State pushes to keep Trayvon Martin's past out of George Zimmerman trial

[SMOKE 1,426]

If I throw the first punch and break your nose, that does not mean you can shoot me if I am unarmed. There is the concept of "reasonable force" that must be overcome in order for it to be justifiable homicide under a claim of self-defense.

if i'm following you & you punch me. you have assaulted me. if you are on top of me continuing to assault me, you are using deadly force. i am in fear for my life. i can use deadly force to protect my life.

zimmerman is walking free on this.

[Teddy B 17,252]

if i'm following you & you punch me. you have assaulted me. if you are on top of me continuing to assault me, you are using deadly force. i am in fear for my life. i can use deadly force to protect my life.

zimmerman is walking free on this.

I'm not sure about walking free, he'll probably get a form of manslaughter with a very short sentence or time served. Either way, I really don't think this is the slam dunk case a lot of people are making it out to be. GZ was wrong for following TM after being told by the police dispatcher not to, after that it's pretty much a crapshoot.

Edited May 15, 2013 by Teddy B

[Karee 4,191]

I'm not sure about walking free, he'll probably get a form of manslaughter with a very short sentence or time served. Either way, I really don't think this is the slam dunk case a lot of people are making it out to be. GZ was wrong for following TM after being told by the police dispatcher not to, after that it's pretty much a crapshoot.

I think you've got it right. Supposed to be beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

if i'm following you & you punch me. you have assaulted me. if you are on top of me continuing to assault me, you are using deadly force. i am in fear for my life. i can use deadly force to protect my life.

zimmerman is walking free on this.

Actually, if you followed me in your truck at night while I was walking home in the rain, minding my own business, then I ran when I saw how creepy your behavior was being that I'm a teenage boy and you're a grown man, and you got out of your truck to try and find me, my adrenal would be running high and my survival extincts take over. If I see an opportunity to jump you, I might do that, just to scare the sh!t out of you and hopefully get your creepy ####### to stop following me. But then you had to pull out a gun and shoot me because you're that kind of a #######.

Edited May 15, 2013 by Lincolns mullet

[decocker 7,198]

Actually, if you followed me in your truck at night while I was walking home in the rain, minding my own business, then I ran when I saw how creepy your behavior was being that I'm a teenage boy and you're a grown man, and you got out of your truck to try and find me, my adrenal would be running high and my survival extincts take over. If I see an opportunity to jump you, I might do that, just to scare the sh!t out of you and hopefully get your creepy ####### to stop following me. But then you had to pull out a gun and shoot me because you're that kind of a #######.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I think you've got it right. Supposed to be beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction.

Not in this case. The Zimmerman admitted to killing Martin. There is no doubt, reasonable, or otherwise. In this case, Zimmerman has to show his life was in danger, or a reasonable person would believe his life was in danger, AND that he only used the necessary force to protect his life, AND he had no opportunity to withdraw. There is no presumption of innocence for Zimmerman. He fails on all three counts.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Actually, if you followed me in your truck at night while I was walking home in the rain, minding my own business, then I ran when I saw how creepy your behavior was being that I'm a teenage boy and you're a grown man, and you got out of your truck to try and find me, my adrenal would be running high and my survival extincts take over. If I see an opportunity to jump you, I might do that, just to scare the sh!t out of you and hopefully get your creepy ####### to stop following me. But then you had to pull out a gun and shoot me because you're that kind of a #######.

According to folks here, there is nothing wrong following someone at night in a vehicle. Just like it's completely ok to call the cops on a person because they happen to be walking home from the store at night.

[Karee 4,191]

Not in this case. The Zimmerman admitted to killing Martin. There is no doubt, reasonable, or otherwise. In this case, Zimmerman has to show his life was in danger, or a reasonable person would believe his life was in danger, AND that he only used the necessary force to protect his life, AND he had no opportunity to withdraw. There is no presumption of innocence for Zimmerman. He fails on all three counts.

We'll see what happens at the trial. That's why they have them.

Edited May 15, 2013 by Karee

[SMOKE 1,426]

Actually, if you followed me in your truck at night while I was walking home in the rain, minding my own business, then I ran when I saw how creepy your behavior was being that I'm a teenage boy and you're a grown man, and you got out of your truck to try and find me, my adrenal would be running high and my survival extincts take over. If I see an opportunity to jump you, I might do that, just to scare the sh!t out of you and hopefully get your creepy ####### to stop following me. But then you had to pull out a gun and shoot me because you're that kind of a #######.

i'd be a ####### that acted within the law. you'd be a thug that beat up an out of shape smaller man.

Not in this case. The Zimmerman admitted to killing Martin. There is no doubt, reasonable, or otherwise. In this case, Zimmerman has to show his life was in danger, or a reasonable person would believe his life was in danger, AND that he only used the necessary force to protect his life, AND he had no opportunity to withdraw. There is no presumption of innocence for Zimmerman. He fails on all three counts.

1 shot fired while under distress. 1. they're not even getting a manslaughter conviction. he is walking

[GandD 5,966]

There is a difference between "wrong" and "illegal". I agree that its not okay, but there is no law against it.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

There is a difference between "wrong" and "illegal". I agree that its not okay, but there is no law against it.

There is a difference between "wrong" and "illegal". I agree that its not okay, but there is no law against it.

I guess the next question should be what is the proper thing to do when a strange adult just out of the blue starts following you for no reason at night. How do you handle that? Would you tell your children to relax, they mean no harm? Or would you say, to find help and get away from the situation? Because evidence shows TM tried to get away, hence the words following/chasing are used. The missing piece of the puzzle is did he backtrack to GZ or did GZ catch up to him.

[GandD 5,966]

I guess the next question should be what is the proper thing to do when a strange adult just out of the blue starts following you for no reason at night. How do you handle that? Would you tell your children to relax, they mean no harm? Or would you say, to find help and get away from the situation? Because evidence shows TM tried to get away, hence the words following/chasing are used. The missing piece of the puzzle is did he backtrack to GZ or did GZ catch up to him.

TM confronted him. I wouldn't do that. Dude could have a gun, you never know about peeps these days.

[decocker 7,198]

TM confronted him. I wouldn't do that. Dude could have a gun, you never know about peeps these days.

thought that was hearsay, no?

[mota bhai 2,675]

I guess the next question should be what is the proper thing to do when a strange adult just out of the blue starts following you for no reason at night.

How do you know there's no reason? Maybe he's following you not because you're black but because he wants to cuddle with you or tell you a kind word or because you dropped your wallet and he wants to return it or because he noticed you're wearing a watch and he just wants to know what time it is...........

thought that was hearsay, no?

They fought. Zim got his but whupped. That's not hearsay.

[Karee 4,191]

I guess the next question should be what is the proper thing to do when a strange adult just out of the blue starts following you for no reason at night. How do you handle that? Would you tell your children to relax, they mean no harm? Or would you say, to find help and get away from the situation? Because evidence shows TM tried to get away, hence the words following/chasing are used. The missing piece of the puzzle is did he backtrack to GZ or did GZ catch up to him.

You tell your kids to go kick his a$$ if they are followed. If they end up getting shot over it, so be it.

/sarcasm

As far as the evidence showing TM tried to get away, there is no evidence until it is presented at trial. Until then, it's just a bunch of B.S. floating around in the media.

Edited May 15, 2013 by Karee