Zimmerman found NOT GUILTY

[bigedshult]

I have not been waching it very much.
but I think if the black had shot a whight man he would have never gon ot trial!!!!

[hawkeye3210]

Not surprised at all. I hope this becomes federal because Florida constantly fails children and families.  Another thing I've found interesting is the comparison of the case of Marissa Alexander and the use of the Stand Your Ground law. Makes you wonder who it's really for.

There's absolutely no comparison to Alexander case as the stand your ground provision never applied in the Zimmerman case. The Zimmerman case was purely self defense. The media's emphasis on that provision was misleading.

[mgint]

according to Fla. law correct verdict.

[jonhall37]

i watched the trial on and off. i was ok with the verdict as long as the jury had the proof they needed that it was self defense. 

[coreyw87]

I thought after Casey Anthony nothing the justice system did would ever shock me but this did.  Sanford is just a couple of towns over from where I live.  Either way I wouldn't want to be him.

[yaayme]

I'm not surprised. I knew he wouldn't be convicted because the police refused to arrest him in the first place...They have a lot of nut jobs in Florida (no disrespect to some of the people who unfortunately live there). It's they same state that didn't convict Casey Anthony for killing her baby. Not to mention they can't even count ballots!

It's not really surprising...from the beginning it seemed kinda clear he wouldn't (and shouldn't) be convicted. Yes, this is the same state that allowed CA to go free, but they're not comparable. Same with OJ case - yes, similar results, but different issues at play.

I'm NOT saying that the cases are comparable! I am talking about the MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE in the state of Florida. The judge that presided over the Zimmerman trial is the same judge (Angela Corey) who sentenced a woman (Marrisa Alexander) to 20 years in prison for firing warning shots at her abusive husband. Do you see the irony!? This woman was actually defending herself, didn't kill anyone but got 20 years in prison! Zimmerman chased down an innocent CHILD, was told to stay in his car, but pursued him anyway and then killed him...And as far as the OJ trial...you can thank that racist cop Mark Fuhrman for planting false evidence, therefore planting reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. That being said, I do believe that OJ did it and deserves to be in prison, but if people want to play tit for tat, then a certain group of people have a hell of a lot to pay for for centuries of injustice. Think about that.

[hawkeye3210]

I'm not surprised. I knew he wouldn't be convicted because the police refused to arrest him in the first place...They have a lot of nut jobs in Florida (no disrespect to some of the people who unfortunately live there). It's they same state that didn't convict Casey Anthony for killing her baby. Not to mention they can't even count ballots!

It's not really surprising...from the beginning it seemed kinda clear he wouldn't (and shouldn't) be convicted. Yes, this is the same state that allowed CA to go free, but they're not comparable. Same with OJ case - yes, similar results, but different issues at play.

I'm NOT saying that the cases are comparable! I am talking about the MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE in the state of Florida. The judge that presided over the Zimmerman trial is the same judge (Angela Corey) who sentenced a woman (Marrisa Alexander) to 20 years in prison for firing warning shots at her abusive husband. Do you see the irony!? This woman was actually defending herself, didn't kill anyone but got 20 years in prison! Zimmerman chased down an innocent CHILD, was told to stay in his car, but pursued him anyway and then killed him...And as far as the OJ trial...you can thank that racist cop Mark Fuhrman for planting false evidence, therefore planting reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. That being said, I do believe that OJ did it and deserves to be in prison, but if people want to play tit for tat, then a certain group of people have a hell of a lot to pay for for centuries of injustice. Think about that.

Angela Corey was the prosecutor in both cases, not the judge. There's really no irony because the two cases have so many differences.

[jmccaskill]

I'm not surprised. I knew he wouldn't be convicted because the police refused to arrest him in the first place...They have a lot of nut jobs in Florida (no disrespect to some of the people who unfortunately live there). It's they same state that didn't convict Casey Anthony for killing her baby. Not to mention they can't even count ballots!

It's not really surprising...from the beginning it seemed kinda clear he wouldn't (and shouldn't) be convicted. Yes, this is the same state that allowed CA to go free, but they're not comparable. Same with OJ case - yes, similar results, but different issues at play.

I'm NOT saying that the cases are comparable! I am talking about the MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE in the state of Florida. The judge that presided over the Zimmerman trial is the same judge (Angela Corey) who sentenced a woman (Marrisa Alexander) to 20 years in prison for firing warning shots at her abusive husband. Do you see the irony!? This woman was actually defending herself, didn't kill anyone but got 20 years in prison! Zimmerman chased down an innocent CHILD, was told to stay in his car, but pursued him anyway and then killed him...And as far as the OJ trial...you can thank that racist cop Mark Fuhrman for planting false evidence, therefore planting reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. That being said, I do believe that OJ did it and deserves to be in prison, but if people want to play tit for tat, then a certain group of people have a hell of a lot to pay for for centuries of injustice. Think about that.

1) Zimmerman was not instructed to stay in his vehicle. Specifically the dispatcher said: "We don't need you to do that"... which is not a command in any way at all. Zimmerman was 'doing his job' as a neighborhood watch person and was keeping tabs on Martin's whereabouts.

2) Zimmerman did NOT 'chase down' Martin in any way or fashion. The FACT is that Zimmerman followed the movements of Martin at a distance, and was constantly talking with the aforementioned dispatcher on the phone.

3) The last comment of Zimmerman to the dispatcher was that he had 'lost' Martin, and was RETURNING to his vehicle. Very shortly after this Martin CONFRONTED Zimmerman. Zimmerman's story is that this was immediately followed with Martin throwing a punch. Evidence presented is the dislocation of Zimmerman's nose. Regardless of this 'punch' it is known and undisputed that a fight ensued.

4) In said fight, Martin became situated atop Zimmerman and proceeded to pummel Zimmerman, this included forcing Zimmerman's head to contact a concrete sidewalk. This is not only the account of Zimmerman; it is the testimony of an eye witness. It is plausible that in the course of these two struggling that their bodies shifted positions in all manner of ways.

5) Zimmerman was being beaten to the point he was screaming or help, and though the fight was in progress and being seen as it happened, no assistance was forthcoming form anyone. Zimmerman's situation was perilous, this is without dispute. Zimmerman considered the situation he was in and in his mind felt he was in danger of being killed OR suffering severe bodily harm. Zimmerman, in interviews, claims that Martin noticed his sidearm and attempted to wrest it from its holster. At this juncture Zimmerman managed to control the weapon, drew it, and fired a single shot that resulted in stopping the assault and the subsequent death of Martin. Regardless of the validity of the claim that Martin attempted to grab the pistol, the assault and beating Zimmerman was receiving at the hands of Martin was sufficient cause for Zimmerman to exercise ANY and all remedies to defend himself.

6) Zimmerman shot Martin in self defense.

End of story, and should be the end of the matter entirely.

[yaayme]

I'm not surprised. I knew he wouldn't be convicted because the police refused to arrest him in the first place...They have a lot of nut jobs in Florida (no disrespect to some of the people who unfortunately live there). It's they same state that didn't convict Casey Anthony for killing her baby. Not to mention they can't even count ballots!

It's not really surprising...from the beginning it seemed kinda clear he wouldn't (and shouldn't) be convicted. Yes, this is the same state that allowed CA to go free, but they're not comparable. Same with OJ case - yes, similar results, but different issues at play.

I'm NOT saying that the cases are comparable! I am talking about the MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE in the state of Florida. The judge that presided over the Zimmerman trial is the same judge (Angela Corey) who sentenced a woman (Marrisa Alexander) to 20 years in prison for firing warning shots at her abusive husband. Do you see the irony!? This woman was actually defending herself, didn't kill anyone but got 20 years in prison! Zimmerman chased down an innocent CHILD, was told to stay in his car, but pursued him anyway and then killed him...And as far as the OJ trial...you can thank that racist cop Mark Fuhrman for planting false evidence, therefore planting reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. That being said, I do believe that OJ did it and deserves to be in prison, but if people want to play tit for tat, then a certain group of people have a hell of a lot to pay for for centuries of injustice. Think about that.

Angela Corey was the prosecutor in both cases, not the judge. There's really no irony because the two cases have so many differences.

Excuse me prosecutor...You don't see the hypocrisy? I woman (Marissa Alexander) fired warning shots in self defense at her abusive husband and gets 20 years, but Zimmerman AGGRAVATES an indecent with a child, kills him and gets off. Both claimed self defense but a mother who was in actual danger and DIDN'T KILL ANYONE gets 20 years, but Zimmerman wasn't even charged with manslaughter...Okay.

[weased]

It is a tragedy, nonetheless.  Zimmerman's smile says it all:  he killed a young, unarmed Black man and got off.  Of course, the NAACP is being swamped with telephone calls because, in my opinion, justice has not been served.  I still say he is guilty as sin:  There was not one Black juror at his trial and even the judge was White.  I think it is a tragedy that ruined Zimmerman's life and the family of Trayvon Martin is crying out for justice.  I hear that Florida is a racist state.  My granddaughters live there now.  That goes to show you that the police in Florida didn't want to arrest Zimmerman because, in their opinion, his actions took a young Black man off the streets.  I know that justice will be served one day when Zimmerman has to go in front of the man upstairs.

m Sorry, you clearly didn`t watch any of the trial, I  watched most of it and it`s clear that the gun would never have been used if Trayvon had not reached for it. As far as your last sentence, there is no "man Upstairs" God is not a man, and your "he`ll get his in the end " attitude will have to change if you want to spend eternity in Heaven

[yaayme]

I'm not surprised. I knew he wouldn't be convicted because the police refused to arrest him in the first place...They have a lot of nut jobs in Florida (no disrespect to some of the people who unfortunately live there). It's they same state that didn't convict Casey Anthony for killing her baby. Not to mention they can't even count ballots!

It's not really surprising...from the beginning it seemed kinda clear he wouldn't (and shouldn't) be convicted. Yes, this is the same state that allowed CA to go free, but they're not comparable. Same with OJ case - yes, similar results, but different issues at play.

I'm NOT saying that the cases are comparable! I am talking about the MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE in the state of Florida. The judge that presided over the Zimmerman trial is the same judge (Angela Corey) who sentenced a woman (Marrisa Alexander) to 20 years in prison for firing warning shots at her abusive husband. Do you see the irony!? This woman was actually defending herself, didn't kill anyone but got 20 years in prison! Zimmerman chased down an innocent CHILD, was told to stay in his car, but pursued him anyway and then killed him...And as far as the OJ trial...you can thank that racist cop Mark Fuhrman for planting false evidence, therefore planting reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. That being said, I do believe that OJ did it and deserves to be in prison, but if people want to play tit for tat, then a certain group of people have a hell of a lot to pay for for centuries of injustice. Think about that.

1) Zimmerman was not instructed to stay in his vehicle. Specifically the dispatcher said: "We don't need you to do that"... which is not a command in any way at all. Zimmerman was 'doing his job' as a neighborhood watch person and was keeping tabs on Martin's whereabouts.

2) Zimmerman did NOT 'chase down' Martin in any way or fashion. The FACT is that Zimmerman followed the movements of Martin at a distance, and was constantly talking with the aforementioned dispatcher on the phone.

3) The last comment of Zimmerman to the dispatcher was that he had 'lost' Martin, and was RETURNING to his vehicle. Very shortly after this Martin CONFRONTED Zimmerman. Zimmerman's story is that this was immediately followed with Martin throwing a punch. Evidence presented is the dislocation of Zimmerman's nose. Regardless of this 'punch' it is known and undisputed that a fight ensued.

4) In said fight, Martin became situated atop Zimmerman and proceeded to pummel Zimmerman, this included forcing Zimmerman's head to contact a concrete sidewalk. This is not only the account of Zimmerman; it is the testimony of an eye witness. It is plausible that in the course of these two struggling that their bodies shifted positions in all manner of ways.

5) Zimmerman was being beaten to the point he was screaming or help, and though the fight was in progress and being seen as it happened, no assistance was forthcoming form anyone. Zimmerman's situation was perilous, this is without dispute. Zimmerman considered the situation he was in and in his mind felt he was in danger of being killed OR suffering severe bodily harm. Zimmerman, in interviews, claims that Martin noticed his sidearm and attempted to wrest it from its holster. At this juncture Zimmerman managed to control the weapon, drew it, and fired a single shot that resulted in stopping the assault and the subsequent death of Martin. Regardless of the validity of the claim that Martin attempted to grab the pistol, the assault and beating Zimmerman was receiving at the hands of Martin was sufficient cause for Zimmerman to exercise ANY and all remedies to defend himself.

6) Zimmerman shot Martin in self defense.

End of story, and should be the end of the matter entirely.

Okay, sense you're putting yourself in the shoes of Zimmerman, try putting yourself in the shoe's of a 17 year old kid, not even a 17 year old black male. But just a 17 year old kid, if you can. I know it's hard, but just imagine...You're a kid walking home from the store and all of a sudden you are pursued in a car by a total stranger. This stranger who NEVER identified himself as Neighborhood Watch inquires you about who you are and where you're going IN YOUR OWN DAMN NEIGHBORHOOD! Just imagine that...Then the stranger gets out of his car WHEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO...and YES, "We don't need you to do that" was instructing him not to get out the car. For example...If someone asked you "Can I cut your lawn" and you say "I don't need you to do that" .Aren't you telling them in a NUANCE way, NOT TO CUT YOUR LAWN? If someone asked you "Can I water your plant" and you tell them "I don't need you to do that" and the person does it anyway and ends up knocking it over and breaking that pot. Didn't you tell them in a NUANCE way NOT to? Can you comprehend that?...Back to what I was saying...This unidentified HOSTILE stranger then GETS OUT OF HIS CAR! Wouldn't that incite fear in you that this person intends to do you harm? The creepy person was already following you in a car, now the person STEPS OUT, initiating a confrontation. Because stepping out of a car IS initiating a confrontation. You say Zimmerman was "defending himself" allegedly, okay. TRAYVON WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF TOO!! HELLLOOOOOO!!!....The point is, if Zimmerman would have stayed in his car LIKE HE WAS INSTRUCTED and just keep tailing Trayvon then he would have seen the kid walk to his house which wasn't that far away. But because of RACIAL profiling an innocent child is dead...Under those circumstances HE SHOULD AT LEAST GOT MANSLAUGHTER. I'm done with this whole conversation...believe what you want.

[lvstephanie]

I wonder how many of you were influnced by the news media and their biased reporting. Aimmerman was tried and convected by them. Thank heavens the jury heard all the evidence in the court room and used their judgement on this case, The defense were never given all of the information about the young man whom was shot. As far as the naacp they re now stirring the pot for trouble. All of this would not have been reported if it had been a white child shot by a man of color. The news media like stirring up trouble al of the time.

Sort of like how little got reported of a white teenager, Marley Lion age 17, who was unarmed, but shot and killed by a 30 year old black man. You don't hear much about that (except for the comparisons with the Zimmerman-Martin case).

It really is sad how the media can influence so many people that were not involved intimately with the case and don't know all of the facts. This gets aggravated by the social and on-line media where other information and disinformation can spread rapidly. And when the sheeple get involved, then the rule of law breaks down and we get a mob rule instead. With all of the riots and protests resulting from the verdict, the US government has decided to enter into this witch hunt (the phrase being used to mean the actions of a mob rule dictating the course of events) even though 1) Zimmerman cannot be tried on the murder charges again lest his civil rights against double jeopardy are violated and 2) for any case based on the racial aspect is difficult to prosecute without being able to read a person's mind, esp. if you consider that a neighborhood watch is supposed to keep tabs on anything / anyone that is out of the ordinary. The only thing I could see the US government really having any effect on in this case would be to investigate how the investigation was handled by the police and to root out any racism in the police department. And although that may appease some people, since Zimmerman would not specifically be targeted in that type of investigation, I think that many people would still be upset that Zimmerman got off "scot free".

[sigmapi1501]

Okay, sense you're putting yourself in the shoes of Zimmerman, try putting yourself in the shoe's of a 17 year old kid, not even a 17 year old black male. But just a 17 year old kid, if you can. I know it's hard, but just imagine...You're a kid walking home from the store and all of a sudden you are pursued in a car by a total stranger. This stranger who NEVER identified himself as Neighborhood Watch inquires you about who you are and where you're going IN YOUR OWN DAMN NEIGHBORHOOD! Just imagine that...Then the stranger gets out of his car WHEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO...and YES, "We don't need you to do that" was instructing him not to get out the car. For example...If someone asked you "Can I cut your lawn" and you say "I don't need you to do that" .Aren't you telling them in a NUANCE way, NOT TO CUT YOUR LAWN? If someone asked you "Can I water your plant" and you tell them "I don't need you to do that" and the person does it anyway and ends up knocking it over and breaking that pot. Didn't you tell them in a NUANCE way NOT to? Can you comprehend that?...Back to what I was saying...This unidentified HOSTILE stranger then GETS OUT OF HIS CAR! Wouldn't that incite fear in you that this person intends to do you harm? The creepy person was already following you in a car, now the person STEPS OUT, initiating a confrontation. Because stepping out of a car IS initiating a confrontation. You say Zimmerman was "defending himself" allegedly, okay. TRAYVON WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF TOO!! HELLLOOOOOO!!!....The point is, if Zimmerman would have stayed in his car LIKE HE WAS INSTRUCTED and just keep tailing Trayvon then he would have seen the kid walk to his house which wasn't that far away. But because of RACIAL profiling an innocent child is dead...Under those circumstances HE SHOULD AT LEAST GOT MANSLAUGHTER. I'm done with this whole conversation...believe what you want.

I am empathetic to your outrage, as the media has told you to be outraged and you complied. However, the evidence does not back up this version of the events.

[sigmapi1501]

e]

Sort of like how little got reported of a white teenager, Marley Lion age 17, who was unarmed, but shot and killed by a 30 year old black man. You don't hear much about that (except for the comparisons with the Zimmerman-Martin case).

Not apples to apples.  The men who shot him were arrested as soon as they were found and charged. The initial outrage in the Trayvon case was that Zimmerman wasn't arrested.

[hawkeye3210]

I'm not surprised. I knew he wouldn't be convicted because the police refused to arrest him in the first place...They have a lot of nut jobs in Florida (no disrespect to some of the people who unfortunately live there). It's they same state that didn't convict Casey Anthony for killing her baby. Not to mention they can't even count ballots!

It's not really surprising...from the beginning it seemed kinda clear he wouldn't (and shouldn't) be convicted. Yes, this is the same state that allowed CA to go free, but they're not comparable. Same with OJ case - yes, similar results, but different issues at play.

I'm NOT saying that the cases are comparable! I am talking about the MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE in the state of Florida. The judge that presided over the Zimmerman trial is the same judge (Angela Corey) who sentenced a woman (Marrisa Alexander) to 20 years in prison for firing warning shots at her abusive husband. Do you see the irony!? This woman was actually defending herself, didn't kill anyone but got 20 years in prison! Zimmerman chased down an innocent CHILD, was told to stay in his car, but pursued him anyway and then killed him...And as far as the OJ trial...you can thank that racist cop Mark Fuhrman for planting false evidence, therefore planting reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. That being said, I do believe that OJ did it and deserves to be in prison, but if people want to play tit for tat, then a certain group of people have a hell of a lot to pay for for centuries of injustice. Think about that.

Angela Corey was the prosecutor in both cases, not the judge. There's really no irony because the two cases have so many differences.

Excuse me prosecutor...You don't see the hypocrisy? I woman (Marissa Alexander) fired warning shots in self defense at her abusive husband and gets 20 years, but Zimmerman AGGRAVATES an indecent with a child, kills him and gets off. Both claimed self defense but a mother who was in actual danger and DIDN'T KILL ANYONE gets 20 years, but Zimmerman wasn't even charged with manslaughter...Okay.

Marissa Alexander got in a argument with her husband, went outside to her car to grab a gun, came back in pointed it at her husband and then shot off two warning shots while her kids were also in the house. This wasn't self defense, nor was this standing her ground.

Since these are only two data points, how about we look at the bigger picture. In Florida, in cases where the defendant was black and claimed a “Stand Your Ground” defense, 55 percent were considered “justified”. In contrast, when the defendant was white, about 53 percent were considered “justified”.
http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/16/blacks-benefit-from-florida-stand-your-ground-law-at-disproportionate-rate/?print=1

The idea that this is a miscarriage of justice or that it is sign of greater racial bias is fictional.