What are your thoughts on the Zimmerman verdict?

1. 94

   cat on a soapboxposted 10 years ago

   What are your thoughts on the Zimmerman verdict?
   
   Are you surprised that the vote was unanimous?

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2. 60

   Superkevposted 10 years ago

   Given the evidence I don't see how it could have been otherwise

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   1. 94

      cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Most agree with you that the jury carefully weighed the evidence as it was presented.

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3. 84

   Express10posted 10 years ago

   I agree with Superkev and Alphadogg16. I feel sorry for the family because I'm certain they would want to see the person that killed their son behind bars but the law is not that simplistic. But GZ as much as you may dislike, like, or be indifferent to him, has had his day in court and was found not guilty. At least the Martin family has had a sense of closure and it will take time for them to heal. Many families NEVER even get a day in court. They fought for it, they got it, and this is the result. A civil suit is possible or likely depending on whom one speaks to. There are no winners, period. GZ's life will never be the same as is the case of TM's family.

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   1. 94

      cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You've made some very good points. Thank you for commenting.

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4. 86

   Alphadogg16posted 10 years ago

   Its not surprising at all..........Nobody really knows what happened exactly except Zimmerman and Trayvon, and Trayvon can not speak. So I really don't have any positive or negative thoughts. It is, what it is.

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   1. 94

      cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You are right. We have to rely on the collection of evidence and the adeptness of the legal teams that present it. The jury I think did their best- now we move on, but it doesn't undo the tragedy of ruined and lost lives.

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5. 61

   Cassie Smithposted 10 years ago

   I thought that the jury came to the only conclusion given the evidence presented before them.  I did think that the politics surrounding it would have them punk out and declare him guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to 2nd degree murder.  This verdict stopped the tragedy from continuing further if there had been a guilty verdict for either counts.  No one should be jubilant at the not guilty verdict, Zimmerman did shoot a 17-year-old young man who died and he will have to carry the burden of that deed for the rest of his life.

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   1. 94

      cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good point that Mr. Zimmerman will have to live with this for the rest of his life regardless of the verdict.

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6. 0

   CalebSparksposted 10 years ago

   No matter how you look at it, the whole thing was an ugly situation. I am somewhat surprised by the verdict. I thought Zimmerman would get railroaded for sure.
   
   The fact is, however, in this country a defendant is INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. The evidence for a guilty verdict was just not there.

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   1. 94

      cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. Regardless of  one's feelings about the situation, the verdict has to be based on the presentation of evidence.

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7. 60

   duffsmomposted 10 years ago

   I believe in our system.  He was tried by a jury of his peers and found not guilty. I can't argue with that.

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   1. 94

      cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed.

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8. 91

   Marseiposted 10 years ago

   I believe the jury was instructed to follow the law and they did.  Having been involved in court reporting for as long as I have, I know better than to second guess juries.  Unless you are there and experience every nuance and subtlety that they do, you don't have "all the evidence."  It is a tense and grueling situation in many ways, and I believe most jurors do the very best they can to follow the law.   I'm not surprised that the vote was unanimous.  The sole African-America woman voted her conscience just like the others did.  The law is the law.

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   1. 94

      cat on a soapboxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. Jurors must listen intently to the presentation of the evidence, follow the instructions of the judge, and carefully weigh it all during deliberation. The media approaches issues from an emotional standpoint.

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