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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsZimmerman: anything less than 1st degree murder is not acceptable
I'm glad to see that somebody is taking a look into George Zimmerman. However, anything less than a first degree murder charge will be unacceptable. Not manslaughter, not 2nd degree murder, not negligent homicide, none of these lesser charges.
Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin in cold blood. He told the 911 dispatcher that these "fucking coons" "always get away", and this time he meant to make sure that didn't happen. Despite being told not to, he chased after Martin, and shot him dead.
This racist asshole needs to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
madaboutharry
(40,234 posts)Would be an affront to all that is decent and just.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)Hugabear
(10,340 posts)Nt
Lint Head
(15,064 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)Anything less would be a travesty. The Sanford PD has tried to make this case go away, it won't.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)spin
(17,493 posts)with the news media. In a matter of days we can throw an individual in jail for years by just reading the reports on a crime in the news and voting in a poll.
No more jury summons!
just in case
Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)spin
(17,493 posts)but it's far better than allowing the news media to replace it.
Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)Still better, as the Anthony case proved. You cannot condemn anyone to death without absolute proof. People was disappointed but at least the system did something right even under all the mistakes done on that case. That was a real mess.
FarPoint
(12,466 posts)It's simple ...Zimmerman hunted his prey successfully. I will always see Zimmerman as an assassin. A trial is only a formality for me.
onenote
(42,782 posts)Big tent.
FarPoint
(12,466 posts)I'm fine with my position.
Johonny
(20,913 posts)they can just have opinions. I get your opinion a million times over. People if they have an opinion some how don't believe in due process of law. I think that opinion is insane. When the American legal system used internet chat sites for trials I'll worry about people having the ability to form and express opinions about popular topics in the daily news. Until than really cut the holier than though act. You impress no one but yourself.
Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)Further analysis proved it said "fu@&$ng punks".
Am I wrong?
Still, proves 'intent' of course.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)guitar man
(15,996 posts)from a YouTube video, he says "ficking coons". Whether or not the audio has been altered, I'm not 100% sure.
Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)Cent said it was 'punks', not the other. Can't find link now.
vaberella
(24,634 posts)Actually that is being debated on TYT. The real question is if it's even there at all. The local Florida news released tape says Coons/punks depending on sound system. On super loud it's coons on regular audio it's punks. The few people who analyzed it online say it's coons. Moving on from there, the police released tapes---you hear nothing of the sort. There is no mumbling under the breath. This was discussed on Lawrence O'Donnell's show with one of the family's lawyers. Until they can clarify who's evidence is real...they will go by the police released tape until further details are confirmed. This is why the FBI is so important in this.
Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)guitar man
(15,996 posts)If what I found was unaltered, he said it. And I've got the right stuff to hear it with. My post from yesterday
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=450897
vaberella
(24,634 posts)Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)there is still 'intent'. What is important is the statement "...they always get away". So yes, he is persuing this innocent young man, he does not want him to get away... even when told not to.
This is just ONE of the things that must be investigated, and I can't believe he has not been detained yet.
vaberella
(24,634 posts)I have a problem with the police. I was more shocked to learn that the parents of Trayvon Martin were not notified of their sons death until 3 days later. I want an explanation for that. I find the entire police department culpable of a cover up just for that alone. If the kid had his cell phone it would be easy to identify who he was. And I'm sure the father of the boy would have called the cops when he saw that his son hadn't come home when he just went for snacks before the basketball game. The police are majorly at fault for more than just not arresting Zimmerman.
Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)vaberella
(24,634 posts)There is just way too much shit going on and the police are in head deep. But you can find it else where. I will look for the article I read earlier today for you. I was in shock and I could say appalled when I heard that. Can you imagine the tampering that could have been done during that time?
Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)They only care to give tickets to meet monthly quotas. But depriving a father/mother from the news about their son being dead? What did the police do? Hide the corpse?
USArmyParatrooper
(1,827 posts)You would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt it was premeditated. That would be impossible to prove, and frankly I don't even believe it was.
The best you can possibly hope for is 2nd degree murder.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)USArmyParatrooper
(1,827 posts)voluntary manslaughter.
2nd degree murder would be the most ambitious charge.
1st degree is out if the question.
arthritisR_US
(7,300 posts)the boy was going to go to the store, the precise time. They could charge the man with first degree, to placate the masses, but they would have zero chance if getting a conviction, IMO.
jmowreader
(50,567 posts)That he got out of the car with his gun after the cops told him not to, in the hands of a good prosecutor (and from the looks of it we'll have to mail one down there) will suffice to prove premeditation. And if he actually said something like "fucking (someone) always get away," Zimmerman is totally screwed.
USArmyParatrooper
(1,827 posts)You would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he planned to kill him all along, that it didn't just happen in the heat of the moment.
Him simply having the gun with him, and him expressing frustration that the burglars always get away doesn't even come close to being beyond a reasonable doubt.
jmowreader
(50,567 posts)Killing with premeditation is killing after consciously deciding to do so. The decision must be present in the mind at the time of the killing. The law does not fix the exact period of time that must pass between the formation of the premeditated intent to kill and the killing. The period of time must be long enough to allow reflection by the defendant. The premeditated intent to kill must be formed before the killing.
If they can prove he said the thing about "those people always getting away" before he went out and hunted down Trayvon, a jury has evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that there's premeditation. Whether you can get a conviction on it is another thing; you know how lethal Arizona Iced Tea is.
USArmyParatrooper
(1,827 posts)Once can express, "Those assholes always get away" without having any intention to kill the person. I don't think there's a DA in the world who would agree with you.
RZM
(8,556 posts)But I'll bet first degree would be pretty tough to prove. If he gets charged it will probably be with something less than that. I imagine he would walk pretty easily on a first-degree charge.
Not a lawyer though. Just my armchair opinion.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)But two wrongs don't make a right or whatever.
So yes, murder one, life without parole. But the stupid fucking redneck Florida jurors would probably acquit him anyway.
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)If you don't "accept" their decision, do you have a contingency plan?
peacebird
(14,195 posts)I do want him tried however, because I feel he showed reckless disregard in his actions, chasing after a young man, and when he had that same young man begging for help he shot him.
Trayvon did not deserve to die for this mans cowardice and fear.
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)I take it you'll do nothing.
Still waiting for a reply from the OP.
Hugabear
(10,340 posts)I was pissed off when the LAPD officers were found not guilty in beating Rodney King. There have been plenty of court decisions and verdicts that have pissed me off. And I suppose I would be highly pissed if Zimmerman gets off lightly as well.
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)I plan to accept whatever decision the grand jury delivers unless someone gives me a compelling reason to doubt their competence or their honesty.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)And its a capital murder trial. Racist killer("fuckin coons" lose, racist killer gets spike in the arm and takes a dirt nap!
Oh and a federal hate crime charge of course.
We need to start a movement to end these insane "stand your ground" laws which obviously are put in place to make it safe for vigilante killers like Zimmerman to execute any "suspicious looking" blacks they see walking back from the store!
Stan Smith
(97 posts)Even if by some slight chance it wasn't racially motivated, he had no right to pull that trigger. This is why I wish we could do away with guns, I know that is unrealistic and some people are responsible with guns, but I'm so sick of senseless murders.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)When in fact most have been insisting that zimmerman be tried.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)Good people can be caught up in a mob. That's why it can be so tragic.
Bodhi BloodWave
(2,346 posts)Hugabear
(10,340 posts)You seem to be confusing this with a jury trial. We have the freedom to make our judgments based on the facts at hand, and those facts point very strongly toward Zimmerman being a murdering punk.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)I also don't agree with mob mentality.
Stan Smith
(97 posts)I know technically innocent until proven guilty, but from all I have seen it is pretty obvious that he is guilty.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)nt
Stan Smith
(97 posts)Now if I was on the jury, I would have to be more fair minded.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)Makes me wonder whose "peer" you would be in the context of serving on a jury.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)"Technically"? Why don't you find that in the Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, or Constitution for me.
For you to have seen something making it "pretty obvious" that he is guilty means you must have been magically hovering over the scene of the crime and witness to things NO ONE ELSE was.
Why don't you tell me what you have "seen" that makes his guilt obvious. For fuck's sake...
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)No he didn't.
Read the Florida Statute regarding capital murder. Then take a deep breath and decide if you think the words you typed are actually pertinent to the discussion, or merely a statement of how angry you are.