walking while black - Trayvon Martin

[username]

Woooo. The cop just said that George wasn't just following T, he was chasing him!

I posted this up thread but I think it bears repeating. I think the prosecution's case is screwed if they don't have some great forensic evidence but the following is what they should be pounding home with the jurors to argue against Z's self defense claim (he "chased" him, he didn't identify himself, etc). Still, without knowing what happened in those few moments, I'm not sure the jury would convict regardless. Murder 2 was a dumb charge.

The justifications for use of force will also not apply where the evidence establishes that the defendant initially provoked violence against him- or herself. To claim self-defense in such a scenario, Section 776.041 requires the defendant to demonstrate that he or she used every reasonable means short of deadly force to extricate him- or herself from the situation, and that the degree of force used by the other person (the initial non-aggressor) led the defendant to reasonably believe that he or she was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm. Alternatively, a defendant who is an initial aggressor may claim self-defense if: (1) in good faith, he or she withdrew from physical contact, (2) clearly indicated to the other person that he or she desired to withdraw and terminate the use of force, and (3) despite the communication and withdrawal, the other person continued or resumed the use of force. See Section 776.041(2)(b), Florida Statutes.