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PlanetaryOrbit

(155 posts) Tue Oct 7, 2014, 01:44 PM Oct 2014

Help me understand something about the Trayvon Martin case. [View all]

Since things have settled down, I wanted to revisit an old issue:

I'm no legal expert, but it seems to me the Trayvon Martin case - which I find a very confusing case - was essentially, "Blame the law, don't blame the jury," am I right? That is to say, under the parameters of the law, the jury didn't really have much choice but to acquit Zimmerman?

If so, then why did many people get angry at the jury instead of the law? Would convicting Zimmerman have actually been the right choice, under the parameters of the situation? Seems to me the jury had little choice but to acquit.

It's immensely confusing.

51 replies

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Help me understand something about the Trayvon Martin case. [View all] PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2014 OP

I blame both. The jury got it wrong. The law is stupid. Warren Stupidity Oct 2014 #1

What exactly did the jury do wrong? That's my question. PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2014 #5

there is resonable doubt and unreasonable doubt. hollysmom Oct 2014 #10

The case wasn't being presented as SYG, but the judge gave SYG instructions anyway Dont call me Shirley Oct 2014 #23

Personally, I blame the prosecutors. JaneyVee Oct 2014 #2

Me too. phil89 Oct 2014 #15

This message was self-deleted by its author phil89 Oct 2014 #15

I don't know if the prosecutors are minimally competent .... etherealtruth Oct 2014 #32

The jury shouldn't have considered mainstreetonce Oct 2014 #3

+1 in a nutshell that's it -- Serino: That's not fear. You know what I mean? KurtNYC Oct 2014 #18

The defense did not use SYG as part of the case. Jenoch Oct 2014 #19

SYG was part of the jury's instructions mainstreetonce Oct 2014 #25

You are wrong. Jenoch Oct 2014 #35

I blame the media and the law and the jurors. bravenak Oct 2014 #4

The jury has the power of jury nullification, I think, just like OJ's jury had. nt valerief Oct 2014 #6

He didn't plead SYG. He pled self-defense. Blame the jury. msanthrope Oct 2014 #7

it's a disgrace Skittles Oct 2014 #8

Well said! nt raccoon Oct 2014 #50

Zimmerman did NOT use Stand Your Ground for defense. DesMoinesDem Oct 2014 #9

SYG is part of self defense in Florida and part of jury instructions whether it is a defense or not. flamin lib Oct 2014 #12

I saw police who didn't want to charge, prosecutors who didn't want to try and a jury that couldn't flamin lib Oct 2014 #11

A jury can vote however they wish. ZombieHorde Oct 2014 #13

Judges jury instructions played a part. antiquie Oct 2014 #14

the jury was racist JI7 Oct 2014 #20

Wasn't there an African-American juror? PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2014 #22

Nope JustAnotherGen Oct 2014 #27

why would you assume that blacks can't be racist against other blacks? CreekDog Oct 2014 #31

I take solace in the fact that Zimmerman is now legally the greatest coward in the history of man. ieoeja Oct 2014 #21

THANK YOU Skittles Oct 2014 #26

When you have prosecution witnesses supporting Zimmerman's story hack89 Oct 2014 #24

I watched the trial as it occurred 40 miles or so away DrDan Oct 2014 #28

Self-defense YarnAddict Oct 2014 #29

all we have to consider is if Trayvon was White and a Black man had shot him JI7 Oct 2014 #30

Ok...I'll bite Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #33

What do you need my demographic info for? PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2014 #43

I don't need it Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #47

I'm not white. PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2014 #51

When a seemingly credible witness states that Trayvon Martin was on top of Zimmerman, Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #34

Of course that witness wouldn't lie in order to protect a neighbor Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #36

I think very, very few people would risk going to prison for perjury Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #37

You're saying people have never lied on the stand to protect a friend? Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #39

No, but I would think it is very rare, Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #41

Sometimes it's just a matter Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #48

Possibly your theory is true. Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #49

So why did the prosecution put him on the stand? hack89 Oct 2014 #38

The prosecution was probably on the take Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #40

It was a gun problem & an evidence problem. DirkGently Oct 2014 #42

With UK-style gun control, the night would have likely ended with both parties going to the ER, Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #44

I think that as well. Instead we patted DirkGently Oct 2014 #46

A factual, well explained response. PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2014 #45