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July 9th, 2013
11:15 PM ET
Lesser charge for Zimmerman?
George Zimmerman's prosecution could ask the judge to consider a lesser charge such as aggravated assault or manslaughter instead of second-degree murder. Ashleigh Banfield reports.
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Post by: Ashleigh Banfield Filed under: Crime & Punishment • George Zimmerman • Trayvon Martin |
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If I was walking and someone was following me and I felt threaten most people would fight or choose flight. Facts, that young man went to the store and was buying skittles and whatever else. He has the rights to walk home without being harassed and being shot and killed. I'm in total confusion on the self defense case because if he had stayed in his car and not followed this young man than there wouldn't be a Zimmerman trial. There are bad people no matter what race and this young man was profile. I think Zimmerman made a mistake with consequences that ultimately cause someone to lose there life.
It seems that the media is already crusifying George Zimmerman. Speciaaly, Sonny Hostin! No matter what, she is ready to shoot the defense and Mr Zimmerman down! what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty! she is simply biased!
I agree with you in what happen to innocent until proven guilty? What did Trayvon do that made he look guilty? Wear a hooded jacket, walk at night in a neighborhood with neighborhood watch! Being a African American male that fit the profile of other subjects that broke into someone house prior. He did nothing wrong but died defending himself from someone that was following him.
George Zimmerman just announced he will not testify. Tune in to #AC360 tonight for complete coverage of today's trial at 8p 10p & 11p ET
Anderson Cooper will be ready to enlighten you more on this case tonight at 8p & 11p Et.
Tune in to #AC360
Mr. Jake Tapper.... Did you not hear Mr. Zimmerman's father? It wasn't about "whose voice" but about the "Process" he went thru to listen to the tapes. He was "sworn in" when he was brought ito the DAs office.... He was "reminded that he was under oath again prior to listenig to the tape..... He was alone i a small room when he listened to the tape..... He was with police officers when he listened to the tapes. How did his process differ from that of the Martin family> That was I got out of Mr. Zimmerman's testimony and I believe that is what defense wanted the jury to hear.
Why was Mr. Zimmerman's father not allowed in courtroom because he was a potential witness but Mr. Martin's parents were allowed to be in courtroom and testify? Just trying to satisfy legality of .....Thank you.
That allows the prosecution to play the sympathy card, Mr Zimmerman was basically tried and convicted long before this case ever went to trial . When the government goes to such extreme measures and spends that amount of money on a case they want a conviction , doesn't really matter if the person was clearly justified in his actions.
We watching are not a jurors and go to show why many voices and minds are needed in a jury room. It feels like we are seeing two different trials listening to you. The state has been weak but Zimmerman's story does not add up. As a mom the words stalker come to mind. Zimmerman was trailing Martin on the night in question like a hunter, and like prey feels cornered, Martin turns to defend himself. Zimmerman used a gun to end a situation he started, like a hunter. Except these were not animals. More over as a mom if my son, came with Zimmerman's injuries and said he fell off a bicycle, not wearing a helmet, I would believe him. Zimmerman's injuries were not severe. And his lawyer slamming the dummy's head closed the case for me. There is no way those two little wounds and few bumps came from repeated slamming of head! After all the experts and posturing and my following the trial, my personal conclusion is that In all likelihood, after neighbor states he's calling police Martin attempts to stop fighting/flee. I think they are standing. Zimmerman wants to detain Martin grabs hoodie and fires gun. I think from the neighbor, who did not want to get involved photos that were taken quickly after gun shot, show that Martin and Zimmerman were standing, Zimmerman shot Martin. Martin clutched chest, says "you got me or you shot me", clutches wound and drops to ground face forward. His feet appear to be in a running or moving motion. The body and clothes are too perfect for Zimmerman to have crawled out after shooting or having been on top of Martin. I think Martin's body tells it all. A dying person is not going to fix their clothes, tuck their arms and the face plant. Even if they managed to turn and try to get up, their elbows would be different. Martin is the best witness in this entire case.
This case is a waiste of time and money. We all know that Mr. Zimmerman spoke with the police and they told him not to follow this teenager. We also know that they told him not to get out of his car. He did both anyway and now a young man is dead.
This case is easy, what happens if Mr. Zimmerman did what he was told to do? Let me tell you, this trail would never happen because this young man would still be living. If he was doing something wrong he would most likely be in jail. If he was not doing anything wrong, he would be still enjoying his summer break.
If Mr. Zimmerman stays in his car, if Mr Zimmerman does not follow this teenager like he was instructed, then he never has to pull his gun out and shoot this kid.
Are you saying that Mr Zimmerman doesn't have the right to walk around his neighborhood ? Where was he suppose to go ? He is the neighborhood watch person and is suppose to be walking the block making sure no one is committing a crime in his area. Are you saying what he was doing was wrong?
Sonny Hostin has compromised herself so badly during the Zimmerman trial...days ago it became difficult to even listen to her talk.
Disappointed with your news comments tonight. Closing arguments are never allowed in as evidence! Why all the hype about the video closing. Juries are ALWAYS instructed about opening and closing statements are NOT evidence. No discussion about that. All about hype. Time to pull back and be respectable about what you are presenting to the non-legal educated public you are influencing. Wish I could watch FOX as an alternative, but its becoming a close compromise.