Trayvon Martin

[SonofRobbieJ]

And Martin would know that how?

Which is exactly why this law is hideous.

[BudFrump23]

Also, "no longer posing a threat" would mean he had posed a threat initially. Returning to his vehicle - he should never have gotten out of it and pursued him in the first place.

[Reginald Tresilian]

I couldn't agree more.

[henrikegerman]

SonofRobbie, I think what you might be raising is the interesting possibility, that, theoretically, ad absurdum, the stand your ground doctrine might arguably permit two people who reasonably believe themselves mutually in danger from the other might both be lawfully justified in killing the other. Culpability wouldn't attach to either with it not mattering who was the intitial aggressor (there is, of course, much discussion about whether that was ever the intended application of the law, and whether "stand your ground" concerns have anything to do with the decision not to arrest Zimmerman, or whether that's a red-herring, etc., but be that as it may...) and it not mattering whether either had an opportunity to retreat (which is, of course, no longer an obligation with the "stand your ground" doctrine, although it has been in traditional justification jurisprudence, at least when the occurrence is outside the accused's home).

I am not jumping to any conclusion that that has anything to do with the facts in Sanford, far from it. But the possibility that both parties to an altercation - whether it results in death or not - might be exculpated by "stand your ground" principles is fascinating (of course when one of the parties is dead, that party can not be prosecuted (except metaphorically), so that person's exculpation is not an issue).

But it is certainly alarming that "stand your ground" might give rise to such an interpretation.

When looked at this through this old-fashioned rugged frontier prism, "stand your ground" makes me wonder, this:

What's next? Will they bring back dueling?

[henrikegerman]

"Also, "no longer posing a threat" would mean he had posed a threat initially. Returning to his vehicle - he should never have gotten out of it and pursued him in the first place."

That may well be true, but I don't think one should be lawfully justified in attacking someone who was once following him or her and has stopped doing so. If that person has retreated, that should be the end of it. The problem, however, is applying "stand your ground" to such facts, since "stand your ground" seems to have gotten rid of duty to retreat. If you have no duty to retreat do you have to bow down when the other person has retreated? I would think so, as there no longer is a reasonable threat to your safety. But the law is so insane, it is hard to apply common sense principles to it, especially when considering theoretical fact patterns that we can change at any second to make even more daunting.

Again, I am not suggesting that that is what happened between Zimmerman and Martin. I don't know exactly what happened. My point with respect to this case is only infuriation with the investigation. I am not condemning George Zimmerman. I just don't understand how, given what we do know, (and here I'm not going to repeat what I've said on earlier posts), how anyone in their right mind could say there wasn't at the very least "probable cause" to suspect George Zimmerman of homicide.

[SNAFU]

Are there any statistics on how much cases of Justifiable Homicide has increased in Florida since Stand Your Ground was instituted?

[YouWantitWhen????]

It has more than doubled.
Justifiable Homicide on the Rise in Florida

[Reginald Tresilian]

According to this, it's more than doubled.
Justifiable homicide and other info

[SonofRobbieJ]

That...is absolutely horrifying. Is Florida turning into fUcking DEADWOOD?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Reg - great minds and all!

[Eris0303]

Trayvon Martin shooting: Debate over photos escalates

[Yawper]

info from the city/police department

http://sanfordfl.gov/investigation/trayvon_martin.html

http://www.sanfordfl.gov/investigation/docs/Zimmerman_Martin_shooting.pdf

misc press releases: http://sanfordfl.gov/right/press_releases.html

Today The Daily Beast wrote up some of the neighborhood burglary police reports with some additional info and comments.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/28/zimmerman-s-twin-lakes-community-was-on-edge-before-trayvon-shooting.html

[YouWantitWhen????]

Video has emerged from the night of his arrest showing Zimmerman, in police custody, with no obvious injuries.
Broken Nose and Head Injury?

[Yawper]

This was after the EMTs cleaned him up at the scene. You can see the cop was checking out the back of his head at 0:55.

[SNAFU]

Yes but no bandage? If one had a bloodied nose, I would assume there would be blood on the t shirt. The one time I was attacked my nose was bloodied and by was there blood on the shirt!

[YouWantitWhen????]

"Zimmerman, 28, suffered a broken nose, a gash to his head, and other injuries, according to Sanford police reports. He traveled to the police station that night to give his account of events and then went home. Sanford police confirm that he did not warrant medical attention at the scene and did not seek medical attention until the next day."



Gash and a Broken Nose?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Double Post.

[Yawper]

The license plate on the car isn't even readable. There's no way blood on his shirt is going to be visible in a video of such crap quality.

[YouWantitWhen????]

I would love to see his actual booking photo.

I wonder when Zimmerman is going to file a lawsuit against the police department for recklessly putting his life in danger for failing to get him proper medical treatment for a broken nose.

And, not getting him a CT scan for his head injuries?

[Yawper]

no arrest = no booking photo

[YouWantitWhen????]

In the words of Alanis - "Isn't it ironic."

[Yawper]

You'll just have to wait for the grand jury IF it takes place, otherwise you'll have to wait until the current investigations say something.

I wouldn't be surprised if he woke up with massive black eyes (or a splitting headache) that scared him into going to a hospital the next day.

[YouWantitWhen????]

If that was the case, don't you think a picture of him in that condition would have leaked by now?

[Yawper]

There's no reason to believe one would have been taken. There should be doctor or hospital documentation but anyone who leaks that would be in even bigger trouble than whoever leaked this video out of the PD.

[Kad]

Florida is one of the most backwards and baffling states in the US. And I say that as someone from the state.

[madbrian]

The attached link shows Zimmerman in police custody the night he murdered Trayvon Martin. Could someone please point out these alleged injuries to me?
Murderer