@Real Music,
Real Music wrote:If I remember the case correctly, didn't the 911 dispatch specifically tell Zimmerman NOT to engage the person (Trayvon Martin) and that the police were own their way. Zimmerman totally ignored the dispatch instruction and took it upon himself to engage (Trayvon Martin).
You do not remember the case correctly. First, there was no discussion of engaging. It was a discussion of following at a distance.
Second, the dispatcher only told him "they didn't need him to do that" (in a context that meant "you'll get yourself hurt if you do"). There was no actual instruction to not follow Trayvon.
Third, Mr. Zimmerman actually took the advice that was proffered, and stopped following Trayvon as soon as the dispatcher advised it.
Then, several minutes after Mr. Zimmerman stopped following Trayvon, Trayvon came back to Mr. Zimmerman and attempted to beat him to death. Trayvon was shot only when he violently assaulted Mr. Zimmerman.
Real Music wrote:When did it become a crime to walk home at night coming from a local store with a bag of skittles.
Considering what Trayvon was planning, there was considerable criminal intent with those Skittles. However, that is something of a side issue. Trayvon was not shot as punishment for the crime spree that he was about to commit. He was shot to prevent the murder of Mr. Zimmerman.