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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSlate: Zimmerman's Not Guilty. But Florida Sure Is.
But that doesnt mean Zimmerman was guilty of murder, not in the state of Florida. It doesnt even mean he was guilty of manslaughter, though that was the middle ground I hoped the jury would find its way toward. (And in fact, the jurors asked for a clarification on the manslaughter charge during its 16½ hours of deliberation.) Heres the problem: To convict Zimmerman of murder, the six women of the jury had to find that he killed Martin out of ill will, hatred, or spite, or with a depraved mind. The law didnt account Zimmermans fear or feeling of being physically threatened.
But the physical evidence suggested that in the heat of the moment, Zimmerman could have felt both of those things. A forensics expert testified that from the angle of his wounds, it appeared that Martin was on top of Zimmerman when he was shot. The neighbor who came closest to being an eyewitnessthere were nonesaid it looked to him like he saw a fight in which the person on top, straddling the person below, was wearing a red or a light-colored shirt. That, too, suggested Martin was on top. Zimmerman did have injuries: lacerations to the back of his head from the pavement and a swollen bloody nose.
Its true that there was also evidence on the other side: None of Zimmermans DNA was found under Martins fingernails. None of Martins DNA was found on the gun. These facts contradict key aspects of the account Zimmerman gave police. Why believe him about the rest of his account? And even if you do give him the benefit of that doubt, why did Zimmerman feel so very threatened? Why did he pull his gun and shoot to kill?
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/07/zimmerman_acquittal_blame_florida_for_trayvon_martin_s_death.html
SugarShack
(1,635 posts)being heard in the senate before the vote, they both believed that under this Florida "stand your ground", you would NEVER BE ABLE TO GET A CONVICTION FOR MURDER, without a witness.
Period.
This law must be changed. Florida is run by thugs, trust me.
Great Dem Senators and procecutors who are now gone from our state house:
Sen. Rod Smith (former party chair and gub candidate)
Sen. Dan Gelber (ran for AG and lost to Blondie)
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Response to OmahaBlueDog (Original post)
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Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)Those were tiny little cuts. The only reason they were even visible in that questionable picture is that a little bit of blood was trickling down from them.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)years old and we had a perfectly good self defense law already but the shooter had to prove that he was indeed using self defense.