Court of public opinion looms large in George Zimmerman murder trial

Reba said:
The ones I heard were other lawyers and judges.

Of course, no one can know the minds of the jurors. They aren't lawyers, so they may see things differently.
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Exactly. We see that in case after case sadly. The experts can only tell us what the law is and how it is supposed to work and then guess at how a jury might respond. But juries often fail us.
 
Babyblue said:
Wirelessly posted

Well if Zimmerman knew the selfdefense laws then was he defending himself during the past assaults? Just because someone takes a class on criminal justice doesn't make them goody two shoe. It just showed he knew what to say and how to play this.
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What is amazing is the way GZ plotted to get pinned to the ground and punched in the face. That is genius!
 
Reba said:
So, skinned knuckles on Martin's hands show that he punched Zimmerman. Were there any marks on either of them to show that Zimmerman struck Martin?
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what for? he had a gun.

Trayvon chose to stand his ground with his fists and Zimmerman with gun.
 
Jiro said:
what for? he had a gun.

Trayvon chose to stand his ground with his fists and Zimmerman with gun.
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As I said earlier, it looks like Trayvon chose poorly.


Maybe this example will save lives in the future.
 
So, does anyone feel that justice is being served here? Is this just a case of a "gangsta" getting shot to death, and/or a bunch of inept lawyers failing to prosecute the guy that shot him?
 
George Zimmerman trial: Testimony continues today - OrlandoSentinel.com
Circuit Judge Debra Nelson had said after lunch that the state expected to rest its case today, but the lawyers spent the rest of the afternoon questioning one witness: Anthony Gorgone, a DNA analyst for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Gorgone testified that none of the swabs of Zimmerman's gun found DNA matching Trayvon. Gorgone also testified he found none of Zimmerman's DNA in scrapings of Trayvon's fingernails, or in swabs of the hooded sweatshirt the teenager was wearing, including the cuffs.

Zimmerman's DNA was found in a stain that tested positive for blood near the bottom of the sweatshirt Trayvon was wearing under his hoodie. Another mixed DNA profile was found on one of the sleeve cuffs, Gorgone said, and Zimmerman could not confirmed or ruled out.
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Later, jurors heard from U.S. Army Capt. Alexis Francisco Carter Jr., a Judge Advocate General officer and former public defender who taught Zimmerman's Criminal Litigation course.

Carter said Zimmerman "was probably one of the better students in the class," earning an "A" grade. Florida's "stand your ground" self-defense law was a frequent topic of discussion in the class, Carter said.

"I remember talking about it quite a few times," Carter said. The state argues that contradicts Zimmerman's later claim that he didn't know about the law until after he shot Trayvon.
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Prosecutors say Zimmerman's education is relevant: His choice of classes at Seminole State College — on criminal investigation, among other topics — underscore the former Neighborhood Watch volunteer's intense interest in law enforcement, the state says.

"He has had a desire to be an actual police officer" and "elected to take" this coursework, prosecutor Richard Mantei argued in court today. He said that Zimmerman's choice of courses also mirrored his "extracurricular" activities, including his work with the Neighborhood Watch.


Mantei argued the evidence already shows Zimmerman "profiles" and uses police jargon: "'I unholstered my firearm,' not, 'I pulled my gun.'"

The prosecution also argues testimony from Zimmerman's professors is needed to rebut his claim, in an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News from last year that was aired in court Tuesday, that he didn't know about Florida's controversial "stand your ground" self-defense law before he shot Trayvon.

Zimmerman would have learned about that in class, the state says.
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Reba said:
So, skinned knuckles on Martin's hands show that he punched Zimmerman. Were there any marks on either of them to show that Zimmerman struck Martin?
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I heard on Nightly News tonight that there was no DNA of Zimmerman under Martin's fingernails. Zimmerman was able to walk into the police station on his own feet so he could not had his head smashed as hard as he claim. Yeah there was a bullet hole in Martin's body.
 
Wirelessly posted (BB Curve 9300)

Jiro said:
Reba said:
So, skinned knuckles on Martin's hands show that he punched Zimmerman. Were there any marks on either of them to show that Zimmerman struck Martin?
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what for? he had a gun.

Trayvon chose to stand his ground with his fists and Zimmerman with gun.
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Witness Rachel said that Zimmerman threw the first punch, not that he threatened with a gun.
 
Wirelessly posted (BB Curve 9300)

whatdidyousay! said:
Reba said:
So, skinned knuckles on Martin's hands show that he punched Zimmerman. Were there any marks on either of them to show that Zimmerman struck Martin?
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I heard on Nightly News tonight that there was no DNA of Zimmerman under Martin's fingernails. Zimmerman was able to walk into the police station on his own feet so he could not had his head smashed as hard as he claim. Yeah there was a bullet hole in Martin's body.
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If Martin punched with a closed fist, there wouldn't be DNA underneath the nails.
 
Reba said:
Wirelessly posted (BB Curve 9300)



If Martin punched with a closed fist, there wouldn't be DNA underneath the nails.
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Exactly. In fact that probably helps GZ because DNA under fingernails is usually a sign of a defensive struggle. The fact that Trayvon lacks this is telling.
 
saywhatkid said:
So, does anyone feel that justice is being served here? Is this just a case of a "gangsta" getting shot to death, and/or a bunch of inept lawyers failing to prosecute the guy that shot him?
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The prosecutors can only work with what they have.
 
TXgolfer said:
Exactly. In fact that probably helps GZ because DNA under fingernails is usually a sign of a defensive struggle. The fact that Trayvon lacks this is telling.
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nope. it would be a sign of PHYSICAL ALTERCATION - either offensive or defense. I dunno about you but with Zimmerman's "bloody" injuries plus his testimony that Trayvon was slamming his head repeatedly against concrete... there's not a tiny trace of Zimmerman's DNA was found under Trayvon's fingernails?

fishy.
 
Reba said:
Wirelessly posted (BB Curve 9300)

If Martin punched with a closed fist, there wouldn't be DNA underneath the nails.
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Zimmerman testified that Martin was slamming his head against concrete repeatedly.
 
Reba said:
Wirelessly posted (BB Curve 9300)



If Martin punched with a closed fist, there wouldn't be DNA underneath the nails.
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Zimmerman said Martin smashed his head on the sidewalk and you need to uses your hands to do that.
 
George Zimmerman laughs out loud as ‘Stand Your Ground’ defense is explained in court | FreakOutNation
George Zimmerman had quite an inappropriate chuckle in court today after U.S. Army Capt. Alexis Francisco Carter Jr. explained the ‘Stand your ground’ law, and said that the defendant had been “one of the better students” in a Criminal Litigation course he taught that included that particular self defense law.

After an explanation, Don West asked, “You don’t have to wait until you’re almost dead until you can defend yourself?”

Carter responded, “No, I would advise you probably don’t do that.”

Raw Story reports, “That response prompted several seconds of laughter from the usually-emotionless Zimmerman before he was able to look downward to regain his composure.”

ZimmermanLOL-350x221.png
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skip ahead to 1:00 where he starts to laugh :ugh:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO_H3H2SOBs]George Zimmerman Laughs In Court - YouTube[/ame]
 
Jiro said:
Zimmerman testified that Martin was slamming his head against concrete repeatedly.
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Good point. I guess it would depend on how Martin grasped Zimmerman's head. Did Zimmerman describe how that was? He didn't have much hair, so I don't think he was grabbed that way. Was he slammed by the shoulders? Or did the back of his head hit the pavement when he was punched in the face? :dunno:

I don't know much about fist fighting or MMA fighting. Probably the women jurors don't either. Maybe one of the lawyers can present an animation to show what happened. I would like to get a better idea of the altercation itself.
 
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