Florida's Stand your Ground law

Sure there is. If you had bothered to read some things instead of dismissing them as biased you would be aware the the majority of murder convictions occur while using circumstantial evidence.

There is PLENTY of indication that the state has evidence. An arrest warrant signed by a judge based on evidence presented to that judge is a GOOD indication.

Yeah, I think that part is still up in the air, which is why I hedged it a bit, but even if Zimmerman "currently" weighs 170 lbs, that doesn't mean that's what he weighed at the time of the incident. He still looked plenty chubby in the video taken at the time of his arrest, and even chubbier in the police surveillance video. I imagine the stress of the 6 weeks that passed between the time of the incident and the arrest would be reason enough for additional weight loss. The police estimated Martin's weight but didn't take a stab at Zimmerman's so it's going to be hard to tell. Martin's family says he weighed 140. Well, they would know. But even if it was only a 20 difference -- that's a big difference in a fight. In boxing that's about a 4 weight class differential. I still think that's important with respect to the question of whether his life was in danger.

"Finally, there are those—particularly our friends at Fox News—who conflate the call for justice with a call to convict. This is a fundamental misapplication of civics. It’s worth repeating: what’s distressing about Martin’s death is that it took so long for his killer’s actions to be interrogated at all. "

I don't hear this said often enough. It's just has his mom said: "all we wanted was an arrest". Let the wheels of justice turn.

The bond hearing is being televised right now on MSNBC, for anyone interested...

If a person appears to be INNOCENT,
then it is improper to arrest him, possibly afflicting him with many
thousands of dollars in lawyers' fees, even if he WINS.

There shud be no price to pay for defending your life
the same way that there is no price to pay for voting or for speaking your opinion.





David

An unarmed kid is dead, and they take the killer's word for it that he's innocent. Only in Florida does that, on the face of it, look like there's no suspicion of a crime. (sarcasm alert. For the sarcasm-challenged, that was sarcasm)

Think nothing of it Dave. It's refreshing to point something out without being accused of trying to start a fight.

The judge just granted $150,000 bond.

I finally got so fed up with @OmSigDAVID that I put him on ignore permanently. He is a compulsive topic killer. I guess it's his way of having an orgasm.

BBB

But, he only has to come up with 10% of that? His lawyer just said he'll (George) have trouble coming up with $15K.

I'd hate to be in jail myself but it's an altogether-tragedy. The upside of it is this: at least he's more likely to be safe until the trial.

Trayvon Martin has no say in this.

Right. I do think he will have to pledge assets with a value greater than the balance to get a bondsman to sign him out. The $15,000 will not be returned to him.

The 150k sounds fairly light for the case. Maybe the judge doesn't think there's much chance of conviction, with the resulting lower chance of him breaking bond.

This reminds me of @OmSigDAVID the gun man, the topic killer.

Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.

Eric Hoffer

BBB

Thanks, roger. I only saw the end of the courtroom drama, but I always thought that you had to cough up the entire amount of bail.

Apr. 20, 2012
On stand, George Zimmerman apologizes to Trayvon Martin's parents
Audra D.S. Burch | The Miami Herald

last updated: April 20, 2012 11:14:57 AM

George Zimmerman, the volunteer watch captain accused of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in a case that has sparked national controversy, took the stand in court Friday during his bond hearing and told Trayvon’s parents he is sorry for their loss.

Zimmerman took the stand almost two hours into the hearing in Sanford, telling the court that his statement was for “the mother and the father.”

“I wanted to say I am 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.”

His attorney, Mark O’Mara, is arguing for bond for Zimmerman -- who has spent the past nine days as an inmate in Seminole County’s John E. Polk Correctional Facility -- during a 9 a.m. hearing before Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. O’Mara is likely to argue that Zimmerman’s behavior since the shooting nearly two months ago justifies a bond: Though in hiding, Zimmerman stayed in touch with law enforcement, and turned himself in once charges were filed. He also has family ties to the area.

He faces a possible life sentence. The serious nature of the charges means prosecutor Angela Corey, specially appointed to the case, may have to present evidence beyond the arrest affidavit to meet the standard known as "proof evident, presumption great" for bond to be denied. That evidence could include witness statements, photos, even a confession, all clues to the strength of the state’s case against Zimmerman.

In a television interview Thursday, O’Mara said several safe locations have been secured for Zimmerman if he is released. If a bond is set, the judge may also require GPS monitoring or home confinement.

On Friday, ABC News also published what it said was an exclusive photo taken three minutes after Zimmerman shot Trayvon, showing the back of Zimmerman’s head with blood trickling down. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense in the case.

Sanford, which for weeks has worked to keep calm in a racially volatile case, is prepared for Zimmerman’s potential release, according to City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr., though he declined to offer any details. He said the city is equally prepared for the wave of media and others expected to be in Sanford for the bond hearing along with a Saturday rally in support of Zimmerman led by controversial Pastor Terry Jones. The church leader made headlines when he threatened to, and later burned a Quran.

Trayvon’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, are in court today. Zimmerman’s family members, including his father, mother and wife testified by phone, apparently fearful for their safety.

Zimmerman, 28, fatally shot the Miami Gardens teenager in a gated townhouse community on Feb. 26. Trayvon, who was on a 10-day suspension from his Miami-Dade high school, was spending time with his father and the father’s girlfriend at her home at the time of the shooting.

As Trayvon walked back to the home from a convenience store, Zimmerman spotted him. He told police the teen look suspicious and followed him. Minutes later, they had a physical altercation and Zimmerman shot Trayvon. Zimmerman was not initially charged by Sanford police, who cited the state’s Stand Your Ground law.

There is nothing rong with that.
He explained it. Y shud it be worse ??
Bad enuf that Zimmy had to defend himself.
He shud not be annoyed further. He shud sue decedent 's estate.





David

I see nothing hostile from u today, Izzy !





David

George Zimmerman To Be Released On $150,000 Bond
April 20, 2012
by Scott Neuman - NPR

Judge Kenneth Lester says George Zimmerman can go free as he awaits trial if he posts a $150,000 bail.

Lester said as a condition of his release, Zimmerman would be electronically monitored, could have no contact with Trayvon Martin's family and would be prohibited from possessing firearms or using alcohol. He will also be on a curfew and have to check in every three days.

The judge said once he is assured that security measures have been met, Zimmerman will be freed.

The prosecution had asked for a bail of $1 million.

UPDATE at 11 a.m. EST:

George Zimmerman took the stand and has offered an apology to Trayvon Martin's parents, who are present at the hearing.

"I am so sorry for the loss of your son," Zimmerman said in court.

Zimmerman said that during the scuffle with Martin that led to the shooting, he didn't know that Martin was only 17 and unarmed.

UPDATE at 9:50 a.m. EST:

George Zimmerman, dressed in a dark suit and grey tie, has sat impassively through the proceedings so far this morning, as his wife and father have given testimony by telephone.

Zimmerman's wife, Shellie, and his father, Robert, have both testified that he is not a danger to the community and therefore should be released on bail by the court in Sanford, Fla.

After the prosecution detailed previous incidents of violence, including resisting arrest, Mrs. Zimmerman insisted that her husband was not a danger.

"He is absolutely not a violent person or a threat to the community," she said.

Here is our earlier post:

A Florida judge is set to decide whether to release George Zimmerman on bail as he awaits trial for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who reportedly scuffled with the black teen on Feb. 26 before shooting him, is charged with second-degree murder. His lawyers have said his actions amounted to self-defense.

At this morning's hearing at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, defense attorney Mark O'Mara is expected to ask for bail and for Zimmerman to be allowed to move out of the area, according to The Associated Press:

"Legal experts say factors in Zimmerman's favor include that he has ties to the local community and that he doesn't appear to be a flight risk since he turned in voluntarily after second-degree murder charges were filed against him last week. He also has never been convicted of a crime, which would indicate he doesn't pose a threat to society."

NPR's Greg Allen reports that a new judge, Kenneth Lester, will hear the case after the first judge appointed, Jessica Recksiedler, recused herself because of a possible conflict of interest.

Allen says the defense received court permission to allow some of Zimmerman's family members to testify on his behalf by phone.

A spokeswoman for special prosecutor Angela Corey's office had no comment Thursday on whether Corey would object to Zimmerman being released on bond, the AP said.

If bail is granted, O'Mara is expected to make an unusual request of the judge, asking that Zimmerman be allowed to leave the area to ensure his safety.

"Normally, the conditions are that you stay local. I think that is going to be difficult," O'Mara said in an interview with the AP. "I think nobody would deny the fact that if George Zimmerman were walking down the street today, he would be at risk. That is a reality."

NPR's Allen also reports that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has announced the 17 members of a new task force that will examine the state's controversial "stand your ground" law. Zimmerman's lawyers are likely to use the law, which gives individuals wide latitude to use deadly force, as part of their defense. The first hearing of the group is scheduled for May 1.

Okay, here's a totally "conspiracy theory" - type speculation, that I wanted to just put out here, to see what y'all think about it...

The NRA and forces friendly to the NRA are very pleased that GZ got bail, but not because its what GZ wants. They're pleased about it because if he's not in custody it will be more possible to kill him. They would like him dead for a couple of reasons:
1) When GZ goes to trial, the SYG law goes to trial, and they don't want that to happen. The easiest way to ensure their pet law stays on the books and spreads to other states is if it avoids the scrutiny that GZ's trial is threatening.
2) (This one requires an even longer stretch of the imagination, I admit) If GZ is murdered, it will be immediately assumed that revenge-minded black people did it. GZ's death can then be connected to blacks, liberals, and all those who advocated against GZ to this point including (in the opinion of Faux News and the ilk) the President - thus severely hurting his reelection effort.

So, what do you think? Total tinfoil-hat lunacy, intriguing fantasy with some roots in the truth, or maybe even something that could be true?

Is Charlton Hesston to be the shooter?

because then they could make a movie about it...

what did bored paranoid people do before the internet?