Justice on the way

[KRSESQ]

I don't know what affidavit Dershowitz was reading. This one left me with more questions than answers. Now more than ever I want to see the autopsy report.

The final paragraph is a nice little piece of boilerplate that tells me they have more evidence than they're letting on. Otherwise one would think the investigation would have taken longer.

The evidence had better be good if they're to avoid the appearance of rushing their investigation.

[Dr Mordrid]

I don't know what affidavit Dershowitz was reading. This one left me with more questions than answers.....

I think that was the point - with that many unanswered questions why file now other than the race politics, especially with her being up for re-election this fall?

The post-mortem may well tell by wound ballistics and the presence / absence of defensive wounds on one of them, but if defensive wounds are found on both (why wouldn't a victim fight back - but who first?) then we're back to square one, a tossup that doesn't meet the 'beyond a shadow....' standard.

[cjolley]

Well, the prosecutors stated as a fact that Zimmerman confronted Martin.
Assuming they have some kind of evidence for that there is no stand your ground defense.

My guess is that their argument will be:
1, Zimmerman profiled the victim
2, Zimmerman stalked the victim
3, Zimmerman confronted the victim
4, Zimmerman shot the victim without premeditation.
QED Second Degree Murder.

Is that how a jury will see it?
I have no idea. Depends on the evidence.


PS I will predict, though, that if Zimmerman is given a stand your ground pass that it will lead to the end of stand your ground laws.
So it puzzles me that Doc would be so committed to what obviously is an edge case.

[Dr Mordrid]

Well, the prosecutors stated as a fact that Zimmerman confronted Martin. Assuming they have some kind of evidence for that there is no stand your ground defense.

SYG is not a defense that needs proof - evidence is needed that it doesn't apply. Even then the standard self-defense claim is still available as they are two different things,

>
I have no idea. Depends on the evidence.

PS I will predict, though, that if Zimmerman is given a stand your ground pass that it will lead to the end of stand your ground laws. So it puzzles me that Doc would be so committed to what obviously is an edge case.

It isn't so much a commitment to an edge case (which remains to be seen) as revulsion at seeing so much misinformation, and in the case of CNN (audio), ABC (video), and NBC (911 transcripts) downright fraudulent, information being spewed by some media outlets, and the 'usual suspect' talking heads, race-baiters & opportunists like Sharpton, Farrakhan, Jackson etc.

Hell, I spent 15 minutes digitally dissecting the ABC video after it was posted with comments of "NO WOUNDS!!" and found his head wounds and probable blood stains on his jacket, so what does that tell you about a rush to judgement?

As to SYG ending, don't bet on it. Perhaps a tightening up of loose ends, but that's it. There have been too many cases where it was a plus.

[cjolley]

SYG is not a defense that needs proof...

If it is shown that Zimmerman confronted Martin then neither stand your ground or self defense apply.
Remember, Martin was there legally.
Citizen's Arrest is fine, but if you are wrong as Zimmerman clearly was. The law will not protect you.
You seem to be under the impression that with great power comes no responsibility.
It doesn't work like that.

[Dr Mordrid]

$150k bond, and that means 10% cash bond so $15k + the bondsman's fee. Pretty low, and he can go out of state with monitoring. The prosecution had asked for $1 million or remand (no bail), and what they got is typically a signal that the case is weak.

A legal analyst said it was the thinnest charging document for 2nd degree murder he'd ever seen, both physically and in content. During the hearing Zimmerman took the stand, much to the surprise of the prosecutor who was totally unprepared. Zimmerman did rather well, and told the Martin family he was sorry for their loss and thought Trayvon was older.

Also, the State investigator said he had no idea as to who started the fight. NONE! Of course the whole damned issue is who started it, and in the absence of that reasonable doubt sets in - along with the direct evidence of Zimmerman's head wounds which are more pertinent than the nose wound - head wounds are more prone to do serious damage that needs defending against.

Not looking good for the prosecution, and now this - see attached images, one enhanced to show the wound(s) in shadow. 2 or more wounds (more could be covered by the blood) is consistent with getting having his head repeatedly slammed to the sidewalk, just as he claimed and the witness saw.

[KRSESQ]

Zimmerman started it when he disobeyed police, continued to pursue, got out of his car and started waving his gun around. Why is this so hard?

[cjolley]

Zimmerman started it when he disobeyed police, continued to pursue, got out of his car and started waving his gun around. Why is this so hard?

Because it's impossible for a person legally carrying a gun to be in the wrong.
You didn't know that?


Doc, since when is it doing "rather well" on the stand to admit that you killed someone because you were mistaken about their age and thought they "might" be armed?

[MultimediaMan]

The case against Zimmerman is liable to be dismissed based on the facts revealed today. He was defending himself, and was on the ground and being pummelled. Second degree murder is a theoretical charge based on a LOT of what if's and maybes. He'll walk for sure, and SYG will not even figure into it.

[cjolley]

911 dispatcher:
How old would you say he is?
Zimmerman:
He’s got something on his shirt. About like his late teens.
911 dispatcher:
Late teens?
Zimmerman:
Uh, huh.

Zimmerman: I wanted to say I am very sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am, and I did not know if he was armed or not.

Zimmerman is 28.
He's toast. Prosecutors love this stuff.

Personally, I think he's so wrong that his attorneys are torpedoing him.
Why did they let him testify when there was nothing to gain from it?
Remember the weird statement from his first ones?
I wonder what he tells them in private.

[MultimediaMan]

Originally Posted by to the 911 dispatcher

911 dispatcher:
How old would you say he is?
Zimmerman:
He’s got something on his shirt. About like his late teens.
911 dispatcher:
Late teens?
Zimmerman:
Uh, huh.

Defense: "Objection: Defendant estimated the age of the deceased. He did not know the age of the deceased.

This is a straightforward self-defense case;

Fact: The Prosecution failed to mention exculpatory evidence in the affadavit (Zimmerman's Bloodied head). Later pictures of him without any apparent serious injury were made with his head shaved clean during/ after treatment. Telfa powder anyone?

Fact: Martin was shot at contact or near contact distance: powder burns were found on his sweater and body.

Fact: Zimmerman was identified as being on the bottom of a scuffle by two different eyewitnesses.

Fact: the police report notes his injuries and appearance are consistent with someone who has been pinned and pummelled.

Fact: Zimmerman's account, by all information made public, is consistent with the above-referenced event.

Fact: reasonable doubt already exists and must be completely refuted point-by-point. This is going to be an uphill climb for even the sharpest prosecutor, assuming it goes even to trial. There is enough here for dismissal upon review. The prosecutor already screwed up, badly.

It will be interesting to see how Martin's toxicology report comes back; the records are sealed by a court order.

[cjolley]

He changed his story to make himself look less guilty. Under oath.
I guess we'll see how that plays out in court, but I think you are wishful thinking.

[Dr Mordrid]

M3 is correct - age guesstimation aside the physical evidence is consistent with Zimmerman's statement and the eyewitness reports. Also; with Zimmerman on the ground and wounded Trayvon could have bolted at any time but he didn't, showing aggression.

[cjolley]

I guess there is only one way to find out.

It will be nice to follow actual evidence and testimony for a change when the trial starts.
Assuming he doesn't cop a plea, which would make us all feel like we'd kissed our sisters.

[Brian Ellis]

Since when were "enhanced" photos permissible as evidence? Funny that those wounds did not show on the video and the "one" that did show was higher up the crown. How does he explain that the blood (Max Factor?) trail is not vertical unless he holds his head at a funny angle, and they are different angles. If he had such wounds, the natural reaction after getting up would be to put a tissue, handkerchief or other cloth to them to staunch the blood, not to let them run all over the place. Also, it was raining; the water would have quickly caused the blood to run down under his loose collar without any sign of staining of the collar which does not even look wet. Quite frankly, I think this is a tissue of lies.