Florida's Stand your Ground law

My preliminary take is that the injuries were added to the report to bolster Zimmerman's story (because the police took what he said at face value and sympathized with him), and that the injuries never actually existed.

Still watching as this unfolds though.

I am wondering if there is any chance that a jury would convict Zimmerman no matter what the facts are. I think that for the same reason that the police gave him a pass that at least one of twelve citizens would as well.

Actually, people are usually likely to act morally when they've just been instructed to do so.

Numerous studies support this. People behave more morally after having washed their hands, after having been asked to recall the 10 commandments, etc.

Plus, I'm not sure that folks would be willing to blatantly display their racism by repeatedly voting for acquittal, and having to face the other jurors. (Assuming an 11-to-1 split, as you suggested; I hope that Zimmerman gets a scrupulously fair trial so that they can make the conviction stick.)

Finally, a hung jury does not result in an acquittal, it results in a mistrial, and the defendant can be tried again.



As an aside... no matter what the police may feel on the matter, I'm encouraged that safeguards are in place so that the incident is getting reviewed.

That is not the job of the police. They press charges if they think a crime has been committed. They are not judge and jury. If they are wrong, it's up to the court system to pass judgement or find innocence.

I don't know Ceili, after watching countless Law&Order episodes I believe the DA has to press charges. The police have to make the arrest.

I'm glad some here feel positively about possible justice system outcomes. I'm trying to think positively, but somehow am finding it hard to have reasons to have faith in that system...

In every police department, or at least the big ones, they have a person who reviews each file, ok not the everyday ticketing stuff, and determines if an arrest is warranted or if they need more evidence before proceeding. That was my uncles job in Leeds, UK. Everytime he travels he meets with this person, usually a detective of high ranking (as in his case) or they are lawyers who work for the police. When he came here, he and I went for coffee with the man who did this here. It was a very interesting lunch..
Again, we do have a different system, but I'd be surprised if the police in each jurisdiction did not have a designated officer/lawyer who determines this as well.

Entirely understandable given the circumstances of this case.

I did not see blood on her, that I remember, tho she looked a little rumpled.
Its entirely possible that there were a few small spots of blood on her.

So according to u, the police have to arrest u when thay believe that u did nothing rong ??

I wonder what the reason for that is ?

If the law required the arrest of innocent citizens
who had killed criminal predators, then if u see
someone being robbed or murdered,
u shud just let it happen, maybe call 911, if u remember,
but don't harm the criminal predator because of all the trouble to which u will be subjected.

My faith comes from the fact that it's so well publicized now. "The world is watching." My prediction to my gun-loving brother is that if Zimmerman is not charged with a crime they will see big changes to or the repeal of the Stand Your Ground law. I actually hope for both.

Just read about this case:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/shawn-tyson-gets-life-sentence_n_1387550.html

Since this kid said he saw "crackers" in his neighborhood does that mean he's a racist and should have been charged with a hate crime?

Sure is a good argument for why there should be ultrastrict gun control. Go stuff yourself, David.

The difference is... he was arrested straight away, charged and found guilty by his peers.

Exactly what the Constitution stands for, Ceili. Not the vigilante "justice" David fantasizes the Founding Fathers were for.

It is also the job of the police to state the facts as presented to them. Not badger witnesses into changing the facts as the police in this town seems to have done. Can they be judged by the courts for lying about the evidence. No chance!

He also wasn't claiming self-defense. He was trying to rob people, not doing a neighborhood watch patrol. If he had claimed self-defense then he would have been released as well. Its what the law says.

Several people reported him using the term "cracker" which is a racist term for white people. Where is the consistency?

Where are the hate crime supporters in a case like this? Why wasn't race an issue here? Black people can't be racist?

No blood on Jackies dress? Only brain matter and skull fragments. What world do you live in David. La La land?

re:Baldimo, he got life in prison with no parole, what more do you want? Keeping his coffin in the exercise yard for a century?