Poll Do you think Zimmerman is guilty or innocent? (108 votes)
Is George Zimmerman guilty of murdering Trayvon Martin?
Please vote too and thanks!
Please vote too and thanks!
Guilty. He is a man who took his minor Job to seriously and it resulted in the death of a child
Innocent.
Why?
@russellmania77: Oh, so people should be arrested for taking their jobs seriously.
Innocent. From my point of view, Trayvon attacked him and he defended himself.
@awesam: He followed the kid. After Tray was already leaving the area, and multiple people, including The kids girlfriend heard Zimmerman herrassing Him. Also he outweighed the kid by a few hundred pounds, and why get out of his truck with the gun in the first place?
@glitch_spawn: At the end of the day we can all agree he is guilty of being a douche bag cop
1000000000000% agree. he started this. in this case I wish being a douche bag was a illegal offense.
It is possible to goat someone into aggressive action just to give yourself an excuse to act violently
That is true also. STILL, no matter what is said, you have to make sure that you don't initiate physical contact. The problem with this case is, is that the prosecution has to prove that Zimmerman attacked first. Since Trayvon is dead and can't tell his story, i don't see the prosecution being able to do that.
@glitch_spawn: At the end of the day we can all agree he is guilty of being a douche bag cop
1000000000000% agree. he started this. in this case I wish being a douche bag was a illegal offense.
It is possible to goat someone into aggressive action just to give yourself an excuse to act violently
That is true also. STILL, no matter what is said, you have to make sure that you don't initiate physical contact. The problem with this case is, is that the prosecution has to prove that Zimmerman attacked first. Since Trayvon is dead and can't tell his story, i don't see the prosecution being able to do that.
tips hat
That is my point from a legal stand point. from a human stand point, i hope they get him on something. This is 100% his fault and he deserves some further punishment.
But I believe the first physical attacks was initiated by Martin.
but all the evidence points to Martin attacking Zimmerman.
I have absolutely no doubts Martin attacked Zimmerman. The issue here is - I wouldn't blame him. Zimmerman was following him, had a gun and Martin had done nothing wrong warranting a stranger pursuing him - at that point it is completely human to fight back when you can't flee.
What would most of us had done in the same circumstances?
Zimmerman should have kept his distance and stayed in his truck. I don't think Zimmerman was doing this with a racial motivation, and I don't think he is a bad person. Just not very smart maybe.
@isaac_clarke: The LAW does not take into account what people WOULD do. It goes by what people SHOULD do. yes, trayvon did what we all would have done. but according to the LAW, Trayvon should have RAN AWAY or called the police himself. He should have ran....according to the LAW.
Guilty. As a policeman he's trusted with a firearm because he is trained to be responsible in its use. This occurance in a violation of this trust put in him, and, again, as a policeman, he needs to hold responsibility for that breach.
The saddest part is....... Zimmerman was NOT EVER a policeman. He was neighborhood watch. He called the police. the police told him they would send someone out. They told him to sit his a$$ down and wait. He went against their advice. Trayvon ended up dead.
Zimmerman should have kept his distance and stayed in his truck. I don't think Zimmerman was doing this with a racial motivation, and I don't think he is a bad person. Just not very smart maybe.
I'm not sure about that. If it were a white male in a business suit this never would have happened. Zimmerman was stereotyping because of his color and way of dressing
@isaac_clarke: Ask him what he wants.
@isaac_clarke: The LAW does not take into account what people WOULD do. It goes by what people SHOULD do. yes, trayvon did what we all would have done. but according to the LAW, Trayvon should have RAN AWAY or called the police himself. He should have ran....according to the LAW.
That's what Martin initially did (Zimmerman's own words); when he did Zimmerman pursued him. Fight or flight - flight wasn't an option.
'These assholes always get away' - - -
Here's the transcript: http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/326700-full-transcript-zimmerman.html
@isaac_clarke: Ask him what he wants.
Confusing response.
@isaac_clarke: Guy follows me. I'm going to ask him what he wants. Why he's following me.
@isaac_clarke: I just read the entire transcript. Trayvon fled initially. George followed.That is where the transcript ends. It doesn't say or imply that trayvon was trapped or couldn't run again or that he couldn't call the police. it only says that George continued to follow him. By law no matter how much a person follows you or questions you, you CAN NOT put your hands on someone.
@pooty said:
@isaac_clarke: I just read the entire transcript. Trayvon fled initially. George followed.That is where the transcript ends. It doesn't say or imply that trayvon was trapped or couldn't run again or that he couldn't call the police. it only says that George continued to follow him. By law no matter how much a person follows you or questions you, you CAN NOT put your hands on someone.
He was running and Zimmerman refused to let him go - running isn't an option if your pursuer won't allow you to escape. That's what I'm getting at - clearly he couldn't get away given Zimmerman wouldn't let him run. Someone is chasing after him - he doesn't know why or who - simply a stranger is trying to apprehend him. Trayvon did what most of us naturally would do in that situation - defend himself.
Now I'm not aware of what qualifies as self-defense in Florida law, but that doesn't matter since I'm not aware of who threw the first punch. All I know Zimmerman's the one that chose to chase, confront and ultimately shoot Martin dead. Martin himself was the victim.
@isaac_clarke: Guy follows me. I'm going to ask him what he wants. Why he's following me.
He isn't following you - he's chasing you through town. He was following you in a truck, on the phone - you ran and he got out to chase you on foot. You run until he confronts you.
@isaac_clarke: I would again ask him what he wants. Either that, or call the police. I wouldn't attack him like an animal. I think you're getting it wrong. The other side says Zimmerman walked after him and Martin assaulted him.
Excessive self defense
In hindsight even if he had the right to attack he should aim at the knees or the legs instead of the fatal shot
@isaac_clarke: I would again ask him what he wants. Either that, or call the police. I wouldn't attack him like an animal. I think you're getting it wrong. The other side says Zimmerman walked after him and Martin assaulted him.
The expression 'like an animal' when we are in-fact animals is always a fun treat; the other side is conflicting with what Zimmerman told the police over the phone. Trayvon is running from a man following him in a truck, a man who exits that truck to confront Martin. There is no way this story ends with Zimmerman being a victim when he's instigating this entire event.
'These assholes always get away' - that is the mentality of the man who chased and fatally shot Martin. He knew nothing about this boy, not even a name - simply he was wearing a hoodie and carrying something. To Zimmerman - Martin was guilty, I'll repay Zimmerman in kind by saying the same of him based off the information we all already privy of - especially the words that came out of his mouth.
@isaac_clarke: I really don't care about either of them. I just think Trayvon is most likely at fault.
From what I've heard/read he's guilty.
@awesam: what if he had a gun? Does that mean kill him? Because this man was suspicious of him by how he looked. From my point of view he is guilty
Going with guilty. Even if he's employed to watch over a gated community , it sounds to me as Zimmerman sought the confrontation out and evidently assumed Trayvon was a hoodlum and was going to prove it. (Bear in mind all of this happened inside a gated community... being non-American I assume that means the only way in or out of it is through a guarded gate.)
I think Zimmerman is, at the very least, a terrible cop, and maybe a worse person. But, the burden of proof is put upon the prosecution, and until I see irrefutable evidence that proves Zimmerman acted in aggression first, my opnion (or anybody's for that matter) on the situation amounts to nothing. Though, I firmly believe that anyone who abuses their power, in a position of acute authority, and that abuse results in the needless death of another, need to be punished to the full extent of the law. In this case; if Zimmerman is truly guilty, he should be put in a deep hole filled with an asortment bloodsucking flora and flesh eating fauna.
Not completely sure yet, but I will say this: he did not have to go for a fatal shot. So I will go with @pooty. at least manslaughter.
@nerdork: I think Zimmerman is, at the very least, a terrible cop, and maybe a worse person
Zimmerman was NEVER a cop. Just a nosey, overly agressive neighborhood watch. He applied for cop school and was rejected.
@pooty said:
@isaac_clarke: I just read the entire transcript. Trayvon fled initially. George followed.That is where the transcript ends. It doesn't say or imply that trayvon was trapped or couldn't run again or that he couldn't call the police. it only says that George continued to follow him. By law no matter how much a person follows you or questions you, you CAN NOT put your hands on someone.
He was running and Zimmerman refused to let him go - running isn't an option if your pursuer won't allow you to escape. That's what I'm getting at - clearly he couldn't get away given Zimmerman wouldn't let him run. Someone is chasing after him - he doesn't know why or who - simply a stranger is trying to apprehend him. Trayvon did what most of us naturally would do in that situation - defend himself.
Now I'm not aware of what qualifies as self-defense in Florida law, but that doesn't matter since I'm not aware of who threw the first punch. All I know Zimmerman's the one that chose to chase, confront and ultimately shoot Martin dead. Martin himself was the victim.
Things Trayvon Martin could have done differently:
1) He had time to call his girlfriend. He should have called the police if he felt as threatened as you say he was. You don't call your girlfriend when you are threatened. you call the police.
2) Run some more.Faster. Trayvon was not trapped. Where does it say he was trapped with no where to run? Am I to think that this 17 yr old healthy child couldn't out run that over weight Zimmerman? If Trayvon goes full sprint there is no way Zimmerman can keep up.
If the defense can prove Trayvon was trapped with no way out, then great. I don't think it happened that way. Trayvon was aware he was being followed but didn't feel threatened enough to call the cops or go full sprint. He is 17yrs old. he probably felt he could beat this dude if needed. I think he told the dude to leave him alone. when Zimmerman didn't, trayvon got mad and attacked. Please note I am in no way condoning what Zimmerman did. I wish they could get him with 1st MURDER. But since trayvon can't tell his side of the story, at best Zimmerman will get manslaughter. but since they are charging him with 2nd degree murder. I think he will walk free. Not enough evidence to get him with any degree of murder.
@awesam: what if he had a gun? Does that mean kill him? Because this man was suspicious of him by how he looked. From my point of view he is guilty
Agreed. but is he guilty from a legal point of view?
@isaac_clarke: The LAW does not take into account what people WOULD do. It goes by what people SHOULD do. yes, trayvon did what we all would have done. but according to the LAW, Trayvon should have RAN AWAY or called the police himself. He should have ran....according to the LAW.
Guilty. As a policeman he's trusted with a firearm because he is trained to be responsible in its use. This occurance in a violation of this trust put in him, and, again, as a policeman, he needs to hold responsibility for that breach.
The saddest part is....... Zimmerman was NOT EVER a policeman. He was neighborhood watch. He called the police. the police told him they would send someone out. They told him to sit his a$$ down and wait. He went against their advice. Trayvon ended up dead.
Zimmerman should have kept his distance and stayed in his truck. I don't think Zimmerman was doing this with a racial motivation, and I don't think he is a bad person. Just not very smart maybe.
I'm not sure about that. If it were a white male in a business suit this never would have happened. Zimmerman was stereotyping because of his color and way of dressing
Of course, white men in business suits are not known to commit crimes like that as much as young men dressed in hoods and thuggish clothing. With that having been said, I could say Trayvon was equally stupid as Zimm'. Two stupid people making poor decisions which ended in tragedy.
@pooty: that has yet to be decided by his piers
It was manslaughter. I felt he pushed the line as a cop. If he followed the kid on his truck the whole time, then chased him? I couldn't blame Trayvon for being defensive. Do I believe Trayvon was a completely innocent little kid? Nope. Do I believe Zimmerman had the right to do what he did? Hell no.
I think he's guilty all the way. There was a million better ways to handle the situation. He chose killing the kid. Punishment should be dealt.
Can''t believe people are actually trying to defend this guy. Society = Stupid.
Please Log In to post.
Log in to comment