The State of Florida vs George Zimmerman: The Trial

Thomas wrote:

The prosecution seems to be claiming that Zimmerman provoked the use of force by either starting the physical fight in the first place or by the way he talked to [Zimmerman] Martin.

Obviously a typo/mental slip.

but the only people whose opinion matters are the six women on the jury.

ABC Chief Legal Affairs Anchor and Mediaite founder Dan Abrams appeared on The View Monday morning to discuss the Zimmerman defense’s confidence heading into the second half of the trial, arguing that Zimmerman would likely be acquitted based on conflicting witness testimony.

“Things have gone very well for the defense,” Abrams said. “I would be very suprised if there was a conviction on either second-degree murder or manslaughter.

In the past two weeks, defense lawyers have chipped away at the prosecution’s case, legal analysts said, raising the possibility of an acquittal. The law in Florida allows for the use of force if someone fears great bodily harm, and prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Zimmerman did not act in self-defense.

The twists and turns of the case — its weaknesses and legal complications — were not a factor for many supporters of the Martin family, until recently.

“We thought this was an open-and-shut case,” said Mr. Jackson, the pastor in Richmond Heights.

Mr. Oliver, the Sanford pastor, said he remained optimistic. “You can feel a little sense that anger is re-emerging,” he said.

The possibility of an acquittal has prompted community leaders, ministers and law enforcement officials in Miami and Sanford to prepare. This week in Miami, they will hold a meeting in Miami Gardens, where Mr. Martin lived, to talk about the complexity of the legal case and what has happened in the courtroom so far. They are also reaching out to young people in schools and parks and through Web sites, urging them to remain calm.

“It is important that we still maintain peace, even though decisions are not made to our liking,” Mr. Jackson said. “That is our message, and that is what we are preaching.”

Even the suggestion that trouble may follow an acquittal is fraught with racial overtones, particularly since much of the preparation is focused on the black community.

But in cities like Miami, which have experienced racial unrest, the ministers and activists said it was a reasonable concern. It is better to be prepared, they say, than caught off guard.

“Everybody wants to know the pulse of the community,” Mr. Jackson said. “It’s not an insult to ask whether we feel there will be unrest.”

the state never had a case......

You wrote,

Quote:

the state never had a case......

A young man is dead; that's the case.

What Is Trial Court? (with picture) - wiseGEEK: clear answers for ...
www.wisegeek.com/what-is-trial-court.htm
A trial court is a court in which an initial trial is held. These courts have original jurisdiction, acting as the first court in which a case is heard.

That is not a case.
Your post only shows your ignorance

actually to this crew it is.

I am loving the lengths of idiocy people here will go to in the effort to make zimmerman guilty of a crime.....it is being argued that if one purposefully puts themselves ` [how many selves??] in the presence of a particular person, and if a fight breaks out,
then the one who instigated the meeting by definition instigated the fight. it is a looney tunes argument.

That is not a case.
Your post only shows your ignorance

actually to this crew it is................a young black man is dead and someone needs to pay,
if the law gets in the way of this project then to hell with it.

Explain why a young black man being shot dead is not a case.

You sure are stupid! It doesn't matter if the victim and defendant are white, yellow, black, green, or blue. When there's a dead body after a shooting, it usually ends up as a court case to determine innocence or guilt.

The "state" is the prosecutor.