George Zimmerman makes initial court appearance in Trayvon Martin shooting, will plead not guilty

[catharina]

Reasonable questions if you see a stranger whom you deem ‘suspicious’ and probably under the influence of drugs. I didn’t see the word “black” anywhere in Catharina’s posts.

Exactly. I thank you.
No mention of BLACK MAN by me.
Only by samh.

 

[gilliam]

The Affidavit against Zimmerman Read it here.

 

[catharina]

The Affidavit against Zimmerman Read it here.

Many thanks, gilliam.

 

[Dawnia]

How? Did she see something? That’s just her personal opinion, how can it be taken into consideration by a jury?

If she’s called as a character witness or in regards to prior events. Such as why he was at his dad’s house, etc. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s a possibility. Especially if the prosecution is trying to get sympathy votes from the jury.

 

[maryjk]

Why? She wasn’t a witness to the incident. Her opinion of what happened is of no legal consequence that I know of, except perhaps, at sentencing - if we get to that stage.

Or if there is a civil trial.

At the end of the document, the prosecution said they had more evidence, and that this was just to get the process started. I think at this point they only have to prove probable cause to charge.

And they would not lay out their entire case by any means, because then the defense would be able to address their contentions well. Both sides try to keep what they are doing secret to avoid that.

The defense can get the information through discovery.

 

[Cider]

I should clarify…if she is brought into court. Her statements would be fair game for the defense. Her statements about it being an accident opens the door for probable cause against a 2nd degree murder conviction.

Since she is claiming that it’s her sons voice calling for help on a 911 tape, if she testifys her other statements will likely be scrutinized too. Including her statement that she thought it was an accident.

 

[Dawnia]

Since she is claiming that it’s her sons voice calling for help on a 911 tape, if she testifys her other statements will likely be scrutinized too. Including her statement that she thought it was an accident.

I forgot her ID of the 911 tape. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[gilliam]

The Affidavit against Zimmerman Read it here.

An analysis

The Orlando Sentinel described the arrest affidavit for George Zimmerman:
In the two-page document, prosecutors offer little new information about the shooting.

However, they said in the affidavit that “Zimmerman confronted Martin,” an apparent contradiction of Zimmerman’s version of the events that led to the shooting.

The document says Trayvon’s mother identified the screams for help heard in a 911 call as those of her son. It also reveals that investigators interviewed a “friend” of Trayvon’s who was talking to him in the leadup to the shooting.
Based on the description, it appears the friend was the girl described by Martin family attorneys as his girlfriend.

“During this time, Martin was on the phone with a friend and described to her what was happening,” the affidavit said. “The witness advised that Martin was scared because he was being followed through the complex by an unknown male and didn’t know why.”

Martin tried to run home, the affidavit says, but was followed by Zimmerman. “Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and followed Martin.”
The affidavit goes on to say that “Zimmerman disregarded the police dispatcher” who told him to stop, and “continued to follow Martin who was trying to return to his home.”

Zimmerman, the affidavit says, “confronted Martin and a struggle ensued.”
According to the affidavit: “Trayvon Martin’s mother has reviewed the 911 calls and identified the voice crying for help as Trayvon Martin’s. Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest.”

 

[vz71]

Hero for what? Surrendering to the court? Is he the first accused person to do so?

For taking the most direct route to a peaceful resolution given the stirring of race relations the race peddlers have done.
A route that will likely cost him dearly.

 

[seekerz]

If she’s called as a character witness or in regards to prior events. Such as why he was at his dad’s house, etc. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s a possibility. Especially if the prosecution is trying to get sympathy votes from the jury.

She can only be a character witness for Trayvon, so I still don’t see the issue; the gun was not Trayvon’s it was George’s.

 

[seekerz]

For taking the most direct route to a peaceful resolution given the stirring of race relations the race peddlers have done.
A route that will likely cost him dearly.

He did what he was bound to do under the law, so it would be a little early to start calls for canonization.

 

[catharina]

Are you claiming Martin is not black?

Are you claiming I said that?

You brought race into this.
There is no mention of it in my post.
With nearly all posters agreeing that RACE is not
the defining feature in this life/death situation, you
accuse me of making it a relevant factor?

Preposterous - and dishonest at the very least.

 

[Cider]

I was wondering what kind of evidence they have that Zimmerman continued to follow Trayvon and that he was the one that confronted him. So far we haven’t heard any witnesses to that effect and none were even referred to in the affidavit. Guess we will have to wait to find out.

 

[gilliam]

Zimmerman didn’t ask for bail today. Probably a smart move. He is safer in jail.

 

[vz71]

Those two statements don’t jive at all

but hey, she has fallen in line now.

Her declaring it an accident would not bode well for the eventual wrongful death lawsuit I am certain she will file.

 

[Godfollower]

Since she is claiming that it’s her sons voice calling for help on a 911 tape, if she testifys her other statements will likely be scrutinized too. Including her statement that she thought it was an accident.

No. The conclusion of a non-witness to an event based on assumptions made from stuff she’s heard about the case? Absolutely inadmissible. Neither side is entitled to ask anyone testifying at the trial “So what do you think happened when you weren’t there? Isn’t it true that at some other point you said that you thought it was accidental / purposeful / whatever?”

Only the media would allow that; a court of law, never.

 

[catharina]

I was wondering what kind of evidence they have that Zimmerman continued to follow Trayvon and that he was the one that confronted him. So far we haven’t heard any witnesses to that effect and none were even referred to in the affidavit. Guess we will have to wait to find out.

Maybe it’s a fact he confided to the Sanford PD.
Remember that the PD wanted to arrest GZ.
It was the prosecutor who said NO to that.

 

[gilliam]

I was wondering what kind of evidence they have that Zimmerman continued to follow Trayvon and that he was the one that confronted him.

So far we haven’t heard any witnesses to that effect and none were even referred to in the affidavit. Guess we will have to wait to find out.

Probably what Trayvon’s girl friend said happened.
“He said this man was watching him, so he put his hoodie on. He said he lost the man,” Martin’s friend said. “I asked Trayvon to run, and he said he was going to walk fast. I told him to run, but he said he was not going to run.”

Eventually, he would run, said the girl, thinking that he’d managed to escape. But suddenly the strange man was back, cornering Martin.

“Trayvon said, ‘What are you following me for,’ and the man said, ‘What are you doing here.’ Next thing I hear is somebody pushing, and somebody pushed Trayvon because the head set just fell. I called him again, and he didn’t answer the phone.”
abcnews.go.com/US/trayvon-martin-arrest-now-abc-reveals-crucial-phone/story?id=15959017
So that testimony would lead one to the conclusion that Zimmerman followed and confronted Trayvon. The charges then say a struggle ensued, they don’t say who started the struggle, and neither does the girl.

That is enough to show probable cause (but not absence of a shadow of doubt, we don’t know what the girl is with holding, if anything.)

It looks like, the prosecution’s case rests on what the girl said. And Trayvon’s mom’s identification of the scream (which should be easily dispensed with in court.) It really doesn’t look like much of a case to me at all. Maybe I’m missing something.

We do know now there was an autopsy. It would be interesting to find out what if anything is in it. Also the results of those who medically examined Zimmerman and if there was any of his blood at the scene and where.

We know there were other witnesses. What do they know?

There is a lot we don’t know.

 

[seekerz]

Her declaring it an accident would not bode well for the eventual wrongful death lawsuit I am certain she will file.

Do you know her? What’s your basis for that certainty? What does Zimmerman have to go after anyway?

 

[SwizzleStick]

"Trayvon Martin case: Accused in court

Neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman has made his first court appearance on a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

During the brief appearance, Zimmerman stood up straight, looked straight ahead and wore a gray prison jumpsuit. He spoke only to answer “Yes, sir,’’ twice after he was asked basic questions about the charge against him and his attorney.”…

Blue excerpt from: nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10798482&ref=rss