the further and longer he runs, just proves he was guilty and just adds more charges to his rapsheet.

His own attorneys didn't know where he was, but said he was far away from FL.

As long as he kept the authorities in the loop as to his location, which apparently was the case, i don't think one could say he's a flight risk.

Although he was hiding from the public, LE seemed to know his whereabouts. He did turn himself in promptly. He didnt flee the crime scene. Hes not facing death penalty. I dont see any reason to deny bail, though I would require he turn in his passport.

as we're relying on media. He appears to have participated in State's Attorney's search for evidence, and turned himself in. I don't think this = 'proven flight risk.'

Court will determine whether bail is suitable, and that's fine with me.

He is granted bail, that's okay with me, too. He's a marked man in any event. His life is forever altered after this. It doesn't excuse what he did, and Trayvon's family has had their lives altered, too. It's sad all the way around.

No matter how the court rules, Zimmerman will have to forever be careful of where he goes.

I'm not anti-gun, but in this case? A gun caused a tragedy for everyone involved. We need to be careful as a society so that we don't have more ruined lives. One is dead, and one is being charged.

When the NRA is running public policy, and shooting people becomes the norm, tragedies are going to happen, and I *OWN* a gun.

I was a 'sharpshooter,' received NRA badges, taught riflery (in camp,) I AM anti-gun. As you said,
when the NRA is running public policy, and shooting people becomes the norm, tragedies are going to happen.

an organization that makes weapons creating public policy to enable said weapons to be used. And encourages weapons to be used to solve disputes.

And I may be lawful owning of firearms, but when it comes down to it, this situation is tragic, didn't need to happen, and it doesn't encourage me to wave around fire arms irresponsibly, as I believe happened in this case.

It makes lawful owners of firearms look bad.

He HID - That's not the same as running.

I think his bail hearing will turn, not on his being a risk for flight; but rather, his being a "danger to the community."

Being out on bail does not mean free to come and go as one pleases ... It can (and will likely) be house arrest, with electronic (GPS) monitoring and very restrictive conditions as to whom one can associate with.

The danger to the community consideration will not only weigh the likelihood that he will go out and shoot someone again; but will also consider the likelihood that someone will attempt to get to him.

That's what they always say about black murder defendants.

and makes the lawful owners of firearms look bad. This looks nothing like self-defense - it looks like "I wanted to shoot somebody because I'm a wannabe cop."

He kept law enforcement informed of his whereabouts all the time where he was. He surrendered when the charges finally came.

as a firearm owner. He makes all of us look bad. He defied the 911 operator and chased after Martin.

But I did not look bad because of Zimmerman. If something is happening outside of my house I will call 911, if appropriate, and I don't chase people. Having said that I think the murder 2 charge is way too heavy. As someone who does criminal defense I would have no problem arguing against that charge. Even without the SYG law.

we haven't seen the autopsy report. we haven't seen the emt report. we haven't seen the report on zimmer's clothes. we haven't seen any of the forensic evidence.

we have heard a tape of someone crying for help for 40 seconds, cut off by a gun shot. We have seen media-hired results of voice analysis ruling out Zimmy as the voice crying for help.

I suspect there is far more that we haven't seen than that we have.

If Trayvon was standing over Zimmy and shot in the chest, how did he end up face down with his arms under him? None of the eye witnesses to date mentioned anything about seeing someone stagger around and fall, and a 2nd person getting from the ground.

The prosecution will have to prove Zimmerman intentionally went after Martin instead of shooting him in self-defense, refute arguments that Florida law empowered him to use deadly force and they will have to get past a judge's ruling at the pretrial hearing.

The prosecutors must prove Zimmerman's shooting of Martin was rooted in hatred or ill will and counter his claims that he shot Martin to protect himself while patrolling his gated community in the Orlando suburb of Sanford. Zimmerman's lawyers would only have to prove by a preponderance of evidence — a relatively low legal standard — that he acted in self-defense at a pretrial hearing to prevent the case from going to trial.

not only after being asked not to by the 911 operator, but after agreeing to meet with the police at the mailboxes. That is on tape. He was the pursuer.

Zimmerman needs a preponderance of evidence to show that Martin attacked him first. Unless there is an eye witness that saw that, he has zero evidence; only his word. And if the prosecutor has evidence that contradicts his story to the police (which the leak evidence suggests she does), then his credibility is gone.

We know Martin had his cell phone in one hand and was talking to Zimmerman when the altercation started. And we know that somebody was yelling for help and crying and pleading for his life for 40 seconds before the shot went off and the voice stopped. Voice analysis will either support or contradict Martin's mother's claim to recognize Martin's voice. But the voice stopped *after* the gunshot, not *before* it.

My personal belief is that he'll choose to plea down to manslaughter, but I don't think he's overcharged at murder 2 because I don't know what evidence the prosecutor has. I do think she may have very strong evidence, strong enough to convict at murder 2.

That has been my experience. We will see what comes out at trial if it gets that far.

witnesses and the da who wanted to bring charges and was denied by the state ag leaked evidence to force the issue.

The newly assigned sga didn't leak; she tried to stop the leaks.

I expect it will get to trial.

Thank you so much for posting, especially concerning the hearing on Z's claim of self-defense.

I read elsewhere that the standard would be the preponderance of the evidence, but you set it out more clearly.

I'm beginning to understand why the original prosecutor did not want to prosecute under these laws.

he was in hiding for 44 days and couldn't go to a Seven Eleven store.

Haven't been to jail lately, huh.

zimmerman is a Hispanic guy claims white and whose magistrate daddy's connections almost got him a walk on shooting to death a 17 year old Black kid who was (by GZ's story) whopping his a$$ after (GZ) stalked him. (Strike 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

And oh yeah ... did I mention that this whole thing started with him (GZ) living out a wanna-be cop fantasy.

No ... I suspect that jail would be most UNSAFE for zimmerman, as he will be a target of the Black, white and Hispanic jail population and every other prison trying to gain a rep.

I highly, highly doubt they would let him be in the general population, he is too well known at this point.

would have it, even solitary is not a very safe place ... unless you are waaaayyyyyy famous and can pay for protection.

He'll be PC'd with more security than the Pope.

They might even place him under the same SOP/guidelines as someone on suicide watch.

No prison board, warden, jailer, guard want's some major fuck-up, like Zimmerman being killed, happening on their watch.

However... if found guilty and sentenced, all bets a re off.

he'll be relatively safe if placed on suicide watch (or similar protocol); but I suspect, if his B.S. is a stinky as his brother's and father's, he'll merely be segregated ... Sheriff's generally don't like to be told what to do by prisoners or their family.

But I suspect ... GZ's first discussion with GZ included, "Look ... I realize your a tough guy; but I'm gonna tell them you are suicidal. I need remorse AND I need for you to survive to trial."

the news but there again I am sure many would like to see him escape...after all he did was kill a black...

That was probably the smart move for somebody in his situation.

No sense in it.
If I were him, for my own protection, would not want it anyway.

and authorities knew where he was.