- @
- Followers:
No Tweets Found
CNN POLITICS ON FACEBOOK » | CNN POLITICS ON TWITTER »
George Zimmerman trial set for June 10, defense attorney says
George Zimmerman will go on trial June 10 for the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman's lawyer said Wednesday.
The neighborhood watch volunteer is charged with second-degree murder. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense in the February 26 shooting, saying Martin charged him after the two exchanged words, knocked him to the ground and banged his head repeatedly against a concrete sidewalk.
Prosecutors say Zimmerman profiled Martin as a criminal and killed him, even though the teenager was doing nothing wrong.
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty.
Martin's death sparked nationwide protests and inflamed public passions over race relations and gun control, as well as Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law.
More details emerge in Trayvon Martin investigation
New documents shed light on Trayvon Martin killing'
FBI analysis - Zimmerman's 911 call (pdf - strong language)
- In Session's Jean Casarez contributed to this report.
Pre-meditated 1st degree. Didn't stand his ground, rather he "pursued" an unarmed teenager and whacked him!
I still maintain Zimmerman was a "pusher", trying to settle an unpaid debt from a "client/user". Also his response to 911 was pure conjecture to stall them, and totally refused to listen to them.
OMG your a crazy person, your theory is absolute BS and you must smoke alot of what Trayvon was selling.
Right. And then Zimmerman beat himself up as well.
Exactly! I mean, don't all murderers call 911 while they are in the process of stalking their victims?
Jeff: it’s time for the meds
Michael: learn English before posting: your / you’re
you show ignorance libdemwit..go back to your crack pipe and then go to sleep and please feel free to not share your stupidity with others.
You do realize that guy was already headed back to his car, away from Mr Martin? After successfully running away from the guy, Mr Martin turned back. Mr Martin caught up with this guy & physically attacked him . At that time Mr Martin was the one in pursuit & Mr Martin was the attacker.
Mr Martin had pinned him to the ground & was bashing his head when a witness heard the cries & saw the attack just before the single shot was fired.
The autopsy showed pot in Mr Martin's body, paranoia is a common side effect from it.
The physical evidence was compelling enough for them to not bring charges.
This trial is only being held because the media whipped up a frenzy by splicing together the 911 tape to make false allegations of racism, & the family has enlisted the help of a racially motivated group for their brand of street justice. The same kind of street justice Mr Martin was beating into that man.
There was a full investigation about the racism claims by the FBI, & they were totally disproved.
It is time to drop these charges. This was justifiable homicide.
Street justice is not real justice, it's real name is revenge.
Zimmerman will be found not guilty and released. Everyone has the right to defend themselves against aggressors.
Did Trayvon have that right?
What world do you live in? Zimmerman stalked the kid, Confronted the kid, Then shot him. Even after dispatch told him to back off. KARMA will bring a dude like Zimmerman into your world next. You'd say different if your child was the one killed.
Well said, Hemlock. Let me join you in wishing that Karma on every right-winger here that thinks that what Zimmerman did was just peachy.
@Hemlock. Did not stalk, but followed, which is legal. I don't know if you saw the injuries to Zimmerman, but it sure looks like Trayvon was the one that confronted, and assaulted Zimmerman, and remember if this still even goes to trial, the jury will hear the autopsy report. Everything about this case points to Trayvon being the major problem in it all.
Hemlock,
You have no evidence as to who confronted who. You are speculating.
Hemlock were you there? How do you know who did the confronting? You are speculating.
No way Martin was the aggressor. He was only on his 3rd suspension this year. Is that the resume of a trouble maker?
AND don't forget he'll be suing the town, state, courts, judicial system, police AND he'll probably never have to work again
Mr Martin tracked the other guy down after he ran off & lost him. Mr Martin then sucker punched a person smaller than himself, & pinned that person to the ground while attempting to bash their head in.
My kid would still be alive in this situation, Hemlock.
My kid would have gone home, & called the police to report being followed.
Or if confronted; my kid would have been courteous, & waited for the police to straighten out any misunderstanding if that was needed.
Why? My kid would never have attempted to kill another person. My kid would not have pot in their bloodstream either!
Truth. It hurts AND when he is found innocent all the riots will make news as well.
The court system and judicial system are no more or less than what WE make them to be. People define these systems. People work in these systems. The key word here is "people." No people, no systems. Anyone who merely criticizes either of these systems and does not work to correct what he or she sees as improper is just as responsible for whatever imperfections there may be.
If Zimmerman would be found guilty, Hopefully President Romney will pardon him.
Fat chance...remember, Romney doesn't care about the 47%
Too bad Romney has no hope of even becoming Postmaster General. Try not to politicize this.
How weird – a pro-Zimmerman Romney voter who's also ignorant about basic facts.
Presidents can only pardon federal criminals – the president is powerless when it comes to people convicted of a state crime.
Hopefully he is found not guilty and he can get the justice that he truly deserves in the streets! An eye for en eye!
If Treyvan actually ran up to his truck and started fighting him I can see the self defense claim, but he was told to stay put and he actively pursued this kid and killed him. That is not self defense no matter how the racist try to claim it is. So if I see one of you walking down my street and I leave my house to confront you with a gun are you just going to stand there or are you going to fight for your lives because you dont know who I am or what my intentions are?
That is were you are wrong, dispatch asked him where did he go, Zimmerman then followed Trayvon. When dispatch realized what Zimmerman was actually doing, they told him no need to do that. If you are going to play with words get them right in the first place.
911 said : "We don't need you to do that".
We do not live in a police state. Police (or 911 dispatchers which are NOT police) cannot simply order you to do whatever they want. It is not an order. It is not legally or morally binding in any way, shape, or form. So drop it.
"racist"
Hrmmm... yes, everybody that supports facts that happen to exonerate the white man is racist. My god you're d u mb.
"That is not self defense no matter how the racist try to claim it is."
Yes, it is. Zimmerman did not initiate the physical confrontation. That makes Zimmerman's actions self-defense.
"t and I leave my house to confront you with a gun are you just going to stand there "
You mean if I use my X-Ray vision to determine you have a gun? Zimmerman did not have a gun out.
"you going to fight for your lives be"
No, I wouldn't. Because Im not a crazy paranoid. I do not have a chip on my shoulder that assumes everybody approaching me is going to attack me. I am not a trouble maker that assumes I've angered people enough to want to hurt me.
You're assuming "facts" that are non-existent.
The Obama-voter is a perfect example of the Obama-voting folks: facts are something they can just make up, laws are just something they can make up, "racism" is responsible for all of the problems in black culture and only whites can be "racist"...
These prosecutors are Money Hungry Evil Evil people with some very serious ill Intent, I mean Clearly with a capitol "C" Trevon Martin was The single furthest thing by very definition from the word "Innocent" and they all damn well know it.
Marrtin's parents actions since this happened have been 100% nothing less than a complete disgrace to everything in this world that is Proper and Just, they, like their son, clearly have had a complete disregard for the LAWN their entire lives to have taken the position they did.
Every single shred of evidence points to Zimmerman having told the complete truth !!!
This is a WITCH hunt and has been since day 1 and is Yet again complete and indisputable evidence of Black America being completely out of touch with reality !!!
This is Yet another example, and this one ranks up their with Black America Cheering the O.J. Simpson's Murder verdict
and the Black Judge who got reported to Police breaking into his own home.
It is not a question of Black versus white and never has been...it is a question of the Truth Versus Lies and Denial.
In each case, Proof of the sever lack of education African American's seem to have and their in ability to be neither Racists themselves or just flat out stupid...because everyone with even the slightest portion of a Brain left in their head Knows for a Fact that Martin Is Not Innocent in this and there is ample evidence he attacked Zimmeramn before his death and it was recorded.
If I could I would ask these degenerates living in denial whether or no they believe that Ruining another persons life who is Clearly "Not Guilty of Murder", is ever going to bring Trevon back to them, or if they are really this vindictive and out of touch with reality ?
These people are in for one very rude awakening...and if their is any justice on this earth No Judge in their Right mind would ever ever possibly convict Zimmerman...it was Clearly 100% self-Defense!
You would have to be pretty damn Blind and pretty damn lost and stupid not top realize this by now !!!
You're just tickled that a black person was killed is all.
Hemlock, you are pretty quick to play the race card
How can they respect the LAWN when that's where Zimmerman murdered Trayvon?
What?!
Martin was only on his 3rd suspension that year. He had only been caught with criminal tools & stolen property once!
That is NOT the resume of a trouble maker!
I am undecided on this, but my opinion doesn't really matter. I just hope the jury can look at the evidence not the media hype.
I wish everyone were as level-headed about this.
Finally someone who gets it
He'll be found guilty of some minor thing in all of this, serve 1 year probation and a fine....just to appease the blacks....if they were both of the same race we would never have heard of these people.....
Hundreds of Trayvons have been murdered since Tray-Tray assumed dirt temperature.
But they were all killed by other Trayvons, so the Sharptons, Jacksons and Obamas haven't croaked out a single peep. No political angle for them to play, and way too many embarrassing questions to answer about their corrupt self-serving "leadership."
I wasn't there, so I can't say if he is guilty or not, but the fact remains that if Zimmerman had listened to the dispatchers advice to not pursue Martin, he wouldn't be awaiting trial now.
Agreed
Just because he didn't take dispatch's advice doesn't mean he's guilty of a crime....yeah he should have listened, but he didn't....he'll get a slap on the wrist.....
Didn't say he was guilty Mike, just doesn't posses the common sense most of us like you and me have, or do you also make a habit of following your neighbors while armed?
I know you didn't say that....I'm just saying it's not a crime to not listen to dispatch, and I believe that's what it will come down to.....a few years ago a Texas man was found not guilty for shooting two burglars who were leaving his neighbor's house.....in no way did he need to shoot them, and he was not in any danger, but he chose to do so and claimed he was defending property....this will go along those lines I think....
Interesting choice of game changing events. Here is another one:
If Martin had not assaulted Zimmerman; and instead simply said "I have a right to be here, my Dad lives at "123 Main street"; then none of this would have happened.
When I was 16 I followed a guy out of McDonald's to give him his change once. Imagine if he had assumed i was up to no good and assaulted me Trayvon style? Ya... sounds pretty stupid when put that way, doesn't it.
Trayvon, according to the evidence presented, assaulted Zimmerman. Trayvon caused his own death.
I wasn't aware that pedestrians were required to give personal information and place of residence to random strangers that accost them in the middle of the night.
When "pedestrians" are guests in a gated community, they are required to explain to legal residents that they are there with the permission of a resident.
Not assault a lawful resident for the non-crime of asking who they are and what business they have on private property.
" ME" you need to be shame for name calling, do you have any kids? have any one in your family been killed? each family have got death in their family, G.Z, family have death in their family as well although their son is still alive, this nation or should I say people need to stop rejoying an pray, love will win over this negative.
Well, this going away for awhile was nice while it lasted. Just remember, now matter how right you think you are, someone else will think you're wrong. Accept it.
This guy is going away for ten years at a minimum.
He instigated a fight (for you NRA members 'instigate' means 'start') a fight & when he found himself on the losting side he killed the kid he started the fight with.
This guy never should have had a gun or a license to carry.
What evidence do you have that Zimmerman "instigated" the fight?
1. Zimmerman had a legal right to carry a gun.
2. Zimmerman had a legal right to follow Martin
3. Zimmerman had a legal right to confront Martin
4. Martin did NOT have a legal right to assault Zimmerman
5. Zimmerman had a legal right to defend himself with lethal force
1. Following somebody is not instigating a fight
2. Confronting somebody is not instigating a fight
3. Assaulting somebody is instigating a fight
1. Zimmerman did not assault Martin.
2. Martin assaulted Zimmerman.
Those are the facts as presented. Digest it.
How do you know any of that timeline is true, Bill? Because Z. isn't black, or because T. was?
@Bill, what proof is available that the fight was started by Martin, besides Zimmerman's own testimony? I agree that, legally speaking, if there is no proof one way or another, a jury cannot convict because the evidence will not be beyond a reasonable doubt, but that doesn't mean justice will be served, or that Martin did anything wrong.
Has no one noticed that BOTH stories agree. Mr Martin was no longer being followed. The man lost sight of him, & told the person on the phone he was headed back to his car. Mr Martin's girlfriend on the phone confirms that Mr Martin took successful evasive action losing him.
Therefore, Mr Martin was now given a choice. To return home or pursue the other person. Mr Martin CHOSE to pursue & attack the man.
Mr Martin's choice, Mr Martin's fault, case closed.
None of us really know, or will really know, what happened that night. Of the two witnesses, one is dead. The other will, naturally, completely defend his position. Like nearly all stories, the truth probably lies somewhere between the two. I do not envy the jury that may have to hear this case.
I dunno, I wasn't there clearly, but Martin had a right to be in the neighbourhood, Martin had a right to go to the store for candy, Martin had the right to wear a hoodie on a rainy night. If Zimmerman was so worried about this 'criminal' that he had to call the police, why did he not breathe a sigh of relief when the dispatcher told him he was under no obligation to follow Martin? I have never called the police on anyone in my life and I am sure if I felt compelled to do so, I would want to keep a safe distance from the suspect, whether I was armed or not. Why does an armed, grown, neighbourhood watch person have less duty of care/responsibility than some unarmed kid? How was it that Martin was able to get through his whole day without attacking anyone, and then, by some coincidence, attack the very person that had such negative preconceived notions about him that he called 911? Why did Zimmerman indicate on the 911 recording that he was aware it was a kid, and then when he issued an apology say he wasn't aware it was a kid? Why do minors have to meekly accept grown men following them in the dark? Just a lot of questions in my mind.
How many wackos like Zimmerman are walking around with guns? Too many, to be sure. This guy should get big time for his hate crime.
Hate Crime? I wasn't aware he had been convicted of anything. Also, in case you are forgetting, the 911 tape was altered in the media to make him sound racist.