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Official: Murder charge in Trayvon Martin case
By The Associated Press
This article was originally published April 11, 2012 at 1:44 p.m. Updated April 11, 2012 at 4:50 p.m.
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SANFORD, Fla. — A law enforcement official says that the killer in the Trayvon Martin case will be charged with second-degree murder and is in custody.
The official with knowledge of the case says that the charge against George Zimmerman will be announced at a news conference at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The official says he’s in custody in Florida but wouldn’t say where. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to disclose the information.
An arrest had been delayed because of Florida’s purported "stand your ground" law, which gives people wide latitude to claim self-defense in a killing and other altercations.
The lack of an arrest had sparked outrage and rallies for justice in the Orlando suburb and across the country.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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Comments on: Official: Murder charge in Trayvon Martin case
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BarichMilhusseinObamaNixonPOTUS says... April 11, 2012 at 1:50 p.m.
At least we should be able to get more facts now though it doesn't really matter since 99% of the country has already made up their mind. Good luck finding an objective jury; even if they do I doubt they get a consensus.
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T6 says... April 11, 2012 at 2:08 p.m.
If the NBPP are there to intimidate jurers there'll be a consensus......
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Jfish says... April 11, 2012 at 2:24 p.m.
They will likely get a hung jury eventually, right or wrong, it is difficult to convict someone after the police have cleared them. A good defense attorney will have a field day.
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NoUserName says... April 11, 2012 at 2:34 p.m.
Hard to believe at this point that this any anything to do with justice.
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kinggeorge says... April 11, 2012 at 2:35 p.m.
Has anyone noticed that if you hear in on a major T.V. network it probably isn't true? The reporters have to lie or lose their jobs. Truth is ignored unless it helps their left wing causes. It is too bad that the national news agencies have sunk to such levels of incredibility and dishonesty. Thay totally misrepresented this case from the start. They are on the same level as T.A.S.S. or maybe with less integrity. Perhaps someday we will get back to having news reported accurately instead of fabricated by left wing propagandists.
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Jfish says... April 11, 2012 at 2:50 p.m.
Now MrD, you know that the NBC 911 tape edit was an honest mistake.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... April 11, 2012 at 2:52 p.m.
Zimmerman will be acquitted on this. Then what?
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NoUserName says... April 11, 2012 at 2:58 p.m.
I vote riot.
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T6 says... April 11, 2012 at 4:21 p.m.
For blacks who don't think for themselves and follow the likes of the NBPP and Michele Williams it will be an all out assault on whites.
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NickieD says... April 11, 2012 at 4:28 p.m.
I'm still waiting to hear the TRUTH about this.
I've heard all the BS from both sides, it is about time for some facts to be released.
From the bare facts that have been released so far, the Black community has misbehaved in a most serious way without a shred of proof that Mr Z was actually guilty of anything other than shooting the kid, which MAY not have actually been a crime under Fla law.
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T6 says... April 11, 2012 at 4:30 p.m.
pjmedia. com/jchristianadams/2012/04/10/no-attention-for-daylight-highway-stabbing-in-alabama/
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RonalFos says... April 11, 2012 at 4:50 p.m.
The police have made this a very difficult case to prosecute by their sloppiness from the beginning and that combined with the stupid Stand Your Ground Law may make real justice impossible to reach.
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Packman says... April 11, 2012 at 5:59 p.m.
What would be worse, no charges at all or a "not guilty" verdict? Eithere way, race baiters will use it to stoke racial tensions. I got two words for all you "guilty even if proven not guilty" haters out there - "Duke lacrosse".
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Populist says... April 11, 2012 at 6:15 p.m.
I love how all the rightwingers try to blame this prosecution on blacks. It appeared from the news conference that the prosecution team was all white. I have no reason to believe that this prosecutor brought what she thinks is warranted. I've said all along that this is at least negligent homicide and that manslaughter and 2nd degree murder were possible. While some of the evidence was not properly preserved at the outset (ballistics and angle of shot etc.), there may be enough evidence to convict Zimmerman. I've said from the beginning that the voice crying help on the tape did not sound like Zimmerman to me and that audio experts could testify definitively. The evidence regarding Zimmerman's injuries or lack thereof will be crucial in this case as will the timeline. Because of the cell phone records and the timing of the 911 calls, it may not have been possible for Zimmerman to have been hit on the back of his head getting out of his car and end up where the body was found. Also, if it can be established from the angle of the shooting that Martin was no threat to Zimmerman and he shot him anyway while Martin begged for his life(even if Martin had previously hit him), you can still get 2nd degree. I don't have much confidence in Florida juries after the Casey Anthony trial, but I think the prosecutor in that case did a poor job of explaining reasonable doubt to the jury. This prosecutor has an excellent reputation.
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Oldearkie says... April 11, 2012 at 6:20 p.m.
Finally ! Second degree isn't much but at least something is happening. I agree with the person above that there will probably be an acquittal anyway, but hopefully everything will finally be made public. I threw my hoodie away.
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hogfaninflorida says... April 11, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.
If you demonstrate long enough and threaten to do worse, you get your way. Don't hear any demonstrations on bringing to justice who shot up the Sanford Police Vehicle. I guess that is OK because they were just trying to get their point across.
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Populist says... April 11, 2012 at 6:37 p.m.
HogfaninFlorida,
Protests cannot change facts. Either that was Trayvon crying for help or it was Zimmerman. Either the gun went off in a struggle or Zimmerman shot Trayvon when he was not in a position to be threatened. Either Trayvon violently pounded Zimmerman's head against concrete or he did not. Zimmerman has procured good defense counsel and will have his day in court and his chance to present evidence.
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morebeer says... April 11, 2012 at 7:10 p.m.
Zimmerman's best hope is that some jurors will operate like that Dumas jury that refused to convict that rapist for attacking the charter school teacher despite seemingly impossible to refute evidence. (Yes, he was a rapist via a previous conviction). Or operate like the O.J. Simpson jury. I see a hung jury in Florida's future, although given the 2000 election, it's questionable a public official in Florida can safely handle and count 12 votes. Guess I'm feeling cynical tonight.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... April 11, 2012 at 9:31 p.m.
Funny that Zimmerman was arrested, but that the NBPP has not been arrested for putting a bounty on Zimmermans head. This is the legal system Zimmermans will be judged by?
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Populist says... April 11, 2012 at 9:37 p.m.
HogfaninFlorida,
I think people are more likely to protest a failure to investigate the shooting of an unarmed youth than vandalism to a police car. Are you not able to see this distinction? For me, this case is not about black and white. It is more about careless use of a firearm and the unfortunate loss of a youth. I also was upset about the murder of Caylee Anthony and countless other child victims. The color was only a factor in this case because it appears that the tragedy resulted from racial profiling and that an initial failure to investigate and prosecute also was rooted in racism. All murders are wrong, and the murder of a child or youth is especially tragic.
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NoUserName says... April 11, 2012 at 9:52 p.m.
"a failure to investigate the shooting of an unarmed youth"
.
Did not the Sanford police investigate? Oh, they just came to a different conclusion as you. That about right? Well, we'll see what the crack-shot special prosecutor has up her sleeve. And believe me, it better be something. Although, after watching her pontificate, I'm not particularly hopeful.
.
"that an initial failure to investigate and prosecute also was rooted in racism."
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And you make that conclusion how?
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BarichMilhusseinObamaNixonPOTUS says... April 11, 2012 at 10:26 p.m.
Something must be wrong if NickieD is the voice of reason here. Anyway he makes the most sense; let's wait for the facts. I just don't have faith in the judicial system ANYWHERE
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Populist says... April 11, 2012 at 10:34 p.m.
NoUserName,
Have you been following this case? The Sanford Police Department did a drug and alcohol screening on the VICTIM, but not the shooter. They did no ballistics testing etc at the scene of the crime. Also, the lead homicide detective said that Zimmerman should be charged, but this was ignored. (We are not sure why--but expect more developments on that.) Standard procedures such as interviewing the neighbors were ignored. One witness even claims that the police changed her testimony. The Sanford Police Department has a troubled history on this account, and the police chief has temporarily resigned as a result of this case. I also suspect that racism was a problem in this case from the 911 call from Zimmerman. What is "suspicious" about a kid going to get skittles from the neighborhood 711? Also, I am familiar with this part of Florida. It's KKK membership and list of right wing racists groups is right up there with Harrison, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama. Are you denying that certain parts of the country have a problem with racism? I am very uncomfortable with how people jumped to the conclusion that Zimmerman acted in self defense and Trayvon was the guilty party without having reviewed the available evidence. Have you listened to the 911 calls? Blacks kill blacks, whites kill whites, blacks kille whites, and whites kill blacks. Nobody should jump to any conclusions about any case without reviewing the availalbe EVIDENCE. Do not listen to Fox, NBC news, or any commentators. Look at the EVIDENCE. What we have now indicates that an armed adult shot and killed an unarmed youth. Do not think about color. Think about the facts and then listen to the evidence. Evidence also can surprise you and can change. New witnesses and new facts may emerge. Based upon what I know, Zimmerman was guilty of some form of negligent homicide, and I suspect that he is guilty of more based upon snippets of evidence. I think Zimmerman lied when he says that he was the party crying for help, but that does not mean that he was not attacked by Martin and that there was not a struggle. We have courts and prosecutors and defense counsel for a reason. Let the truth emerge.
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NoUserName says... April 11, 2012 at 11:06 p.m.
"Are you denying that certain parts of the country have a problem with racism?"
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Pop, this is a technique that I see more and more in online discussions. You have manufactured a question that not only cannot be logically inferred from what I've written but also implies something about me in a negative way and is done so in such a way as to bolster your argument. Quite frankly, having a discussion with someone who employs it isn't worth my time. Although, I will say that your statement of 'let the truth emerge' is laughable in light of previous posts you've made.
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aimee says... April 12, 2012 at 12:32 a.m.
I recall seeing many white faces in the calls for justice... Now that he has been arrested, the evidence will come out and the prosecution will be able to make its case, or do you think THEY are race baiting too..???
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As for the NBPP, it will go the way of New Coke...!!! You can't replace the classic..!!!
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amberjack says... April 12, 2012 at 5:21 a.m.
I think 99% of the country is sick of reading and hearing about this crap, way over sesationalized by the parents
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Populist says... April 12, 2012 at 6:07 a.m.
NoUserName,
I was not implying that you were racist. I was just pointing out that some communities are more racist than others and that northern Florida is one of those areas. Boston and suburbs in Connecticut have similar problems. Atlanta is not. Raleigh, North Carolina and Charlottesville, Virginia are not.
I became interested in this case after hearing the 911 calls and other evidence. While these convinced me that Zimmerman was at least guilty of negligent homicide, I still have not yet formed an opinion on Second degree murder. It would not be unheard of for a prosecutor to make a case for second degree when she believes that it is third degree murder or manslaughter.
Amberjack,
This case became a big deal only because the Sanford Police Department did not initially charge Zimmerman with any crime. If they had initially charged him with negligent homicide, we would have never heard of this case.
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morebeer says... April 12, 2012 at 9:18 a.m.
Geez, populist, nobody does ballistic testing at the scene of the crime. That's a lab analysis to match a slug with a gun. Maybe you're thinking about an on-site examination of shooting angles and such? I guess CSI: Sanford fell down on the job. Where is Dexter when you need him. I've mostly stayed out of the Trayvon discussion because my instinct tells me that the case hinges on very specific facts that are not clear at this time. I am perturbed by indignation that Zimmerman stereotyped a young black in a hoodie as potentially up to no good and worth keeping an eye on. Gee, where would he get such an idea? My bank has a sign (or did for awhile) on the front door saying: No hoodies or sunglasses please. Heck, LR has had a small crime wave the past few years from young criminals robbing Hispanics, because they stereotype Hispanics as illegal and unlikely to report the robbery to police. I'm expecting Senor Al Sharpton to turn up any day now and lament this development.
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 9:31 a.m.
So where's the screaming for justice? Wheres' the posters, where's Obama saying if he had a bi-racial son he would look just like "Daniel Atkins"?
The man was walking his dog and he' now DEAD!
Where's the OUTRAGE......???????
The weapon Daniel Atkins was supposed to have had was a dog leash.
Where's Al Not So Sharpton to protest for the victim?
Arizona has a "Stand Your Ground" law, too, which allows a "victim" to use deadly force when faced with a life or death confrontation.
The shooter has not been arrested or charged with a crime.
Adkins' family members are calling for justice.
This case is similar to Zimmerman's. Why haven't we heard about this?
myfoxphoenix. com/dpp/news/crime/taco-bell-shooting-victim-was-holding-leash-not-weapon-4-4-2012
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 9:40 a.m.
Oh Maybe I should have posted the shooter was Black!!!!
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 9:52 a.m.
Oh and Atkins is Hispanic......
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lazybar says... April 12, 2012 at 10:20 a.m.
how could they not file charges?you have obama,holder,sharpton,tyson,and all the other fine people out there calling for blood.whats gonna happen if its a not guilty verdict?are all the hoodie wearing supporters gonna call for blood of the police?jurors?
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Populist says... April 12, 2012 at 10:48 a.m.
T6,
The taco bell shooting just occurred Tuesday night, and it is still under investigation and the shooter is probably going to be arrested. I don't think it has anything to do with race. Let's not make every crime in America all about race.
Lazybar,
Everybody in America is going to be able to watch the trial, and hopefully, people will be happy with the verdict. I was very unhappy with the O.J. verdict and the Casey Anthony verdict, but I did not riot then and I won't riot if I disagree with the verdict in this case. I am not sure that this will not plead out to a form of manslaughter. It really is kind of racist to suggest that black people will riot if they disagree with the verdict. Most of the rioting in recent years seems to have more to do with either happy or unhappy sporting fans of all colors. While there have been instances of blacks rioting when Martin Luther King was killed, wasn't it the white people in Selma, Alabama carrying the clubs in 1965 and weren't the blacks acting peacefully? While I wasn't born when Central High was desegregated, I do believe the black students acted with dignity and grace while loudmouth racists made a$$es of themselves and forever tarnished Little Rock's image. I agree that Al Sharpton is no Martin Luther King, but I do not expect any "rioting" even if people are unhappy with the verdict.
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aimee says... April 12, 2012 at 11:05 a.m.
T6 & lazybar have always had a skewed racial outlook... It must in their DNA to be bigoted... Or maybe they just can not be broadminded because they both lack a mind..!!!
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 11:26 a.m.
No Populist, It's more like B.S. DOUBLE STANDARD.
Aimee, Can't say how lazybar feels about what you said but I say that's better than having a LYNCH MOB MENTALITY, like you and others have........
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lazybar says... April 12, 2012 at 11:33 a.m.
where did you see i made a racist comment?the four names i named were black but they are the biggest public figues calling for blood.as far as hoodies go both my kids are white and they also wear hoodies quite often,so how is that racist?
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 11:48 a.m.
aimee, since when is wanting truth and justice and letting ALL facts come out in this case, not intimidation and pressure of a potential race war and vigilantism, having a skewed racial outlook?
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HarleyOwner says... April 12, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
Anyone remember the riots over the Rodney King incident? I think it's fair to expect the same if Zimmerman is acquitted.
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Populist says... April 12, 2012 at 2:59 p.m.
HarleyOwner,
That was twenty years ago. I think law enforcement will be better prepared, and I am not so sure that blacks will be dissatisfied with what happens in the Zimmerman case. Some of the commentators act as if people have been calling for his blood. Many of us just called for him to be arrested and a thorough investigation to occur. The public is right to demand a thorough investigation when an unarmed person (especially a child) has been killed. We also should demand that those who carry firearms take due care not to shoot children in our neighborhoods. I will wait to hear more evidence before I decide whether manslaughter or 2nd degree murder are appropriate, but the facts we do know establish negligent homicide and some jail time.
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aimee says... April 12, 2012 at 3:04 p.m.
T6 & lazybar:
*
Justice is for everyone...not the "just us" mentality of the Right..!!! You keep suggesting that the parents of the dead teenager and those supporting them are racially motivated... I don't see that at all... I see them as parents wanting an answer to how something like this could happen... They have said they will accept the verdict, but they wanted a VERDICT, not just the police deciding the death of their son did not matter, sweeping it under the rug and hoping no one would notice... It mattered plenty to them and to every other parent concerned for the safety of their children... They want ANSWERS not retribution..!!!
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 3:42 p.m.
Hey aimee, Retribution is exactly what is wanted by most blacks. If Zimmerman's found innocent you'll find that out in short order.
Hey Populist, you said, "Some of the commentators act as if people have been calling for his blood."
What would you call a Wanted poster for $10,000 DEAD or ALIVE?
I read on a blogsite last night, that not only called for blood but also said if Zimmerman wasn't found guilty there would be a Hit put out on Corey.
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NoUserName says... April 12, 2012 at 4:53 p.m.
If the evidence is not there, making an arrest and going to trial just so the parents can have a verdict is reprehensible and should result in disbarment. Decisions whether or not to charge somebody happen thousands of times a day. Obviously, we are saying we don't trust our police department/local prosecutors to make that decision. The ramifications of that to me are pretty severe.
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BarichMilhusseinObamaNixonPOTUS says... April 12, 2012 at 7:15 p.m.
Coming soon to CurrenTV; Aimee:Voice of Stupidity
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 7:32 p.m.
According to Alan Dershowitz the affidavit justifying Zimmerman’s arrest “not only thin, it’s irresponsible.” He went on to criticize the decision to charge Zimmerman for second degree murder by special prosecutor Angela Cory as being politically motivated.
mediaite. com/tv/harvard-prof-alan-dershowitz-zimmerman-arrest-affidavit-irresponsible-and-unethical/
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Populist says... April 12, 2012 at 9:18 p.m.
Let's stop beating a dead horse. Even the defense attorneys knew that there was going to be some form of prosecution. An armed, adult male who is not a police officer follows an unarmed youth and eventually shoots and kills him. A different set of facts would yield a different result, but at the least the adult gets a negligent homicide slap on the wrist depending on whether the kid was shot in a struggle or perhaps a 2nd degree murder if the youth was gunned down in a fit of anger. Nobody commenting here has put a bounty on Zimmerman's head. I feel sorry for the guy. I think that I would rather be Trayvon now than Zimmerman. I am sure that Zimmerman regrets his actions at this point. However, justice must be served, and people who are Wild West gunslingers must be prosecuted to avoid more tragic deaths. This case is a reason why I do not have a gun in my home and do not carry one on the street.
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 9:45 p.m.
Populist says..Let's stop beating a dead horse.
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Then proceeds to beat a dead horse!!!!!!!!
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T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 10:10 p.m.
Populist, you should read what you post... In one instance you said, "Some of the commentators act as if people have been calling for his blood."
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People have been calling for blood, The NBPP and most of the black community has.
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Then you said, "Nobody commenting here has put a bounty on Zimmerman's head."
No one said anybody commenting on here has put a bounty on Zimmerman's head but you and others have interjected you biased opinion on Zimmerman being guilty, instead of letting the investigation play out.
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If Zimmerman is acquitted you should probably take down your pretend lawyer shingle?
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aimee says... April 13, 2012 at 12:25 a.m.
If Zimmerman did not want his day in court, he should NOT have pulled the trigger..!!!
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Some of you (and you know who you are) act like you would PREFER a lynch mob to go after Zimmerman..??? Why is THAT..??? To give you something ELSE to complain about..???
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Republican Wing-nuts - true to form..!!!
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NoCrossNoCrown says... April 13, 2012 at 2:13 a.m.
T6 says... April 12, 2012 at 3:42 p.m.
Hey aimee, Retribution is exactly what is wanted by most blacks. If Zimmerman's found innocent you'll find that out in short order.
T6 the new spokes person for the black community............NOT
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T6 says... April 13, 2012 at 7:41 a.m.
aimee says...Some of you (and you know who you are) act like you would PREFER a lynch mob to go after Zimmerman..???
How would that be?????????
NCNC...... Sooo you think if Zimmerman is found not guilty he will be able to go about his life without being killed? Or without a race war?
NCNC. Notice I said in one post "the blacks that think for themselves and who don't follow the race baiters." There are very few of those Blacks, You can not deny most blacks have a deep seated hatred of whites.
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lazybar says... April 13, 2012 at 9:06 a.m.
aimmee i don`t see the right going after zimmerman with a lynch mob,i would say it looks more like the left.those sweet pacifist liberals who only want peace on earth and a free check every month.don`t go off and call that a racist comment because i think your white.
lots of mistakes in this case but the biggest was rushing to press charges.evidense is very thin and the charge is 2nd degree murder which will be even harder to prove.we all had a idea from the evidense anthony was guilty but could not be proven beyond the shawdow of a doubt.she was not convicted and was released but she will have to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life and so will zimmerman.and if you people don`t believe there will be riots and more death threats if zimmerman is found not guilty you live in a dream world.
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80Redux says... April 13, 2012 at 2:22 p.m.
REGARDLESS OF THE FACTS, the idiots (thugs) in our midst will demand a conviction and riot if there is not one.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... April 13, 2012 at 8:48 p.m.
So true 80Redux, so true.
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aimee says... April 13, 2012 at 11:23 p.m.
It's the right-wingers who are doing all the talking about riots and taking the law into their own hands.....but then again, THEY ARE the ones who pushed for "Stand Your Ground Laws"...!!!
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... April 14, 2012 at 3:39 a.m.
But it was a Democrat on a Democrat crime.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... April 14, 2012 at 4:58 a.m.
One Democrat, Fort Lauderdale state Sen. Mandy Dawson, missed the vote. But the rest of the Senate chamber supported it, 39–0.
The Florida House vote was 92–20. Twelve Democrats voted in favor.
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Despite liberal protesters’ claims that Florida’s so-called “stand your ground” gun law demonstrates that Republican policymakers are responsible for the February death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, an analysis of its legislative history shows that it was a bipartisan effort — and that no Florida Democratic state senator voted against it.
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lazybar says... April 14, 2012 at 8:53 a.m.
aimmee,was it a rightwinger that shot at the police car?is tyson a rightwinger?
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aimee says... April 14, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.
ToG:
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These "Stand Your Ground" laws have been enacted in 23 REPUBLICAN controlled "Red States"..!!! Florida alone had a legislature made up of as follows:
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House of Representatives
84 Republicans
36 Senators
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Senate
26 Republicans
14 Democrats
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It WAS a REPUBLICAN bill...!!!
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articles.sun-sentinel. com/2005-03-07/news/0503070059_1_growth-management-legislature-s-top-priority-public-schools/2
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Democrats objected to bill and offered amendments to alter it which Republicans defeated... In the end 20 democrats in the House voted against it... The result was a fore gone conclusion in the Republican dominated chambers... Opponents would have been labeled as being "soft on crime"...
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tampabay. com/news/courts/criminal/democrats-warned-about-stand-your-ground-in-2005/1221368
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The Republicans have supported these bills AFTER they were written by ALEC for the legislators... One has to wonder why these Republicans are not able to write bills themselves... ALEC serves as their Cliff Notes...!!! Fill-in-the-blank laws... How convenient for the Republicans..!!!
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Teachers and voters can recognize cheating when all the test answers are worded the same.. Republicans are cheating on the people who elected them... And deadly cheating at that..!!!
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nytimes. com/2012/04/14/opinion/republicans-and-the-gun-lobby.html?_r=1
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theatlantic. com/politics/archive/2012/04/exposing-alec-how-conservative-backed-state-laws-are-all-connected/255869/
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... April 14, 2012 at 2:20 p.m.
And the bill that was pasted in FL., was on a bipartisan vote.
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aimee says... April 14, 2012 at 2:25 p.m.
In an overwhelmingly Republican "Red state" with a Republican governor..!!!
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T6 says... April 14, 2012 at 6:37 p.m.
That's WHY AL Not So Sharpton and Jesse Racist Jackson has their faces in front of any and every camera, stirring up racial unrest on this to get the Stand Your Ground Laws Repealed in ALL of those 23 states.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... April 14, 2012 at 10:30 p.m.
Oh whine.
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aimee says... April 14, 2012 at 11:25 p.m.
I don't think they are the only ones wanting these hideous laws to be removed from the books... A Huffington Post interactive poll shows 70% in favor of repealing these laws...
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huffingtonpost. com/2012/04/13/debate-stand-your-ground-laws-repealed_n_1423578.html
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Populist says... April 15, 2012 at 8:46 a.m.
The Republican lawmakers who authored Stand Your Ground have said that the law would not apply in this case because Zimmerman was the aggressor and did not use "reasonable" force. Nevertheless, Florida prosecutors want the law repealed because it is making it harder for them to get convictions in other cases. Everybody who kills somebody is claiming that they are "standing their ground". The common law standards for reasonable self-defense worked for hundreds of years. Stand Your Ground gives rambo cop wannabe types and criminals an excuse if they shoot somebody. This is not a black, white or hispanic issue; it is a safety issue. Criminals of all colors and ethnic groups are using this law as an added defense to murder and manslaughter.
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NoUserName says... April 15, 2012 at 9:45 a.m.
Geez. People that boil everything down to R or D are annoying as f**k.
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Populist says... April 15, 2012 at 10:20 a.m.
Yes, I don't think that this is a Republican or a Democratic issue. It really is a legal, criminal issue. I tend to favor the prosecutors in most cases and think the legislators should listen to their opinions on these laws. The prosecutors are up the ones arguing the cases. While you have some bad prosecutors out there, most of them are dedicated public servants who want to keep our communities safe. Sometimes, the legislators try to make constituants happy by passing a new law, and they end up muddying the water. Stand your ground is not a good idea if it makes it easier for criminals to defend themselves from murder charges. The person who is dead is obviously not able to testify as to what happened.
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NoUserName says... April 15, 2012 at 12:54 p.m.
The law should - and generally does - favor the defendant. The prosecution has the burden of proof. It should stay that way.
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The problem here appears to be an overreach of the law. Although, without seeing all the facts - unfiltered through various news sources - it's hard to tell. If Martin was, in fact, beating up Zimmerman, then I'd say Zimmerman is justified regardless of SYG. If Martin was not, then I'd say Zimmerman is guilty of something (I'd have to read 2nd degree murder statute to see if he's guilty of that).
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