The Murder of Trayvon Martin

[DrPhil]

I agree that Zimmerman's weight gain was intentional.

I thought Martin was 17. I will not assume Zimmerman was stronger than Martin just because he was an (shorter and) older man. I do not doubt Martin was a physically stronger high school athlete and kicked Zimmerman's ass. That was never the issue as far as I am concerned. The altercation happened but Zimmerman just so happened to have a gun. Lucky ducky. That's the issue as far as I am concerned. The prosecutors still did not have what they needed to get a conviction but the issue remains the issue.

I don't assume that juror's mind was made up before the case. She didn't say that is how she felt immediately. She may not have felt that way about Zimmerman until she heard most or all of the evidence. At the same time, everyone in that courtroom may have had their minds made up before the trial. Until we have robots in the court room, we will always have human attorneys, judges, jurors, and so forth. None of these people are fully capable of removing emotion, assumptions, and subjectivity. The legal system is designed to buffer much of this but arguably not all of this.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

Zimmerman, a more fit one at that, was 27, 28 at the time of confrontation? Martin was 16, and by most photos I've seen, tall and thin.

In general, men are stronger than boys.

Perhaps, but in general doesn't mean in this case or always. My son is 15, tall and thin, and very strong.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I will not assume Zimmerman was stronger than Martin just because he was an (shorter and) older man. I do not doubt Martin was a physically stronger high school athlete and kicked Zimmerman's ass. That was never the issue as far as I am concerned. The altercation happened but Zimmerman just so happened to have a gun. Lucky ducky. That's the issue as far as I am concerned. The prosecutors still did not have what they needed to get a conviction but the issue remains the issue.

I don't assume that juror's mind was made up before the case. She didn't say that is how she felt immediately. She may not have felt that way about Zimmerman until she heard most or all of the evidence. At the same time, everyone in that courtroom may have had their minds made up before the trial. Until we have robots in the court room, we will always have human attorneys, judges, jurors, and so forth. None of these people are fully capable of removing emotion, assumptions, and subjectivity. The legal system is designed to buffer much of this but arguably not all of this.

Agree with all of this.