Open Thread on Zimmerman Trial

[LisaA]

I personally could care less what the president says about the case for I am not an Obama supporter. The jurors were questioned and agreed upon by not only the defense,
the prosecution, also George Zimmerman. The Judge asked several questions if he understood and agreed to the jury.

Obama can spout of his mouth but he does it so much no one cares anymore.

I agree. I loved the comment about Obama in Berlin “Ich bin ein Big Talker…” I think what Obama said initially will have little impact on the trial but I do think it emboldened the usual suspects to make it a racial cause celebre instead of waiting for the facts to come out. Just as with the Boston policeman/professor issue. Martin’s parents have been adamant that they do not want this to be a racially based trial or to have race factor in whatever aftermath results from the decision. Unfortunately their voices are drowned out.

Lisa

 

[SamH]

I am not so certain ‘win’ is the appropriate term.

Agreed. There will be no winners.

 

[MaryT777]

I agree. I loved the comment about Obama in Berlin “Ich bin ein Big Talker…” I think what Obama said initially will have little impact on the trial but I do think it emboldened the usual suspects to make it a racial cause celebre instead of waiting for the facts to come out. Just as with the Boston policeman/professor issue. Martin’s parents have been adamant that they do not want this to be a racially based trial or to have race factor in whatever aftermath results from the decision. Unfortunately their voices are drowned out.

Lisa

I agree too. Big Talker LOL Of course I never heard that. I love it. The case Is in the hands of the jury now as it should be and not the President.

His comments could fuel problems though if the outcome is as predicted that Zimmerman will be acquitted

My own opinion is he will be partially responsible if we end up with rioting etc for inciting this as a race issue. Did he say if he had a son he’d look like Trayvon? I thought I read that.

 

[Gricken]

Wow I wish I paid more attention to this when it first happened because I am completely lost.

 

[kelvinf]

You can repeat it another billion if you wish.
It still does not negate the facts that he was there and did witness the beating.
Are you so entrenched into what you wish to believe happened that you cannot accept the sworn testimony of an eyewitness to the event?

C’mon, if he was there according to your understanding of there, then the other women were also there since they all saw what they saw from their homes.

I have distorted nothing.

You denied what Good admitted to the prosecution.

So he can identify Martin is making motions toward the person he is straddled on top of, but the person on the bottom does not appear to be making any move with his hands to stop him.
Hmm…

He couldn’t see Zimmerman’s hands. That is what Good said.

 

[kelvinf]

Another reason the man needs our prayers.

He likely has not received any type of counseling to help cope with the trauma of taking a life. And he also has the complication of the trial to cope with as well.

If we are to believe his side of the story, it would seem he felt he was doing the right thing, was forced to kill to defend himself, is now having the weight of the law brought upon him unjustly, and is having his life threatened by many that do not even know him.

It would seem a case for St Jude.

You believe the trial is unjust?

 

[SamH]

C’mon, if he was there according to your understanding of there, then the other women were also there since they all saw what they saw from their homes.

Agreed. They saw what they saw - some were closer, some were farther away. Some were looking through rain drop covered windows with the lights on in their home, this witness stepped out and saw it up close. Everyone of these people would have seen something different. Why do you insist on making these claims?

 

[kelvinf]

Agreed. They saw what they saw - some were closer, some were farther away. Some were looking through rain drop covered windows with the lights on in their home, this witness stepped out and saw it up close. Everyone of these people would have seen something different. Why do you insist on making these claims?

What claims? One leg outside the door is on the scene? Is that what you understand as to be there?

Yes, each of them saw what they saw from their homes. Now we are arguing about the meaning of “to be there”?

 

[scipio337]

I just hope whatever the outcome, that all sides can accept it.

I think the jury may come back with a lesser charge, but the prosecution is giving the defense some huge favors.

 

[kelvinf]

I just hope whatever the outcome, that all sides can accept it.

Me too.

 

[SamH]

What claims? One leg outside the door is on the scene? :

In order to be “on the scene” did he have to be in a MMA referee position?

Police and Goodman say his position was 15-20 feet away from Zimmerman and Martin. A statement that the prosecution did not contest.

Isn’t 20 feet the universal basis of an eye exam?

Jonathan Good said he heard a faint noise coming from the back of his home in the Retreat at Twin Lakes on Feb. 26, 2012. When he heard a louder noise, he went outside to investigate. He said he saw two men engaged in a “tussle” on the ground.

Good was the 17th witness to take the stand in the trial of Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Martin in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman told police he followed the teenager because there had been some recent break-ins in the area. He says he was forced to shoot Martin during their confrontation in self-defense.

On the trial’s fifth day, Good recounted being 15 to 20 feet away from the fight between Zimmerman and Martin. Although he couldn’t make out the faces of the people on the ground, Good said he could make out the color of their clothes.

wdbj7.com/news/nation/Witness-puts-Zimmerman-on-bottom-of-fight/-/20128494/20760190/-/nh8xm8z/-/index.html

 

[vz71]

Another reason the man needs our prayers.

He likely has not received any type of counseling to help cope with the trauma of taking a life. And he also has the complication of the trial to cope with as well.

If we are to believe his side of the story, it would seem he felt he was doing the right thing, was forced to kill to defend himself, is now having the weight of the law brought upon him unjustly, and is having his life threatened by many that do not even know him.

It would seem a case for St Jude.

You believe the trial is unjust?

I do not believe this should have gone to trial.

 

[SamH]

Yes, each of them saw what they saw from their homes. Now we are arguing about the meaning of “to be there”?

Only you are making that argument. Being 15 - 20 feet away would constitute “being there” to me.

How close would he have to be for you to admit he was an eye witness?

 

[SamH]

I do not believe this should have gone to trial.

Initially law enforcement agreed, only after it became a racial issue did it end up in court.

 

[vz71]

C’mon, if he was there according to your understanding of there, then the other women were also there since they all saw what they saw from their homes.

The eyewitness was there.
Good’s testimony reveals this to us.

You denied what Good admitted to the prosecution.

As stated before, I have distorted nothing.
Perhaps you could come up with quote and context to show what you are accusing me of. Else I would expect you to recant your accusation.

He couldn’t see Zimmerman’s hands. That is what Good said.

Correct.
And the problem for the defense here is ???

 

[vz71]

What claims? One leg outside the door is on the scene? Is that what you understand as to be there?

I must have missed this in the testimony.
At what point did Good tell us what you are describing here?

Of course, 15 to 20 feet is about the size of the back yard, so a good view could be had from inside the door, outside the door, a window…just about any part of the building facing the back would have afforded a pretty good vantage point to be an eyewitness.

 

[LisaA]

I agree too. Big Talker LOL Of course I never heard that. I love it. The case Is in the hands of the jury now as it should be and not the President.

His comments could fuel problems though if the outcome is as predicted that Zimmerman will be acquitted

My own opinion is he will be partially responsible if we end up with rioting etc for inciting this as a race issue. Did he say if he had a son he’d look like Trayvon? I thought I read that.

Yes it was pretty funny…of course you had the get the context. I guess plans to make a big splash at the site of his previous “rock star” performance in Berlin went a bit astray. Aside from the greatly diminished crowds, Obama was met with signs saying Stasi 2.0 “YES WE SCAN!” The bloom is off the rose.

As to his words, I agree. Unlikely to influence the jury but may well be the clarion call to riot when the trial ends. Already many threats, tweets, and proclamations that anything less than guilty on all counts will result in race riots.

I heard a bit of the testimony today. Yet another prosecution witness, a police officer who took Zimmerman’s statement before he was charged or before he had an attorney. The interview was played and in Zimmerman’s voice, he went through the story. As one commentator noted, this allowed Zimmerman to make his case WITHOUT being cross examined. She stated no way should the Defense put Zimmerman on the stand now with the opportunity to trip him up or put holes in the testimony already provided. There was a voice expert who said that while theoretically he COULD identify the voice, there was not enough clear recording of the screaming. Apparently they will have Trayvon’s mother on the stand and she will say she recognizes Trayvon’s voice. However, his father had previously stated he could NOT identify it. However this will be dicey for the defense, cross examining the mother of the young man who was killed. I suspect he will handle her with kid gloves as he should. I would hope maybe no questions would be asked by the defense. Anything would tend to infer that she was lying to get her son’s killer convicted. The jury will understand that this is testimony that is certainly not unbiased and hopefully will consider it accordingly.

I guess we will get additional reports tonight.

Lisa

 

[kelvinf]

Only you are making that argument. Being 15 - 20 feet away would constitute “being there” to me.

How close would he have to be for you to admit he was an eye witness?

Basically all of them are eye witnesses. The question is who was on the scene? I understand there were witnesses at different locations: 1211, 1221, 1231, 2851, 2831.

So basically everybody can choose what distance away constitutes being there or?

http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/22/35/51/4840060/3/628x471.jpg

 

[LisaA]

One other thing, the commentator on the Zimmerman trial said the ME report can help to confirm or debunk Zimmerman’s testimony by reporting the trajectory of the bullet, presence of spatter evidence, powder residue etc. Has any of this leaked? I don’t recall whether anything other than the basic cause of death has been reported. Perhaps this is the prosecution’s ace in the hole? So far things are not going their way.

Lisa

 

[kelvinf]

As stated before, I have distorted nothing.
Perhaps you could come up with quote and context to show what you are accusing me of. Else I would expect you to recant your accusation.

Mary said:

Jonathan Good said he saw Martin straddling Zimmerman but never saw ANYONE’s head being slammed into the sidewalk.

You responded:

Moving the goal posts again.

Good did not mention this.

There, you were denying something Good admitted to the prosecution three good times.