How to get away with murder (non-state actor edition)

[Darnell 8,478]

Why not blame the Moral Decay, instead?

Mr. VonMartin's 'life' and existence were all governed by the Moral Decay he experienced from his birth parents.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Darnell

[Peikko 1,575]

This is quite ridiculous. You would have to be a special kind of moron to think that this verdict means it's somehow easier than it was to get away with murder or that people with guns are going to suddenly stop having a conscience. It's also a special kind of moron that gets off on this verdict as well. A teenager is still dead and that death is still on the conscience of the guy who has been acquitted, that's nothing to be jubilant about.

[Darnell 8,478]

Agreed - Morons Abound!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I used to belong to the party of personal responsibility. When did that change?

[Darnell 8,478]

It changed as Moral Decay Increased. Sorry...

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Blame the victim.. No one is blaming Zimmerman here but you liebrals

[Rattlehead 69]

Very simple - there is not a single state that authorizes warning shots.

[Peikko 1,575]

My understanding is that the defense did not invoke 'stand your ground' in its defense strategy - perhaps I am wrong, but I definitely read it somewhere.

[himher 634]

You are correct. They did not.

[Karee 4,190]

I'm still trying to figure who the other person is in that graphic. I would assume it's not even close to the same type of thing that happened in Sanford. Otherwise the person that posted it would have linked to some information or put some text in there. Maybe Bill has two accounts on VJ.

[lostinblue 1,989]

You are correct. They did not.

But if he left says it enough times it must be true. BECAUSE.... stand your ground is "bad"

[Pooky 3,784]

Yes, because having read up on both, the similarities between the cases rather elude me.

[Marilyn. 340]

I'm still trying to figure who the other person is in that graphic. I would assume it's not even close to the same type of thing that happened in Sanford. Otherwise the person that posted it would have linked to some information or put some text in there. Maybe Bill has two accounts on VJ.

A Florida woman who fired warning shots against her allegedly abusive husband has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Marissa Alexander of Jacksonville had said the state's "Stand Your Ground" law should apply to her because she was defending herself against her allegedly abusive husband when she fired warning shots inside her home in August 2010. She told police it was to escape a brutal beating by her husband, against whom she had already taken out a protective order.

CBS Affiliate WETV reports that Circuit Court Judge James Daniel handed down the sentence Friday.

Under Florida's mandatory minimum sentencing requirements Alexander could receive a lesser sentence, even though she has never been in trouble with the law before. Judge Daniel said the law did not allow for extenuating or mitigating circumstances to reduce the sentence below the 20-year minimum. "I really was crying in there," Marissa's 11-year-old daughter told WETV. "I didn't want to cry in court, but I just really feel hurt. I don't think this should have been happening."

Alexander was convicted of attempted murder after she rejected a plea deal for a three-year prison sentence. She said she did not believe she did anything wrong. She was recently denied a new trial after appealing to the judge to reconsider her case based on Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law. The law states that the victim of a crime does not have to attempt to run for safety and can immediately retaliate in self-defense.

Alexander's attorney said she was clearly defending herself and should not have to spend the next two decades behind bars. Alexander's case has drawn support from domestic abuse advocates - and comparison to the case of neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who has claimed a "Stand Your Ground" defense in his fatal shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57433184/fla-mom-gets-20-years-for-firing-warning-shots/

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

+1 Val Erie

But the real way to get away with it is ....show up in court.

In my opinion GZ made some errors I would not have.

1. He used a 9mm. Risky. I prefer a .45

2. He called 911 before he was sure TM was dead. While it ultimately may have helped him "Why call 911 if you plan to kill someone?" It also created most of the confusion about "who hit John" and all that nonsense which was irrelevent but people like you thought otherwise. Live and learn.

The key to any of these things is to make sure "only one person testifies" which, essentially, he did. Ultimately the bad guy went to the morgue and the good guy went home so who am I to nit-pick?

[Pooky 3,784]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57433184/fla-mom-gets-20-years-for-firing-warning-shots/

Unfortunately, self defense is undermined just a touch, when, after an initial argument at your ex's house, you go out to your car, before returning with a firearm, which you subsequently discharge.