[mickey100]

Originally Posted by dillywho

Maybe I didn't read all the posts close enough, but I do not remember anyone saying anything about GZ's statement that he was reaching for his cell phone in his pocket and that's when TM hit him. How did TM know it was his cell phone and that had "forgotten" which pocket it was in? How did he know who this guy was that had been following him around in his vehicle and on foot...GZ never bothered to identify himself, even when he says TM asked him if he had a problem. GZ only said, "No, I don't have a problem". Given the company this kid apparently kept in Miami, that could well have been perceived as a threat to him. Does he not then have the right for self defense? GZ never told him the police were on their way. In fact, GZ had only called the NEN, not 911.

I have watched all the police interviews posted on line and during the trial. His story has just too many holes in it. Even the officer doing the interview told him that getting out and following someone is not fear. At one point, he told the investigator that he "forgot" he even had his gun with him. This was after saying that he always carried it except on his regular job. The one thing that might well convict him is his own mouth for talking before obtaining counsel. He has told so many lies that have been played for the jury that seems to me would cost him any credibility. People that have nothing to hide don't tell blatant lies. Not minor discrepancies...outright lies.

Many have criticized TM for not going straight back to his dad's. At 17, did you always go straight home? Phone records have already shown that he was on the phone up until the time of the fight. Kids talk for eons on their phones and there was a young kid back at the house. Could be that he didn't want him to be listening to his conversation. Could be that he was enjoying just being away from him for a little bit. Could be a lot of things. It was only 7 p.m., hardly the middle of the night. TM was just marking time until he could get back to Miami and his friends and way of life, regardless of what that way was. Why on earth would he risk getting into trouble in the big berg of Sanford? Surely, he was a little smarter than that.

I don't think this rises to the level of Murder 2, but I definitely think he should be found guilty of a lesser charge or charges. GZ apparently does not take well to instructions. He did not follow protocol of NW by observing and reporting. He did not need to look for an address...there was one right in front of him. Why did he tell the NEN operator to just have the police call him when they got there instead of being where he had already told them he would be and he would let them know where he was at that time? That says he had every intention of looking for this kid, not just "walking in the same direction". I think that just because he had received some kudos from some of his neighbors, he wanted to really be viewed as their hero and savior. What made this night any different than the other calls he had made about suspicious activity? He just called and reported per protocol.

If he gets off, I can only wonder how long it will be before he's in trouble again. He already thinks he's above the law and has all the answers. I wonder, too, how this would be playing out had TM lived?

Too many questions, not enough answers, and only one side of a story to hear.

Excellent post. As you said, too many questions, not enough answers, and only one side of the story to hear.