They is an article in Orlando Sentinel today that actually seems to contain new information. It looks like the reporter actually talked to someone who had access to Zimmerman’s statement.
I don’t buy the part about him turning back to return to his truck and being accosted by Martin, but I can totally believe that he would have told the police that. I don’t understand where Martin could be hiding in this scenario. I’ve looked at ground level views and aerial views of the scene. I don’t see how Zimmerman could have lost sight of Martin and then have Martin just pop out like that.
One thing that I hadn’t read before:
That could explain why he was Sanford when the next day was a school day.
BTW, why does anybody carry around an empty baggie?
Because it is a special Marijuana baggie, those things are hard to get.
One thing I am not clear on, I understand the police couldn’t arrest Zimmerman that night per Florida law, but were they going to continue the investigation? The impression I get was that they were just going to leave it at what Zimmerman claimed and not go any further until the parents raised a stink about it. Is this right, or am I just making shit up?
It doesn’t sound like it’s part of the equation, but I wonder if an unopened can of tea, possibly branished as a weapon, would be considered deadly force enough for Zimmerman to use his gun.
From what we have seen they were continuing with the investigation, handed over what they had to the DA, who has called a Grand Jury, and looks like he has asked for a deeper investigation from them, too. It certainly appears that they are following the proper steps. So far, about the only thing that have done wrong is release too much info, imho.
In other words- no, they should not have arrested him at the time of the incident, and no they should not arrest him now. They will wait until the GJ makes their decision.
I don’t know what so many dudes here want Zimmerman “arrested” RIGHT NOW. All that would do is have him held for a very short period, as they really can’t charge him with anything at this time, it’s proper to wait until the GJ makes it’s decision at this time. Any arrest would be pointless, any charges could jeopardize a conviction.
I think the reason why is the belief that had positions been switched and it was a black dude shooting an unarmed 17 year old ‘white’ kid, the police wouldn’t have been so, shall we say acommodating to the shooter; regardless of what the law said.
What you’re witnessing is the feeling that justice has been unequally applied, especially considering the history of the Standford police an it’s non-white residents. So they want him arrested NOW.
If that’s true, why don’t they say that the black suspect treated wrongly shouldn’t be?
That is, they seem to be saying, if your theory is correct, that because the police would ignore the law and jail a black shooter under those circumstances, they should also ignore the law and jail this Hispanic shooter.
That seems odd to me. The problem is the police ignoring the law with respect to the black shooter, and that problem isn’t cured by demanding the police extend their lawlessness.
It puzzled me until I realized that Sunday night they had an unidentified black male corpse shot dead in a subdivision that had previous burglaries and a shooter that had a story corroborated by an eyewitness.
Monday, they had a 17 year old high school student who was in town visiting his father who lived 70 yards away.
It would have made a big difference if Martin’s father had stuck his head outside and come down and said, “Hey that’s my son lying there!”. The police would have been a lot more diligent about checking Zimmerman’s story before releasing him.
How about “A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force?”
And criminal prosecution is defined in the very statute: “As used in this subsection, the term “criminal prosecution” includes arresting, detaining in custody, and charging or prosecuting the defendant.”
Why would he need to make his claim of self-defense in court, when the law says he’s immune from prosecution?
And if Martin’s family sues Zimmerman, they better hope they win: “The court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and all expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant is immune from prosecution as provided in subsection (1).”
First I don’t think they knew his background was hispanic, they thought he was white and felt that once again a white guy was getting special treatment.
Secondly pissed off people usually don’t think logically, but want what’s ‘fair’. If you look at the OJ trial one of the more powerful things about it, wasn’t that black people felt OJ was innocent, but the feeling of payback.
I think there was this feeling that now finally white people get to feel what black people have felt for decades…blalant injustice and the sting of not being able to do nothing about it. Is it logical no, but people who feel great frustration rarely act logically.
So yes, in a world of fair and just laws, if you hurt me, I don’t get to hold you down and hurt you in the same way. The justice system will serve out punishment, but in the world of human emotion and pain, I may want someone to hold you down while I smash your leg with a baseball bat.
It won’t make be whole, and in reality a nice settlement may be in my best interest; however seeing you hobble for the rest of your life, as I have to hobble may fill some sense of personal fairness and justice; even if it’s short-lived.
Again if you tell that to people who have historially suffered unfair treatment under the law and still get convicted, they’re going to have a different take on that.
I’m not saying that you are wrong, but history tells us that increases and decreases in the chances of conviction can be subjective.
Zimmerman parks his truck at “A” when Martin runs.
Martin goes around the corner and hides in an alcove at “B”.
Zimmerman follows. He doesn’t see Martin, but makes it to “C” before turning around. Martin tells his girlfriend Zimmerman has him cornered.
Zimmerman makes it back to"D" when Marin comes out of the Alcove. Martin says ,“Why are you following me?” Zimmerman says," Why are you here?" Fight ensues.
But why does Martin confront Zimmerman when Zimmerman has already walked past him. It would make more sense for him to wait until Zimmerman had turned the corner and then just walk home. I also have some reservation about whether Zimmerman could walk past Martin and not see him.
I haven’t seen an address, but the news said he was killed 70 yards from his house. I can’t tell if that is on the Twin Trees side or Retreat View side, but you can approximate it using the ruler tool in Google Earth.
Frankly I think this thread should be split so the CSI types don’t have put up with the political arguments.