Official: Charges coming in Trayvon Martin death

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   Longhunterposted 12 years ago

   http://news.yahoo.com/official-charges- … 38994.html
   
   It's about damn time but can he get a fair trial?
   
   Will all groups on both sides of this issue accept the outcome of a trial and move on?

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      The Frog Princeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Good question friend.  The media and the race baiters have already tried and convicted him.  The whole situation is pathetic. 
      
      The Frog

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         Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, now the task becomes finding at least seven people (I think that's right in Florida, anyway) who don't watch television or read magazines. Or post here.

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            steveamyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            It should not be a problem to find seven Floridians who do not read.

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               Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                 In Georgia either!
               
               
               
                                                      

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      John Holdenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Great!
      
      Let's hope that, in the words of the great BD, it doesn't turn into a pig circus.

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      FitnezzJimposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The news just announced the charge as Second Degree Murder.
      What does that mean they think happened in this case?
      How does it differ from Manslaughter?

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      Uninvited Writerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hopefully they will...but judging from this thread there will be some who will say the outcome is wrong even after they hear the facts.

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         Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         
         Well, to be honest, I think that's going to happen worldwide, no matter what.

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      Sooner28posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Did people accept the outcome of the OJ or Casey Anthony trial?

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      Hubert Williamsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      No they won't. Entire groups are never totally satisfied. They just break away and form new groups.

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   readytoescapeposted 12 years ago

   This thing in the Metro-Orlando Media will be just like the Casey Anthony trial, perpetual contrived stories for years that ends in a travesty of a trial.

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3. 81

   lovemychrisposted 12 years ago

   "As the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and the failure of authorities to arrest his killer, George Zimmerman, continues to grab headlines, many conservatives and gun rights advocates insist that race has nothing to do with it. Some have also rallied to the defense of Florida’s “stand your ground” law, the self-defense legislation under which Zimmerman was able to avoid arrest. Yet not all stand your ground claims are so successful. Not too far from Sanford, Fla., a black man named John McNeil is serving a life sentence for shooting Brian Epp, a white man who trespassed and attacked him at his home in Georgia, another stand your ground state."
   
   http://www.salon.com/2012/04/11/when_st … singleton/

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      Longhunterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing ALL the evidence in this case.
      
      If Zimmerman was told not to follow Trayvon by a person of authority but did so anyway, IMHO, he became the hunter, rather than the hunted thus guilty of murder.
      
      If that's the case, self-defense goes out the window as it is now Trayvon who fears for his life as the one being stalked.
      
      "Stand Your Ground" law or not, if a person is not an LEO and you or your family are not in danger, you should call the police and let them handle it. Otherwise, you're just asking for trouble.

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         lovemychrisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         "McNeil’s treatment stands in stark contrast to that of George Zimmerman, who has been afforded the benefit of the doubt despite his victim being unarmed."
         
         This is what I hope gets addressed with this horrible situation.
         The whole justice system needs an enema.

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            Longhunterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Gee, thanks for that mental image, LMC!!!

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            JSChamsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Here's a good one for you.
            He turned himself in. Does that sound like a foaming at the mouth racist?
            Oh and once again.....George Zimmerman is Hispanic.

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               Uninvited Writerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Zimmerman is only partly Latino. The same people who don't accept Obama as black because his mother was white say Zimmerman is Hispanic...go figure. His ethnicity does not matter...
               
               And he can still be a racist if he's not white... But, I don't know the facts...let the law do its job.

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                  JSChamsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  No we say Latino because the media won't even though it's a fact. Can't stir up race hatred if he's not white enough you know.

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               lovemychrisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               What's that got to do with anything?
               A black man killed a white man who came into his house with a knife.
               He was arrested immediately and is doing life behind bars.
               Zimmerman killed someone and 46 days later is finally arrested on second degree.
               That's what I'm talking about. The treatment, and presumption of innocence.
               
               And btw--here there was something called the Framingham 8. 8 women who killed their husbands in self-defense. They all were arrested immediately too, and did many years behind bars until they were pardoned. All had suffered years of abuse and threats to their lives.
               
               We have an un-equal system, that's what I want changed. You need to calm down with your accusations.

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         idratherbeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Longhunter, I agree 100%.

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         steveamyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         well spoken

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   wildernessposted 12 years ago

   No hints, though, as to what the charge will be.  My local paper reported that there would be no grand jury, which means (in Florida) there will be no first degree murder charge.
   
   There will be an awful lot of disappointed people if he's charged with jaywalking or some other relatively minor charge.

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   lovemychrisposted 12 years ago

   "2nd degree murder, the charge against Zimmerman, is "an intentional killing that is not premeditated or planned"

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      wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Oh?  I hadn't seen anything at all giving what he will be charged with.  Just that the investigator will make a statement within 72 hours and presumably make a charge before that.

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         Uninvited Writerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I have seen it from several sources

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            wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            You're right - I have seen several reports just in the last hour or so.  Just hadn't heard the news yet.

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   Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

   That's what he's being charged with.
   Not necessarily what he will be convicted of.
   
   I admit I am not a legal scholar. Therefore, could someone who knows the intricacies and distinctions please explain why shooting someone who is not armed could be considered self-defense?
   Maybe he thought the kid was going to come suffocate him with his hoodie?
   
   

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      wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ralph Deeds posted Michigans law:
      http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/95402?p … st2039858, which Ralph says is similar to Florida's
      
      The pertinent part would seem to be that you may use deadly force (gun) if you believe your life is in imminent danger or great bodily harm is imminent.  Note that nowhere is whether the other is armed even mentioned; it is not germane to this law.
      
      It seems pretty well accepted that the testimony and injuries are consistent with breaking Zimmerman's nose and bashing his head against concrete while on top of him.  That's just a little different than suffocating him with a hoodie and, true or not, is what the investigator must consider.

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         lovemychrisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I don't accept that at all. He did not have a broken nose. And his head did not look bashed.

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            wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I know you don't.  That is beside the point, though - it is what the prosecutor knows and thinks can be proven in court coupled with what the law says that counts. 
            
            That prosecutor isn't about to make charges or decisions based on what you may have chosen to believe or on what you think the law should say rather than what it does say.

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               Uninvited Writerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               And i hope he will be able to see the xrays, etc. you seem to believe he was injured without any proof

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                  wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  You need to read a little more carefully - I very carefully indicated that what we know of the testimony from cops and witnesses agree with the alleged injuries.  I make no claim as to what those injuries actually are; only to the testimonies. 
                  
                  In addition I have absolutely no idea of what other evidence that prosecutor has found or whom she has spoken to.  I don't know if she has pictures or good video to look at.  I do know that the media "proved" there were no injuries and then turned around and said there was.  I know they proved that Zimmerman spoke in a racist manner and then turned around and said he did not.  What we, the public, know is that Trayvon is dead - the trial will tell us what else is known.
                  
                  Presumably the prosecutor has put it all together and decided that she can't maintain a charge of first degree murder for whatever reason.  We might assume it is because of self defense but it very could be something entirely different.

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   rebekahELLEposted 12 years ago

   To prove second degree murder, a prosecutor must show that the defendant acted according to a “depraved mind” without regard for human life. Florida state laws permit the prosecution of second degree murder when the killing lacked premeditation or planning, but the defendant acted with enmity toward the victim or the two had an ongoing interaction or relationship. Unlike first degree murder, second degree murder does not necessarily require proof of the defendant’s intent to kill.

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   Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

   Turned himself in?
   That is not what the article I read stated.
   It said they went to fetch him before he could turn himself in.
   BTW, his lawyers have already quit.
   Presumed innocent.
   Yeah. Ok.
   He doesn't by chance drive a white Bronco?

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   klarawieckposted 12 years ago

   I better don't get jury-duty on that case. I'd move to Alabama!

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    Uninvited Writerposted 12 years ago

    Saw Zimmerman on the news tonight. His nose does not look like it ever was broken.

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    Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

    911 dispatcher: "Are you following him?"
    Zimmerman "Yeah."
    911 dispatcher: "We don't need you to do that.."
    Zimmerman "Ok."
    
    Hmmmm.

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    Ralph Deedsposted 12 years ago

    Here's a link to the statement supporting the charge of second degree murder against George Zimmerman:
    
    http://www.foxnews.com/us/interactive/2 … ble-cause/

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