Adrian he did not HAVE to die. Neither did he HAVE to jump on Zimmerman and pound his head into the concrete thereby putting the fear of death into Zimmerman. If TM had just continued on his way he would be alive today. If Zimmerman had stayed in his car, TM would be alive today. Mistakes were made on both sides.
Justice did work the way it was designed to work. It may not be a perfect system, but in an adversarial system, it was not Justice that failed, it was the prosecution. Whether they failed because the defense was more competent or because Mr. Zimmerman was innocent or both will be subject to emotional diagnosis by the public, but in a court room with a judge and jury of his peers, Mr. Zimmerman was found innocent of the crimes for which he was charged.Florida is a great state with many great people. Criticizing an entire state is not civil nor respectful for all of the good and wonderful people who contribute to the good of all.Respectfully,C.
The nice thing about forums is being judged by your shadow.There are many in this forum whose back story sound damned impressive. Some with whom I vehemently disagree. I would hate to compare resumes with many of you, maybe most.This “style” came in 2010A man spoke to the audience and said we are all driving a six lane highway in the same general direction, and in order to get where we want, we need to merge to a single lane road that passes through a long tunnel. But we are so divided… we don’t like the way others drive, their personal appearence, their bumpersticker message, especially those who display their political religious or cultural opinions while trying to get to the tunnel ahead.That changed my attitude. Where lanes merge ahead, I open space between me and the car ahead. People have honked and I’ve seen them waving their hands at me even though I’m going the speed limit.It’s harder to do in these forums. Road rage is not civil; and it shows as much disrespect for ourselves as to those to whom we display.We are all better people. We’re just not ALWAYS better people.Thank you for the kind comment, even though you’re just seeing the shadow.Sincerely,C.
The REAL problem with jury trials today, well, for some time now, is that the lawyers shouldn’t be awarded verdicts, but Emmys, or Tonys.
Sat on a jury where the accused was clearly on the evidence the aggressor, started the fight, and bit a guy’s nose off when he had four friends to back him up if he started to lose the fight. The other jurors, hmm, 9 of the 11 others were women, were ready to let him off on self defense, until I pointed out it was the DEFENSE attorney who brought up the witness to testify the guy INTENDED to start a fight, and the witness was one of the four he was counting on to back him. I also pointed out the injuries to the victim could well have been fatal due to infection, he was hospitalized for weeks!
Cameras in the courtroom have made it even worse for getting justice, and the acting in the Zimmerman case was terrible, but the “defense” still got the award. Their case was Stephen King fiction, NOT a documentary.
You’re absolutely right. Instead of attacking GZ in the dark, he could have continued to his destination. Instead of calling that girl, he could have called the police. Sometimes being a racist thug has tragic consequences.
Tigger: let go of your mythology. I’ve been in the south, and in Florida, for that matter, around the country. Simple fact, if Zimmerman had been black, and Martin “Hispanic” or white, Zimmerman would have been held in jail the night of the shooting, and likely would have been “tried”, convicted of not less than manslaughter, and probably “murder one”, and in prison, long before this trial even got started.
Florida’s "stand your ground’’ law has allowed drug dealers to avoid murder charges and gang members to walk free. It has stymied prosecutors and confused judges. • It has also served its intended purpose, exonerating dozens of people who were deemed to be legitimately acting in self-defense. Among them: a woman who was choked and beaten by an irate tenant and a man who was threatened in his driveway by a felon.
You gotta love a state that says you can initiate a confrontation start losing, use deadly force and not even be charged initially. However if you are a black women firing a warning shot in the air and don’t even hit anyone you get 20 years in prison
herdleader53 almost 11 years ago
Adrian he did not HAVE to die. Neither did he HAVE to jump on Zimmerman and pound his head into the concrete thereby putting the fear of death into Zimmerman. If TM had just continued on his way he would be alive today. If Zimmerman had stayed in his car, TM would be alive today. Mistakes were made on both sides.
chazandru almost 11 years ago
Justice did work the way it was designed to work. It may not be a perfect system, but in an adversarial system, it was not Justice that failed, it was the prosecution. Whether they failed because the defense was more competent or because Mr. Zimmerman was innocent or both will be subject to emotional diagnosis by the public, but in a court room with a judge and jury of his peers, Mr. Zimmerman was found innocent of the crimes for which he was charged.Florida is a great state with many great people. Criticizing an entire state is not civil nor respectful for all of the good and wonderful people who contribute to the good of all.Respectfully,C.
chazandru almost 11 years ago
The nice thing about forums is being judged by your shadow.There are many in this forum whose back story sound damned impressive. Some with whom I vehemently disagree. I would hate to compare resumes with many of you, maybe most.This “style” came in 2010A man spoke to the audience and said we are all driving a six lane highway in the same general direction, and in order to get where we want, we need to merge to a single lane road that passes through a long tunnel. But we are so divided… we don’t like the way others drive, their personal appearence, their bumpersticker message, especially those who display their political religious or cultural opinions while trying to get to the tunnel ahead.That changed my attitude. Where lanes merge ahead, I open space between me and the car ahead. People have honked and I’ve seen them waving their hands at me even though I’m going the speed limit.It’s harder to do in these forums. Road rage is not civil; and it shows as much disrespect for ourselves as to those to whom we display.We are all better people. We’re just not ALWAYS better people.Thank you for the kind comment, even though you’re just seeing the shadow.Sincerely,C.
Dtroutma almost 11 years ago
The REAL problem with jury trials today, well, for some time now, is that the lawyers shouldn’t be awarded verdicts, but Emmys, or Tonys.
Sat on a jury where the accused was clearly on the evidence the aggressor, started the fight, and bit a guy’s nose off when he had four friends to back him up if he started to lose the fight. The other jurors, hmm, 9 of the 11 others were women, were ready to let him off on self defense, until I pointed out it was the DEFENSE attorney who brought up the witness to testify the guy INTENDED to start a fight, and the witness was one of the four he was counting on to back him. I also pointed out the injuries to the victim could well have been fatal due to infection, he was hospitalized for weeks!
Cameras in the courtroom have made it even worse for getting justice, and the acting in the Zimmerman case was terrible, but the “defense” still got the award. Their case was Stephen King fiction, NOT a documentary.
jinrock almost 11 years ago
Lame. Anyone who purports to know more than a Jury that has sat threw days of testimony and evidence is truly an idiot.
I Quit almost 11 years ago
“TM did NOT have to die.”
You’re absolutely right. Instead of attacking GZ in the dark, he could have continued to his destination. Instead of calling that girl, he could have called the police. Sometimes being a racist thug has tragic consequences.
rockngolfer almost 11 years ago
How I miss the good old days of the “He Coon” Lawton Chiles (Walkin’ Lawton) and other politicians that had some sense.
OmqR-IV.0 almost 11 years ago
“Can I shoot him?”
Only if s/he gives you a baleful stare. You have to feel threatened else it doesn’t work.
Dtroutma almost 11 years ago
Hmm, Zimmerman and the William Bonney defense strategy.
Dtroutma almost 11 years ago
Tigger: let go of your mythology. I’ve been in the south, and in Florida, for that matter, around the country. Simple fact, if Zimmerman had been black, and Martin “Hispanic” or white, Zimmerman would have been held in jail the night of the shooting, and likely would have been “tried”, convicted of not less than manslaughter, and probably “murder one”, and in prison, long before this trial even got started.
d_legendary1 almost 11 years ago
From the Tampa Bay Times:
Florida’s "stand your ground’’ law has allowed drug dealers to avoid murder charges and gang members to walk free. It has stymied prosecutors and confused judges. • It has also served its intended purpose, exonerating dozens of people who were deemed to be legitimately acting in self-defense. Among them: a woman who was choked and beaten by an irate tenant and a man who was threatened in his driveway by a felon.
Looks like Zimmerman is in good company.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/florida-stand-your-ground-law-yields-some-shocking-outcomes-depending-on/1233133
pirate227 almost 11 years ago
You gotta love a state that says you can initiate a confrontation start losing, use deadly force and not even be charged initially. However if you are a black women firing a warning shot in the air and don’t even hit anyone you get 20 years in prison