Victim of perceived thug may end up in jail

[Takhisis]

That's not the same as going out into the street and killing someone because he's funny looking, and then running away from the scene instead of reporting it.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

That's not the same as going out into the street and killing someone because he's funny looking, and then running away from the scene instead of reporting it.

Oh, it's just preemptive castle doctrine.

 

[Berzerker]

Breaking into your home isn't a confrontation?

no, it becomes a confrontation when I go looking for them or they find me first - he said I cant confront them

not that the castle doctrine applies to this situation anyway

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

no, it becomes a confrontation when I go looking for them or they find me first - he said I cant confront them

not that the castle doctrine applies to this situation anyway

I'd say that breaking into someone's house is grounds for castle doctrine. However, driving around and shooting people because you don't recognize them really isn't. As you said.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

no, it becomes a confrontation when I go looking for them or they find me first - he said I cant confront them

not that the castle doctrine applies to this situation anyway

"1. tending toward or ready for confrontation."

Sounds like breaking and entering fits the bill.

 

[Berzerker]

"1. tending toward or ready for confrontation."

Sounds like breaking and entering fits the bill.

I agree, but we aint using our definition of the castle doctrine.

The castle doctrine doesn't allow you to seek confrontations, first of all. It only allows you to stand your ground when confronted.

See? I didn't say that, I was asking the person who did what it means.

 

[LucyDuke]

Oh, it's just preemptive castle doctrine.

So not castle doctrine at all.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

So not castle doctrine at all.

Who said it was?

 

[Skwink]

How is that guy the victim? Or is that tongue in cheek?

From what I've read the shooter was found bleeding out of the nose and back of the head, and his back was wet (as if he was on the ground). No citation though, just read it in the comments on Reddit.

 

[useless]

Just a reminder; don't be black in a gated neighborhood.

 

[Formaldehyde]

From what I've read the shooter was found bleeding out of the nose and back of the head, and his back was wet (as if he was on the ground). No citation though, just read it in the comments on Reddit.

The Washington Post corroborates that comment.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...watch-leader/2012/03/08/gIQAPkJSzR_story.html

The report said Zimmerman initially called police to report a suspicious person in the neighborhood and minutes later 911 dispatchers received several calls of shots being fired in the neighborhood. Zimmerman told police officers that he had shot Martin and officers found a semiautomatic handgun on him. The report said that Zimmerman’s back was wet and he was covered in grass as if he had been on the ground. He was bleeding from his nose and the back of the head, the report said.

BET: Why Was Trayvon Martin Killed?

There are many questions and few answers surrounding this tragedy.

Here's what we know:

Martin was Black.

Zimmerman is white.

Martin was unarmed.

Zimmerman had a license to carry a weapon.

As Martin was walking home on the evenng of Feb. 26 with the packet of Skittles and iced tea he'd bought, Zimmerman noticed him and called 9-1-1 to report a "suspicious" person.

The police told Zimmerman to back off and that they would handle it.

Zimmerman ignored their order and followed Martin.

A fight subsequently ensued.

Neighbors called 9-1-1.

A shot was fired.

Martin was killed.

Zimmerman, who claimed self-defense as the justification for the shooting, was arrested and later released.
According to an incident report released Thursday, Zimmerman said, "I was yelling for someone to help me but no one would help me."

What we don't know:

What happened that Feb. 26 night.

Why a young Black man with everything to live for was shot and killed by a stranger?

Was this racial profiling, vigilante justice gone wrong, or a horrific accident?

Why did Zimmerman ignore police orders and continue to follow Martin?

Why did the two fight?

There are many questions and few answers. No one should rush to judgement because there are many unknowns in this case and only two people know what really happened. One is dead and the other is currently free.

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

There really aren't any questions. Zimmerman is a racist nut who shot Martin and killed him because he was black in a gated community. Zimmerman deserves to be locked up for life.

 

[Silurian]

Maybe this is what happened.

So Martin was walking back from the shop with sweets and a drink in his hands.

Zimmerman thinks that is suspicions phones the police and is told to leave it to them.

Zimmerman ignores the police and follows Martin at walking pace in his car.

Martin wonders why a strange man is following him at walking pace in his car and shouts at him something like "why are you following me".

Zimmerman gets out of his car and walks up to Martin.

Zimmerman tells Martin to stop walking which Martin ignores because he thinks he is some weirdo.

Zimmerman does not like being ignored so he grabs Martin.

Martin is scared at being grabbed by a weirdo so he hits Zimmerman who falls back on the grass.

Zimmerman pulls out his gun and kills Martin.

 

[Verarde]

How in the world has this guy not been arrested?! He shot an unarmed minor, for heaven's sake.

 

[kramerfan86]

I dont understand how he isnt in jail. I mean, how in the world isnt this a clear cut manslaughter/murder situation? So what if the kid maybe punched him? If I was in my own neighborhood and this guy gets out of his car and tries to apprehend me there is a good chance I clock him in self defense. This clown needs to be in jail.

Also, how in the world does an idiot in neighborhood watch not even recognize members of his own community?

 

[Crezth]

I think I know what happened:

Zimmerman is driving home from his local KKK chapter meeting. He's taking off his hood as he notices a young black man walking down the street.

Screaming the war cry of his people, Zimmerman leaps out of his moving vehicle and blasts the young black man in the chest.

Exuberant over his victory, Zimmerman's nose starts bleeding due to the rush of blood to his head and he falls onto the wet grass as he starts convulsing with the pure ecstasy of a racial murder well-done.

edit: Seriously though, I don't see how there are any two ways about it. We can hem and haw all day but he killed an unarmed minor. Absurd that he should walk free.

 

[kramerfan86]

Also, I forgot to add this, if you are a kid and a weirdo is following you around in a car then getting out and trying to apprehend you has kidnapping written all over it. Who can blame the kid for fighting back in the situation?

 

[Silurian]

Also, I forgot to add this, if you are a kid and a weirdo is following you around in a car then getting out and trying to apprehend you has kidnapping written all over it. Who can blame the kid for fighting back in the situation?

This was what I was thinking.

What should a child do if some stranger is following them in a car.

 

[woody60707]

Also, I forgot to add this, if you are a kid and a weirdo is following you around in a car then getting out and trying to apprehend you has kidnapping written all over it. Who can blame the kid for fighting back in the situation?

This is what happens when there is only one man left standing. You get to make up what ever story you want. How could you prove it otherwise if the guy was smart? From the shooters POV he could say the kid went crazy and attack him. Could you say the kids was defending his self from fear of being kidnapped, yep. Now the shooter doesn't know at the time that the kid was acting in self defense when the kid attack the shooter. So the shooter had to defend his self.

And all we have is the word of the shooter to spin his story.

And I'm a defense lawyers' dream. For me personally, reasonable doubt is a very high bar.

 

[CaptainF]

Hey guys, cut the (rent-a) cops some slack. 99% of them are making the other 1% look bad!