Jeralyn from Talk Left, The Politics Of Crime has done one of the most extensive examinations of the Treyvon Martin shooting by George Zimmerman and her conclusion: Zimmerman is innocent.
From Talk Left: There may be many variations in George Zimmerman's multiple accounts,
but which, if any, amount to a significant dissimilarity that rises to a
difference over a variation, and warrants someone concluding the
essential elements of his version are not true?
My opinion: This is self-defense. Zimmerman was not the aggressor, he
did nothing to provoke Trayvon Martin’s beating him, breaking his nose
and slamming his head into concrete. He had every right to respond with
deadly force to stop Trayvon’s physical attack on him and to prevent
Trayvon from getting control of his weapon.
Here’s my interpretation of George’s version of events, which
undoubtedly will be disputed bhy the state. Again, these are not
undisputed truths, but my interpretation of George’s version....
George’s suspicion was aroused because he saw someone milling around
between houses in the rain. He knew this person didn’t live at the
house he was standing by because it had been burglarized before and he
knew who lived there. The guy wasn’t exercising. He did nothing to get
out of the rain. He thought to himself, who stands out in the rain and
stares at houses? He did what the Sanford Police had instructed members
of the community to do when they see something suspicious. He called
the non-emergency number for the police to report his suspicion.
George yelled for help again. He wanted W-6 to help him get away from
Trayvon, rather than call 911, because he knew police were already on
their way. But W-6 went inside to call 911. No one came to help George
as he kept struggling to get out from under Trayvon. W-6 says they were
moving as they were struggling, first in the grass, then onto the
sidewalk. As George tried to move so his head would be onto the grass
and he could get Trayvon’s hands off his mouth and nose, his jacket
lifted and his gun was exposed. Trayvon reached for his gun and told him
he was going to die.
At that point, in my opinion, anyone in that situation would
reasonably fear serious bodily or death. He was unable to extricate
himself. He was justified in using deadly force under traditional self
defense principles even without Stand Your Ground. But Stand Your Ground
also applies. He was in a place he lawfully had a right to be – a
public area in his community. He was attacked. He did nothing to provoke
a physical assault. He reasonably feared imminent serious bodily injury
or death. He had no duty to retreat, but even if he did, since he was
unable to extricate himself by any lesser means, he was justified in
using lethal force.
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2012/6/22/143156/459
Again, this is examination of the details was done by a liberal.
I think this case will show that this case is a travesty of justice for George Zimmerman. Many people, especially the race baiters and President Obama (also a race baiter) didn't look at the facts but judged this case on emotion.
Many people, both from the right and left and those who are in law enforcement or are lawyers and who have studied the case, pretty much come to the same conclusion, that Zimmerman is innocent and was justified in shooting. Seems like Martin was the aggressor and sadly for his family, he messed with the wrong person at the wrong time.
The biggest problem with the case is that it wasn't even a case until public outcry forced the issue. It would seem in Florida, that if you kill somebody, you can hastily concoct a scenario where you were "standing your ground," and game over, man, you're in the clear. It's a crazy, crazy law. And there are easily plausible situations where Trayvon Martin could very well have been standing his own ground. Then, when he really started kicking Zimmerman's ass, Zimmerman shot him.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what really happened. And we may never really find out, since the investigation was started a month later! But Zimmerman's behavior since sure doesn't look good. And I still can't figure out how this became a left/right issue.