Open Thread on Zimmerman Trial

[EmperorNapoleon]

At the risk of wondering why no one else has brought up your claims, I decided to do a search about George Zimmerman’s violence. He was charged in 2005 with resisting arrest and was shown in a mugshot “scowling.” The charges were DROPPED.

He was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence in an undercover ATF sting operation. The charges were dropped because he agreed to participate in an alcohol education program.

He was also reported to have engaged in domestic violence with a former fiance whose Chihuahua bit him in the face…

Are you implying that a dog supposedly bitting his face justifies using his wife’s face as a punching bag on multiple occasions?

finally a bunch of unnamed sources said that when he was a bouncer for some kind of party situation, he was “too aggressive.”

He was known for roughing up patrons and was finally fired after grabbing an intoxicated woman, lifting her up, and throwing her.

 

[kelvinf]

In what ways has Zimmerman changed his story?

If my little memory serves me right, you started most of the Zimmerman-Martin threads last year right? So after all the evidence that has been analysed you still haven’t seen how he changed his story?

I can remember two cases:

• He changed his story as to why he got out of the car. (Check the interview with the police woman)
• During the interview with the Fox News guy, he changed his story from telling 911 that Martin was running to: Martin wasn’t actually running.

Just some examples I can recall.

 

[SwizzleStick]

If my little memory serves me right, you started most of the Zimmerman-Martin threads last year right? So after all the evidence that has been analysed you still haven’t seen how he changed his story? …

Did I start most of them? I’ll have to do a search. I know I started some of them. In any event, I don’t remember if he has changed his story or not.

…I can remember two cases:

• He changed his story as to why he got out of the car. (Check the interview with the police woman)
• During the interview with the Fox News guy, he changed his story from telling 911 that Martin was running to: Martin wasn’t actually running.

Just some examples I can recall.

I’ll have to revisit the threads because I don’t recall those changes.

 

[Cider]

If my little memory serves me right, you started most of the Zimmerman-Martin threads last year right? So after all the evidence that has been analysed you still haven’t seen how he changed his story?

I can remember two cases:

• He changed his story as to why he got out of the car. (Check the interview with the police woman)
• During the interview with the Fox News guy, he changed his story from telling 911 that Martin was running to: Martin wasn’t actually running.

Just some examples I can recall.

Well so far that hasn’t been introduced at trial. We will wait and see whatever evidence the prosecution presents.

 

[kelvinf]

At the risk of wondering why no one else has brought up your claims
Lisa

Maybe because folks who see this story from another perspective are tired of discussing the whole thing again. There have been thousands of posts on this issue.

Zimmerman’s story has some serious flaws.

 

[LisaA]

He was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence in an undercover ATF sting operation. The charges were dropped because he agreed to participate in an alcohol education program.

Are you implying that a dog supposedly bitting his face justifies using his wife’s face as a punching bag on multiple occasions?

He was known for roughing up patrons and was finally fired after grabbing an intoxicated woman, lifting her up, and throwing her.

You have greatly overblown the stories and it wasn’t his “wife’s” face nor was he charged with using his ex fiance as a “punching bag.” You gotta get beyond HuffPo EN. As to any of the claims, I have a lot of family in law enforcement and dealing with rowdy drunks is not the easiest thing.Whether he was justified in picking up the drunk woman and “throwing her” is not known by you or me. It’s quite easy to charge someone but you have to have actual evidence to convict them. If charges of assaulting a police officer were dropped, I assure you there was no there there. Cops do NOT like jerks who make their lives difficult and if there was anything real, they would have gone further than an alcohol diversion course. Further were he such a bad actor, I assure you he would not have been able to get the concealed carry permit.

He sounds like a wannabe cop but that doesn’t mean his story regarding Trayvon Martin lacks credibility. From the beginning the evidence indicated he was telling the truth about the self defense aspects. Whether he should have taken some of the steps that resulted in Martin’s death are questionable. But bad judgement doesn’t mean you can’t defend yourself if you fear serious injury or death.

I’m bettin’ he walks.

Lisa

 

[kelvinf]

Did I start most of them? I’ll have to do a search. I know I started some of them. In any event, I don’t remember if he has changed his story or not.

I’ll have to revisit the threads because I don’t recall those changes.

Me too. I very well documented my arguments and facts.

 

[kelvinf]

I’m of the belief at this point that anyone who doesn’t see reasonable doubt must have an agenda. The prosecutors seem to be as unethical in bringing this case to trial as Mike Nifong. Rob

There are certainly some doubts. But that does not mean Zimmerman is in any way credible. :tsktsk:

 

[SamH]

There are certainly some doubts. But that does not mean Zimmerman is in any way credible. :tsktsk:

Prosecution witness today said Martin took Zimmerman down and was then on top of Zimmerman in a “Ground and Pound” position and that Zimmerman was calling for help.

 

[kelvinf]

Prosecution witness today said Martin took Zimmerman down and was then on top of Zimmerman in a “Ground and Pound” position and that Zimmerman was calling for help.

And a neighbor testifies at how the fight was at the edge of the grass and sidewalk and took place on both surfaces with Martin on top the whole time.

This is interesting because I thought nobody saw the whole thing.

 

[SwizzleStick]

Me too. I very well documented my arguments and facts.

My search indicates that of the five Zimmerman-Martin threads that came back in the results of my search, I started three of them, so your recall is accurate.

 

[SwizzleStick]

This is interesting because I thought nobody saw the whole thing.

The whole time that the witness saw the event.

 

[kelvinf]

Well so far that hasn’t been introduced at trial. We will wait and see whatever evidence the prosecution presents.

There are about 78 witnesses right?

 

[kelvinf]

The whole time that the witness saw the event.

Ok.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

You have greatly overblown the stories and it wasn’t his “wife’s” face nor was he charged with using his ex fiance as a “punching bag.”

She was apparently convincing enough that a judge issued a restraining order against Zimmerman. Good enough for me.

I have a lot of family in law enforcement and dealing with rowdy drunks is not the easiest thing.Whether he was justified in picking up the drunk woman and “throwing her” is not known by you or me.

His employer did not believe it to be justified. He was fired for it.

It’s quite easy to charge someone but you have to have actual evidence to convict them. If charges of assaulting a police officer were dropped, I assure you there was no there there.

It was definitely real. He admitted it. Problem was that the law enforcement officer was undercover and did not identify himself as such until after the altercation.

From the beginning the evidence indicated he was telling the truth about the self defense aspects.

I didn’t believe it did then and don’t now. He has not been telling the truth. He lied about following Martin, he lied about how the fight started, and his story of what transpired in the fight is not consistent with either his or Martin’s injuries. The man is a loose cannon and I think he started the fight.

 

[ringil]

Since Obama immediately took sides before knowing any of the facts (as he also did when he took the side of his friend and called the police department racist and was proven wrong) this should have never gone to trial in the first place since if Zimmerman is declared guilty it can be argued that Obama’s public statement against Zimmerman had an unfair influence in the decision. Someone needs to tell Obama that it’s not the place of the president to declare people guilty or innocent before they’ve had their day in court. Obama routinely acts as if he is above the law, a true mark of a dictator. How can it be considered a fair trial when the President of the United States declares you guilty before the trial begins? I don’t think any other President of the United States before Obama ever acted in such a way. Obama is an absolute disgrace to the office he holds.

Why not send him a letter and let him know how you feel?

 

[Cider]

This is interesting because I thought nobody saw the whole thing.

Well take it up with the prosecution, it was their witness

none of your posts so far have been about the evidence testified at trial, which is what is going to decide the case.

 

[vz71]

There are certainly some doubts. But that does not mean Zimmerman is in any way credible. :tsktsk:

At this point, he does not have to be.

The prosecutions witnesses have provided enough doubt.

I’m wondering if Zimmerman needs take the stand at all.

 

[LisaA]

There are certainly some doubts. But that does not mean Zimmerman is in any way credible. :tsktsk:

The standard is guilty beyond reasonable doubt…which has morphed to “beyond ANY doubt” since too many juries spend their time watching CSI and think that if you don’t have the Pope as an eyewitness, DNA and a videotape to watch there is always “reasonable” doubt. In this case there is much more than reasonable doubt. Zimmerman’s case looks better everyday and that’s with PROSECUTION witness testimony.

He’ll walk and based on what I’ve heard I think he should

Lisa

 

[SamH]

At this point, he does not have to be.

The prosecutions witnesses have provided enough doubt.

I’m wondering if Zimmerman needs take the stand at all.

I’m wondering if the defense will rest without even presenting a case. Thus far the prosecution showed Martin to be a racist thug that appears to have been the aggressor. Why pile on?