The George Zimmerman Trial- Page 3

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:26pm

I'm expecting a not guilty verdict, sadly.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:29pm

Interesting that O'Mara did a "let's see how long (insert time) is" trick in his closing after Martinez did the same with two minutes in the Jodi Arias aggravated phase closing.

Speaking of the word "trick", what has everyone thought of the judge? I like her.

And if I never see Frank Taffe again, it'll be too soon. Cannot stand him and how he is putting himself everywhere. He's worse than Kato. Updated On: 7/12/13 at 12:29 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:33pm

I expect a manslaughter verdict but, after the Casey Anthony verdict, you never know with Florida.

Wynbish - I thoroughly love Judge Nelson and how she runs her courtroom but she also shows her bias, albeit rather minimal, and has given defense counsel more than enough ammunition on appeal should Zimmerman be convicted.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:33pm

Liza's I would agree that he didn't answer that question, certainly not to my satisfaction. I was referring to style more than substance, although I think he did well with substance under the circumstances.

O'Mara is basically arguing that Zimmerman's following Martin was not unlawful, that Martin placed Zimmerman in reasonable belief of grave bodily harm (I disagree with this, but I think O'Mara argued the point well, and, I fear, effectively, in comparison to the prosecution's argument), that it is reasonable that Zimmerman is telling the truth and that his head was gut against the concrete (again, I have fairly conclusive doubts about this, but O'Mara handled it as well as he could have it seemed to me, made the case as effectively as he could that Zimmerman's version of the facts is worthy of belief).

There are so many issues here which go beyond the legal framework of this case under Florida law. Among them is that one reason Trayvon Martin did not have to die - even giving the defense the best possible view of the evidence (for the sake of the argument) - is because if Florida didn't allow someone like George Zimmerman to carry a concealed weapon, this would have been a fight which did not end in homicide. Unfortunately, this homicide happened in Florida, Zimmerman was allowed to carry that gun, and Trayvon Martin tragically died.

Accordingly, O'Mara didn't have to deal with that countervailing moral and justice issue, other than to do what he did - reaffirm to the jury that Zimmerman had the right to carry that weapon and in addition to follow Trayvon Martin with that gun on him. All of which truly sucks. But it happens to be the law governing this case.

All in all, Nelson seems to have run a good ship - but the defense was clearly right in taking her to ask for asking Zimmerman whether he was going to testify long before all the defense evidence was in and for not even allowing them to make a full record. Nelson had every right to put Zimmerman's decision not to testify on the record, and I would think to even allocute him on the record on that decision to make clear it was voluntarily made - but not at that particular moment, which was, rightly, the defense's exception to what she was doing.



Updated On: 7/12/13 at 12:33 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:36pm

Good and fair point, Henrik. I still believe we might get a Manslaughter verdict but I would also acknowledge there is considerable "reasonable doubt" in this case. Sadly.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:39pm

This is from HLN's information on the jury instructions

"In order for the jurors to return a guilty verdict of manslaughter, the prosecution must prove two things, beyond a reasonable doubt:
1.Trayvon Martin is dead.
2.George Zimmerman intentionally committed an act or acts that caused the death of Trayvon Martin.

The instructions say that "a killing that is excusable or was committed by the use of justifiable deadly force is lawful."

I could definitely see that, but I think "not guilty" is more likely.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:44pm

Right. That brings us back to the issue of justifying this murder. Zimmerman should have stayed in his car. Plain and simple.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:44pm

I just have to add that John Guy is one sexy ass prosecutor.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:45pm

LOL! Jordan, if anyone can find a shirtless picture of him it will be you. He is doing a very nice job with the rebuttal closing. Love him.

Where is your sexy avatar today, by the way?

Updated On: 7/12/13 at 12:45 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:46pm

I don't know!! They keep deleting them!!

[Wynbish]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:47pm

O'Mara looks like he could have been a villian on Aeon Flux

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:47pm

This is what happens. Not just when we input "black" and "teen" and "hoodie" and "night" into our onboard computers and output "DANGER," but also when we find the aftermath Newsworthy, and must consume it voraciously from start to finish, but insist that we cannot stomach seeing the bones and gristle on our plates.

Y'all want it all y'all get it all...it's reality and a reality check. People need to wake the fuq up...and if images like this is what does it then so be it.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:49pm

Wynbish, I always picture him as Judge Frollo from Hunchback.

Updated On: 7/12/13 at 12:49 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:50pm

"Y'all want it all y'all get it all...it's reality and a reality check. People need to wake the fuq up...and if images like this is what does it then so be it."

Great part of the commentary to highlight, Carlos. Absolutely agree with you.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:54pm

Thanks Liza's Headband. People want to read the truth but they can't stand SEEING the truth? You want to hear all the GORY details but God forbid you should have to sit there and actually SEE what it is...

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:54pm

I only caught the tail end, but the prosecutor giving the rebuttal argument seemed to be much more effective than his colleague who gave the intial summation.

Updated On: 7/12/13 at 12:54 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:00pm

Man, if Zimmerman gets off even in the slightest I predict a massive, massive uproar. People *will* be taking it to the streets and it's not going to be pretty.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:02pm

Not sure what he's doing here, but I like it.

Regarding the Zimmerman trial, Mr Martin is dead because, for whatever reason, Zimmerman thought the world would be a better place without Mr Martin in it. I think he's a murderer, who saw an easy target.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:02pm

People should certainly take the streets. Thankfully, the Martin family and their attorneys are making a concerted effort to do what they can to make sure that in the event of an acquittal, the outcry remains non-violent.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:04pm

He's about to twirl and turn into Wonder Woman...

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:11pm

Have we already forgotten about Oscar Grant? Different situation, I admit, but still deals with a black kid being killed for no reason, and the jury siding with the shooters and not the victims.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:22pm

There have been several cases in the last few years of black teens being killed by both white cops and average citizens, who are then acquitted. No riots occurred in those cases.

This case just feels differently, though, and this is on a much more national scale. I have more faith in humanity that no violence will erupt but Carlos is probably right. There will be many who take to the streets if justice is not done for Trayvon.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:30pm

Liza's, I have to ask this:

if this case had been, as it should have been, seriously prosecuted from the onset, so that there hadn't had to have been a national struggle for an arrest and prosecution to take place so that a jury could decide it, would the eventual trial have received a fraction of the attention it is receiving now? would the potential for an acquittal be at all likely to result in the possibility of violent protest?


Updated On: 7/12/13 at 01:30 PM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:35pm

I am predicting manslaughter.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 1:38pm

If this had been in a state with laws that protect the victims instead of the attackers, Zimmerman would've been charged and found guilty months ago.

If he had been smart, he would've admitted his guilt and saved all this time and energy.

But no, he's an idiot. I hope he rots.