Neighbourhood Watch Kills Unarmed Black Kid

[Ree]

But I am who I am regardless of the clothes I wear. Just because I may APPEAR to be something, doesn't mean I am that something.

I'm not saying that isn't the case, but first impressions and biases do exist based on appearances, and as Geraldo pointed out, young people have died because of that snap judgement that ended up in violent confrontations.

[KnitShoni]

That's the problem. You're allowed to be who you are, regardless of what you wear. This young man, and everyone who looks like him in this country, apparently aren't.

[Gravekeeper]

Also, a new witness has come forward, claiming Martin was on top and Zimmerman was calling for help: http://www.blippitt.com/breaking-wit...mmerman-video/

Even if true, that changes absolutely nothing frankly.

[Panacea]

Even if true, that changes absolutely nothing frankly.

Agreed. Zimmerman initiated the entire series of events by:

1. Going on "patrol" in violation of watch policies.
2. Bringing a gun on his "patrol."
3. Following Martin when instructed not to do so.

All Zimmerman had to do to avoid a fatal confrontation was to stay in his car and let the cops contact Martin.

The way I still see it, Zimmerman picked the fight, lost, and regained the upper hand by using a gun.

Which does NOT add up to self defense.

[Sarah Valentine]

After everything I've seen and heard and read all I can really say is what I've said on the subject from the beginning. This guy had a gun and followed this kid with a bag of skittles and shot him, he should be arrested. I don't give a shit what anyone says, if you follow and kill somebody who poses no threat to you that's murder and you should be arrested.

[KnitShoni]

Even if true, that changes absolutely nothing frankly.

It also counters Zimmerman's own statement to the police, listed in the police report. Zimmerman said no one tried to help him.

[ngc_7331]

What's been bothering me is that Zimmerman says at one point in the 911 call he made that he was following Martin but in his statement he says he was jumped from behind. How do you follow someone who's behind you? Walk backwards? Or was Martin capable of short range teleportation?

[Mytical]

Ok..do I believe that Zim should be arrested and charged with something? Yes. The facebook rage porn that is going on saddens me though. People calling for him to be strung up, or how they would kill the guy. Then how are WE any better? Justice is one thing, vengeance and revenge something else entirely. Hate only causes more hate.

[tropicsgoddess]

So, based on the quotes from the 9-1-1 calls, Zimmerman was on top of Martin at some point, later fired a warning shot, then while the teen is begging for his life, shoots him in the chest. That's about as cold-blooded and out of control as it's possible to get.

This bigoted (it doesn't have to be race, though I'd be shocked if that wasn't part of it) vigilante shithead that has a history of harassing residents kills Martin in cold blood and they don't think they have a case?

^-.-^

The only reason is because of the Stand Your Ground Law in the state of Florida. I think it's also the Sanford PD being negligent in the matter is another reason this bastard is still free. Zimmerman's "self-defense" story has more holes in it than a moth eaten shirt. How can somebody claim self-defense when the other person didn't start attacking and was unarmed and only had on them a bag of skittles and iced tea?!

[Ree]

What's been bothering me is that Zimmerman says at one point in the 911 call he made that he was following Martin but in his statement he says he was jumped from behind.

I believe he is claiming he had turned around and was going back to his car, and that's when Martin allegedly attacked him.

Seems rather odd that he would get out to follow the kid and then decide not to follow him any more, unless he had determined the kid wasn't up to no good, but then, why didn't he call 911 again to tell them that?

[Andara Bledin]

Also worth noting is that Martin was in "flight" mode, with a strange man following him, he was heading quickly to what he would have considered safety.

People in "flight" mode do not suddenly, 20 feet from safety, do an about face and go into "fight" mode, particularly after having apparently evaded their pursuer.

^-.-^

[draggar]

The only reason is because of the Stand Your Ground Law in the state of Florida. I think it's also the Sanford PD being negligent in the matter is another reason this bastard is still free. Zimmerman's "self-defense" story has more holes in it than a moth eaten shirt. How can somebody claim self-defense when the other person didn't start attacking and was unarmed and only had on them a bag of skittles and iced tea?!

You'll never know - let me guess, next Zimmerman is going to say he's allergic to Skittles and told Martin that - and then Martin threatened him with the skittles..

On a more serious note, it was reported that one person was on top of the other when the gun was fired and that Martin was lying face down.

This makes no sense and maybe if we have a forensics person her they can explain it better?

If someone is on top of me and I shoot them either their body will slump back - and their face will be up, or they'll fall forward with their head near mine and I'll have to roll them off, again, face up.

Let's ignore that Zimmerman did not have Martin's blood or splatter on him but this means that Martin could not have been on top of Zimmerman - even if it wasn't an instant kill shot, most likely Martin would have died on his side or back?

Now if Zimmerman was on top then he should have been face to face - but again, Martin would have been face up.

To me it just doesn't look like they were scuffling with Martin was shot. Maybe if the two were fighting and rolling around then it's possible Martin perished face down.

... or am I missing something? Any forensics people here?

[Dreamstalker]

draggar, if there was a scuffle Zimmerman should more than likely have blood on him (especially if he shot Martin point-blank as he seems to claim) and both of them would have other signs (torn clothing, etc).

Just heard on the news that Martin had been suspended from school for marijuana, and that's why traces were found in his backpack...and this is relevant how? Nothing to do with anything IMO. They're digging, trying to find anything they can to justify Zimmerman's actions "neighborhood watch shoots drug dealing punk").

[KnitShoni]

I really want to hear Trayvon Martin's 911 call. Reports say you can hear Zimmerman in the background.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=...yndicate%A7ion

Mention of Martin's call at the 2:40 mark.

[bara]

They are going to see if they can enhance martins call to see if they can hear what zimmerman was saying.

Id like to hear it either way. Got pretty good at deciphering background noise at the call center i worked at.