The Murder of Trayvon Martin

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

While many wait for the Feds to declare if this was a hate crime, justice is being served in another case in Mississippi.

That story just makes me want to cry.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

From my limited knowledge of the Florida self-defense law, your interpretation isn't accurate. There is no duty to retreat and force can be met with force anywhere. Whether Zimmerman was on the street or in his house is irrelevant under the Florida law. It's just whether he had a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily harm caused by Martin.

Bad laws produce bad results.

My knowledge of Florida law is maybe more limited than yours, but if, as the 911 tape suggests, Zimmerman came out of his house to confront Martin, then it wouldn't seem that we're talking about a duty to retreat or meeting force with force. We're possibly talking about Zimmerman being the aggressor.

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

to the lawyers in the room : Does his comment of 'f**king coon' on the 911 tape become part of the evidence that this could be a hate crime?

Possibly.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

My knowledge of Florida law is maybe more limited than yours, but if, as the 911 tape suggests, Zimmerman came out of his house to confront Martin, then it wouldn't seem that we're talking about a duty to retreat or meeting force with force. We're possibly talking about Zimmerman being the aggressor.

Possibly.

Zimmerman's story was apparently that he was attacked. He presented himself to the police with a bloody nose.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Zimmerman's story was apparently that he was attacked. He presented himself to the police with a bloody nose.

Ah. Hmmm. But my impression is that the 911 call doesn't support that story.

My guess is that the there will be a prosecution. At this point, it will be politically impossible not to charge him, I would think. Let the facts shake out as they will at trial.