We don't know if Zimmerman is guilty [View all]

[Vattel]

Is George Zimmerman guilty of an unlawful homicide? I want to suggest that the average person doesn’t know the answer to this question. If (1) Zimmerman’s actions prior to fighting with Martin were lawful, (2) Martin nevertheless initiated the violence by punching Zimmerman, and (3) Zimmerman, reasonably fearing death or even great bodily harm, killed Martin, then in all probability Zimmerman’s taking Martin’s life was justifiable under the law.

We (average folks) don’t know if (1)-(3) are true, and so we don’t know if Zimmerman committed a crime. I haven’t read anything to suggest that Zimmerman’s actions prior to the violence were unlawful. And we certainly don’t know who initiated the violence. And how can we in our armchairs be certain that Zimmerman didn’t reasonably fear great bodily harm?

Whether Zimmerman is convicted of a crime may well depend on witness testimony and on whether the screams for help in the 911 recording can be established to be Martin’s. But we don’t know how all of that will play out.

Edited to add: My guess is that Zimmerman is guilty of a crime. Just trying to keep the discussion reasonable.