The Zimmerman Verdict

[tampa24]

The trial and verdict were mentioned briefly in another thread. So I figured I would start one here to focus exclusively on the George Zimmerman trial and verdict as well as the circumstances that led to the death of Trayvon Martin.

For me to see no jail or prison time at all for Zimmerman in this case seems to be another miscarriage of justice along the lines of the verdicts in the trials of Casey Anthony and O.J. Simpson.

 

[tampa24]

It was very sad news for me last night after already just having watched the verdict in the Zimmerman trial (which already had me sad and a little angry)...and then this. [Corey Monteith's death]

Oh and this Zimmerman thing... We just heard about this for the first time in the UK today and don't really know what to make of it. The jury found him not guilty but the country seems to disagree. It's v confusing

Much of the country is at the very least trying to process a very controversial verdict. I would tend to say that much of the country does disagree with this "Not guilty" verdict. I'm sure there will be some (if not many) who disagree with me on this.

 

[shyhedgehog]

Why are they disagreeing with the verdict though?

 

[stowe1]

To tell you the truth, tampa, from reading what I have in the newspapers, magazines, and online - I'm glad I wasn't on that jury. There seemed to be so many conflicting versions of events and all circumstantial evidence, I don't know whether or not I could have voted for conviction or innocence. I would have probably made for a hung jury.

But a question for you, tampa, since you are a Floridian. In every state that I have ever lived or know of, juries in criminal cases are always made up of 12 people. (In civil cases, a lower number and usually varies by state.) I notice that in this criminal case, there was a jury of 6. Is this standard in Florida? and if so, do you know why? Thanks.

 

[tampa24]

To tell you the truth, tampa, from reading what I have in the newspapers, magazines, and online - I'm glad I wasn't on that jury. There seemed to be so many conflicting versions of events and all circumstantial evidence, I don't know whether or not I could have voted for conviction or innocence. I would have probably made for a hung jury.

But a question for you, tampa, since you are a Floridian. In every state that I have ever lived or know of, juries in criminal cases are always made up of 12 people. (In civil cases, a lower number and usually varies by state.) I notice that in this criminal case, there was a jury of 6. Is this standard in Florida? and if so, do you know why? Thanks.

I'll answer the easiest question first. Unless someone else wants to help with Shy's question. To your question Stowe I wondered the exact same thing. Then I got the answer one day in the media. Under Florida law they could go with 6 jurors instead of 12 because this was not a capital case. Meaning that the prosecution was not going to seek the death penalty. If first degree murder was the charge, with the possibility of asking for the death penalty from the jury, then 12 jurors are required. I'm not sure why we have that quirk under Florida law.

 

[Rick2206]

A verdict has been given -- aand no, you only think thtMOST of the country disaggrees with it. you have only hear from the people who make the most NOISE - that's all. I agree with the verdict because I believe in the American Justice System. Justice has been served! It's sad that one person had to die! But Six Jurors have agreed that George Zimmerman was acting in Self-Defense! You will NEVER satisy a group of people walking around with a chip on their shoulders - and they will not be satisfied until one of them kills Zimmerman - sad when the Mob Rules.

 

[another1]

Why are they disagreeing with the verdict though?

the reason that people disagree with the verdict is mainly because they know things about the case that the jury never knew. the jury did not say Zimmerman did nothing wrong, just that the state did not prove that a crime was committed. each member of the jury deserves credit for serving. if blame for the verdict goes to anyone it is the state that earned that honor.

 

[DrabBoiz]

Why are they disagreeing with the verdict though?

Cuz it's the state of racist right-wangers and Governor "Medicare Fraud" Rick Scott.

 

[DrabBoiz]

A verdict has been given -- aand no, you only think thtMOST of the country disaggrees with it. you have only hear from the people who make the most NOISE - that's all. I agree with the verdict because I believe in the American Justice System. Justice has been served! It's sad that one person had to die! But Six Jurors have agreed that George Zimmerman was acting in Self-Defense! You will NEVER satisy a group of people walking around with a chip on their shoulders - and they will not be satisfied until one of them kills Zimmerman - sad when the Mob Rules.

The only problems are: The NSA (National Sheriff’s Association) has no information indicating the community has ever even registered with the program.

"The alleged action of a “self-appointed neighborhood watchman” last month in Sanford, FL significantly contradicts the principles of the
Neighborhood Watch Program,” stated NSA Executive Director Aaron D. Kennard, Sheriff (ret.). “NSA has no information indicating the
community where the incident occurred has ever even registered with the NSA Neighborhood Watch program.”

Zimmerman was told by the Emergency 911 agency not to pursue Trayvon. He was also carrying a gun, which is not permitted under the national Neighborhood Watch rules. He also wasn't assaulted; Trayvon Martin was "standing his ground" under what he perceived to be a threat by a stranger who was stalking him.

 

[DrabBoiz]

I'll answer the easiest question first. Unless someone else wants to help with Shy's question. To your question Stowe I wondered the exact same thing. Then I got the answer one day in the media. Under Florida law they could go with 6 jurors instead of 12 because this was not a capital case. Meaning that the prosecution was not going to seek the death penalty. If first degree murder was the charge, with the possibility of asking for the death penalty from the jury, then 12 jurors are required. I'm not sure why we have that quirk under Florida law.

I believe if they would have had just one black person on the jury, the outcome would have totally different.

 

[KRU1996]

The true pity is that Trayon was a hottie who would have looked really getting plowed by Paul or Adam or Blake and now, sadly, we will never know.
The killer Zimmerman is fugly and looks like an epsilon semi-moron half-wit, which means he should get the death penalty for murdering someone who rejected his sexual come-ons. Zimmerman was stalking a Trayvon for a hook-up. Zimmerman shot Trayvon to keep him from outting Z's closeted ass.
The proseution did a crappy job by not even considering the "troll hitting up a cute boy for sex" angle.

 

[shyhedgehog]

The true pity is that Trayon was a hottie who would have looked really getting plowed by Paul or Adam or Blake and now, sadly, we will never know.
The killer Zimmerman is fugly and looks like an epsilon semi-moron half-wit, which means he should get the death penalty for murdering someone who rejected his sexual come-ons. Zimmerman was stalking a Trayvon for a hook-up. Zimmerman shot Trayvon to keep him from outting Z's closeted ass.
The proseution did a crappy job by not even considering the "troll hitting up a cute boy for sex" angle.

See, this is the difference between a gay porn blog and CNN...ah the freedom...

 

[Ambivalent]

The true pity is that Trayon was a hottie who would have looked really getting plowed by Paul or Adam or Blake and now, sadly, we will never know.
The killer Zimmerman is fugly and looks like an epsilon semi-moron half-wit, which means he should get the death penalty for murdering someone who rejected his sexual come-ons. Zimmerman was stalking a Trayvon for a hook-up. Zimmerman shot Trayvon to keep him from outting Z's closeted ass.
The proseution did a crappy job by not even considering the "troll hitting up a cute boy for sex" angle.

******************************************************

KRU,

I am sorry, but - your callous sexualization of a real human tragedy is one of the worst (if not THE worst) single post I have ever read, online. I have been participating in gay chatrooms for a decade or more. I have had reasonably civil conversations with Nazis, Stalinists, and numbers of quite unpleasant people.But this post really BEATS THEM ALL.

Poor Trayvon. Of course he didn't deserve to die a cruel and needless death - and that is what this thread is about. But neither should Trayvon, in death, be subjected to crass utilitarian comments about his "hotness" - much less speculation about how he might have performed sexually, in some gay encounter. . . .

Sir - have you no compassion? Have you no SHAME? I think your comments reveal that you do NOT. At the last, I must tell you, your post on this subject is the first and only post I have ever read on the Internet, which caused me (literally and physically) to vomit.

If you have a conscience, I implore you to examine it, carefully. And to treat tragic matters such as this one, with a little more respect and sensitivity.

"A"

 

[shyhedgehog]

Take note Kru, this is what happens when you type before you think. No harm done though.

This is evidently a tragedy. Ambi, you are understandably upset.

I think we should all take a deep breath (and is usual in the uk) have a nice cup of tea. I agree that the sexual comments were not exactly the best thought out or even appropriate however the comparison to Nazis is perhaps a bit harsh.

Can we all be friends again?

Shy xxx

 

[betudidntknow]

Being a black man myself. I've tried to remove race from this situation just long enough to consider the crime itself. Zimmerman seemed to me, an over zealous individual who placed himself in harms way. At the very least, I thought that manslaughter should have been decided. This is a very unfortunate situation.

 

[shyhedgehog]

We wouldn't be having this conversation at all if the US didn't have crazy gun laws

 

[joninliverton]

It must be very difficult to choose a jury under these circumstances, especially if it's only 6 members. However, one has to accept the verdict and wait until such a time that they can contest it legally.

 

[joninliverton]

The true pity is that Trayon was a hottie who would have looked really getting plowed by Paul or Adam or Blake and now, sadly, we will never know.
The killer Zimmerman is fugly and looks like an epsilon semi-moron half-wit, which means he should get the death penalty for murdering someone who rejected his sexual come-ons. Zimmerman was stalking a Trayvon for a hook-up. Zimmerman shot Trayvon to keep him from outting Z's closeted ass.
The proseution did a crappy job by not even considering the "troll hitting up a cute boy for sex" angle.

Ambi et al,

Please do not take into account what Kru says as meaningful. The guy or guys, or women or man/women are absolutely fucked up and although once in a while they come up with a good argument. 99pc of the time they speak utter shit. As per the quoted post

 

[mikeyank]

I didn't follow the case super closely, but I think I know the basic facts, of a unarmed black teenager was walking on a rainy night, within his father's gated community. The armed community watchman thought the black kid looked suspicious and called 911, who told him to stop following the kid and to go home. He decided to keep following the kid, there was a confrontation and the unarmed kid got shot and killed. I don't understand how Zimmerman was not convicted on manslaughter or something perhaps less than murder, but for him to be totally exonerated seems very wrong to me.

If I am missing something, I'd appreciate someone explaining to me why Zimmerman should walk away unpunished. If he had listened to the 911 operator, Travon Martin would be alive and Zimmerman wouldn't be in the mess he is in, with legal suits and vigilantes out to get him.

 

[Buckeye1]

However, one has to accept the verdict and wait until such a time that they can contest it legally.

In the US, Jon, Zimmerman can't be tried for the same crime twice. He was found not guilty and that verdict is final and can't be contested. His life on earth will not be easy from hereon out and he will spend the rest of it looking over his shoulder.