Today we will again be covering the Zimmerman Trial live, all day, with streaming video. Continuing commentary will be posted in the Twitter feed of selected contributors below the first video feed, below.
This morning is the charging conference, in which the State and defense will argue about the specific charges on which the jury is to be instructed. The options are second degree murder, manslaughter, and aggravated assault. The defense wishes a charge only on second degree murder, the State prefers the latter two charges also be considered.
The State is scheduled to begin its closing argument at 1:00PM today, and the defense tomorrow morning. By tomorrow afternoon the jury should have been charged and begun their deliberations.
We also have brief summaries of the previous day’s events Zimmerman Defense Rests, Closing Statements Start Tomorrow along links to detailed more posts below the second video feed at the bottom of this post.
Defense attorney Don West and George Zimmerman
In addition, last night Professor Jacobson posted an analysis of the racial politics driving the Zimmerman prosecution, here:
Racial politics supported by State power come down on George Zimmerman
Also, a quick note, in thanks to the Professor and all of you I’ve put in place a 10% discount/free shipping coupon for Legal Insurrection followers interested in “The Law of Self Defense, 2nd Edition”–use code LOSD2-LI at checkout.
Live Stream Video
WITH COMMENTARY FROM CHANNEL 9 IN SANFORD
[For live-stream video without commentary, see NBC live feed at bottom of this post.]
Twitter Feed:
(My tweets can be identified as coming from @lawselfdefense, or @lawselfdefense2 if I’m in Twitmo–follow both!.)
Tweets from @LegInsurrection/zimmerman-trial
Live Stream Video Alternative
LIVE-STREAM WITHOUT COMMENTARY FROM NBC
Thursday, July 11 Commentary
During the lunch recess, or immediately thereafter, we will TRY to post a mid-day update. We’ll then follow up with the usual detailed end-of-day wrap up, including video and embedded Tweets, at the usual time in the evening.
For all of our prior coverage on day-to-day events in court, as covered here at Legal Insurrection, click here:
ARCHIVE: Zimmerman Trial LIVE coverage all day, every day
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Law of Self Defense Blog: Zimmerman Trial
(NOTE: If you do wander over to the LOSD blog, be sure to come back to Legal Insurrection to comment, as nearly all my time is spent here for the duration of the trial.)
Andrew F. Branca is an MA lawyer and author of the seminal book “The Law of Self Defense,” now available in its just released 2nd Edition, which shows you how to successfully fight the 20-to-life legal battle everyone faces after defending themselves. Take advantage of the 20% “Zimmerman trial” discount & free shipping (ends when the jury returns a verdict). NRA & IDPA members can also use checkout coupon LOSD2-NRA for an additional 10% off. To do so simply visit the Law of Self Defense blog. I have also instituted a similar coupon for Legal Insurrection followers LOSD2-LI(Coupons works ONLY at www.lawofselfdefense.com.) “The Law of Self Defense, 2nd Edition” is also available at Amazon.com.
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Comments
What kind of crazy world do we live in when a brother can’t give some creepy ass cracker a good beat down for following him without having to worry about getting shot?
Your tongue in cheek humor actually makes a good point:
Does it make any sense at all that it’s legal to kill someone because a creepy ass cracker exercised poor judgement, followed a kid, picked a fight and lost?
State’s proposed jury instruction: “You are instructed that if a creepy ass cracker is following you it is sufficient provocation to give him a good beat down.”
Can you point to testimony or evidence that indicates that GZ picked a fight or initiated a confrontation?
As I understand this morning’s proceedings, the judge has ruled that the jury may be instructed that just following someone is sufficient provocation.
My understanding is that what you said will not be said, but the judge ruled out saying that following a person to observe them to provide a police department information that they are requesting is not illegal and does not constitute provocation. Defense pointed to a lack of a statute criminalizing GZ’s following, and said the media campaign had tainted people’s perceptions to make them think it was criminal behavior. State vigorously objected. Nelson sided with state.
“exercised poor judgement” – where is the evidence of that? GZ was following NW guidelines. In any event, while many subsets of “exercising poor judgement” are illegal, many are not.
“followed a kid” – again, not illegal, and acting according to NW guidelines.
“picked a fight” – not only not in evidence, the vast majority of the evidence is that TM started the fight with a sucker punch to GZ’s nose.
“lost” the fight. GZ was certainly losing the fight, but had to stop the beating to prevent additional great bodily harm.
“Lost the fight” assumes that the fight had ended–it had not. TM refused to stop–would not heed GZ’s cries, would not stop when commanded to by Good, would not stop when Good told him he’s calling 911. TM had no intention of stopping the fight. Root was right in pointing out GZ only shot as a last resort when no other means, ability to escape, or outside source of help was available and the sitatuation was becoming ever more dangerous to his health and/or life.
I’d say GZ won the fight, even though he didn’t get a lick in.
I’m surprised that TM supporters want him to be crying out like a scared little girl. They should be proud TM did such a great job dominating instantly and totally. He made his gangdaddy proud.
I suspect this is part of the reason TMs father and brother were slow to ID the screams as TM. They probably want TM remembered as a fighter not a screaming little girl. After the State let them know there is no case without TM being a scared little girl, they reluctantly changed their testimony.
“Does it make any sense at all that it’s legal to kill someone because a creepy ass cracker exercised poor judgement, followed a kid, picked a fight and lost?”
Liberals always argue from false premises. If you dealt with the actual facts, you wouldn’t have any argument at all.
Following a kid isn’t illegal, and Trayvon is the one who picked a fight, by sucker-punching Zimmerman in the face. TM is dead by his own hand.
The reason we have so many absurdities in this trial is because trials with this little evidence of wrongdoing are not usually brought. Bad cases make bad law so you can expect a lot of bad law, like the child abuse crap, to come out in court in this case.
How about the exclusion of the evidence of phone contents will make it harder to prove child predation and porn charges.
The exclusion of mindset: fighting, school suspensions, drugs, burglary tools, because of the sensitivity of the parents and Sybrina’s brother’s political connections, is also absurd.
Trial courts don’t establish precedent.
Nothing ruled by this judge, by itself, means anything to any other court.
It means a lot to us the citizens, though.
We are just learning how exposed we are to be victimized by the same institutions that are supposed to protect our freedoms.
It is disheartening beyond believe.
Third-degree felony murder requires that the defendant be guilty of causing a homicide during the commission of a separate felony. The state’s crcular, bootstrap argument that GZ is guilty of third-degree felony murder based on the Felony of child abuse, based exclusively on the sole act (shooting of a minor) that is the basis for the homicide is absurd. If this were true, every homicide of a minor would represent, at a minimum, third-degree felony murder and the lesser offense of manslaughter against a minor would not exist.
I suppose that DN could allow this lesser Included offense based on a theory of an underlying aggravated battery, but this is not in the charge and even Mantie did not argue for this theory during his ambush of Zimmerman and West earlier this morning.
This felony murder instruction sprung at the last moment is just inviting reversible error and is an extremely risky strategy by the state.
I agree with o’neil’s analysis. It seems to me that an acquittal on the manslaughter charge could only be reached by the jury if it found the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman use of force was unlawful. For felony murder, one must cause the death of another during the commission of a felony offense, in this case child abuse. If Zimmerman’s use of force was lawful under Florida law, which the jury must find to acquit on manslaughter. then he could not be guilty of felony child abuse. Therefore he could not be guilty of causing the death of another during the commission of a felony offense.
If the state is trying to argue that Zimmerman committed some type of felony child abuse prior to the shooting, then it could not be argued that the commission of the felony child abuse led to the death of Trayvon. It was the lawful use of force that led to the death, not the commission of felony child abuse.
I know this explanation is terribly confusing, which is precisely why the state is requesting this instruction. They want to confuse the jury. They would not be risking what I believe is reversible error, if they had any confidence in their case.
Didn’t Dee Dee testify that she thought the creepy ass cracker might be a homosexual rapist? So maybe that is the prosecution’s theory. GZ was stalking TM with the intention of committing a homosexual rape.
When they resume at 1300 full counsel should be on hand for the remaining proceedings and West should have a degree of case law on hand for rebuttal of 3rd degree assault.
I’m assuming the lack of legal minds on the blog this morning is directly correlated to these helpful individuals overwhelming MOM’s firm with case law – here’s hoping anyway
I doubt it.
People do have other things to do, like work. Which I now have to go to.
There are several active and retired attorneys posting here.
Understood sir.
Thank you for your service to me and others seeking real legal answers.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
What does the rule of law have to do with anything? This is a show trial dammit and the script clearly says that GZ will be convicted.
Darn it – my computer crashed this a.m., so I missed all the “fun”.
WTFITS?!?!?!?!?!?
I guess we know why they used a Family Court Judge now, huh?
Regarding the added child abuse charge: It’s [at least] TWO – TWO – TWO crimes in one.
(Or maybe more – we haven’t finished researching all of the statutes yet.)
Ambushed! Whoever knew the State could do so much damage to a defendant, and the judge takes no notice? The State didn’t turn over evidence on a timely basis. The judge pushed the trial forward knowing proper discovery had not been completed.
We’re watching a DRYFUS case play out right in front of our eyes!
What if the 5-Circuit is as much of a whore house as Seminole’s criminal courthouse?
When the dust settles what will be destroyed? Trust, yes. That’s a big one. Comes from the AMBUSH by the State. And, I hope Governor Rick Scott looks at his future, the way LBJ looked at his future, back in 1967.
And, then, what about personal cost? Mantei gains recognition as top notch attorney? REALLY!
How will law schools handle the fallout?
How will our country handle the fallout?
When the pendulum swings isn’t it possible Americans will want to see the Justice system rewritten? And, not by Eric Holder!
The total absurdity of the prosecution can be summed up by asking one question.
Consider that all the facts remain exactly same in line with all the testimony and evidence. Everything: height, weight, ethnicity, history, dialogue, weather, darkness, strengths, weakness, temperment, ‘warrior-spirit’, ‘soft’, atheltic, not athletic, past history, ‘wanna-be cop’, ‘wanna-be thug’, etc. Try to think of everything possible that relates directly to what happened.
Now consider making one change. George Zimmerman is actually a female who looks similar enough to George Zimmerman on a dark rainy night that she might have been mistaken by someone to be a male.
What are the chances that any charges would have been brought against that woman?
What are the chances that any charges would have been brought against that woman?
None. Women are held to a completely different (more lenient) standard than men are.
[…] Zimmerman Trial Day 13: Live Video, Analysis of State’s Closing Argument […]
That’s a relief.
And there it is. Nelson does the right thing and makes a decision as soon as they come back, without asking for argument on the motion.
Even the child abuse sh#t-sandwich was too much for Nelson to swallow.
Yep and she appears to be a pretty deep throater.
And Mantei seemed crushed. That seemed to be his baby. He has clearly proven himself to be the biggest douchebag of them all this week.
You’re right about Mantei being crushed. I really like the decision she made, and I especially like the fact that she dumped this issue without even really requiring the defense to make a legal argument. She basically said, “No, that’s stupid. Move on.”
Got here late today.
Earlier someone mentioned there was a jury instruction saying that “following someone is a provocation” or something like that.
Is this true? Has this been put in the instructions?
If the prosecution fails(doesn’t get a conviction) of the M2 charge, can they try to charge GZ with manslaughter(or any other variation) and start this fiasco again, or would that be double jeopardy?
No, Florida cannot charge another offense arising from the same operative facts. That is double jeopardy. The state is required to charge all offenses arising from the same facts.
M2 and manslaughter will both be reviewed by this jury. If they acquit on both, done deal, George is free.
Does it also exonerate him of any civil obligation that would normally arise from these charges if he is found not guilty by reason of self defense?
As I understand it, in Florida, it does indeed.
I am not so sure. My understanding was the GZ would have needed to avail himself of the SYG hearing in order to get such immunity (since the standard in the SYG hearing would have been whether self-defense was proven by a preponderance of the evidence). Since GZ did not avail himself of the SYG hearing, I don’t think that civil immunity attaches.
Someone more versed in the particulars of Florida criminal law can correct me if I am wrong.
FL. Statute 776.032 Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justifiable use of force.—
(1)A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(14), who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. As used in this subsection, the term “criminal prosecution” includes arresting, detaining in custody, and charging or prosecuting the defendant.
(2)A law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use of force as described in subsection (1), but the agency may not arrest the person for using force unless it determines that there is probable cause that the force that was used was unlawful.
(3)The court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and all expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant is immune from prosecution as provided in subsection (1).
No that is double jeopardy.
The lesser charge of manslaughter has been included in the charges
Okay. That’s kind of what I thought, but since I am no lawyer I wasn’t sure exactly how that DJ worked.
Thanks all!
A. This jury will be instructed on manslaughter, so that option is available to them. So the state is precluded from charging Zimmerman with that same charge again. So yes, that would be double jeapordy.
B. I believe (and some of the criminal litigators here can correct me if I am wrong), that even if manslaughter were NOT instructed as a lesser included offense, the state would be precluded from charging Zimmerman again for ANY crime that could have been charged based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding this case. The state gets one trial per incident – if they want to convict someone of a crime based upon a particular set of facts and circumstances, they need to charge all of the potential crimes and include it all in the same prosecution. no two bites at the apple.
Relating to your B. that’s what Pauldd replied as well.
By the judge’s standard that following someone is “not not illegal” due to supposed lack of code or case law affirming it’s legality, any action prior to self defense could transform self defense into murder.
So if someone drinks water before being attacked and subsequently uses deadly force to survive, that is potentially a provocation.
I thought Florida law codes enumerate illegal acts and that everything else is legal by exclusion. I must have been wrong.
Can you please catch me up on this?
Was this a jury instruction? Something to do with closings?
Thanks!
@fogflyer: The Defense wanted the Judge to include a line in the jury instructions that explicitly told them that following someone was not illegal. West used, as an example, a social media post where someone said, “he shouldn’t have followed him, therefore he must have done something wrong.” Basically, West was concerned that the State would tell the jury, either by implication or by outright stating it, that GZ did something wrong by shadowing TM to inform police of his whereabouts, thereby implying that GZ is guilty of something.
Nelson ruled against him on it, saying that jury instructions are for matters of law, and there’s no law to cite that says that it’s not illegal to follow someone. Kind of convoluted logic.
Gotcha, thanks!
OK, at least that isn’t as bad as I was thinking it was.
The state can not say it was ILLEGAL in closing, right?
But the defense CAN say it was LEGAL, correct?
The defense CAN say it’s legal.
I honestly don’t know about the offense saying it’s illegal.
But if the State implies it’s illegal, and then the defense says it’s legal, the jury is left not with a question of fact, but with an interpretation of law, and that’s not where they are supposed to be. That was Don West’s concern. You want the jury to look at the facts and apply the law to them, you don’t want them trying to figure out what the law is.
Actually, there is no law saying that following somebody is illegal.
It is not prohibited by law, hence not illegal.
It is more than just convoluted logic. How is that lady allowed to practice law at all?
I think Judge Nelson was perfectly correct in not giving the instruction on 3rd degree murder, if she were not certain that instruction was proper. Quite frankly, I would be as mad as hell if I were the Judge and the state pulled this trick to put me in such an untenable position without reasonable time to do my own research and to allow the defense reasonable time to do research.
By any reasonable standards, the state just attempted to sucker punch the defense. Fortunately, the judge blocked it.
RUMOR: Prosecution is disappointed that police investigation was negligent in that they did not do sufficient DNA testing of concrete of Dog-Walk and Cut-Through at the crime scene to prove GZ actually spit on the sidewalk which they think may be a crime.
Diana Tennis is still on a roll: “Is that Angela Corey at counsel table behind Mantie?”
Wat.
You mean you don’t recognize her by now?
Wat.
Rumor: Bernie de la Rionda has signed a lucrative contract with a major rap record label for his new song “F*** Punks.”
Has anyone pointed out that the word punks is plural, indicating that it is not directed at Trayvon specifically?
Good to see the entire Zimmerman family and friends can now be in CR
I find it ironic that had Martin killed Zimmerman in the manner he was clearly attempting to, he could have been charged as an adult. But since he failed, he must be a child.
I have watched almost all of this trial here and what I see taking place should chill everyone to their bones. If this can be happening to Zimmerman, none of us are safe. And I suspect it is happening all over this country except this time we are getting to see it. The apparent incompetence of this Judge, her collusion with the prosecution, and the unethical, if not illegal, tactics of the state are simply frightening. We are devolving into a third world nation.
“If this can be happening to Zimmerman, none of us are safe.”
Which is the precise reason the race-baiter industry and the Obama DoJ are all over this case.
As bad as this is for Zimmerman it is important to keep some perspective.
He’s the one still breathing. Even in the face of a murder conviction he still has that going for him.
So, should you find yourself in a life and death situation forget about the travesty of this ‘trial’ and go with what your gut tells you – life or death. You can deal with the rest later, but only if you live.
Another terminal casualty of this trial is faith in the Department of Justice. It has become a tool of leftist angst and can’t be trusted to uphold the civil rights of all citizens. It is almost as if the Obama admin is engaged in payback for all of the unfair trials the black community has been subjected to. “See, here is what we went through.” What a wonderful basis for justice.
Other casualties include Neighborhood watch, self-defense laws, HOA organizations and see something say something.
I haven’t had faith in the DOJ since about, oh, January 2009… so I don’t have any to lose. When they decided not to prosecute the NBPP I knew it was going to be the Dept. of INjustice. And, sadly, that has proven to be true. Will we as a country ever recover from this huge mess?
Diana Tennis is treating this entire trial as a big game. She is a disgrace and an ass. I for one wouldn’t think of hiring her if I needed a lawyer.
From http://blog.richardhornsby.com/2013/07/dont-believe-every-tweet-you-read/ :
“Specifically, because the State did not allege (in the alternative) that the death was by culpable negligence, the State should be unable to have Manslaughter by Culpable Negligence (Involuntary Manslaughter) given as a lesser included offense. See Ayala v. State, 879 So. 2d 1, 2 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004) (“It is fundamental error to instruct the jury on a variety of manslaughter that had not been included within the information.”)
“What this means is that, should the defense object, they might be able to convince the judge only to have the jury instructed on Manslaughter by Act. If the judge overruled this request and also instructed on Manslaughter by Culpable Negligence, it would set up another excellent appellate issue.
“Why would the Defense object to Manslaughter by Culpable Negligence, possibly because they know that if the jury is likely to convict George Zimmerman on any theory, it would be on a theory of culpable negligence.
“If they don’t have the option to reach a “compromise verdict,” they would be left with no choice but to return a Not Guilty verdict.”
There are a lot of asses in the courtroom!
Well, one less travesty. I can’t wait for the jury instructions.
[…] Zimmerman Trial Day 13: Live Video, Analysis of State’s Closing Argument […]
When will they be back from recess?
As the saying goes, “Here goes nothin'”
I meant that literally, btw.
Advisory note: Don’t have any liquids in your mouth during BDLR’s closing, lest you spew them all over your screen and/or keyboard when he suddenly goes off the rails.
just so we remember the folks that we are dealing with here:
Street performer assaulted outside Summerfest
MILWAUKEE (WITI) — A saxophone player was assaulted outside the Summerfest grounds near Chicago St. on Wednesday, June 26th around 11 p.m.
26-year-old street performer Cassandra Struve became a target on opening night while she was playing an old jazz song.
“I was playing Minnie the Moocher, classic Blues Brothers song,” said Struve. ”A lady with a child in her hand came up to me, smacked me in my face and said ‘don’t play that.’”
Struve says three African American women confronted her and shouted that a white girl could not play the song.
After being hit, Struve says she was shocked and pushed the woman away, but was hit again.
“Her daughter came out of nowhere and punched me twice in the side of the face,” said Struve. “After she did that I was instantly upset. You know, I mean, I cried.”
A group of workers at a nearby hot dog stand witnessed the attack.
“It was chaotic, you know, it was really chaotic,” said Lee Johnson.
Johnson says he tried to confront the women but they continued walking away. Then he decided to check on Struve.
“I went down to her aid and assisted her the best I could and called 911 for her,” said Johnson.
Struve says she has a bruise on her temple, but will continue to play outside Summerfest.
“Saxophone is an innocent instrument. It’s supposed to spread the love and joy with people, not to bring hatred,” said Struve.
Two women, 14- and 24-years-old, were cited for disorderly conduct. A 41-year-old woman was cited for assault and battery and disorderly conduct.
but lest we forget:
“IT BE DA WHITE MAN’S FAULT”
if those women attack a saxaphone player for playing Minnie the Moocher, which is a lot older than the Blues Brothers (Cab Calloway played it way back in the 1940s), then imagine what they would do to Joss Stone who actually sang Aretha Franklin songs in front of Aretha Franklin!!
BLDR: 3 bald-faced lies in the first paragraph of closing statement.
Lies and false accusations against George Zimmerman.
Uncle Samuel, I was just about to type that.
BDLR’s been talking for <5 minutes, and already stated 3-4 demonstrably false things as "fact." I'm not even going to try to keep count.
“BENJAMIN TRAYVON MARTIN NO LONGER WALKS ON THIS EARTH’?
GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD GARBAGE
I really hope this lying clown get mugged soon. He he such a lying unethical blowhard and I hope he gets his. I really can’t take it.
BDLR will never be confused with Clarence Darrow.
TRAYVON MARTIN WAS A “GANGSTA NIGGA” WANNABE WHO BELIEVED HIS OWN LEGEND
Oh yes the first thing I would do to someone who beat my head in & broke my nose is render “aid”!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
the state wants the jury to assume that TM was minding his own business and that GZ attacked him without any provocation.
unfortunately for the state, assumptions on their part do not constitute grounds for conviction.
“Innocent 17 yr old boy”???
Yeah innocent that’s the first impression I get upon seeing his thug texts &photos
Unfortunately, his texts weren’t allowed in as evidence; the jury never saw any prior “bad acts” by St. Skittles….
I had no idea GZ shot TM for the crime of buying Skittles. This changes everything.
(Jury member thought bubble: “This guy thinks I’m a moron…”)
These assholes always get away with buying skittles and Iced Tea
I find it sadly comical that BDLR will say demonstrably untrue things as if they are facts in evidence, but yet still corrects himself every time he mentions the canned drink.
“Tea, or whatever kind of drink it is.”
“Tea, or watermelon drink.”
Because accuracy on that point is important.
He said “HOODIE” —!
DRINK!
Laughing at the “you are a bad person if you don’t try to revive your assailant ” argument.
Back in April a 46 year old volunteer soccer referee was punched once in the head by a 17 year old “child”, lapsed into a coma and died one week later.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56263774-78/portillo-police-news-soccer.html.csp
Wow! ! Did not know BDLR was a mind reader?
Bernie – of the teen home invaders who broke in on the young mother – come to find out, one of them lived in the complex.
Diana Tennis says: “Reminder to self: jurors don’t want to hear you schreech for two hours. I can get schreechy too, stress changes ur voice you know.”
I bet they don’t want to hear you screech, either.
It wasn’t F-ing punks that GZ said it was F-ing Skittles!
Maybe he was mad that TM didn’t have a Mars bar?
WHAT A DICK
f YOU bdlr
BDLR just said nothing GZ did in following TM was a crime.
Thanks for laying it for a full acquittal numb nuts
Oh this is some fine theatrical stuff!! Where’s my Xanax? I need to keep myself from putting my fist through tv! OMFG! OUR COUNTRY HAS JUST GONE TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET!!!!!
In 30 seconds, he managed to show the autopsy photo for the second time and get out “assholes” and a forceful “f*cking punks.” The first of many, no doubt.
Drink!
Hahaha, I’m in. Lemme go make myself an adult beverage, and I’ll play along. I assume “assholes” and “f*cking punks” are both “drinks.” What constitutes a “finish your glass?”
Matt-
“17yr old boy”
= FINISH YOUR GLASS!
Oh, lord, this is gonna be a short trip to insensibility then.
One more rule. If BDLR curses without remembering to say “Pardon my language” or the equivalent, you pay a one drink penalty, on top of the one for the curse word itself.
Was he minding his own business when he punched Zimmerman in the face?
BDLR reading 1984.. must convict due to GZ thoughtcrime.
He’s got to be on mind altering drugs.
actually it’s you, also , BDLR that are a fucking punk
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/10/justice/sanford-bill-lee-exclusive/index.html
I don’t know how much of that closing argument I can listen to. And when you get a chance, read that above, which is linked from Drudge.
Thanks for the link, kittycat.
Matt,
You’re welcome!
Boy this was a bad few weeks to be stuck home sick! Between the trial & the “babydaddy” shows- I am reminded why I choose not to watch TV anymore!
same here, vacation though, got stomach bug and pulled my back while sick – back to work sunday, feeling better though
I had that stomach thingg running here in Feb took 2 weeks to go away! Glad you are on your way to better 🙂
My back is out so I cant kick my Tv – small favors
Bernie’s gonna bust an artery.
Now THAT would be worth watching!!??
Am I wrong for hoping?
Oh great – another “wrongful death” the State will charge Mr. Zimmerman with…..
TM had 2mins to walk 300-400ft away and to safety of his home sorry Bernie
Neither side offered evidence of the distance from the T to where TM lived.
I believe it was in opening O’Mara made the comment that Martin was within 70 yards of his house, and “Dee Dee” made the comment that he was outside his house. When O’Mara said that, I realized that it meant Martin must have turned around to come back to Zimmerman at the “T”. But I haven’t heard it mentioned since. I thought it was an important point. If Martin came back to Zimmerman then the question becomes who is following whom, and wouldn’t that indicate an intent to confront?
Maybe we’ll here more about that tomorrow.
There he goes with the F-word again.
DRINK! X 2
The eyes of a nation are on the trial of the killer of Trayvon Martin, and in many ways, the whole world is watching. Trayvon Martin was a Black teenager gunned down by a vigilante killer just after 7 pm on the evening of February 26, 2012. He was walking to his father’s house with a can of ice tea and a bag of candy.
George Zimmerman knew nothing about Trayvon Martin, never even heard of him. But he thought he knew him. All Zimmerman had to see was a young Black man in a hoodie walking home with a snack, and he “knew” that Trayvon Martin was a “suspect.” He “knew” Trayvon Martin was a “fucking punk.” He “knew” Trayvon was “a fucking asshole” who “always gets away with it.”
And based on that, Zimmerman got out of his car, stalked Trayvon Martin, pressed a 9mm pistol into Trayvon Martin’s sweatshirt right at his heart. He fired a hollow-point bullet into Trayvon’s heart.
Zimmerman never showed any remorse for killing Trayvon Martin. Not when he pulled the trigger. Not when he told police over and over again—without any basis—that Trayvon was “the suspect.” Not when directly asked if he would change anything if he could, in a TV interview that was played in court. In that TV interview, Zimmerman claimed—obscenely—that it was “god’s will” for him to kill Trayvon Martin.
And through this all, Zimmerman has acted as if he has a whole system behind him. For good reason. The Trayvon Martins of this country (and this world) have been branded suspects by a system that has no future for them. From endless depictions of them as thugs on TV and in the movies, to the institutionalized criminalization of them through “stop-and-frisk,” to the schools-to-prison pipeline to mass incarceration, they are a generation for whom this system has no future.
But Trayvon Martin was a human being! He had a right to live, to have a future, and so do millions like him. And so the stakes of this trial are truly decisive to the kind of world people will live in.
When you shoot a thug who is beating the hell out of you… you’re defending your own life, not practicing vigilante justice.
If you haven’t been following the trial – and from your rant, it’s obvious that you haven’t – then kindly quit assuming that you can tell the rest of us what we are supposed to think.
We’ve watched – for over a year – as race hustlers have stoked up the fires of racial discord for their own monetary gain.
It’s sickening.
Kindly take your misinformation to another forum where people have already made up their minds based on what they think they know, the facts be damned.
He had a right to live, to have a future, and so do millions like him.
And guess what?
If young Mr. Martin had just continued on to his father’s house, HE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE.
HE made the choice to confront Mr. Zimmerman, HE made the choice to rain down punches on Mr. Zimmerman, and HE made the choice to keep on assaulting Mr. Zimmerman, even after Mr. Zimmerman started yelling for help.
Mr. Martin is dead because he CHOSE poorly.
Go throw a couple of dollars into TrayMoms trash can that she carries around the country for suckers to fill if thats how you feel. You can even buy a sweatshirt or tee shirt from her. How about a coffee mug, keychain or hat. The TrayMom gift shop is on the right outside the courtroom. Now that the trial is almost over they’re having a going out of business sale everything 35% off. All these items and more with St Trayvons thug image. http://girlsjustwannahaveguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/tm.jpg
This is the poster child of the low information voter. The only “facts” they can recite are those spoon fed by the talking heads in the media. And it is apparent they, like this writer, have not watched the trial. This is like the witness that claimed Zimmerman was on top because he was the larger person, based on photos she had seen of a 12 year old Martin that had been put out by the media. When this was pointed out to her, she changed her testimony to “not sure now”.
The sad thing is this person could end up on a jury someday, and they are able to vote. The scary thing is they outnumber the rational.
Wannabe gangstas like Trayvon Martin end up getting what they deserve.
BDLR: “Hold people accountable for their actions”.
I hope that BDLR and others get to contemplate that when they are losing their law licensees.
I had to mute this flown. I couldn’t take it any longer.
Clown
Rofl, BDLR just threw Dr. Bao under the bus.
“Oh, that Dr. Bao, he’s incompentent, he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
Why would the state put someone so hysterical and unlikable in front of a jury?
I don’t think the prosecution understands how they have appeared during this trial. I hope they come to websites like this to see how vile many of us see them as.
This guy is an idiot. First off, I imagine George swallowed a bunch of blood that night being as he was on the ground while being punched over and over again.
So, what does the lack of blood on Trayvon prove? That he didn’t injure Zimmerman? Who did then?
So we can remove all the States assumptions as well and throw the case out
Oh yes I always roll my window down & talk to strangers looking in windows and acting like they are on drugs! !
And offer them rides!
Profiling is not a crime – it is discernment of danger, the rational sense of caution that leads to avoidance of danger.
Bet if a group of hooded Trayvons were standing around on the sidewalk in front of Bernie on a dark night, Bern would cross the street or backtrack fast!
You can bet he would not advance and attempt to hug the Brothers.
It’s an example of the perniciousness of political correctness that a benign term such as ‘profiling’ has been turned into a constant negative.
BDLR SSID COMMON SENSE? ? ROFL OW OH MY BACK DAMNIT!
Maybe BLDR will go to one of the arguments that I continually here from the Trayvonites. They keep asking “Why would a man with a gun be crying for help?” Aside from not wanting to kill someone, maybe someone would not want to have to go through a horrible trial like this after being called out by the President. The disgusting people on this prosecution team are trying so hard to put Zimmerman in jail for anything they can.
It really irritates me that the state (and many others) are taking the position that if you take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of your community, there’s something mentally wrong with you.
Puke instead of drink! ‘
About halfway to the break, by the way. Nelson said break after first hour.
MATT!! HELP. LOL
WHAT EVIDENCE?
Please! Common sense? Is nowhere near this case!
Did anyone ever ask the question if GZ could have considered TM armed?
Object!! I object!! Where does the chart show TM’s scared call to police?? Or DeeDees call to TMs family or police that he might be in danger?? WHERE????
Officer Root said Jeantel’s call and testimony was not congruent with every other witness…that he had to DISREGARD her claims.
Her testimony was a Crump invention.
BDLR speaking in generalities, nothing specific, and certainly no proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Seems to be ignoring the self defense claim, which State had a burden to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt.
Not educated? She’s had 13 years of Miami public education.
Yes 19yr old high school junior in the country since she is 4 yrs old? MY GOD MY EARS ARE BLEEDING!
19 YR OLD young lady who cant read cursive but who can tweet about her “court nails”
This is gibberish.
I was trained as a chemist and did research for over 30 years. That being said, as I listen to BDLR wrap up the prosecution’s case, I find my self becoming more and more disgusted. He provides half truths as facts, his logic is nothing close to being sensible and he just sounds plain old fashion emotional and stupid. He sounds as if he was attending a completely different trial to the one I have observed for the last few weeks. If I were in the jury box, I would be tempted to climb out and slap him silly for performing such an inept job. Don’t people have the power of discernment to separate the BS from reality? I sure hope so.
she could have embellished? Her testimony was a joke that even the state is comdemning.
her words were colorful, but GZ showed malice, ill will, and hatred based on the words that the state has consistently mischaracterized.
Isn’t calling Martin a “victim” implicitly predicated upon Zimmerman being the “criminal”? Didn’t the Lead Investigator say that Zimmerman was potentially the “victim” here?
Wait did BDLR really just tell the Jury that if they don’t listen to Dee Dee they are racist? Seriously?
BERNIES FAILED ATTEMPT AT MLK!!!
Seriously, did this jackass just bastardize a Martin Luther King quote?
Oh my God, he just paraphrased Martin Luther King.
How about the fact that she admittedly lied under oath several times? Is that just part of how “colorful” she is?
MLK Jr was willing to go to jail and suffer the consequences as opposed to the witness who lied to avoid even testifying.
does BDLR’s up-speak get on anyone else’s nerves?
He sounds strident, angry, intimidating, it makes me emotionally exhausted.
So, she lies when it’s convenient for her. But that shouldn’t impugn her credibility.
Where BDLR needs to build towards the state narrative through a coherent recitation told like a good story is told, he is instead lobbing individual mal mots, innuendo, outright misstatements of facts, and generally flopping around like a carp in the bottom of the boat. Tres boring due to his inability to build suspense and expectation of some pay-off in the listener. Disjointed.
All of that being from another country, uneducated, etc., is baloney. I know people who are from other countries, come to America and become educated, then do better than Americans who have lived here their entire lives. Yes, it may take hard work on their parts, but they accomplish it.
Her problems is this: laziness.
DRINK X 5
If I was drinking right now, I’d go through a whole bottle of wine.
alcohol poisoning be damned!!!!