17y/o Killed By Neighborhood Watch/CHL

[sjfcontrol]

Does anyone know how long this trial is expected to run?

Until the race baiters get what they want.......

I really don't think they are in charge anymore. They aren't making any noise. A better knock-knock joke would have been "Treyvon Who? Your a moron!"

[sjfcontrol]

Feels really good to be off jury duty for the weekend!

[ScooterSissy]

Does anyone know how long this trial is expected to run?

I've heard 2-6 weeks, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to find it much shorter. If things keep going the way they are, I won't even be a little surprised if, right after the prosecution rests, the defense does two things:

Asks for a directed verdict.
Then rests (if it's not granted).

So far, the "star" prosecution witnesses are doing a great job for the defense team.

[sjfcontrol]

Does anyone know how long this trial is expected to run?

I've heard 2-6 weeks, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to find it much shorter. If things keep going the way they are, I won't even be a little surprised if, right after the prosecution rests, the defense does two things:

Asks for a directed verdict.
Then rests (if it's not granted).

So far, the "star" prosecution witnesses are doing a great job for the defense team.

I would be VERY surprised if THIS judge gives them a directed verdict -- well, unless she can "direct" a guilty verdict. She has been shown to be very pro prosecution in her decisions. Even reversibly so.

[howdy]

Tried not watching any, but did today. Having spent a lot of time in court over 20 plus years I can say that IMO Zimmerman's attorneys are doing a good job to show reasonable doubt. They were not confrontational and very methodical to get the statements they needed clarified. The officer testifying that he took Zimmerman into custody at gun point did a great job. He clearly articulated it was normal procedure, it was dark and you needed a flashlight to see. That is crucial to dispute the witnesses that claimed the deceased was on the bottom. The MMA statements were great, and the fact that witness was consistent since day one is even better.

I do wonder though, where is the uproar for the police taking Zimmerman into custody at gun point? I mean shouldn't they have known he was just a CHL holding neighborhood watch citizen and disregarded basic officer safety practices "rlol" ?

Maybe if he would of had his CHL badge...

[howdy]

First off, I think he is an innocent man and should walk. That being said....AndyC does have a point. We teach in CHL classes to avoid the confrontation. I heard one TV pundit saying "I bet he would never have left his car IF he was not carrying that gun. He knew he could win any fight that might ensue" I think this is a very reasonable statement and one the procecution might use effectively to get at least a manslaughter conviction.

Experience is gained by making mistakes and mistakes are made from lack of experience. This whole case should be a learning point for all of us.

[baldeagle]

I stand somewhat corrected, however:

(4) if the actor provoked the other's use or attempted use of unlawful force, unless:

It applies to unlawful force, note - and under both the Florida and Texas statutes, shooting is a last resort (as it should be); you can't stand there and use a gun to end a fist-fight that you provoked and you're losing.

Bottom line of what I was getting at is - if you provoked it, you'll have a really hard time convincing a jury that you were defending yourself in response. I didn't say it was impossible - just a very long shot, and I firmly believe that because of the "reasonable man" concept. A reasonable man does not provoke a fight, uses a gun because he was losing when he had other options of escape - and then turns around and claims self-defense. Legal or not, if I were on such a jury, I would use every bit of jury nullification to send such a person to prison.

You make a very good point that only needs a little clarification. The key to successfully defending yourself in such circumstances is that you had no other options of escape. That was clearly the case with Zimmerman. The wiser course of action, obviously, is to not start something in the first place.

[VMI77]

"I bet he would never have left his car IF he was not carrying that gun. He knew he could win any fight that might ensue"

The problem with that reasoning is that is assumes no one else in the country but cops and chl holders are armed, including criminals. If it were that simple police officers would never be killed in the line of duty.

[K.Mooneyham]

I stand somewhat corrected, however:

(4) if the actor provoked the other's use or attempted use of unlawful force, unless:

It applies to unlawful force, note - and under both the Florida and Texas statutes, shooting is a last resort (as it should be); you can't stand there and use a gun to end a fist-fight that you provoked and you're losing.

Bottom line of what I was getting at is - if you provoked it, you'll have a really hard time convincing a jury that you were defending yourself in response. I didn't say it was impossible - just a very long shot, and I firmly believe that because of the "reasonable man" concept. A reasonable man does not provoke a fight, uses a gun because he was losing when he had other options of escape - and then turns around and claims self-defense. Legal or not, if I were on such a jury, I would use every bit of jury nullification to send such a person to prison.

This thing is so long AndyC that I cannot remember if you stated a position earlier. Do you believe that GZ intentionally provoked a fight with TM? I thought that intent was very important in something like this case (barring the media circus surrounding it), though since IANAL I am very willing to be "schooled" on this subject.

[bayouhazard]

The wiser course of action, obviously, is to not start something in the first place.

True. True. If TM did that he might still be alive.

[ajwakeboarder]

There are predictions of race riots if Zimmerman is acquitted.

“If you live in a large city be prepared to evacuate or put up a fight to win. You will need firearms, fire suppression equipment along with lots of food and water.

http://www.infowars.com/ex-chicago-cop- ... ace-riots/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Take it with a grain of salt. The source is infowars after all. But some have said it would be better to find Zimmerman guilty, even if he's innocent, just to avoid riots. I don't understand the logic in that. Find an innocent man guilty to prevent people from breaking the law.

[WildBill]

I don't understand the logic in that. Find an innocent man guilty to prevent people from breaking the law.

That's because there is no logic in that.

[sjfcontrol]

There are predictions of race riots if Zimmerman is acquitted.

“If you live in a large city be prepared to evacuate or put up a fight to win. You will need firearms, fire suppression equipment along with lots of food and water.

http://www.infowars.com/ex-chicago-cop- ... ace-riots/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Take it with a grain of salt. The source is infowars after all. But some have said it would be better to find Zimmerman guilty, even if he's innocent, just to avoid riots. I don't understand the logic in that. Find an innocent man guilty to prevent people from breaking the law.

Probably just as likely to have race riots either way.

Actually, I believe the interest in this case is MUCH reduced from what it was a year ago. Low information voters tend to have short attention spans.

[Right2Carry]

There are predictions of race riots if Zimmerman is acquitted.

“If you live in a large city be prepared to evacuate or put up a fight to win. You will need firearms, fire suppression equipment along with lots of food and water.

http://www.infowars.com/ex-chicago-cop- ... ace-riots/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Take it with a grain of salt. The source is infowars after all. But some have said it would be better to find Zimmerman guilty, even if he's innocent, just to avoid riots. I don't understand the logic in that. Find an innocent man guilty to prevent people from breaking the law.

I think anyone participating in Riots should be charged with domestic terrorism and locked up till they serve out the maximum sentence.