George Zimmerman
As we have often noted, our criminal justice system is not foolproof. In such murder cases we’ve analyzed as the West Memphis Three in Arkansas and Amanda Knox-Raffaele Sollecito in Italy, we have stated unequivocally that, abetted by misguided and incompetent prosecutors and judges, the juries got it wrong.
We’re not prepared to say this in the George Zimmerman murder trial in Sanford, Florida. We’re not saying Mr. Zimmerman was innocent in the death of Trayvon Martin, but that is not the jury’s job and never has been.
In our system, the jury in a criminal proceeding never delivers a verdict of innocent. Never. It is only asked to rule whether there is sufficient evidence to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. And that is exactly what this jury did.
We were not in the courtroom and did not watch the entire trial. But from what we could see, the prosecution never met this standard.
Petition — to have Al Sharpton indictd for inciting racial violence
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/petition-to-have-al-sharpton-indicted-for-inciting-racial-violence/sign.html#se
http://theblacksphere.net/2013/08/sharpton-backtracking-on-martin-race-baiting/
It’s always been problematic as self-defense, since Zimmerman initiated the chain of events that lead to the shooting. But it deals with the altercation only.
As for prosecutorial misconduct, my oldest sister finally came out and discussed her participation as a jury member on a child neglect case. Interestingly, my late brother-in-law and she were both on the same jury. They waited for the smoking gun from the prosecution that never came which involved spilling hot soup on an infant. They went into deliberations with the vote being 7-5 to convict. After they looked at the evidence which included lining up the suit the baby was wearing with the burns, it became obvious that it was due to an accidental spill. The couple, not the brightest bulbs in the pack, did everything they were supposed to do, applied ice, called 9-1-1. For this their baby was taken away for 6 months. The jury voted 11-1 to acquit. The holdout who worked for a child advocacy group, admitted that he lied on voir dire, that he made up his mind before the trial even started. And he had the audacity to file a complaint with the judge that both of my relatives had used undue influence on the other members of the jury.
I delved into this matter when it hit the fan last March. While there was not much information, I participated in an online chat with the lead reporter at the Orlando Sentinel. I asked why hadn’t the Sanford Police Department not found Rachel Jeantel and was told that the SPD had requested the unlock code for Trayvon Martin’s phone, but neither parent had responded. It befuttles me that they didn’t get a copy of his bill. It wasn’t until Tracy Martin received it and took it to Attny Crump that she was found.
I did get Trayvon’s path correctly as cutting through between two buildings on a rainy night is what teenagers would do. But it occurred as Zimmerman came up the street. It was reasonable to be suspicious. In my shoes, 25 years of being involved in inner city Indianapolis in secondary schools and living in the inner city, I would have been discrete in surveilling, stopping and making it look like I was looking for something in my car. If my instincts allowed, when he reached the club house, I might have stopped my car near, open the hood to check on something, and say hi. Depending upon te response, I might follow up with an introduction. If the response wasn’t hostile, I might ask if he was heading home and if I could give him a ride, or as I carry umbrellas, would have offered one to him.
I would not have followed him in the manner that Zimmerman did, not even in the vehicle.
I, like others, think Zimmerman is responsible for instigating the confrontation. It should send a strong message about confronting strangers.
Thank you all for this interesting and insightful discussion.
IMO may seem way off but Zimmerman will be back in the news at some point. I think he will be caught in something connected to young men. To me he is far from a vigilante but a man who has a not to good interest in boys like Trayvon. Media and other folks see just race and stand your ground rights instead of the man at the center of the case.
Oh, right. Because pedophiles always call the police and get them on the way to meet them before they try to pick up a victim to sexually assault them. WTF?
Zimmerman will be back in the news because of people like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the DOJ and petitions from the black mobs demanding that he brought up on Federal charges that he violated Trayvon’s civil rights, when it was Zimmerman’s rights that were violated, when the prosecutor deliberately and willfully withheld evidence and the media who reported Zimmerman as being a White racist, when he is in fact Hispanic and has helped black people in the past.
He helped oraganize a protest, when the NAACP refused to help, over the beating death of a black homeless man by a white police officer in 2010. He tutored black youths for years and had a black business partner. He also voted for Obama.
There is racism, but it’s coming from a small minority of unruly, violent, angry blacks, and liberals who are using this case as an excuse to sprew their hatred. by blocking vehicles, climbing on moving cars, shutting down streets threatening, beating and killing white people, burning business’ and burning the American flag.
Most blacks don’t support this behavior these mobs are carrying out, least not any that I know.
These mobs are being stirred up by race baiter’s and politicians to further their agenda in an attempt to divide and conquer America. It also serves as a distraction for bigger problems such as Benghazi, the IRS scandal, Fast & Furious, and the Arming and Support of the Muslim Brotherhood by this administration.
Because of this case there are bills being presented to overturn Stand Your Ground Laws and for sensitivity training. There wouldn’t be a race problem if they would stop stirring it up.
Obama say’s if he had a son he would look like Trayvon,
Al Sharpton is planning a protest in 100 cities calling for Justice for Trayvon, Day of Action
Jesse Jackson is considering asking the UN to look into the case,
DOJ considering bringing Federal Charges against Zimmerman.
This case happened in a small town in Florida, involving 2 people most people have never heard of.
Forgot to mention they’re going to try again for gun control using this case as an excuse.
As someone who credits her decision to get a degree in Psychology of Crime and Justice years ago in college to your work and books, your brief take on this case and inability to take a position on either side makes me sad. I think it’s the first thing I’ve ever disagreed with either of you on. Also the crazy, racist-comments-masquerading-as-valid-points-on-race on this post, those make me sad too. Guess it’s a good thing I’ve changed careers and become a food writer– I’ve yet to have a meal that made me cry myself to sleep.
We’re sympathetic to what you write, Rebecca, and I do think that if the prosecution had gone for manslaughter and put on a better case, they might have convinced the jury. But as hard as it may be to accept, please remember that jury trials are only indirectly about right and wrong. What they are about primarily is whether proof of guilt has been established. And unfortunately, this case just left too much reasonable doubt for the jury to know for sure. The jury just wasn’t convinced beyond that reasonable doubt that in those few crucial seconds, they knew what actually happened. Thanks for your sensitive comment.
What strikes me is that as a member of the public I feel lied to, cheated by the media ‘spin’/ media circus when I hear the ‘facts’.
This isn’t the first recent case where I felt this way…
Jodi Arias
Casey Anthony
Trayvon Martin/ Zimmerman
I admit I followed none of these cases at 1st, but of course heard about them everyday (because you can’t avoid it).
Jodi Arias was ‘spun’ as….. a domestic abuse victim doing self defense against her crazed boyfriend.
Casey Anthony spun as……maniacal party girl doing 1st degree pre meditated murder on her little daughter and (of course) deserving the death penalty.
Martin/ Zimmerman……a white on black hate crime by a white vigilante with a newly legal pistol gunning down a innocent teenage African American boy on his way home after he just bought ‘Skittles’ candy.
As a member of the public…..I was shocked…when I actually got the…..facts/ evidence….instead of media/ political spin/ hype.
The facts/ evidence were….Jodi’s boyfriend was stabbed 27 times by surprise when he was naked alone in the shower stall, 19 times in the back. He was shot through the forehead between the eyes. His neck was cut ear to ear ‘almost enough to remove the head’. Jodi ‘admitted’ she ‘did it’ and even took digital photos (souvenirs?)…..and this was….domestic abuse defense?.
Casey Anthony….single mother kicked out of where she was living….unemployed…no money….lives in her car…..abandons her 2 year old child (this much was admitted). Goes to a party, gets drunk, child’s dead….’This’ is 1st Degree Capital Murder and….Death Penalty…how???
Martin/ Zimmerman case….
In fact…..
The ‘gated community’ reported by the media is a high crime ‘apartment complex’ that ‘has’ a gate.
The prior year the police received 401 calls from the 260 units of the complex (almost 2 per unit) for….theft….home invasion….burglary…..vandalism. So, concerned about crime the residents made the ‘neighborhood watch’ Zimmerman was part of. The complex by the 2010 census was then 51% Hispanic/ or African American/ other.
Zimmerman was ‘Latino’ and not a ‘white vigilante’.
Martin at trial measured out by the ME at…5’11″….160lbs……
Zimmerman…..5’8″ 185lbs.
Martin as a high school senior had been ‘expelled’ from school after 3 prior mandatory suspensions…..(for suspected criminal/ rule breaking behavior) he was never convicted of a ‘crime’.
He went to live with his divorced Dad and Dad’s girlfriend at the complex in Florida.
As the liable adult parent of Martin who he was living with, and depending on, I tried to look up his Dad…..but hit a….’internet wall’…..of ‘no/ blocked info’……wonder why?
Internet walls can be broken….and if Trayvon Martin was living with and being schooled by his Dad at his Dad’s girlfriends apartment….His Dad’s background/ purpose in the complex/ and past….. would be relevant…..no?
So,…why is it obscured….?
Was this whole case a ‘fraud’ by political/ racial parties that tried to take us all in….for their benefit?
I’m sure time will tell.
The past two days, post-verdict, the message I keep getting is it’s not okay for Neighborhood Watch to follow leads if what has been reported is suspicious blacks (and even verified ones like the one testified to), but it would be fine if they were white or Hispanic. I mean, it’s this close to saying, We should be exempt from getting caught stealing because we’re black. If I call in a suspicious white guy in my alley 3 times, it’s not racially motivated, it’s nothing. If I call in a suspicious black guy in my alley three times, I’m a racist. I think the people who are taking that stance are racists and may not realize that their racism is extreme.
Trayvon Martin had the option to keep walking instead of assaulting George Zimmerman. Zimmerman may have overreached a bit, but it doesn’t mean his motivations were racist or his actions criminal. If Martin had lived, he’d have been charged.
Interview with Zimmerman juror, Video
http://therightscoop.com/must-watch-full-interview-anderson-coopers-captivating-interview-with-zimmerman-juror/
Absolutely right. There was absolutely nothing in the ballistics and physical evidence that permitted anyone to believe Trayvon Martin was the one being attacked. Common sense seemed to be absent in this case. Anyone wishing to kill a black man wouldn’t call the police to have them meet him there first. So the whole premise is off. Nothing in Zimmermans history they have found so far to indicate he was racist toward blacks.
George Zimmerman’s brother spoke eloquently the night of the verdict on CNN and I expect to see him employed in media because he was that good and composed and informed.
O’Mara said after the verdict he blames Martin family attorney Crump for lighting the racial fire the first week after the incident happened without first bothering to investigate the character of George Zimmerman. He also pointed fingers, of course, at the prosecutorial shenanigans that went on at the city level and I was very glad when he chastised the media to their faces as well. Because honestly, this is not the CNN I once knew. Their news coverage on this story consisted mainly of biased commentators while they cut away from the actual trial. Instead of doing investigative reporting and finding their own story, they just made up their reports from tweets and letting a good number of just biased commentators speak without any interview structure whatever to get to the truth. There are some stories to be had in this case, but all the media seemed to be doing was chasing sensationalism and enflaming the large number of angry people who didn’t even bother to watch the whole trial because they’d already made up their minds.
I think investigations should be done into prosecutorial misconduct and that we need to refocus some standards on media and insist on a larger portion of truthful investigative journalism.
Your right, the prosecution did not prove anything save that Mr. Zimmerman acted out of self defense. The trial was kept quite so none of us had much to judge the outcome on. We did have our race to decide his culpability on, but that is all. Why keep this trial so quite and not others? does not even a juror have the temptation to seek others opinion on their case? They should see this as an opportunity to stop buying and selling crime.
The media has no place in a court room if a man is to have a fair trial. But living in Indiana with the black expo violence against whites is my prediction because those who deny reason cannot be beaten by it. I think blacks will think it is a race issue and Zimmerman is a minority. His video and interview made it clear his life was in danger. No sworn deputy would do anything different. If they would let him speak. Maybe use a baton which he had none, what the toxicology report? Why did he attack? Why should the prosecution seek any charge, it self defense as I see it and the police should have seen that. Correct?