[NJblue]

I see a lot of posts saying that they were relieved and that the system worked. Did it? I happen to agree with what Mark O'Mara said last night: two aspects of the sysytem failed George Zimmerman. First, the media failed in its responsibility to objectively report the news and instead was used as a powerful tool of the professional rable rousers like Al Sharpton. I must admit, I too fell for this initially. I saw the distorted, one-sided reports and was convinced that Zimmerman had preyed on an innocent teenager.

Secondly, and most importantly, the legal system failed George Zimmerman. I'm sure he felt like he didn't do anything wrong and that the system would work and never press charges against him. Little did he know that our legal system no longer works like the blindfolded symbol that is used to portray it. He didn't realize that when politics get involved and people like Angela Corey get involved, your rights are thrown away and power of the state can marshalled against you with no attempt of giving you any benefit of the doubt.

Ultimately, the system did work - but only after successfully destroying a person whose primary motivation was nothing more than helping keep his neighborhood safe.

[Bucco]

Stand by...the "system" is not done by a long shot....

"On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) asked for the Justice Department to prosecute George Zimmerman, who was acquitted Saturday night in the killing of Trayvon Martin. �I think the Justice Department is going to take a look at this,� Reid told NBC�s Meet the Press. �This isn�t over with and I think that�s good. That�s our system, it�s gotten better, not worse.�

Reid on Zimmerman: 'This Isn't Over With'

"The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has called on the Obama administration to pursue civil rights charges against George Zimmerman.

The NAACP also tweeted out a petition urging the Justice Department to �open a civil rights case against George Zimmerman.�

�Attorney General Eric Holder,� the petition reads, �The Department of Justice has closely monitored the State of Florida�s prosecution of the case against George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin murder since it began. Today, with the acquittal of George Zimmerman, it is time for the Department of Justice to act.�

�The most fundamental of civil rights � the right to life � was violated the night George Zimmerman stalked and then took the life of Trayvon Martin,� the NAACP wrote. �We ask that the Department of Justice file civil rights charges against Mr. Zimmerman for this egregious violation.�

�Please address the travesties of the tragic death of Trayvon Martin by acting today,� the NAACP wrote.

The head of the NAACP and Attorney General Eric Holder have both expressed their admiration for one another.

Read more: NAACP pursues civil rights charges against Zimmerman | The Daily Caller

""Well, I think that this is an atrocity," said Sharpton. "I think that it is probably one of the worst situations that I've seen. What this jury has done is establish a precedent that when you are young and fit a certain profile, you can be committing no crime, just bringing some Skittles and iced tea home to your brother, and be killed and someone can claim self-defense having been exposed with all kinds of lies, all kinds of inconsistencies. ... Even at trial when he is exposed over and over again as a liar, he is acquitted. This is a sad day in the country. I think that we clearly must move on to the next step in terms of the federal government and in terms of the civil courts. Clearly, we want people to be disciplined, strategic. But this is a slap in the face to those that believe in justice in this country."

Sharpton: 'Slap in the Face to Those Who Believe in Justice in This Country' | The Weekly Standard

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by NJblue

I see a lot of posts saying that they were relieved and that the system worked. Did it? I happen to agree with what Mark O'Mara said last night: two aspects of the sysytem failed George Zimmerman. First, the media failed in its responsibility to objectively report the news and instead was used as a powerful tool of the professional rable rousers like Al Sharpton. I must admit, I too fell for this initially. I saw the distorted, one-sided reports and was convinced that Zimmerman had preyed on an innocent teenager.

Secondly, and most importantly, the legal system failed George Zimmerman. I'm sure he felt like he didn't do anything wrong and that the system would work and never press charges against him. Little did he know that our legal system no longer works like the blindfolded symbol that is used to portray it. He didn't realize that when politics get involved and people like Angela Corey get involved, your rights are thrown away and power of the state can marshalled against you with no attempt of giving you any benefit of the doubt.


Ultimately, the system did work - but only after successfully destroying a person whose primary motivation was nothing more than helping keep his neighborhood safe.

And again, we taxpayers paid for the circus. This never should have gone to trial, all those people fired and so on ad nauseam.

and that judge! http://news.investors.com/ibd-editor...-zimmerman.htm

[Challenger]

All the noise about this case doesn't change the primary reason for GZs acquittal. It was " reasonable doubt" The jurors voted unanimously and each side was well represented. No one knows what was in the hearts of the combatants, but after hearing the evidence "reasonable doubt" remained. I for one am happy that this standard takes precedence in our judicial process.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by Challenger

All the noise about this case doesn't change the primary reason for GZs acquittal. It was " reasonable doubt" The jurors voted unanimously and each side was well represented. No one knows what was in the hearts of the combatants, but after hearing the evidence "reasonable doubt" remained. I for one am happy that this standard takes precedence in our judicial process.

So the police seemed to be on the right track until they were cut off in their investigation by POLITICS.

Let us see now how POLITICS gets involved as it already has begun.

[ijusluvit]

I respectfully disagree with the OP and the poster who agrees with NJBlue. To me the decision to engage in violent confrontation carries a heavy responsibility, especially if the party making the decision is armed. Mr. Zimmerman made the decision to initiate that confrontation, without being forced, or having the jurisdiction to do so, and in fact being told not to do so.

And let's leave race out of the incident, even though there is evidence of how Mr. Zimmerman felt about young blacks in the neighborhood, and what might have motivated him to continue into that confrontation.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

I respectfully disagree with the OP and the poster who agrees with NJBlue. To me the decision to engage in violent confrontation carries a heavy responsibility, especially if the party making the decision is armed. Mr. Zimmerman made the decision to initiate that confrontation, without being forced, or having the jurisdiction to do so, and in fact being told not to do so.

And let's leave race out of the incident, even though there is evidence of how Mr. Zimmerman felt about young blacks in the neighborhood, and what might have motivated him to continue into that confrontation.

There is zero credible evidence that Zimmerman initiated the confrontation. Those who claim that Martin reacted from fear of Zimmerman refuse to accept the reality that Martin had four minutes to go the short distance to where he was staying. He chose not to do this. Then, by virtue of the physical evidence, it is apparent that Martin was the one who initiated the physical confrontation. Finally, after hearing Zimmerman's cries for help for over 45 seconds he had the opportunity to break the fight off under the presence of a third party (John Good) and he again chose not to avail himself of that out. Unfortunately, the responsibility of this tragedy falls on Martin.

[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by NJblue

There is zero credible evidence that Zimmerman initiated the confrontation. Those who claim that Martin reacted from fear of Zimmerman refuse to accept the reality that Martin had four minutes to go the short distance to where he was staying. He chose not to do this. Then, by virtue of the physical evidence, it is apparent that Martin was the one who initiated the physical confrontation. Finally, after hearing Zimmerman's cries for help for over 45 seconds he had the opportunity to break the fight off under the presence of a third party (John Good) and he again chose not to avail himself of that out. Unfortunately, the responsibility of this tragedy falls on Martin.

Are you suggesting that some force compelled Mr Zimmerman to become involved in this incident?

If so, what was that?

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

Are you suggesting that some force compelled Mr Zimmerman to become involved in this incident?

If so, what was that?

Are you suggesting that some force compelled Martin to accost, punch and continue to beat Zimmerman despite pleas for help? If so, what was that?

[batman911]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

Are you suggesting that some force compelled Mr Zimmerman to become involved in this incident?

If so, what was that?

GZ did not break any law by carrying a weapon or asking TM what he was doing in the neighborhood. The law was first broken when TM assaulted GZ. Unfortunately, that was the mistake that cost him his life. You have no right to assault someone even if they are following or annoying you. TM's parents did not do their job. It is apparent from evidence not allowed that TM took joy in previous "ground and pound" incidents and appeared to be a way of life for him. I wonder how you would feel if the person getting pounded was one of your friends or relatives. All of this happened in seconds and I'm sure anyone on the receiving end of TM beating would have done the same if they are honest with themselves. If you were the one getting the beating would you have been afraid for you life if it was your head being slammed on the concrete?

[l2ridehd]

Our legal system has an established process for dealing with these issues. It is called a trial by jury. It has been completed and the members of that jury heard all the arguments and evidence submitted by both the prosecution and the defense. It was a jury selected and approved by both sides. After hearing all the facts and information they made a unanimous decision of not guilty. For all of us to pontificate as to why this was good or bad is stupid. We only hear what so the so called media wants us to hear, not everything as that jury did. The media has made a circus of this and will not let it go. Either we accept our legal system as is or work to change it. But stop trying to second guess it.

And if Eric Holder or Harry Reid or Al Sharlaton or the NAACP continue to stir the pot, they are the one's that should be prosecuted. You can't try a person a second time for the same thing, that is called double jeopardy and is not allowed under our legal system. They are all grand standing for political gain.

[redwitch]

Given the evidence and Florida law, the jury came to the right decision from everything I had seen. It was one of the saddest prosecutorial cases I've seen in a long time. The DA blew it when he aired all of the tapes and videotapes. At that point, the trial was over and the judge could have declared a directed verdict and saved some time and effort.

I do think that there was a good chance a totally different verdict would have occurred had Zimmerman testified. The lies, inconsistencies, his thoughts would have come out.

BTW -- we only have Zimmerman's word that Martin said Zimmerman was going to die that night (sorry, I don't believe that for one second) and I've found no record anywhere that Zimmerman ever asked Martin where he was going. In fact, Martin asked why Zimmerman was following him and Zimmerman denied that he was.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Our legal system has an established process for dealing with these issues. It is called a trial by jury. It has been completed and the members of that jury heard all the arguments and evidence submitted by both the prosecution and the defense. It was a jury selected and approved by both sides. After hearing all the facts and information they made a unanimous decision of not guilty. For all of us to pontificate as to why this was good or bad is stupid. We only hear what so the so called media wants us to hear, not everything as that jury did. The media has made a circus of this and will not let it go. Either we accept our legal system as is or work to change it. But stop trying to second guess it.

And if Eric Holder or Harry Reid or Al Sharlaton or the NAACP continue to stir the pot, they are the one's that should be prosecuted. You can't try a person a second time for the same thing, that is called double jeopardy and is not allowed under our legal system. They are all grand standing for political gain.

Get involved with the work I have been doing trying to get more practical materials for survivors/victims of crimes accessible through libraries and Sheriffs' web-sites. That is one way to change the system. This applies to both people who have been victimized by people breaking the law as well as those unfairly accused for crimes they did not commit.

We do need jurors who are better educated in the legal system and its strengths and weaknesses.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Our legal system has an established process for dealing with these issues. It is called a trial by jury. It has been completed and the members of that jury heard all the arguments and evidence submitted by both the prosecution and the defense. It was a jury selected and approved by both sides. After hearing all the facts and information they made a unanimous decision of not guilty. For all of us to pontificate as to why this was good or bad is stupid. We only hear what so the so called media wants us to hear, not everything as that jury did. The media has made a circus of this and will not let it go. Either we accept our legal system as is or work to change it. But stop trying to second guess it.

And if Eric Holder or Harry Reid or Al Sharlaton or the NAACP continue to stir the pot, they are the one's that should be prosecuted. You can't try a person a second time for the same thing, that is called double jeopardy and is not allowed under our legal system. They are all grand standing for political gain.

The gang in Washington wants to try it as a federal case.

To quote: "experienced federal prosecutors will determine whether the evidence reveals a prosecutable violation of any of the limited federal criminal civil rights statutes within our jurisdiction, and whether federal prosecution is appropriate in accordance with the Department's policy governing successive federal prosecution following a state trial," the DOJ said.

Apparently if "they" do not get their way they will try another way.

Z

[tucson]

What is telling is as I listened to all the testimony ,talking heads and so-called legal eagles when they were speaking of GZ's head wounds like it was no big deal. Even the "special prosecutor" Corey last night in her speech , said it was not sufficient enough of injuries to be classified as self defense. The only person that explained the head injuries of GZ correctly and honestly was the defense's ME who is world reknowned. I know people personally who've died(my brother) who had a fractured skull & a blood clot to the brain from falling on concrete and (my best friend)who hit her head on a hanging pot,and also received a blood clot and had to have brain surgery at MGH in Boston. Niether one of them did not even bleed, my brother had a bump and unfortunately he did not go to the hospital,I wish he had, he'd probably would've been saved if he had. So it is false information when people mock and make light of GZ"s head injuries being a few little scratches, etc,etc. He probably would've died from TM's beating and that's why (I believe) GZ said it was God's will that he had his gun w/him.