07-21-2013, 04:59 PM
I agree with you on a number of points about this case, Tiki.
I think the law was written as color blind and therefore any changes to SYG laws will affect potential victims equally. Most of the protesters are only looking at changes as a way to protect potential black victims from potential non-black assaults (my inference from their words). I see it differently.
I also agree that if the jury believed the evidence showed that Zimmerman was in reasonable fear of great bodily harm or death and that he did all that he reasonably could to remove himself from the altercation with Trayvon before shooting, the jury had to consider it self defense, under the law. If they actually believed that Trayvon attacked George with the intent to murder him, only reasonably fear was required to consider the shooting "justified use of greater force". I don't object to the verdict.
One aspect that I see differently about the case is that the prosecution made it about race; I don't see it that way.
The defense put forth a motion that "racial profiling" could not be referred to at trial. The prosecution responded with no objection and stated that they never intended to make those implications.
Zimmerman didn't testify and get cross-examined; really disappointed me. But, smart move by the defense. There was nothing in the taped interviews of Zimmerman asking him what he meant by "punk" or "asshole". Those terms can be used subjectively. George Zimmerman was the only person who could answer that question and the prosecution shouldn't have tried to define it for him; would have back-fired badly, imo. "Punk" means different things to different people and O'Mara would have been all over that.
The prosecution only presented that the derogatory terms used by George showed hatred, ill-will, and spite stemming from Zimmerman's assumption that Trayvon was associated with the criminals who always get a way.
The jury didn't discuss race as part of their deliberation at all, according to B37. That didn't surprise me; I don't think it was presented as part of the case. I do however know that a good portion of the media and the public see this as a racially-motivated killing, or a least a killing that resulted from racial profiling. They may be right; I just don't see evidence of that being the case.
I think the law was written as color blind and therefore any changes to SYG laws will affect potential victims equally. Most of the protesters are only looking at changes as a way to protect potential black victims from potential non-black assaults (my inference from their words). I see it differently.
I also agree that if the jury believed the evidence showed that Zimmerman was in reasonable fear of great bodily harm or death and that he did all that he reasonably could to remove himself from the altercation with Trayvon before shooting, the jury had to consider it self defense, under the law. If they actually believed that Trayvon attacked George with the intent to murder him, only reasonably fear was required to consider the shooting "justified use of greater force". I don't object to the verdict.
One aspect that I see differently about the case is that the prosecution made it about race; I don't see it that way.
The defense put forth a motion that "racial profiling" could not be referred to at trial. The prosecution responded with no objection and stated that they never intended to make those implications.
Zimmerman didn't testify and get cross-examined; really disappointed me. But, smart move by the defense. There was nothing in the taped interviews of Zimmerman asking him what he meant by "punk" or "asshole". Those terms can be used subjectively. George Zimmerman was the only person who could answer that question and the prosecution shouldn't have tried to define it for him; would have back-fired badly, imo. "Punk" means different things to different people and O'Mara would have been all over that.
The prosecution only presented that the derogatory terms used by George showed hatred, ill-will, and spite stemming from Zimmerman's assumption that Trayvon was associated with the criminals who always get a way.
The jury didn't discuss race as part of their deliberation at all, according to B37. That didn't surprise me; I don't think it was presented as part of the case. I do however know that a good portion of the media and the public see this as a racially-motivated killing, or a least a killing that resulted from racial profiling. They may be right; I just don't see evidence of that being the case.