Family of Florida boy killed by Neighborhood Watch seeks arrest

[Doktor Howl]

I'm not convinced he was obligated to follow the dispatcher's instructions. Even if he were, "We don't need you to do that." is not the same as "Do not do that."

Doesn't matter.  He, knowing the cops were on the way, escalated the conflict.

[Placid Dingo]

I'm not convinced he was obligated to follow the dispatcher's instructions. Even if he were, "We don't need you to do that." is not the same as "Do not do that."

Doesn't matter.  He, knowing the cops were on the way, escalated the conflict.

But I would wonder if (i don't know how US law differs from Aus) if the charge could conceivably be dropped to manslaughter.

[Doktor Howl]

I'm not convinced he was obligated to follow the dispatcher's instructions. Even if he were, "We don't need you to do that." is not the same as "Do not do that."

Doesn't matter.  He, knowing the cops were on the way, escalated the conflict.

But I would wonder if (i don't know how US law differs from Aus) if the charge could conceivably be dropped to manslaughter.

That part depends, largely, on intent. 

My bet is, the jury drops murder 2 and convicts on manslaughter 1.

Personally, I don't think - for several reasons - that race was (overtly) involved.  I think he was a dumbass who had been a hero once already for catching a burglar at gun point, and wanted to do it again, so he waded in with disregard for the potential consequences for the victim.

And that's murder 2.  But it's Florida, so it's gonna come back manslaughter 1 at most.

[navkat]

If Zimmerman's story is true, I don't think he deserves any jail time.

I am, however, uncomfortable with the lack of witnesses.

If monkeys ride out of my asshole on unicycles, I may have to rethink my religious views.

I am, however, uncomfortable with the idea of repeatability.

Waterboard Zimmerman 2012!

[Doktor Howl]

If Zimmerman's story is true, I don't think he deserves any jail time.

I am, however, uncomfortable with the lack of witnesses.

If monkeys ride out of my asshole on unicycles, I may have to rethink my religious views.

I am, however, uncomfortable with the idea of repeatability.

Waterboard Zimmerman 2012!

BECAUSE ASKING FOR DUE PROCESS IS JUST LIKE TORTURE!

UNNNNNNNNNNNNG!

[Bruno]

If Zimmerman's story is true, I don't think he deserves any jail time.

I am, however, uncomfortable with the lack of witnesses.

If monkeys ride out of my asshole on unicycles, I may have to rethink my religious views.

I am, however, uncomfortable with the idea of repeatability.

Waterboard Zimmerman 2012!

How about a jury trial?

Is that too much to ask?

Or should we just let him go?

That would be fine.

[Doktor Howl]

If Zimmerman's story is true, I don't think he deserves any jail time.

I am, however, uncomfortable with the lack of witnesses.

If monkeys ride out of my asshole on unicycles, I may have to rethink my religious views.

I am, however, uncomfortable with the idea of repeatability.

Waterboard Zimmerman 2012!

How about a jury trial?

Is that too much to ask?

Or should we just let him go?

That would be fine.

Are you sure?  We don't want to violate anyone's civil rights, now.

[Bruno]

As long as the jury is impartial. From what I've seen so far, that's not going to be easy.

[Doktor Howl]

As long as the jury is impartial. From what I've seen so far, that's not going to be easy.

So if a case becomes famous, we should just drop it?

Note to self:  When I finally go berserk, make sure there are reporters around.

Note to self:  Do not kill reporters until they file their story.

[Bruno]

I never said I was against a jury trial.

We could waterboard him at the trial!

[Nephew Twiddleton]

From what i understand even if this case didnt become famous it would be an unfair trial on the grounds of it being florida. Trial by jurys the best thing we can implement here though so...

Remember- sometimes unfair works in the defendants interest.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I'm not convinced he was obligated to follow the dispatcher's instructions. Even if he were, "We don't need you to do that." is not the same as "Do not do that."

Doesn't matter.  He, knowing the cops were on the way, escalated created the conflict.

Fixed.

[Doktor Howl]

I'm not convinced he was obligated to follow the dispatcher's instructions. Even if he were, "We don't need you to do that." is not the same as "Do not do that."

Doesn't matter.  He, knowing the cops were on the way, escalated created the conflict.

Fixed.

I say "escalated", because the conflict was already taking place (and yes, Zimmerman started it) but did not have the potential for anyone getting killed until he escalated it by stalking Martin.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I never said I was against a jury trial.

We could waterboard him at the trial!

I think it's really interesting that you seem to be under the impression that this man is being unfairly accused of pursuing, assaulting, and killing a person who was walking through his own neighborhood, talking to his girlfriend on a cell phone and minding his own business.

We know that he pursued him.

We know that there was a scuffle.

We know that he shot and killed him.

What planet are you on where in some way the fact that the evidence leans badly against Zimmerman presents some kind of inequity of fairness?

The only thing in question is the degree of the crime, not whether one was committed. Even in Florida, it's illegal to initiate a conflict and shoot someone because you think they look suspicious on a public street.

As far as the racism element, I have no idea whether Zimmerman perceived Martin as being more suspicious because he was black, but that's really a moot point. The fact that the local cops didn't take him in, tried to protect him, and have a lengthy history of racism is pretty damning of the police department there, and people are not erroneously outraged about the racism of that situation. People need to stop conflating the outrage about the police department's blatant racism with the motivations of Zimmerman in going after Martin.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I'm not convinced he was obligated to follow the dispatcher's instructions. Even if he were, "We don't need you to do that." is not the same as "Do not do that."

Doesn't matter.  He, knowing the cops were on the way, escalated created the conflict.

Fixed.

I say "escalated", because the conflict was already taking place (and yes, Zimmerman started it) but did not have the potential for anyone getting killed until he escalated it by stalking Martin.

Oh, I gotcha. He called the cops after he started chasing Martin.