WOW. Nails it.

[JDPriestly]

87. Personally, I think you are right. I like this statement:

When Zimmerman exited his vehicle, he sealed his own (and unfortunately, Martin's) fate.

And that is why I think Zimmerman would be smart to plead to manslaughter if he could do it. Or even to 2nd degree if he can get an agreement on a sentence. He is in a bad pickle in my view.

But then it does not take much to get a hung jury, and that is probably what he is hoping for.

Remember, in the OJ case, the defense won because the prosecutors' theory about the time of the events did not make sense to the jury. The prosecution has already made errors in this case -- not pressing the charges early enough is one -- and who knows how strongly they believe in their case? So, I couldn't predict the outcome here. It would take only one racist on the jury, only one person unwilling to be objective . . . .

A lot will depend on how the court interprets the change from the duty to retreat law to the stand your ground law. But I do agree that the person who follows another person for whatever reason should not be able to rely on the stand your ground defense. It is the person who is followed and reasonably feels he is in imminent danger . . . who has the right to stand his ground. That is not so different from the traditional self-defense. In particular, in the Martin case, Trayvon Martin was a minor, walking to the house where he was staying (for him home) and felt himself to be endangered by someone who was following him and acting suspicious. Without knowing all the evidence, that is what I understand took place. It is more believable to me that Martin had a reasonable fear that justified self-defense. He knew he did not have a weapon. Whereas Zimmerman knew he had a weapon and had even taken a bit of training in police methodology and criminal work. It may be that Zimmerman had, on some level not totally conscious, fantasized that he was a police officer or had some legal right to apprehend someone he considered in his fantasy to be a "suspect." It's a fascinating case to me.

That Zimmerman is trying to delay his trial is a bad sign for him.

I wonder whether the defense is trying to wait until the girl who was on the phone with Martin when the killing occurred looks older and less innocent and trustworthy. The trial needs to be held asap if justice is to be done.