Court of public opinion looms large in George Zimmerman murder trial

Foxrac said:
I agreed with you.
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Well that would be a mistake because "circumstance evidence" is a defense argument not a prosecution argument.
 
Jiro said:
let's face it. you believe it is what happened.

again - the Florida law is very absolutely clear about this. You CANNOT put yourself into a potentially-hostile situation as what you've described in your hypothetical situation. You are REQUIRED to walk away from it and not get involved in ANY matter. That is the LAW.

You wanna get involved? put your gun away. or just call 911 and BE GONE.
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Since Zimmerman called the non-emergency line, maybe he didn't think he was in a dangerous situation at the time. :dunno:
 
Jiro said:
...You wanna get involved? put your gun away. or just call 911 and BE GONE.
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"Put your gun away." That assumes that he had his gun out before the confrontation. There has been no testimony or even suggestion that Zimmerman was walking around with his gun drawn.
 
Jiro said:
ah.... yep you didn't understand my answer.

sure Zimmerman can shoot and that's his choice but then he would be arrested for murder/manslaughter because he willfully put himself in danger "after the fact". that was extremely crucial part. he reported a hostile individual and described a hostile situation from his car. and somehow.... he ended up being in bed with him.... :hmm:
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From reading the transcripts, and from testimony, there is nothing to indicate that he reported a "hostile" individual, nor did he describe a "hostile" situation. At the time he made his call, there was no hostile action occurring.

He called to report suspicious activity, not hostile activity.
 
Jiro said:
victim? Trayvon wasn't a victim to Zimmerman. Trayvon was a hostile suspicious suspect. Zimmerman automatically forfeited his legal rights once he put himself in danger.
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Until the final confrontation, how was Martin "hostile" to Zimmerman? Did he approach him in a menacing manner or shout threats at him?
 
Jiro said:
...you've just demonstrated that there's a chance that Zimmerman would be attacked and yet.... he chose to put himself in danger by following him. therefore.... ILLEGAL! Charles Bronson!
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Is it actually illegal for a neighborhood resident to follow, observe, and report an unknown person in a public area?

Mind you, I'm asking if it's illegal, not if it's prudent or wise.
 
Jiro said:
a neighborhood watchdog is trained/instructed not to get involved. and neighborhood watchdog is strongly advised not to carry a gun.
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He wasn't "on duty" as a Neighborhood Watch commander at that time. He was a resident, who had been on an errand, who noticed suspicious activity.

From what I've read, Zimmerman was carrying his weapon for his own personal protection while going out on a nighttime errand. There is nothing aggressive or suspicious about that. While on his errand, he spotted something that aroused his suspicions.

When Zimmerman left his house that night, he wasn't purposefully going out to seek for and apprehend thieves.
 
Reba said:
He wasn't "on duty" as a Neighborhood Watch commander at that time. He was a resident, who had been on an errand, who noticed suspicious activity.

From what I've read, Zimmerman was carrying his weapon for his own personal protection while going out on a nighttime errand. There is nothing aggressive or suspicious about that. While on his errand, he spotted something that aroused his suspicions.

When Zimmerman left his house that night, he wasn't purposefully going out to seek for and apprehend thieves.
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wasn't talking about him.
 
Reba said:
Is it actually illegal for a neighborhood resident to follow, observe, and report an unknown person in a public area?

Mind you, I'm asking if it's illegal, not if it's prudent or wise.
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I was referring to armed resident
 
Reba said:
"Put your gun away." That assumes that he had his gun out before the confrontation. There has been no testimony or even suggestion that Zimmerman was walking around with his gun drawn.
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of course not. he knew he'll get arrested if he said that.
 
Reba said:
From reading the transcripts, and from testimony, there is nothing to indicate that he reported a "hostile" individual, nor did he describe a "hostile" situation. At the time he made his call, there was no hostile action occurring.

He called to report suspicious activity, not hostile activity.
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let's see...

Dispatcher: OK, and this guy is he white, black, or Hispanic?

Zimmerman: He looks black.

Dispatcher: Did you see what he was wearing?

Zimmerman: Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie, and either jeans or sweatpants and white tennis shoes. He’s [unintelligible], he was just staring…

Dispatcher: OK, he’s just walking around the area…

Zimmerman: …looking at all the houses.

Dispatcher: OK…

Zimmerman: Now he’s just staring at me.

Dispatcher: OK–you said it’s 1111 Retreat View? Or 111?

Zimmerman: That’s the clubhouse… [A]

Dispatcher: That’s the clubhouse, do you know what the–he’s near the clubhouse right now?

Zimmerman: Yeah, now he’s coming towards me.

Dispatcher: OK.

Zimmerman: He’s got his hand in his waistband. And he’s a black male.

Dispatcher: How old would you say he looks?

Zimmerman: He’s got button on his shirt, late teens.

Dispatcher: Late teens ok.

Zimmerman: Somethings wrong with him. Yup, he’s coming to check me out, he’s got something in his hands, I don’t know what his deal is.

Dispatcher: Just let me know if he does anything ok

Zimmerman: How long until you get an officer over here?

Dispatcher: Yeah we’ve got someone on the way, just let me know if this guy does anything else.

Zimmerman: Okay. These assholes they always get away. When you come to the clubhouse you come straight in and make a left. Actually you would go past the clubhouse.

Dispatcher: So it’s on the lefthand side from the clubhouse?

Zimmerman: No you go in straight through the entrance and then you make a left…uh you go straight in, don’t turn, and make a left. Shit he’s running.
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"something" in his in his hand... sounds like a potentially hostile situation.
 
Jiro said:
let's see...

"something" in his in his hand... sounds like a potentially hostile situation.
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Only if he points it at you or says, "I have a gun/knife/taser."

Nothing in that transcript describes hostile behavior or words.
 
Reba said:
Or he didn't have his gun drawn.
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we'll never know...

Reba said:
Oh. I thought this thread was about Zimmerman's trial.
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yes we are but notice that I said "Neighborhood Watchdog"... not Zimmerman. and I've already stated that he wasn't on neighborhood watch duty in other thread.
 
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