juror who has doubts as to what really happened." How many of you out there are 100% certain what really happened - without basing your beliefs on emotion.

@tBenton; Hebrew is a language, one that I speak, however I am Jewish by background. Is that what you meant?

I don't understand what the problem is with Zimmerman "profiling" the kid. Zimmerman was a private citizen on a neighborhood watch...not a law enforcement officer of any type. The issue of profiling is irrelevant. As a private citizen, you can profile anyone you want in your neighborhood for any reason to observe them to see if they're up to no good....

J R : yeah, and it is instructive to see where that profiling gets us: unnecessary and tragic violence and murder. No big deal. Keep it up.

There is a big difference between 'observe' and 'assault'. The prosecution in this case thinks the latter is what happened.

The complaint completely leaves out the fact that witnesses have stated that Zimmerman lost contact with the kid and that the kid was later beating up Zimmerman BEFORE the kid was shot. There is NO legal relevance to the point of Zimmerman profiling the kid as a private citizen...none. There was no crime nor illegal activity taking place that precipitated the death of the kid in Zimmerman's profiling of him. There has been no evidence presented or reported that Zimmerman assaulted the kid but witnesses DO attest that the kid was assaulting Zimmerman.

For "profiling" to be relevant, it would have to be done by a law enforcement officer in contradiction of the law or official policy or if Zimmerman profiled the kid to assault him and provoke a conflict. There is no legal way "profiling" equals confrontation nor assault.

The prosecutor is obviously leaving out facts (witnesses saw the kid attacking Zimmerman, not the other way around) in the complaint to get an arrest and trial, facts be damned.

I don't understand what the problem is with Zimmerman "profiling" the kid.

Since profiling is okay, I think Zimmerman looks exactly like the kind of creep who would play bad-ass and end up shooting someone. What's with the shaved head look? He looks like he's spent a lot of years trying to prove he's a tough guy. Now maybe he can spend the rest of his life trying to prove himself to real tough guys, where the stakes are somewhat higher, the opponents are more his size, and he has no gun.

I'm guessing this will be yet another media-frenzy court case like last year's Casey Anthony. Most likely it will end the same way and all of us will be in uproar that Zimmerman was found not guilty. Us gullible people are so easily distracted by court cases like these that have nothing to do with us. Meanwhile, our leaders are screwing us over...

Last I saw there was only one witness, who saw a fight but did not see how it started or how it ended.

What is not known is who attacked who and why. We have one side of the story, the other side is dead. Some people have theories, which will thankfully be put to the test in a court of law.

What is known is that Zimmerman made a mistake about Martin 'not belonging' in his gated community.

What is known is that Zimmerman foolishly - ask any police officer - went beyond reporting his suspicions to the police, and confronted Martin in the street.

It is not legally relevant whether GZ 'profiled' TM. What is practically relevant - to me at least - is that a whole lot of people seem to think that a man who acted foolishly on a mistaken assumption is some kind of American hero, for whom any kind of trial is a travesty of justice.

Who are you people, and how can you justify that?

Zimmerman cannot use stand your ground to much effect, after ignoring direct orders not to pursue Martin. Many things seem to blame in this situation on all sides. Kids will rebel and try to emulate people in popular culture who seem to have status. For black teenagers this might include gold teeth for white kids maybe tats and piercings and unfortunately people who don't know you will make a snap decision based on your looks. Somewhere in the area this took place there is a person who was committing property theft. This person should sleep well at night knowing his lazy, disrespectful actions put an overzealous neighborhood watch member on the trail of a kid who still had many years ahead of him to grow as a person.

Years ago, I was confronted by a stranger at night over an incident I had no part or knowledge of. I was ready to fight as a matter of instinct when I heard a threatening tone of voice and could see nothing but a flashlight pointed in my eyes from a neighbor's yard. Imagine my surprise when I responded in a harsh tone and discovered it was the local police.

These Eric Cartman race war jackasses need to STFU

just my 2cents

Everyone is trying this case on their own. They should all just wait until the trial and let the court do it's job. As we can see, there are blacks who don't trust and like caucasians, and there are caucasians who don't trust and like blacks. I don't think that's ever going to change but people should get their emotions under control and just live with it. Otherwise we're all going to be headed for bigger and more vicious trouble done the line. A lot of blacks seem fed up but they need to realize that caucasians are getting fed up too. A man who's got nothing to lose is a dangerous man and these days there's a lof of people among both the negroids and caucasoids and maybe even the mongoloids who are getting closer to that point. If a spark turns into a flame everyone will burn.

I don't think that's ever going to change but people should get their emotions under control and just live with it.

It's a nice thought, but it won't ever happen. There are far too many people who profit from racial tensions like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, not to mention groups like the ACLU and NAACP. In a world where everyone gets along they'd be nobodies and they know it. It's in their best interests to fan the flames and keep this bonfire going as long as they can.

I won't go as far as to call them racists, but they are definitely profiting of the emotional anguish of everyone in the country. People think that politicians are the vilest breed of human beings to exist, but really...there's someone who's infinitely worse.

I believe they filed the charges for one of two reasons; 1. They have evidence that proves Zimmerman's account is a lie and that the evidence points to a killing without much of a struggle (Which coincides with the report filed by the lead homocide investigation detective to Norm Wolfinger's office) or, 2. Gov rick Scott told her to file the 2nd degree murder charges to appeae the angry mobs in the state knowing Zim will not cop a plea deal and that there is not enough credible evidence to convict him of 2nd degree Murder thus finding him not guilty and not being able to bring lesser charges due to double jeopardy laws.

"Zimmerman will probably not take the stand. The State will have to show that in fact he was not attacked as he has claimed."

Actually they don't'. If you read the Stand your ground law it would appear Martin had the right to attack/defend himself from an unknown man that was stalking him with a gun. It was Martin that feared great bodily harm not Zimmerman and thus had the right to try and defend himself. Zimmerman provoked the entire chain of events based on profiling Martin. Zimmerman will have to prove he was walking to his car when Martin attacked him from behind as he claims. Simply being attacked by Martin isn't going to save him as the "attack" could have been Martin defending himself, which I believe the strand your ground law allows him to do.

"2. Gov rick Scott told her to file the 2nd degree murder charges to appeae the angry mobs in the state knowing Zim will not cop a plea deal and that there is not enough credible evidence to convict him of 2nd degree Murder thus finding him not guilty and not being able to bring lesser charges due to double jeopardy laws."

1. The Governor can't tell a prosecutor to file charges just to file charges.

2. They can find him guilty of a lesser charge of man slaughter and IMO that is what he will end up with.

3. Your theory is just silly.

ed, where are you from? Rick Scott has played mobster and bully as govenor and as the head of his Hospital Corporation for years. She doesn't have to do it but rest assured he can tell her to do whatever he wants to. 2ndly, if they try him for 2nd degree murder and find him not guilty, they can't charge him again with a lesser charge. They can't even find him guilty of litterring if he didn't clean up the brass unless that was in his original charges that he was tried for. You don't know what you are talking about. He could certainly plea to a lesser charge, but they can't find him guilty of something he hasn't been charged with

Why didn't the state find Casey Anthony guilty of felony child neglect when they didn't have evidence of murder? Do you understand double jeopardy in its constitutional foundations?

@ James-559218

Seems you've got it all worked out except one thing, you can't provoke a person into a physical confrontation or verbal one for that matter. In Florida if you argue with your spouse or anyone for that matter and the police are called, both of you go to jail. If you kill your spouse and can show he/she physically abused you, it's self defense and that's how it should be. If Trayvon was being followed as he claimed, he should have not paid any attention to the man and gone on his way. Today of all days it is not the time to be confronting people you don't know unless you see them doing something illegal and then as GZ did you should call the police. If Trayvon had been the law abiding citizen he has been portrayed he wouldn't have been worried about being followed and not have gone after GZ as he did. Is this the reason he wanted to kill GZ? Did he fear GZ had something on him or was following him and may have seen something? We will never know, because he decided beating GZ would solve the problem. I hope the rest of you punks learn a lesson and live past 17.

gene h-1996806

Zimmerman will probably not take the stand. The State will have to show that in fact he was not attacked as he has claimed. The idea that anyone has to take the stand to debunk the prosecutions theories is absurd and goes directly against their Constitutional rights. There are witness that said there was a fight so hard luck there. The only thing we can do now is wait the trial is on it's way.

I disagree. If the state is smart they will show that Trayvon Martin acted under the stand your ground law being in fear of imminent harm. The testimony of the girlfriend will help establish that.

IF Martin tried to run away from the confrontation and Zimmerman got out and followed, then Zimmerman committed assault.

That is a lie. Assault is any intentional physical contact with another person that is against there consent. Examples: Somebody grabs you by the arm thus keeping you from leaving. A man grabs a woman's ass. A person pushes another person.

Following someone isn't assault.

I love how some of these people say things like "Well, if he doesn't take the stand then that means he is automatically guilty." No it doesn't. It means that he has a right to not self incriminate. Lawyers are some @!$%#ed up people. They can make even the littlest most innocent of actions look huge and vicious. Some try to get you angry and upset on purpose. Even if you are innocent a prosecutor will try and make you look guilty. It doesn't matter to them if you are innocent or guilty. It's business and their reputation that matters most. There was a Prosecutor not to long ago who was busted that had jailed a ton of innocent people. He hid evidence, hid papers, destroyed items and so on. The reason why he did it... Because everyone does it.

I don't think Zimmerman will be able to get a fair trial. There are going to be Juror's who remember 1992 and know that if Zimmerman is found innocent then Racial Riots will explode across this country. The Black Community has already tried and found Zimmerman guilty. Many of them are going out of their way to try and state that he isn't Hispanic and even if he was Hispanic that he is a light skinned Hispanic and thus "White". The Media has already made it seem like it's a White vs Black thing even though it's not.

In the end Zimmerman must be found guilty even if he is innocent. Anything less and we will have a repeat of 1992. It's no longer about Justice (I doubt after the Race Baiters got hold of it that it ever could be) at this point. It's now about minimizing the damage and for that Zimmerman has to burn. Everybody has their own agenda. I feel terrible for the mother and father of the son who died. I feel anguish for the family of Zimmerman. I know what it's like to see my neighbor's after their home has been broken into. If I see a stranger in my neighborhood I go out and ask. Now I know that if the person is black and he attacks me that I can't defend myself because if I do I will be the new Zimmerman. It won't matter if I'm innocent. If I kill a black man then I am auto-guilty in the eye's of the black person.

Black people talk about how they are racially profiled yet almost every post I see from a black person is racially profiling white people. As long as the white person fits the light skin test then they are auto-white. I'm sorry but on the racial question on the census... I didn't answer. I'm much more than auto-white. I have a rich and diverse ethnicity that stretches the globe and back. In the end I am simply a U.S. American. It's something that I hope more people will be able to identify with as time goes on.

Bull@!$%#! No, following is not assault, but it is harrassment. Did GZ verbally assault the kid (And bear in mind, he was a 17 year old kid and not a damned adult)? If so:

An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an
apparent, present ability to cause the harm. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in
either criminal or civil liability. Generally, the common law definition is the
same in criminal and Tort Law. There is, however, an
additional Criminal Law category of assault
consisting of an attempted but unsuccessful Battery.

Did casey Anthony get a fair trial? Black people are not the majority of folks that wanted GZ arrested and tried for this incident, I'm not black. Many others that want to see justice carried out are not black. His account does not match the circumstances and the BS about the martin boy is pretty speculative at best. I want him to stand trial. If a jury says not guilty, then that is how our justice system works. GZ may plea to manslaughter before it ever goes to trial though. The defense has to see the evidence that the state is prepared to present. once that happens, they will make the decision to go to court or to cop a plea. If the jury finds him not guilty of 2nd degree murder, he wals. They can't come back and subject him to double jeopardy. If he isn't charged with 2nd degree and manslaughter, maybe litterring for not picking up his brass, then the trial will be over and done. 2 years from now we will see.

The act required for an assault must be overt. Although words alone are insufficient, they might create an assault when coupled with some action that indicates the ability to carry out the threat. A mere threat to harm is not an assault; however, a threat combined with a raised fist might be sufficient if it causes a reasonable apprehension of harm in the victim.

So unless GZ had the gun out, then there is no assault.

If a gun is the only thing you consider an indicator to carry out an assault. The federal and state laws state a raised fist, a reach towards and into ones space, several other indicators trigger verbal assault. Rest assured that the prosecutor didn't decide to prosecute this case because she feels like she is gonna lose; she has too much of a history of winning her cases. No, i presume that a preponderence of the evidence, that gathered at the scene, the reports from the investigating officer (Who by the way said in his report he thought GZ was lying and nothing added up), and the available forensics weigh pretty heavily in the direction of guilty for 2nd degree. If not, I would assume she would have gone for manslaughter, which is much more easy to prosecute and prove. having the gun out would be brandishing a weapon. Now, to deter your argument, GZ musta had da gun out. he shot da kid.

Hmmmmm I'm looking at Zimmerman and, funny thing, can't see evidence of him being beaten in the face. And, clearly his nose was NEVER broken. What happened to all that damage?????

Hmm...maybe it has to do a little with the fact that the confrontation happened over 6 weeks ago!

In the taped interview 40 minutes after he shot martin there was no evidence that he had been assaulted either. That tape exists and has been all over the news.

Yes, but when did he pull the gun out? Was it before or after he was getting the crap beat out of him?

Who gives a crap? You have a gun. You keep trying to intimidate me by following me. I run. You run after me. I get tired of the nonsense. I stop. You run up on me. I ask you why you're following me. You ask me without answering me, why I am in the neighborhood. You bow up and I bow up. we shove one another and then you shoot me. It is not justifiable homocide. And getting the crap beat out of him????? Which part don't you understand? Zimmerman was in a taped police interview 40 minutes after he shot Martin and not any indication that he was even in an argument. No blood on him. No swollen nose, eyes, no blood on the back of his head. I've whooped peoples asses in bar fights on several occassions and was in worse condition than he was in. He lied! He didn't get the crap beat out of him and video evidence exists to dispute his claim and prove otherwise.

If he lied then it will come out, if he is telling the truth it will come out. Trying to medically diagnose someone from a video clip is just wrong. As for when he pulle the gun, it is very revelent.

Wanna take a bet that he gets convicted?

GZ WILL be convicted!

Hosfac, you're right. I don't think a lot of people can live with it. And you're definitely right abour Jackson and Sharpton. When caucasians are getting attacked by blacks and mobs of blacks I sure don't see Jackson and Sharpton running to the scene. And, we know a lot of it is happening. If anyone doubts it just google it and you'll see tons of examples of blacks attacking caucasians. That's why I think we're headed for trouble.

jmonarchy. I agree. I don't know the details but unless there is a witness who can give testimony that supports Zimmerman I think that at the very least he'll be convicted of manslaugher or we'll end up with hung juries.

Convicted with what evidence? The little bit that has been leaked,and twisted by the media? How about we all just sit back and let the truth, whatever it may be, come out. Or is that too much to ask?

The bet is still open.

Is that his twin standing next to him... the police officer/bailiff? He sure don't look white..his attorney does though.

Mike....... by far the funniest comment I have read in awhile. Thanks for the laugh!!

Ah mike? What twin? The evil twin? Cause all I see is his crafty lawyer standing next to him,on this page.

Ah yup just looked again,all I see is lawyer and killer!

glorida, I believe to get to this page most would click on the news story title on MSNBC main page. That is the picture he is posting about that's on the main page. Not the picture on this article page.

Thanks John! I'm sorry and so stupid I didn't realize it was on the Front Page!

Hey mike you're right the guy does look like his twin!

zimmerman had no standing to either approach travon or restrain him. his position in ''neighborhood'' watch was to observe and report suspicious behavior. zimmerman escalated this tragic event with his poor judgment and caused the death of an innocent boy. the use of deadly force is the chargeable offense. there was no provocation --zimmerman's life was not threatened. it is reasonable to conclude that travon -not knowing who this man was-thought his life was being threatened. zimmerman is guilty of reckless homicide/ voluntary manslaughter. a man doesn't carry a gun if he doesn't intend to use it. he provoked this confrontation knowing he had the ability to kill this boy. he will be convicted if there is any justice in this world.

Judge even said " Sorry. I did not recognize him next to you there" LOL!!!

http://youtu.be/k0yY83EcADY

When will all the red hearts in this case start demanding justice in this new case in Arizona ?

http://youtu.be/sQsmHI-_KgI

He is not charged with manslaughter and being charged with 2nd degree murders does not automatically include manslaughter. I feel this is why Martin's mother is changing her tune after the charges are filed. She probably wants them to change this and we all know she does have a lawyer educating her on these dynamics.

the funny thing is that no one has done the legal analysis all the way - Stand your Ground applies to both of these guys.

When Zimmerman began tailing Martin, Martin at some point could have easily said that this big guy is threatening him - in Martins world people following you mean you hard. So, from his perspective, at some point, Martin is able to 'stand his ground' and confront someone who being extremely aggressive by following him. Thus, Martin CAN confront the threat that Zimmerman appears to be.

If Martin then comes after Zimmerman, at some point, Zimmerman can stand his ground because he is in a place he allowed to be [inside the gated community] performing what perceives is a protective role.

Thus - we have two guys, both thinking under the law they are in the right and both being wrong.

This one is pretty simple: Zimmerman provoked this confrontation by continuing after Martin. There was zero reason to follow Martin and then confront him. Stand your ground simply cannot apply when someone actively promotes and engages in a confrontation - Zimmerman was not 'standing his ground.'

However, at no time during the confrontation or immediately prior to it did Zimmerman have a callous disregard for the safety of Martin, nor was there any intent to kill or injure him. Hence, Murder 2 is a REAL stretch.

The worst possible eventuality here is yet another prosecutor overcharging the crime to satisfy the public blood lust, and then losing the case. If I am Zimmerman's lawyer I would refuse to recommend any plea and would hold the state to their case and see them prove it. I simply cannot imagine under these facts they can prove Murder in the Second Degree. It would be dirt simple to prove Involuntary manslaugher - and honestly - bringing a gun into a direct confrontation with someone you start to follow, chase and apparently stalk - can probably fairly easily be spun up to Voluntary manslaughter. Yet - once again - we have a prosecutor going for the press-loving whole enchilada of murder without any facts really to back it up.

It will be a very bad situation if Zimmerman gets off because the prosecutor over charged in order to 'scare' Zimmerman into pleading to involuntary when all there really is here is involuntary manslaughter. Instead of playing to the press and playing chicken a little bit with the charge, they needed to charge voluntary manslaughter which with enhancements here could result the same sentence as murder 2 - because with a good charge and good facts instead of overcharging, it makes it easily to get the plea deal and the conviction to Invol . . . .

Unless the prosecutors quickly get their head out of their press release based case, this is not going to end well. Justice requires that Zimmerman pay a penalty for being so stupid - he killed a kid. Justice also requires that Zimmerman be properly charged with what he did - not what makes the prosecutor look good until they actually have to prove their case.

After a thorough examination, Corey has presented the facts that she believes she has evidence for. This boy had every right to be where he was & he was committing no crime. But Zimmerman would have you to believe that this boy was the one who was actually stalking him, then beat him up out of the blue for no reason. Why? Well, I guess that's the way black people are wired, even children. Tell that to the police, and they'll believe you.

So that's what a white hispanic looks like.

Zimmerman belongs in jail for a long time...he made this happen and is a narcissist believing he had the right too protect the people...who was he protecting....NOT THE PEOPLE...just his delusion

So does anyone know why Zimmerman's former lawyer stepped down and why his new one is asking for all his records in the case to be sealed? If you really feel your client is innocent and has a good case, you'd want the public to know. If you feel something might be damaging to your client, then that is usually when you ask the judge to seal records regarding the case. I'm not saying that it isn't a good idea for Zimmermans' lawyer to have done so, cause that is smart.. the media should stay out of it, but from what I know about lawyers, they could care less about morals and what not and do what makes them look good, as well as their client, so I'm just pointing out an interesting tid bit here...

"So that's what a white hispanic looks like."

Yup and this is what a black Hispanic looks like

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/David+Ortiz+Boston+Red+Sox+Photo+Day+TK-iyOZ3UDSl.jpg

And this is what an Indian hispanic looks like

http://robwang.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/PeruvianPeople_07.jpg

And THIS is what an Asian hispanic looks like

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/285476_140954209325798_128596537228232_242042_2300736_n.jpg

Great posting, Hayabusa.

"Hispanic" isn't a race. Therefore, go anywhere in "Latin America" and you will see white Hispanics (racial lineage/heritage to Caucasian Spaniards), black Hispanics (those originating as African slaves), Asian hispanics (children of mixed marriages in Spanish-speaking countries., etc.) as well as mestizo and mulatto Hispanics.

Get over it.

The Black community will not be happy until Zimmerman gets the death penalty. Any verdict less than that will result in riots like when the verdict came in for Rodney King. This stiring of the pot all the time by the liberal media, the race baiters- like Obama, Black Panthers, Sharpton and Jackson, we will NEVER get a long in this country. The Black community should stop letting these loser race baiters keep them as victims. Why is no one is talking about that case in Arizona where a Black man shot a 22 year old Hispanic walking his dog. He said the Hispanic was carryng some kind of metal bar as a weapon as he was driving out of a fast food place and was threatened by him but they never found any weapon near the Hispanics body.

It was the New York Times that labeled him a "white hispanic".

Hayabusa - I gotta go now, race to the exit.

How the hell is it race baiting to call something what it was.... Zimmerman say s "suspicious" black guy in a hoodie who looked like "he was on drugs". In what bizaare world is this not racial profiling??? He didnt know Trayvon, Trayvon was walking down the street, unless you have evidence otherwise? Evidence of some sort of crime Travon was committing that night? Racial profiling doesnt automatically mean a racist... So why is america is TALKING about race which is CLEARLY sometimes an issue called race baiting?? Ignoring problems do not make them go away. Race is not Voldermort.....

"It was the New York Times that labeled him a "white hispanic"."

Cause thats what he is :(

Every article says different things. Even liberal media types commenting on this case admit that one person says one thing and another witness says another. The tape we heard was doctored by NBC and thus who knows the entire content.

If you had burglaries in your neighborhood and spotted somebody you do not recognize and thus call the police, it would seem following them at some distance would need to be done otherwise the lead goes cold. I mean by the time the police show up the guy is gone. So I would say if I lived in that neighborhood it would become very frustrating to catch somebody if the requirement is to stop following and wait for the police.

The problem got out of hand because Zimmerman had a gun on him that eventually got used. But the gun is legal to have hidden by law and sometimes the law works out well and sometimes it doesn't. It is tricky.

So really Zimmerman wanted to stop the crime from continuing and how exactly in a big complex can one do that. I know in my sister's neighborhood they had crime and they hired a cop part-time to patrol the streets. He varied his hours so that at least those committing the crimes couldn't be sure when he was on patrol.

comanche: it doesn't appear that they overcharged Zimmerman. They have yet to prove to a jury that Martin ran away and Zim chased him down, but that is what they believe, which, coupled with the prior 'f----ing punk' statement he made to police dispatch, make this 2nd degree murder.

the only reason he was even charged period was so fla can buy time ,thay are so worried about riots thay dont know how to act...thay cant even handel folks putting bountys on peoples heads on natinal tv ...its been more than 5 weeks since this took place ..it dont take that long to figure out a case for anyone ....but becouse of all the (bull@!$%#) yes (bull@!$%#) the community kicked up florida officials had to do somthing..... good luck florida...hes inoccent....we need more like him to protect our communitys.....our homes ...our lifes......

MM: so now who's guessing? Looks like a pretty good case for murder 2, if they can prove that Martin ran and was chased down.

We need more murderers to protect our lives? Good one.

Alina:

Prior arrests are not admissible in the criminal trial because they may be prejudicial. Strictly speaking, they are also irrelevant to the case at hand. But that's not the main issue. If you are arrested 20 times on trumped-up charges (let's say the local authorities have taken a disliking to you for whatever reason -- and don't think it can't happen) those arrests cannot be brought up in a later trial to "prove" a fictitious "pattern of behavior."

ComancheDriver:

You are correct that "stand your ground" would apply to both of them. As they both had legitimate reasons for being there, the prosecution would be forced to prove that self-defense was not the case for either of them (if charged.)

Granny:

There is no evidence that Zimmerman approached or restrained him.

------------------------------------

Right now, the only factor working in favor of the prosecution is a tainted jury pool. Despite the things that various people have said, Zimmerman did not change his story; Zimmerman did not fire multiple shots; Zimmerman was not told multiple times to stop following; and the one time it was suggested, he agreed to stop following.

To all of you who believe Zimmerman should walk free, I hope you get your wish. Then he can be subjected to the same treatment he meted out Martin - STREET JUSTICE! Only problem, this young boy was doing nothing wrong, simply walking to his father's girlfriends house. Apparently his crime was being black. Yes Zimmerman can run, but he can't hide.

This doesn't really shine any more light on this case. It's only repeating what we already knew. The only thing that really matters is who was screaming. I am highly suspect of the methods used by these so called "experts" that were paid by the media. If a true expert can figure out who was screaming it may be murder 2. That's the only way I can figure out this charge. If it was indeed Travon screaming AND Zimmerman started the fight (not following, not yelling) Then it might be murder 2 if Zimmerman executed Trayvon when he had the upper hand.

If Trayvon had started the fight and Zimmerman gained the upper hand then it should be murder 3 or man-slaughter.

If Zimmerman Started the fight and he was screaming then it would be negligent manslaughter.

If Martin started the fight and Zimmerman was screaming then it's self defense.

Wouldn't Zimmerman "provoking a confrontation" be pre-meditation? Innocent before proven guilty? I think not.

the boys - big problem with your argument...no crime was being committed. "Thinking" you are preventing crime when you are doing nothing of the sort is not justification for criminal behavior. "Yeah officer, I know I killed him, but I totally thought he was committing a crime." We all know what the road of good intentions is paved with.

LG,

Zimmerman should walk free if it was truly self defense. We don't put innocent people in prison just because an unreasonable mob thinks we should.

DexhunterZ,

No.. provoking a confrontation is NOT pre-meditation. Provoking a confrontation isn't necessarily anything. Don't be bamboozled by the word play here. It doesn't mean that the prosecutor thinks following or talking or yelling is grounds for the murder 2 charge. She is going to attempt to prove that Zimmerman started the violence.

zimmerman had no standing to either approach travon or restrain him.

George Zimmerman certainly had neither reason nor 'standing' to RESTRAIN Trayvon Martin, but both of them lived in that neighborhood. I'd like to think that in an ordinary neighborhood, residents are allowed to approach and talk to one another without warrants or weapons or special permission.

Had Mr. Zimmerman engaged young Mr. Martin civilly and asked why he was walking slowly in the rain, peering closely at the identical-looking townhomes in that neighborhood, he might have ended up offering the young man a ride home as a neighborly, welcome-to-the-neighborhood gesture, and made some new friends to boot. Getting to know your neighbors is an important way to make any neighborhood safer and more pleasant.

It's too late to avert that particular tragedy now, but it's NOT too late for the rest of us to start being nicer to one another. Regardless of the amount of melanin in our skin, people are people.

Love your comment commonsense, makes me think your name is well-deserved. Your last two sentences are particularly well-taken. A re-boot of civility in our society would go a long way, and a lack of civility is a problem plauging our culture across racial, religious, political, socioeconomic, and regional factors.

@ comanchedriver - Best post I have read on the boards here on MSN regarding this hot mess. Thanks for posting.

Comanchedriver, I mostly agree with your assessment with one correction. Following someone during one event is not stalking. Stalking involves many events over a period of time. So this is not a crime. Following however is intimidation. In order for the prosecution to prove assault on Zimmerman's part toward Martin they will have to have evidence he verbal threatened Martin during the pursuit or pulled out his gun and pointed it at Martin. With out this it will be the evidence that Martin hit Zimmerman and so the assault will be from Martin. It will be interesting to see which way this goes.

Comanchedriver - That's exactly it. Aside from race at all, a man was walking down the street. A second man was following him in a a truck then got out to chase him.

If that was me walking down the street I would :

A) Run.

B) If I was caught I would fight back in self defense.

Only one of the two men had a gun. Only one of the two men initiated the altercation. Only one of the two men killed the other one.

I am sure more will come out in court. I am just glad it got to the point where there will be a real trial rather than trying to pretend nothing happened.

Well, No party, he was so close to the place he was staying that, if he ran, he would have been safe.

zimmerman had no standing to either approach travon or restrain him

Actually, every American has that right to approach and restrain and individual if they believe a crime is being committed. The only thing is you have no protection if you make a flase arrest unlike a police officer.

.....because you can teach a sociopath or a psychopath not to be that way, right? As far as I know, becoming a serial killer doesn't have a ton to do with that person's upbringing. That being said, I'm sure there's some better wording for Sharon's comment.

Papag

There is nothing right about that statement; you don't believe blacks have taught their kids these things as well? Thanks for trying to explain it though.

@ obamakilledosama; How exactly do comments such as yours help anyone? Is it simply that you are anonymous?

I really don't know, but I get what she's saying. I think it's probably more of a class thing than a race thing and Sharon doesn't help her cause by making generalizations about the two.

fnkheehaw

where the hell did you hear that 99% of all serial killers are white?

Rule of thumb: If anyone gives you a statistic that involves the number 99%, its probably pulled out their ass, the actual number might still be very high but 99% is just a not so subtle way of generalizing

Class? Papag

You seem like a pretty smart person and I respect that you are trying to explain her comment, I just don't think it can be. I'm sure that is why we haven't heard from her again.

James Weeks Y

You're right I was pulling it out of sharon's ass! I do get what you mean though.



You can't go by race in determining who raises their kids better. It depends on the individuals and the morals and values they pass on to their children. I've known some very upright well raised black people and some trashy white. It's not race.

And also upraising doesn't always determine how we turn out in the end. In our Society of "It's someone elses fault" we try to find blame in the culprits homelife, education (or lack thereof), where they grew up, etc. we tend to ignore the fact that some are simply born to kill. They can have all the benefits of a good upbringing, and still go bad.

Roughly 80 to 85 percent of serial killers are white.

janine-

If I was going to expand on what I really wanted to say it would be just as you have. I'm also aware that not all serial killers are white, although the number is very high I'm sure. No offense to anyone who may be offended.

fnkheehaw: you're only offending the non-white serial killers. And those dudes you don't want to piss off.

Although, you probably don't want the white serial killers looking for you either.

Florida tax payers are going to foot the defense bill guaranteed, and then he is going to walk, I am so glad he got the best most expensive lawyer in florida.

al shartoon and jesse jackson praise the lord and pay your taxes..................

Fenix1186

you the man, If it took 45 days to decide how long do do think it will take to aquit, I say 2-3 years so start passing out bananas

Zimmerman is innocent. The DA is just trying to appease the "outcry"! What a joke to even bring this to court!

Why don't the black "leaders" like Jesse Jackson worry about the "black murder rate" in Chicago, which has the strictest gun laws anywhere?

http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/

Misscreant, then it is a good thing that serial killers are not "common." I would venture to guess the sum total of murders due to a serial killer in one year comes nowhere near the sum total of other murders in 1 hour. Google it. An average serial killer kills between 8 - 12 people per "year." Kind of makes your point a moot one.

More than 12 people were killed in Chicago in 3 days!

New York City has the strictest gun laws, and there was a public outcry from white leaders on this case. The jury gets to make the determination if he is innocent, not some half-cocked, white trash sonofabitch with an overactive opinion or some liberal black wannabee preacher. It's called the goddamned American Justice system. It's part of our constititution. read it sometimes while you're sitting on the toilet reading the comics. It takes about the same amount of time. There are 2.7 million people in the Chicago city limits and only 51,000 in Sanford. Understand statistics and ratios?

jmonarchy

Florida law, has nothing to do with New York City (nor Chicago)~ When blacks murder blacks, say in Chicagoor New York, no outcry, nothing from the "Black Leaders" or "Liberal Press", it is the "American Way", and there is no justice~ just people trying to cash in!

Zimmerman has a right to carry a gun in Florida and defend himself, which he did!

No one knows what happened between Zimmerman and Trayvon, and Zimmerman had injuries, means their was a fight and Trayvon should of NOT BEEN THERE~

Gun Control has nothing to do with it! It is POLITICS~

http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2011/09/fbi_uniform_cri_1.php

GZ had injuries????? He was armed, pursuing a black kid and he did not witness the kid committing any wrong doing, just walking and called him suspicious. If Trayvon would have been 18 with a CC permit and when Zimmerman approached him, they exchanged words, scuffled and Martin decided he was in fear for his life and pulled his gun and killed Zimmerman, then would it have taken 45 days and world media attention to make an arrest? Florida law is clear and the stand your ground apperatus does not allow you to become an aggressor and then kill someone under the self-defense law. If I hate my daughter's boyfriend and arm myself to go confront him and I verbally abuse him and provoke him to anger to the point where we scuffle and i kill him, I just murdered the kid. You are only right on one point; no one knows what happened but the forensic evidence must not have backed up Zimmerman's story and it must have been so blatant that it took the special prosecutors office 72 hours to go after the charges.

There are no winners here. I would venture to say that if he is found not guilty and sues the Martin family for slander. He may not live long enough to spend it. This is a very volatile situation that I pray remains peaceful.

Oh please. In case you weren't paying attention, he actually did kill their son. This is not in dispute. No judge in the world would even let a ridiculous suit like that see the light of day. Now the Martins on the other hand have the makings of wrongful death suit.

Your kidding me right? Even if Zimmerman is proven "Not Guilty" in court he will never be able to live a decent life again. He will forever be named a racist biggot that killed an unarmed black kid. And after the display that the Martin's put on about pulling the race card as soon as the even happened and black people everywhere protesting, what kind of life could he possibly live? You tell me.

@johnjwins Because I am not suspicious, nor did I ever get suspended from school for drugs or anything else on Treyvon's record. Don't let the 2-3 year old photos of Treyvon confuse you.

What story he is going to prove correct? that he did not shoot and kill Treyvon Martin? Trust the Martin would love to have their son back.

You guys are so partisan, you would not see evidence even if it slapped you in the face. George said he killed Treyvon Martin. All the Martin Family wants is what they got yesterday. For George Z. to be charged. Every other partisan comments here show how insensitive people can be.

@Dawlish1 His story that he was not the aggressor. He shouldn't have been charged. With the evidence available he should never have been charged. He stood his ground to the letter of the law. It's only after racist BS and pressure from the black community that they 'caved'.

I hope so too. So far all the evidence backs up what he claims happened. If he truly is guilty, then he deserves whats coming, but I believe he is innocent of all charges. Trayvon isn't the little angel the media tries to make him out to be.

@Fenix, we, the general population, clearly do not have all the evidence the prosecutor has. The coroner's and autopsy report has not been released to the public, but I'd bet anything the prosecutor has it.

@Fenix - What are you smoking? Please stop watching Faux Noise. The Martin's family has been absolutely gracious and courageous throughout this whole tragedy. What they wanted is an arrest of the murderer of they beloved son and a trial that will help them understand the reason why it happened. I've heard no apology from the Zimmerman's family and friends, but only smears of that kid's character.

Fenix, you are an idiot.

@greg-307347 The evidence really? He broke his nose, and was hit in the face so badly he thought he would die. Yet no bruises on his face in the picture above and my how quickly a nose heals these days. Yes people close your eyes to the evidence before your face and not on his.

CC you do realize that the event happened about 45 days ago,don't you? Have you ever had a broken nose? I have and there is nothing done for it. There is not a cast or bandage put on. If it is out of place the Nurse or Doctor just puts back in place and says 'Bye'. There are some cases where black eyes are produced,in my case there weren't any. Hell nobody knew my nose was broken unless I told them.

Fenix, your statement was idiotic.

The man killed a person, he needed to be brought to court to defend his claim of self defense instead of having the police take his word for it. It should have been treated as a murder case until proven other wise in court. The Martin family have stated time and again, they just wanted the man arrest for the death of their son and to be brought to court like anyone else would and should have.

You talk as if you know your self without a doubt that this man is innocent and that anyone who says otherwise is wrong. Let the man have his day in court and have all the facts and evidence laid out to be presented to a judge and jury.

There's no reasoning here with this one, so you all should stop trying. Anyone who wishes anything other than the truth to come out and justice to be served no matter what that may be has a hidden agenda, and for those blindly supporting Zimmerman, as Fenix is, or Martin for that matter,I have no doubt that this agenda is motivated by racist attitudes. Racism is as alive and kicking as it ever has been and it's going in all directions folks, both in this case and in general.

@slodon, I have also had my nose broken and it bled all day the day of the break like a faucet, then it bled every time I bent over like a faucet, for months afterwards. The day that my nose was broken it swelled up huge. This is something that all broken noses do, due to the contusion! They swell up! Nowhere in the images of Zimmerman on the night of the incident does his nose appear swollen or any different from what it does now. If he had any injuries of any real concern or worthy of mention, then police would have taken photos as evidence but hey never did. Why is this do you think? It certainly would have helped establish his case of a physical confrontation, though that still would not condone his actions of following Trayvon Martin when told more than once by the 911 police dispatcher not to follow him, to let the police handle it! To the rest of you screaming about all the media spin cr*p, this part is not media spin, it's actual documented fact.

That's what this case is really about. Someone taking the law into their own hands and then killing an unarmed person. Stand your ground does not apply when you go looking for trouble! Which is what Zimmerman did! If it did, then any criminal could go after you, rob you, and when they got caught, they could simply say they were standing their ground and shot you when you tried to defend yourself. I mean who would be left to deny their account of what really happened? The only other person who would know what happened would be dead and couldn't tell your side of the story.

.

fenix1186

This isn't a fu king basketball game. a kid is dead and a man is being tried for 2 nd degee murder and likely will go to prison for at least 10 years if he is found guilty. and you are worried about something that may or may not have been said? i doubt george is upset over a few words at this point.

When you are in space you can't stand the ground! Look what it did for Challenger.

There is not ground to stand on. Plus you must move around... do you see boxers standing their ground in the ring? NO! You move around! lol

@medic, sounds lik you need a medic yourself. (GM) the self oppointed community nut-job cause this situation by confusing an unarmed teenager with candy, and a pop, with a armed bandit ready to kill him. You both are DELUSIONAL!!

just would like to know how you know all this? Were you there to witness the confrontation, if not state your opinions as such as not as fact.

If you are saying Zimmerman was beat up, professionals have stated the screaming on the tape is NOT George Zimmerman. So who else could it be but the kid.

a kinky neighbor having sex? an onlooker? a loud tv? hearing something without seeing it when you are not blind and depend on sight to decipher all your surroundings. its not like they were in a room with only the 2 of them, there was other witnesses, and a lot of other ambient noises

medic has it right on here... according to both the 911 call and Trayvon's girlfriend (he was on his cell at the time) Trayvon outdistanced Zimmerman and Z lost sight of him. Z was on his way back to the car when Martin doubled back and initiated contact with Zimmerman. If he had just gone home, he'd still be alive, but he chose to turn around and be a tough guy...

@lucas, there is no proof that Zimmerman was returning to his car. He never says he is on the 911 tape. In fact, he gives the 911 dispatcher his phone number, and tells her to have the police call him when they reach the community entrance, so he can "tell them where I am."

And if Martin would have stayed in his vehicle like he was told to Trayvon would still be alive. But no, George was so scared, he followed this young man all over the place, then decided to play vigilante with a loaded gun.

He was so scared though. Stand your ground law? Do you think that only applies to someone with a gun? Why did Trayvon not have the right to stand his ground?

What if that would have been you? Your son, your brother? and they make a phone call saying some weird dude is following them around the neighborhood in a vehicle at night?

But again, George was SO scared, stand your ground law ONLY applied to him, he ignored what the 911 operator told him to do. The screams on the tape were not from George as HE claimed they were. Lying through his teeth. Mr. Likes to resist arrest, and follow young people around in the dark.

George instigated this. Stand your ground law applies to both Trayvon and his killer. If ONLY George would have done as he was told, that young man would still be alive.

Medic171 - Get off that bong of crystal meth.

medic PLEASE..... stop spinning the facts, trying to make zimmer into the victim & Trayvon the agressor. Your BS version will NEVER pass the rational person's smell test....... save your keystrokes for "faux new's" partisan choir boys!!!!!!!!!!!

medic, I like how you try to put your own spin on the incident to make Zimmerman look like the victim. Whoever said Trayvon was running away? He was simply on his way to his father's home. Who ever said Trayvon came back looking for Zimmerman to confront him? No one! Only you and people like you. The facts are that Zimmerman went after Trayvon armed with a gun, with the intent of not letting him get away, because as he said in the 911 call "those F*cking punks always get away." This speaks to his state of mind and clear intent to confront Trayvon and not let him get away. The 911 call is not media spin but a matter of record which will be used during the trial.

The only people trying to make this into a race war are the Zimmerman supporters who are constantly revealling their bigotted slant by bashing this dead kid and trying to make him out as the agressor and the bad guy when they weren't there to see for themselves what happened in the first place, and ignore the facts of what was said during the 911 call Zimmerman made, and the call Trayvon made to his girlfriend. Also you never seem to address the fact that Zimmerman lied about being the one screaming for help, when in fact it was Trayvon who was screaming for help. When does someone who is the agressor scream for help? Why would a man who was armed with a gun need to scream for help? And still no one has posted any police photos of the alleged injuries that Zimmerman supposedly suffered. These photos would certainly help verify that there was a physical confrontation, though they would not excuse the fact Zimmerman went looking for trouble and killed an unarmed person. You can't instigate a fight and claim self defense or stand your ground. Zimmerman's ground was inside his car where he should have stayed, plain and simple!

Zimmerman,think how to get away with crime is a professional skill of criminals,when he manipulates with planned situations by "FIRST"apply procedures covering his ass,by informing his community police's which might know him close and personal, as he's a community vigilante,and his father was former Judge,he advancing all "tactics" in committing his hatred crime .But as what the stupid does,he did stupid, doesn't help.

No matter what your "reasons" were for "walking off your property" even against the police advice to confront "a unarm kid " down the street, the act of leaving your yard and challenging him is going to undermine your claim that it was "Stand Your Ground" as 'self-defense' a total BS.
The Prosecutor Should charge him "FIRST DEGREE" murder.And the court "Verdict" should be 'an eyes for an eyes" .No other. PERIOD.

We all notice questionable behavior in our neighborhood. If the guy is the Orange County serial murderer hacking up another victim, hell yeah, you pursue and shoot to kill. On a dark night If you SUSPECT suspicious activity, observe the details... license plate, build, clothing..etc. Let the trained professionals take it from there and go on living your life.

He's a super hero crime fighter... duh.

It's been almost a month and a halve ago now ....

Um....have you read the actual police report???? The officer said that his back was wet and covered in grass and his nose and head was bleeding. Also if you look at his eyes, there seems to be some black and blue bruising.

This is a case of Self Defense!

Wow, We need you in the Emergency Room. Maybe your diagnostic powers for broken noses sould save us millions of dollars per year. When I see a "broken" nose I need xrays to definatively diagnose the patient and you can do it from some TV photo's taken shortly after the injured party has received first aid treatment? Two things you may not know about broken noses a) The visible signs of injury we often associate with a broken nose often take 24 hours to develop and b) aside from "common knowledge" a broken nose can sometimes be fatal even in a healthy adult patient -- very rare but it happens many times every year. This is a serious situation for all involved, flipant remarks not based on facts are the problem here. Why don't we wait to hear from the actual witnesses and the profesionals involved before we make conclusions based on TV coverage that was admitedly biased?

Hey medic, wheres the BLOOD on (GM)s shirt???? You work in the ER...ever had a broken noise with no BLOOD??? If the medics on scean cleaned (GM) up, that's tampering with evidence. But oh, I forgot, were in HICK TOWN Florida!!

What does a broken nose look like after 7 weeks Doctor? You have all of the answers, but to none of the questions.

Zimmerman will walk for that very reason.

mackman-912848, do you know how stupid you statement sounds? I guess they left the bullet in Martin (while he was still alive) because they did not want to tamper with evidence?

mackman's right, they should have left the blood on him to look good for the cameras, not cleaned him up and put it their reports, stupid hicks following typical police protocol, why i bet they cant even spell the word "scene" right

Dear Dr. AQuestion, I have got this pain in my lower right side that just won't go away. I see that you are a fully accredited medical doctor who can look at somebody on a TV screen and diagnose his injuries and rate of healing. Therefore, can you please look into your monitor and let me know what is causing this pain in my side....ohhhh...wait...never mind...I know what it is now....it's laughter pain from giggling about the moronic remarks made on this forum!!

since the incident took place 6-7 weeks ago, I'm sure it had plenty of time to heal. idiot.

The actual incident occurred almost a month prior to the national coverage. It has been awhile.

So, that is why it is healed.

Just saying.

um its been over a month. anyone can heal in over a month. your not very bright.

So now he has been charged. But what happens if he's found not guilty? I'll tell you what happens. Riots. Burning. Looting. Killing innocents. Razing neighborhood businesses. Pulling people out of their cars and beating them with bricks.

Just what Uncle Jesse and Auntie Al want: A @!$%#ing race war.

I love how people really want Zimmerman to be innocent. He can't be people because he killed an unarmed teenager after following him for no reason!

And he must be Wolverine because that nose healed VERY quickly.!

I've had my nose broken as per a doctor's diagnosis. It didn't swell, there wasn't much blood and it didn't look crooked. I lucked out that it went back into place.

Hey there Dr.Aquestion... I simply would like to know where you got your medical degree?

It's very CONVENIENT that Zimmerman was in hiding for so long isn't it? Now people defending him can say his nose healed during that time. If nothing else there would still be a scar left on the back of his head because wounds to the scalp, such as gashes, rarely heal without leaving a noticeable scar. Still I keep asking to see the photos taken by police of said alleged injuries on the night the MURDER occured and no one has yet posted any such photos that would prove a physical confrontation happened that resulted in Zimmerman being injured to the degree that he was afraid for his life. No clear photos of a broken nose, and no clear photos of the so-called injury to the back of his head. Yes, very CONVENIENT indeed.

Very convenient that others put a bounty on his head isn't it?

Maybe, no say with me here, just maybe there are photos, and they are waiting for trial to bring them out? Where does it say that they have to show the photos to anyone other then those involved with the case?

i would be happy that someone is watching and have no problem answering their concerns

@sunshine, yea until they shoot you!! Then the police let him run free, hours after a BARNEY PHIFE investigation. Then see how you feel. Oh, I forgot, you would be DEAD....

I would tell the person to piss off. I don't have to talk to them and that is what I teach my kids 13 and 15. There are too many creepy adults out there and I don't want my kids talking to anyone they don't know. Martin did all the right things we teach our kids to do. Feel sorry for his family. Zimmerman did all the wrong things and he is behind bars for killing a teen.

Sunshine,I think you're a little naieve

I have a neighborhood watch program in my neighborhood. And they stick to the observe and report rule.

I practice Kummooyeh-Korean sword disciplines. When we first moved into the neighborhood a year ago and took my swords out to the field beside the neighborhood church to practice, I was accosted by a cop who said he got a report about a crazy kid waving a sword.

I explained (and demonstrated) to him that it was a form of martial arts, I practiced, and I wasn't hurting anyone and the swords were not sharpened. I asked the cop if it was going to be a problem, should I not practice outside? He said that wasn't necessary, I was free to do as I liked just to not openly threaten someone with the swords.

So a couple weeks later a different cop stops me while I'm practicing and says he got a call from the neighborhood watch about a crazy kid waving a sword. Again, i explained the situation and demoed the forms. He told me the same thing; its fine just don't threaten anyone.

Three weeks late I see someone standing off to the side of the field watching me practice and he's on his cellphone. I sheathed my sword and waited, thinking it's another cop and I have to explain again. This time it was the neighborhood watch captain who had been hearing reports from the other volunteers about a crazy person (hey, at least they didn't call me a kid this time, I'm freakin' 35!) waving a sword, and then he saw me but this time when he called 911 the dispatcher told him it's already been investigated, I was harmless and if he would wait they would send an officer out to make an official introduction.

So I'm standing there watching him, he stands there watching me, neither one of us has the guts to approach each other. My sword still sheathed but I can draw it in a moment if I have to, and I don’t know if he was packing (conceal isn’t allowed in my state) but he apparently wasn’t coming anywhere near my katana. Then a cop drives up, talks him, walks over to me, then waves the guy over and introduces me to the neighborhood watch captain. So I explain, for the third time, who I am and what I'm doing and since then I have had no further trouble with either the neighborhood watch, or the police, although they did tell me if I have sharpened swords leave them at home (my practice weapons are not sharpened).

That, in my opinion, is how a neighborhood watch is SUPPOSED to be run! Watch, observe, report, and let the cops deal with issues!

(BTW--when the cops got a call from dispatch some months later saying a female subject had caught someone trying to break in and was holding the burglar at swordpoint, they knew exactly who had called and where I lived and came right over. And then spent ten minutes laughing their a$$es off at the sight of a five-foot-coke-bottle-glasses-Asian-chick holding a stoner at (blunt) swordpoint for trying to break in. My Dad, a Vietnam and Korean War vet, always told me to use the least amount of force necessary to accomplish an objective--had I needed to, I still have his 1966 S&W Model 39 in the house and I do know how to shoot it. A gun was not necessary--two blunt shortswords were sufficient to make the stoner almost pee himself!)

i would say who i am. not get all "gangsta" on them. then i would go home and go to sleep.

The only reason this guy is being charged is because The President, black activist types , the media etc etc are making a big stink about it . Its a show , a big show , the kid looked like a hoodlum and up to know good because of his persistence to dress like "a gangsta" which attracted the attention of Zimmerman. Of course Zimmerman became suspicious , why wouldn't he. Everytime there is a bank hold-up, a convienience store robbery, a car-jacking, whatever .... you look at the surveillance camerafootage and its a black guy . so of course , a black kid roaming a neighborhood at night in a hoodie looks like he is up to knmow good. If he wasn't dressed like a "gangsta" he'd be alive END OF STORY !!! The black community and their kids needs to assimilate itself to the rest of America , learn to dress in a fashion that doesn't glorify criminals and maybe You'll stay alive !

Charlieassistanct - Too bad you don't realize that both Santorum and Romney also called for an in-depth investigation. And I suppose since the majority of serial killers are white it is now open season to just kills whites and ask questions later. There are whites who also commit the crimes you mention. And, there are whites who wear hoodies. Nothing new there.

Zimmerman had no business following and accosting Martin. What really happened that night we will never know. Zimmerman made sure of that. However, it is abundantly clear Zimmerman was never beaten or his nose broken.

I live in a predominantly Caucasian gated community, could be at least 90%. I am 4th or 5th generation US citizen from Spain. I got lazy once while riding my bicycle and trailed a car into the entrance gate instead of using the pedestrian gate. The guy in the car followed me and stopped me. He asked me if I lived there and I said yes. I quickly told him my address so he could see that I was a resident. It ended there. I may have been profiled but so what. The guy was watching out for our community and I appreciate that. We have to teach our children good communication skills and not to turn this around and make the situation into a you are treating me like a criminal. This was a bad situation but it should not have escalated. Learn to deal with your issues and learn some diplomacy. Let's have good respectful communication.

charlieass..... you are are raving, racist lunatic. Civil right activists (non-violently seeking equality) NOR our president aren't the ones making a "big stink", as you call it. You, as well as those with bigotted agendas--- such as tryin' to incite a race war are the problem!! Probably the latest t-thug scheme to put this country in further chaos before the 2012 election----- any means necessary to derail OUR president......

Trayvon would be alive today IF "george" had stayed his coward butt in his car, like HE was told, instead of playing "gangsta"vigilante!!.....Point..blank!

S Jr- that situation sounds like two rational adults conversing. I don;t care how large Trayvon was, he was still mentally a child and not prone to making rational adult decisions. He was a scared child trying to get away from someone pursuing him.

My youngest son was abnormally large for his age from 2 through 18. I can't tell you how many times he was in trouble because he is not "acting his age" or behaving in an expected manner for someone of his size. Every single time without fail when I would ask the accuser "just how old do you think he is"?the response was always at least 3 years older than he actually was. Imagine expecting a 3 year old preschooler to "act" like a 6 year old first grader! Or a 12 year old 6th grader to act a 15 yr old freshman in high school. This happened most of my sons life until his age finally caught up with his size. Trayvons large size does not make him MENTALLY an adult so do not expect him to act or make decisions that an adult would. Even though it is nice you and your neighbor could so diplomatically work out your issue.

@connie, I agree with you 100%. Size is not the only criteia it seems that children get mistaken for being older. As a 13 yr old child I had a moustache and a goatee and was proud of it but one day my school principal stopped me in the school hallway and asked what I was doing there, I said I was a student and he didn't believe me because he said I looked too old to be a student at his school. I referred him to my homeroom class teacher who confirmed that I was a student there.

Some months latter I ran into the principal again and this time he felt the need to place his hand on my A*s and say how mature I looked to him. That was back in the 1960's. It became evident to me me that my school principal was a pervert but if I said anything in those days, he would simply deny it and I would be labeled a trouble maker and who, besides my own parents would believe a poor multi-racial kid against a prominant, white, grade school principal back in the 60's ?

That same mentality is still pervasive today. An ethnic minority child against a white authority figure. Unfortunately racist white's will always put their spin on the story to smear the minority kid everytime to justify the actions of the perpetrator if they are white. Because in their eyes and minds, all white people are perfect and can't do any wrong. It's always the fault of the minority as they must have been asking for trouble just by existing. They must be criminals and thugs just by the virtue of their skin color and the clothes they wear. How idiotic does that sound? Some of our greatest scientists and doctors were and are people of color!

Perhaps some of you racists should remember that when you're lying in a hospital emergency room in the ICU and the doctor that saves your worthless lives or delivering your babies are people of color! Or when your house is burning down with your family inside, and the guys that go into your burning house to rescue them after you ran out and left them behind, are anything but white. Or the fact that many of the American soldiers fighting and dying in wars in foreign lands for your freedom and security are not just white but are people of color. Maybe you should learn a little respect for other races, and stop feeling like you're so superior to everyone else! Because you're not!

wow, this dude is losing alot weight, I guess he's stressed out.

If you had hundreds of thousands millions of people wanting your blood you'd probably be stressed out as well.

yeah, probably. Luckily for me I don't wonder around shooting unarmed teenagers.

If you had hundreds of thousands millions of people

RUKEN - Millions want his blood? Really? How many members do the New Black Panthers really have?

yeah, probably. Luckily for me I don't wonder around shooting unarmed teenagers.

When the details of what happened that night are entered into evidence, then I will form an opinion as to his guilt.

RUKEN - Millions want his blood? Really? How many members do the New Black Panthers really have?

Mike Tyson said it was a wonder "he hasn't been shot yet". Other celebrities are tweeting supposed addresses of Zimmerman, which are then hounded by media and protesters.

He has good reason to be scared sh*tless. The NBP are the tip of the iceberg.

@ruken, the NBP is a FIGMENT OF FAUX NEWS IMAGINNATION. Name one REAL incident of terrorism by this group.........you can't. Time to worry about the KKK, and Nazis instead dude.

the NBP is a FIGMENT OF FAUX NEWS IMAGINNATION. Name one REAL incident of terrorism by this group.........you can't. Time to worry about the KKK, and Nazis instead dude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Black_Panther_Party_voter_intimidation_case

But maybe voter intimidation isn't 'real'.

The NBP are as looney as the KKK and Skinheads.

If the Black Panthers make one move....one move...the FBI will destroy the organization. Just give them a reason

Its 2012 Anthony, the real Black Panthers were murdered and jailed years ago by J Edgar (murderer, racist) Hoover. This faction of the Black Panthers are nothing like the originals and there is maybe five of them? LOL

President Obama and Eric Holder are members of the NBP. Why would you not charge these A holes for vigilantism unless you are them. They can get away with threatening a U.S. citizen but let the Neo-Nazis do that. Look at Randy Weaver, a self proclaimed white separatist, they killed his dog, his kid and wife. Over what!!!!! Selling a shotgun. NBP can put a bounty on someones head. THAT IS CRAP!!!!

Truth-hurts NBP is much worse than KKK. They can get away with their crimes.

Here's an idea: Let's send the KKK and the NBP to a remote island together (weapons and all) and call it "Survival of the Racists"

"President Obama and Eric Holder are members of the NBP."

Wow! Really? You have their secret membership papers? I smell a new birther meme in the making. Well done, detective!

To all those putting the President down for commenting on the shooting, please remember that both Santorum and Romney said there should be an in-depth investigation. Oh but that doesn't play into your hatred, does it?

Serious Flexmind?! You just made that up out of your butt and expect any person with a brain and an I.Q. above 60 to believe that crap?!

NBP is much worst than the KKK???!!! Who has the NBP killed lately? Lynched? shot? they are called the New black Panthers because they, and get this... are new! The don't have the history of blood shed as the KKK does. Wow, they placed a bounty for the man to be arrested, not killed, but arrested, that makes them worse than the KKK?! Get serious here, your idiotic opinions, yes opinions seeing as they are not fact and are just based off of your warped perception of our president and others, has no bearing and is just silly.

A fact for you, the original panthers where not racist, even though they were mostly made up of black men and women, the group actually was comprised of people from all races who wanted to stand up against injustice around America for people of color meaning not just black Americans, but hispanic, asian, and native American as well, and even women of all races. This was considered to be a terrorist group at the time for trying to promote equality and tear down race barriers in a time of injustice. Think about it.

@flexmind......"President Obama & Eric Holder are members of NBP"....

You really need to stay away from your hallucinagenic drugs because yours & the t-thug's paranoid rants are way out of control. Proof, once again, your empty minds are satan's workshop........ first OUR president is a muslim, who pals around with terroists, NOW he's a black panther. He's a real "Master of disguise".......hahahahahahahahahahaha. You are ALL too pathetic for words!!!

thanks Alina for stating ''truthful info", instead of the on-going spin regarding the black panthers. These race baiters keep throwing tons of their lies out to the public. Their goal is to make sure at least some of their crap sticks in gullible people's minds like glue......... the old divide & conquer tactic!!!!

It will never happen, not with this administration

Would never happen with Eric Holder in place.

It's real funny to see BIGOTED white guys WHINE about Black people in power, They just can't stand when the tables are turned. But guess what, Black folks have dealt with racism for 4 hundred years. Man-UP and stop whining!! Start marching!!! You can have Billy Grahm Jr. as you leader!!!...LoL

MackMan, doesn't matter what color is in power, crony-ism and protecting criminal acts is wrong. The NBP are just as scummy as the KKK, Skinheads, Weather underground or any other extreme group that advocates violence as protest. This is not the first time Eric Holder has turned a blind eye.

Mackman, just think how you would feel if you were black

the Panther responsible for the bounty has been arrested. Do a google search.

@ Amanda ; I was going to say the same thing but most of the people bringing up these guys are not going to do any research

franz789, here you go.

http://jyuma.newsvine.com/_news/2012/03/26/10877043-new-black-panther-leader-arrested-as-group-sets-bounty-in-florida-shooting-ajccom

It's just a couple of sentences, but it clearly states that the NBP leader was arrested for placing a bounty on Zimmerman.

You managed to navigate to this site and post on it, yet you were unable to enter "NBP leader arrested" into a search engine. Sadly you're far from alone.

It appears it is easier to walk blindly along to maintain a specific mindset to suit a specific agenda.

Why is that?

You mean you don't want to take part in all the prejudgment like the media wants you to?

Not so fast my friend, not so fast.

Murder with a Depraved Mind occurs when a person is killed, without any premeditated design, by an act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind showing no regard for human life.

'evincing a depraved mind" defines as demonstrating an idifference to the life of others. In Zimmerman's case, if he struggled and the gun went off, its manslaughter, even if he struggled, if he held him down knowing he had full control and pulled the gun shot him, especially in anger or frustration (depraved mind)thats second degree murder. If he took a second or two and thought about what he was doing and did it anyway, that is murder.

lol And you are smarter then a seasoned prosecutor? hahahaha

IF Martin tried to run away from the confrontation and Zimmerman got out and followed, then Zimmerman committed assault. Assault, different than Battery, requires that a threat to personal safety is presented.

IF Zimmerman committed assault, then his shooting of Martin is de facto manslaughter.

IF he committed assault, then coupled with his statement to the dispatcher - prior to the confrontation and not 'in the heat of the moment' - that Martin was a 'f-----ing punk', it is clear that he targeted Martin specifically for his assault.

That's 2nd degree murder.

What were y'all saying about Al Sharpton?

I don't think that will hold water. Assault has to be supported with evidence that a person is in fear of great bodily harm or a deadly weapon is pulled. I doubt there is any evidence to support that Zimmerman chased Martin down while saying I am going to kill you or that his gun was already pulled. So there is no support of assault on Zimmerman's part. The evidence so far released does support assault and battery on Zimmerman supporting his defense.

Apparently Martin was on his cell phone telling his friend that he was scared because some guy was following him around. If that holds up, then there is evidence of assault by Zimmerman. It is not necessary for GZ to tell him he 'was going to kill him', it is only necessary that he presented a threat which made Martin fear for his safety. Chasing a strange man down on the street is indeed assault, we'll see if they can prove that.

We have the 911 tapes, a supposed eye witness and the shooter's testimony to go off of

There is conflicting eye witness testimony.

It will also depend on if the defense can show his soiled clothing, as well as any photos of his nose and head injuries.

How poorly the police handled the situation right after the shooting, may come back to haunt Zimmerman.

I predict a two month trial.

Even better bottom line: Bottom Line, George should never been able to own or carry a gun.

John

George should never been able to own or carry a gun.

If George was a citizen crime free and in good standing with the law, why couldn't he leagally own a gun?

Because he had a history of violence and arrests are the reason why he shouldn't have been able to own a gun, because he is obviously a bit of ill tempered whack job is the reason he should have never had a permit to carry.

History of arrests? One from when he was 20 years old and he interfered with a cop who was questiong his friend about underage drinking.............Have YOU ever watched COPS on TV and seen a immature 20 year old with a few drinks under his belt??? Hardly makes him a terrifying person. The state of Florida issued a peace bond against him and his girlfriend...no charges filed...no arrests made...the State of Florida just told the two of them to stay away from each other. And then we have that vicious speeding ticket...which was dropped because the cop never showed up in court. Seems to me that Trayvon at the tender age of 17 had already had quite a few brushes with authority...didn't make HIM a violent person either....Zimmerman had a legal permit to carry his gun and carrying it to the store in today's society is a perfectly logical thing to do. Have you ever read the statistics of crime that occur in malls and stores and gas stations every hour of the day???? Sounds to me as though he was being a prudent citizen who wanted to make sure he could defend himself.

I am not anti gun - I am anti dumb guy having gun.

Stay in his car...as he was ordered to do by the police.

That never happened. He was already out of his vehicle when he was told "we don't need you to do that" by a dispatcher, not police.

so what Freddy4life ? Are you one of those anti-abortion nuts that only cares about the right to life right up to the point where a woman pops the kid out of her at birth? What, 17 years later it's okay to shoot them? What if I saw you on the street in Florida and thought you looked at me funny, should I be able to shoot you in the head ?

John,

If freddy broke your nose and pounded your head into the ground, then yes, you should be able to shoot him.

Sorry ctviking, burden is much less than that - if your are black and back people scare me, then bam!

sure, but the only person who says that happened is the guy who shot the kid, convenient. Also, the day a 17 year old kicks my ass and I can't stop him with my fists will be the day I use the gun on myself.

John - You would be arrested for 1st degree murder, that is if you don't first get shot by a fellow citizen with a CCW that happened to be nearby and saw what was going on. There are lots of them in Florida so don't do anything foolish. :-)

Read and educate yourself about the FL SYG law and FL CCW law before you make more assine comments. it's easily Googled.

What are you talking about, way to take everything else of context A-hole. As far as anyone, other Zimmerman knows, that may be all that happened here. In several states if someone breaks in to your house you can't just shoot them. One of the first things gun people will tell you is if you shoot a home invader in the back make sure you spin the body around and shoot again in the chest. The reason why is deadly force isn't always an acceptable response. This case is going to determine whether or not Zimmerman's response was proportionate to threat, I doubt it was.

ctviking, if someone is stalking you and threatening you with a gun when you are doing nothing wrong, and wantsto kill you, you should be able to break his nose and pound him to the ground.

You Zimmerman supporters talk about "self defense," well what about Martin's right to defend himself? So what if Martin got a few hits in? Wouldn't you feel threatened and do the same in his situation? According to the "stand your ground" law that you claim to stand by, Martin had every right to fight back against Zimmerman's attack.

I'm going to jump in here with regards to the broken nose and head pounding Zimmerman claims to have received. First of all,having a broken nose and a bump on the head doesn't automatically mean the case was self defense. Secondly,the undertaker who handled Trayvon's body said there were no marks on his hands or anywhere else that were consistent with him having been in a fight. If he was beating on him the way Zimmerman claims he was,Trayvon should have had some kind of bruising on his hands.

Nobody knows if
Trayvon saw a gun before the scuffle. Nor is there any proof that Zimmerman tracked him down and shot him in any other manner than a close encounter. So if Zimmerman is telling the truth and Trayvon attacked him from behind and then knocked him down, Zimmerman would have been caught off guard and could very well be the one calling for help. If Trayvon sees the gun during the struggle because Zimmerman's shirt has been pulled up, he very well could have tried to get it...he's probably pretty angry too ....and in the struggle for the gun, Trayvon loses. No proof of your version but it appears that there might be a little more proof of the other version...Zimmerman's back is wet, he has the bleeding nose and cuts/abrasions on the back of his head and Trayvon shot at close range. Doesn't add up 100% but NOTHING seems to point to him chasing him down and shooting him!

the day someone punches me in the nose gets on top of me and starts head bouncing me off concrete is the day i bite him in the throat, stab him with my keys or do whatever else i have. and last time i checked, you dont get bruises on your hand from grabbing cloth and moving it back and forth, if that was the case all people who shake babies could just have their hands examined

@DAZ55 ---expain to me how that is? i have punched people in the nose before and i dont remember my hand bruising. Zimmerman says that trevon hit him in the nose knocked him down and was slamming his head into the cement,and by slamming iould take that as grabbing the head and pulling it up and down not punching.in my opinion one punch to the nose would not bruise your hand...now if more punches were thrown that i had not heard about,thats anouther story.

What the hell are you talking about? lol

IF Martin tried to run away from the confrontation and Zimmerman got out and followed, then Zimmerman committed assault. Assault, different than Battery, requires that a threat to personal safety is presented.

IF Zimmerman committed assault, then his shooting of Martin is de facto manslaughter.

IF he committed assault, then coupled with his statement to the dispatcher - prior to the confrontation and not 'in the heat of the moment' - that Martin was a 'f-----ing punk', it is clear that he targeted Martin specifically for his assault.

That's 2nd degree murder, folks.

Feel threaten ??? I feel threaten a lot and haven't killed anyone as yet. That right to kill law makes killing legal all you have to say I did it in self defense I felt threatened Crazy gun toters

Zimmerman would have been caught off guard and could very well be the one calling for help.

Not according to the voice analysis done on the 911 call.

Carnath: so what would you do if you were walking down the street in your neighborhood and some strange guy starts following you in a car? What if you then tried to run away and the guy gets out and chases you down?

Just curious.

So he can face mob justice? I wouldn't give a squirt of piss for his ass right now; win or lose his life is ruined.

So he can sue the New Black Panthers for defamation and send them to jail for threathing his life.

this trial reminds me of the vid of huissen hanging, had a civil judicial hearing then a mob hanging

except it was reverse, a mob protest to make a civil hearing

According to what the Black Panthers are saying they are about to do, looks like the Stand your gound law could get used a few more times.

I really doubt he gets acquitted.

I never knew "equited" was a word. Thanks for letting me know.

You just made the case for self defence.