Trayvon Martin Shooting - George Zimmerman

[American Patriot]

Ultimately, the forensics the public has not seen may be the ultimate arbiter of truth. If the ballistic trajectory is consistent with Zimmerman’s story, then Trayvon Martin was killed in a textbook case of self-defense. Florida’s “stand your ground” law is utterly immaterial and Zimmerman committed no crime whatsoever.

This sums up the article reasonably.

But... since the DOJ is involved and the FBI is involved, and the Feds are "helping" local authorities, and since there is so much call to lynch Zimmerman, methinks the above paragraph is completely irrelevant to anyone who is relevant to Zimmerman's fate....

[Malsua]

He'll be charged...let's hope it's with littering or discharging a firearm within city limits.

[American Patriot]

Well, I'm expecting him to be charged with "manslaughter" because that is quite simply the easiest charge to prove. They just WON'T be able to prove Second Degree murder because he had witnesses, he DID follow the 911 operator's direction to stop following (and indeed appeared to have turned around to go back to his car when attacked)....

They CAN NOT do anything based on the "Stand your ground law" because if it went down the way Zimmerman said it did, then he was in the right.

But - I think this is political and they are simply trying to defuse the coming "war" people are calling for....

[American Patriot]

Trayvon Martin case: Charges expected --- and a plea for peace

By Rene Lynch April 11, 2012, 11:50 a.m.



Neighborhood Watch captain George Zimmerman will be charged in the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin, law enforcement sources were reporting Wednesday.


The Washington Post and the Associated Press were among the media outlets reporting the developments, although it was not immediately clear what charges Zimmerman would face. The special prosecutor assigned to the case is expected to hold a news conference in Florida later this afternoon.


Martin's parents and their attorney are pleading, even begging, for a peaceful reaction as the nation waits to hear whether charges will be filed against Zimmerman, who has admitted shooting and killing Martin -- but insists it was only in self-defense.


Attorney Benjamin Crump, flanked by Martin's parents, asked for the public's reaction to any pending development in the case to be "peaceful and responsible" and said he was begging that "nothing gets out of hand." He also pleaded with the public to use the grieving parents as their example.


"They are such a good example of keeping your composure," he said, adding that despite all the outrage surrounding the case, no one can be in more pain than the parents who lost a child. "If they can continue to carry themselves in a dignified manner, we all should."


Crump's comments were made in Washington D.C., at the 14th annual National Action Network, a civil rights conference organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton. Martin's parents are scheduled to address the conference Wednesday afternoon.


Martin, 17, was killed Feb. 26 as he was walking through a gated community in Sanford, Fla. Since then, civil-rights activists have been demanding Zimmerman’s arrest.

[vector7]

AG vows thorough review in Trayvon Martin case



By PETE YOST and SUZANNE GAMBOA | Associated Press – 38 mins ago



WASHINGTON (AP) — Trayvon Martin's parents renewed their calls for calm as a special prosecutor in Florida neared a decision on whether to charge neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Martin's death.

Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton says she knows "justice will be served" in her son's death. Zimmerman was not jailed or charged and has said he shot Martin in self-defense.

Attorney Benjamin Crump said the family wants communities nationwide to remain calm in response to the prosecutor's decision. "We don't need anybody taking these matters into their own hands," Crump said.

Fulton and Trayvon's father Tracy Martin spoke at a news conference in Washington, where Attorney General Eric Holder said earlier that he would take appropriate action if evidence of a civil rights crime is found in the shooting.

[Malsua]

AG Holder would love to crucify a white man. Probably touches himself at night thinking about it.

[American Patriot]

Breaking News12:13 PM (edited) - Public

George Zimmerman to be charged in Trayvon Martin shooting, official says
Sanford, Fla., USA

Wed Apr 11, 1:56 p.m. EST: The +Washington Post reports that Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey plans to announce as early as this afternoon that she is charging neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, according to a law enforcement official close to the investigation. It was not immediately clear what charge Zimmerman will face.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...oAT_story.html

[vector7]

Eric Holder Praises Left-Wing Activist Al Sharpton, Says Facts, Law Will Guide Trayvon Martin Investigation

By Elizabeth Harrington
April 11, 2012
Subscribe to Elizabeth Harrington's posts


Attorney General Eric Holder, left, and Rev. Al Sharpton, host of MSNBC's "Politics Nation." (AP Photo)

(CNSNews.com) – Attorney General Eric Holder praised left-wing activist Rev. Al Sharpton at the opening of the National Action Network (NAN) convention on Wednesday, and also stressed that the Justice Department is conducting a thorough investigation of the fatal Trayvon Martin shooting that “will examine the facts and the law.”

Sharpton, president of NAN and host of MSNBC’s Politics Nation, has led several rallies demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman, who reportedly shot Martin on Feb. 26. On Mar. 30 in Sanford, Fla., where the shooting occurred, Sharpton pledged that his group would “move to the next level if Zimmerman isn’t arrested.”

At the opening of NAN’s 14^th annual convention in Washington, D.C., the attorney general first thanked MSNBC’s Rev. Sharpton “for your partnership, your friendship, and your tireless efforts to speak out for the voiceless, to stand up for the powerless, and to shine a light on the problems we must solve, and the promises we must fulfill.”

Concerning Trayvon Martin, Holder said, “I know that many of you are greatly -- and rightly -- concerned about the recent shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a young man whose future has been lost to the ages."

"As most of you know, three weeks ago, the Department of Justice launched an investigation into this incident, which remains open at this time, and prevents me from talking in detail about this matter," he said.

“Although I cannot share where current efforts will lead us from here, I can assure you that, in this investigation – and in all cases – we will examine the facts and the law,” said Holder. “If we find evidence of a potential federal criminal civil rights crime, we will take appropriate action. And, at every step, the facts and the law will guide us forward.



The National Action Network, which Sharpton founded, has held multiple rallies about the Martin shooting, largely critical of shooter George Zimmerman, irrespective of an ongoing investigation.

Zimmerman, who has not been arrested in the case, said he acted in self-defense after following Martin on Feb. 26, the night Martin was killed. A Florida special prosecutor announced on Monday that the case will not be taken before a Florida grand jury, though the investigation will continue. The FBI and Justice Department are also pursuing their investigations.

MSNBC’s Sharpton has led several rallies, shouting “Arrest Zimmerman Now!” and has called for civil disobedience and an “occupation” in Sanford, Fla., if an arrest is not made.

[American Patriot]

MSNBC’s Sharpton has led several rallies, shouting “Arrest Zimmerman Now!” and has called for civil disobedience and an “occupation” in Sanford, Fla., if an arrest is not made.

And this is ultimately why he will be arrested anyway. Here's the thing though, he has affirmative defense on the stand your ground law, and for self defense - based on witnesses. If that's the case, he will not even go to trial probably.

[vector7]

Zimmerman charged with 2nd-degree murder in Trayvon Martin's shooting death

Special prosecutor Angela Corey announces Zimmerman is in custody

Published On: Apr 11 2012 02:17:06 PM EDT Updated On: Apr 11 2012 06:47:55 PM EDT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - George Zimmerman, the man accused of shooting and killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, has been charged with second-degree murder and is in custody, State Attorney Angela Corey announced at a news conference downtown Wednesday evening.

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Corey did not release Zimmerman's whereabouts for safety reasons, though she did say he was in Florida. She said he turned himself in.

Corey said she spoke by phone to Martin's parents just before the announcement. She said when she first met with them three weeks ago, she made them no promises but told them she would review all of the evidence before making a decision on whether to file charges.

"It is the search for justice for Trayvon that has brought us to this moment," Corey said.

WATCH LIVE: Trayvon Martin's family reacts to charges
Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, has asserted since the Feb. 26 killing that he shot the teen in self-defense after the two fought. The case has sparked protests and calls for Zimmerman's arrest.

"We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition," Corey said. "We prosecute based on the facts of any case."



Corey said if the stand your ground law becomes an issue raised by the defense, she will fight it.

Meanwhile, Martin's parents also spoke at a news conference in Washington D.C. after the charges were announced.

"We simply wanted an arrest. We wanted nothing more, nothing less," Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton, said. "We just wanted an arrest, and we got it. And I say thank you."

"We've got a long way to go, and we have faith," Trayvon's father, Tracy Martin, said.

Corey was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott in the Seminole County death investigation.

"This matter is now in the hands of the judicial system, and I am confident justice will prevail," Scott said in a statement. "As the process continues, it is critical that we be patient and allow the proceedings to move forward in a fair and transparent manner. I thank State Attorney Angela Corey for her diligence in conducting a thorough investigation. We will all continue to look for answers to the Trayvon Martin tragedy."

"When I worked with Gov. Scott to appoint State Attorney Angela Corey to the case involving Trayvon Martin, I did so with the full confidence that a swift and thorough investigation would be conducted," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "Today, State Attorney Corey's decision to press charges against George Zimmerman for the shooting of Trayvon demonstrates Corey's commitment to bringing justice to Trayvon's family and allowing due process for Zimmerman."

Earlier this week, Corey decided she would not present evidence in the case to a grand jury, meaning she would be making the decision whether to charge Zimmerman with a crime for fatally shooting Martin.

Martin's parents said Zimmerman attacked their son. The case has raised questions about racial profiling.

Martin was black; Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is from Peru.
Meanwhile, former lawyers for Zimmerman said Tuesday he is suffering from high levels of stress and unable even to perform the simple task of buying a soda because of the intense public scrutiny he's under.

Hal Uhrig and Craig Sooner announced Tuesday they were no longer representing Zimmerman because they haven't heard from him since Sunday.

Against their advice, the attorneys said Zimmerman contacted Corey, but prosecutors in her office refused to talk to him without his lawyers present.

Streets in downtown Jacksonville were blocked off and security was heightened Wednesday afternoon ahead of the news conference.

[vector7]

Zimmerman charged with 2nd degree murder in Trayvon Martin death

6:33 PM, Apr 11, 2012 | 3 comments


George Zimmerman


Trayvon Martin

Tonja Burk
FILED UNDER

By Kevin Johnson, Marisol Bello and Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY

George Zimmerman will face murder charges in the death of Trayvon Martin, special prosecutor Angela Corey announced Wednesday night. He will face charges for murder in the second degree, she said.

"It is the search for justice for Trayvon that brought us here today," Corey said during a press conference Wednesday evening.

Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer, is in custody, but Corey said she would not say where "for his safety as well as everyone else's safety."

"I can tell you we did not come to this decision lightly," Corey said. "We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition." she said.

She said she spoke with Martin's parents moments before her announcement.

"We launched an intensive investigation building on the work by the Sanford Police Department," and the previous prosecutor.

She said Zimmerman turned himself in.

Zimmerman, whose father is white and mother is Latina, told police he shot Trayvon in self-defense after following the unarmed black teen in a gated Sanford community Feb. 26.

The decision on charges in this case is a particularly brutal and difficult choice, legal and forensic analysts say.

Zimmerman's claim of self-defense, Florida's stand your ground law, questions about racial profiling, intense public attention and nationwide rallies calling for Zimmerman's arrest have combined to make the case a complicated stew, the analysts say.

Michelle Jacobs, a defense attorney and law professor at the University of Florida who teaches about the role of race in prosecutions, said self-defense is difficult to establish in this case because it's unclear who was defending himself against whom.

"If Trayvon Martin perceived an unknown individual to be a threat to his safety, then he was entitled under the self-defense law to protect himself," she said.

She said the case is further hampered because police did not fully investigate after the shooting. For example, Sanford police conducted toxicology tests for drugs and alcohol on Martin, but not Zimmerman.

"We lose the opportunity to get that kind of information because of a lack of thorough police work," she said.

Jacobs said, Corey is "going to have to eat her Wheaties because no one is going to be satisfied no matter what she decides. ...There is no easy choice she can make."

Even if the case does get to a jury, she said it could be another Casey Anthony case, in which the jury acquitted the mother of killing her toddler because jurors said there was not enough evidence to convict. Corey is "hamstrung by the reality of the what's been given to her," Jacobs said.

Little by way of physical evidence has been released publicly. Lawrence Kobilinsky, a forensics expert at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, says the physical evidence – the autopsy and ballistics reports for example – will likely play an important role for the prosecution because the eyewitness accounts are unreliable in this case.

Witnesses who called 911 or have spoken to the media have said it was dark. Some say they heard the scuffle between the men, but didn't see it.

"In this case, the witnesses give contradictory statements," he said. "It's a mess. It's a total mess."

He says the evidence should be what guides the decision to arrest Zimmerman.

"It's the politically correct thing to have him arrested, but I don't know that there is enough evidence," Kobilinsky said.

David LaBahn, president and CEO of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and a former prosecutor, said self-defense cases are most often the most difficult to prosecute. Often, the killer and victim know each other or are from the same neighborhoods and deciphering what actually happened is difficult if one of the witnesses is dead and there are no others to refute or corroborate the suspect's version of events.

"There are a lot of other sides to them," LaBahn said.

There's no guarantee Zimmerman will face trial. The case may yet be thrown out under the state's stand-your-ground law.

George Dekle, a University of Florida law professor who prosecuted serial killer Ted Bundy, said that if Zimmerman is charged the court will hold a hearing to determine if he is entitled to immunity from prosecution under stand your ground.

If a judge finds there is insufficient evidence to show that Zimmerman acted in any way other than self-defense, he can toss the case out of court.

"This is no fun case for a prosecutor," Dekle said. "You will get one group of people or another after you like a pack of wolves. ...No matter what happens you are going to get toasted."

Trayvon's parents, in Washington to attend the National Action Network convention, said they were "confident'' in the criminal justice system and appealed for a peaceful reaction to whatever decision is announced by the Florida special prosecutor. The network, a civil rights group, has been calling for an arrest in the case.

"It's been a nightmare for 44 days,'' said Sybrina Fulton, the slain teenager's mother, referring to the time since her son was killed. "God is holding me up and keeping me. ... I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that justice will be served.''

Benjamin Crump, the family's attorney, said it was "troubling'' for the parents when they heard Zimmerman's lawyers announce this week that they were withdrawing from the case and that they were not certain of Zimmerman's location.

"The killer of Trayvon Martin is unaccounted for,'' Crump said. "His (former) lawyers said he wasn't in the state of Florida. We're very concerned about that.''

Rev. Al Sharpton, president and founder of the network, which has been leading a series of protests in wake of Trayvon's death, also called for calm in anticipation of the prosecutor's decision.

"Trayvon Martin's name must not be tarnished,'' Sharpton said. "We denounce anything other than non-violence. We are not in the business of revenge. We are in the business of justice.''

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who also spoke at the convention, pledged that an ongoing federal civil rights inquiry into Trayvon's death would be "a thorough and independent review of the evidence.''

"Although I cannot share where current efforts will lead us from here,'' Holder said, "I can assure you that, in this investigation – and in all cases – we will examine the facts and the law.

In Sanford, the Rev. Harry Rucker, pastor of First Shiloh Baptist Church, said he feared Sanford could erupt in violence if Zimmerman is not charged.

"The system seems to be protecting this individual," said Rucker of Zimmerman. "This whole situation is larger than Trayvon Martin. It's about the ills in our country. It's about hatred and violence. ... There are some real violent activists who want to inflict violence if a warrant isn't issued. They are waiting for an opportunity to get violent."

He said without charges against Zimmmerman, he and others would lose confidence in the criminal justice system.

Rucker said if the right thing is done, Zimmerman will be charged with a crime and a warrant will be issued for his arrest. However, he added that he feared even if charges are filed, locating Zimmerman more than a month after the shooting may prove to be a challenge.

Sentiments ran strong elsewhere in Florida. Charles Favors, past president of the Melbourne-based chapter of the NAACP, said he believes a crime was commited.

"Somebody had to be responsible for that crime," he said. "Whether he's guilty or innocent, the system says you must go to trial. You must have your day in court.

"I know if I shot somebody, I'd go to court," Favors said.

[vector7]

Gun Advocacy Group Pushes ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law On Beacon Hill

• By Dan Mauzy
• Mar 28, 2012, 3:46 PM
• Comments (20)

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High School students chant during a rally demanding justice for Trayvon Martin, Friday, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Neighborhood crime-watch captain George Zimmerman claimed self-defense and has not been arrested, though state and federal authorities are still investigating. (AP)

The shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old Florida boy by a crime watch volunteer has re-ignited the debate about so-called “stand your ground” laws. Until a few years ago, in all 50 states, the law was straight-forward: if you were threatened, but could safely retreat, you had a duty to do so.

But now, at least 20 states, led by Florida, have passed laws that allow citizens to use deadly force in the face of great bodily injury or death anywhere that they have a lawful right to be.

Here in Massachusetts, there’s an effort underway to pass such a law. It’s called the “Common Defense Bill,” and it’s sponsored by State Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre). Brewer’s office said he was unavailable to talk to us about the legislation, so instead we talked to Jim Wallace, executive director of the Gun Owners’ Action League.

[Malsua]

So I've got a question...

Does Zimmerman have to take one for the good of Florida? Follow me on this...he gets exonerated, stand your ground comes under fire, everywhere. Bloomingidiot in NYC is already making noise "Everyone should be required to flee". If Z goes down, SYG is safe.

Sucks to be him...just the opposite of Bill Ayers...if you recall, Ayers said "Guilty as sin and free as a bird". Zimmerman will be Innocent as a baby and locked up for life.

[vector7]

Welcome to socal justice in Amerika, we're dealing with a Marxist Administration.

Without listing numerous companion threads and posts, what wouldn't you put past them now?

[vector7]

In other news...

Taco Bell Shooting Victim was Holding Leash, Not Weapon

Victim's sister calling for shooter's arrest

Updated: Wednesday, 04 Apr 2012, 5:12 PM MST
Published : Wednesday, 04 Apr 2012, 3:38 PM MST

LAVEEN - Police are saying more about a shooting at a Taco Bell Tuesday night in which one man died.

They're also identifying the victim as 29-year-old Daniel Adkins.

About 7:30 p.m., a 22-year-old man and his girlfriend ordered food at the Taco Bell drive-thru and were told to pull up while their order was prepared.

At the same time, Adkins stepped around a corner into the path of the vehicle and angry words were exchanged between he and the driver.

They got into an altercation and Adkins was shot once by the driver. He died at the scene.

The driver, a 22-year-old black male, called police but has not been arrested.

At first, the couple claimed that Adkins had a metal pipe that he swung at them -- but it turns out he was holding a dog leash with his yellow lab on the other end.

Family members want that driver arrested, but he's claiming self-defense.

"He needs to be behind bars. I'll never see my brother again," says sister Marina Reyes. "If he felt that my brother was threatening him, he could have easily just rolled up the window and called the cops."

A metal pipe or bat was never located. An independent witness did say Adkins swung his fists in the driver's direction.

“He swung his fist towards the driver window, and at some point the driver shot him,” says Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson. “Just because we don’t book a person immediately does not mean we don’t charge a person at a later date.”

The dog, Lady, stayed by Adkins' side until the Humane Society came. Adkins lived with his mom and dad. He's 29, but his family says he's mentally disabled and has the mental capacity of a 12-year-old. He didn't drive, and walked wherever he went.

"This person is still on the loose and I don't agree with that. So he's saying self defense, then where's the weapon? Where's the pipe? They didn't find anything on my brother," says Reyes. "He was just too aggressive, you don't need to go that far."

The shooter's name has not been released. The investigation is still ongoing.

Follow this story: One Dead in Shooting Outside Taco Bell

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news...eapon-4-4-2012

[Malsua]

So Zimmerman has been charged with murder 2.

I think that's perfect. I think it's a strategy by the prosecutor.

They know Zimmerman is not guilty under stand your ground but the blacks will riot if Zimmerman is not charged.

If they had charged him with manslaughter, they would have wanted to put him in jail because that's a charge they could get a conviction for.

With man 2, they have to prove he maliciously pulled the trigger and that he intentionally sought to kill, it's a burden of proof that doesn't exist in this case.

As far as the prosecutor's office goes, this is their only route out of the woods. Zimmerman will go to trial and he will go free. The prosecution can say repeatedly "We're following the law" and they still get to let an innocent man go free. It's all about saving face and preventing a bunch of property damage by blacks.

[American Patriot]

Sometimes they shoot high, aim low Mal.

They could still convict him on a manslaughter charge as it is the lesser of the two. This was according to about seven different lawyers that were on Fox News yesterday discussing this exact strategy.

[Malsua]

It's crazy that we're in an inverted world now where 12% of the population can demand the head of someone...and get it.

[American Patriot]

Trayvon Martin's mom says she thinks his killing was an 'accident'

Trayvon Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, talk to TODAY's Ann Curry about the arrest of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot their 17-year-old son. During the interview, Martin's mom says she believes her son's death "was an accident."

By Ian Johnston, msnbc.com
Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton told the TODAY show Thursday that she believes her son’s fatal shooting by George Zimmerman was an accident.

Follow @msnbc_us
“I believe it was an accident, I believe that it just got out of control and he couldn’t turn the clock back," she said. "I would ask him, 'Did he know that that was a minor, that that was a teenager and that he did not have a weapon?'” she added.
Special prosecutor Angela Corey announced Wednesday at a news conference in Jacksonville, Florida, that Zimmerman was going to be charged with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.








"We did not come to this decision lightly," Corey, who was appointed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to re-examine the case after public outcry over the initial decision not to arrest Zimmerman, said at a news conference in Jacksonville.
Zimmerman shot and killed Martin, 17, in the town of Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26.
Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, who took the case late Wednesday after Zimmerman's previous attorneys withdrew, said his client would plead not guilty and that he would seek his release on bond. Zimmerman, 28, was scheduled for an initial hearing Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
O’Mara said on TODAY he was surprised the prosecutor brought second degree murder charges against his client.
“I was. Again I’ve only seen the evidence that has been presented through the media. But I was surprised that they charged him at that level," he said.
Martin's mom suggested that Zimmerman, who claims he killed Martin in self-defense, should apologize if he is remorseful.
“One of the things that I still believe in: A person should apologize when they really -- when they are actually remorseful for what they've done,” Fulton said.
Zimmerman to plead not guilty to second-degree murder

And she expressed sympathy for Zimmerman’s family, even as she continued to mourn the loss of her son.

“I understand his family is hurting, but think about our family that lost our teenage son. I mean, it's just very difficult to live with day in and day out,” Fulton said. “ I'm sure his parents can pick up the phone and call him, but we can't pick up the phone and call Trayvon anymore."

Fulton: The Zimmermans are hurting, but we lost our son

Mark O'Mara, the new attorney for George Zimmerman, tells TODAY's Carl Quintanilla he was surprised his client was charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

[American Patriot]

The mother said "All we've asked for is an arrest, nothing more, nothing less... and we got it. Thank Jesus...."

Ok, now that the arrest has been accomplished how quickly can the lawyer get this guy out of jail so he can move someplace safe?

This is one of those perfect times when the Witness Protection program ought to be used.