Zimmerman Prosecutors Struggle to Outmaneuver Florida Law

US Politics Today ^ | June 23, 2012

[2ndDivisionVet]

Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law is complicating matters for prosecutors rushing to convict George Zimmerman. The law is clear that residents can meet force with force when they feel threatened.

Florida's Stand Your Ground law allows residents to use deadly force to defend themselves or their property, and when doing so, protects them from prosecution. This law may derail the prosecution of defendant George Zimmerman in the much-publicized case of a neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed teenager Trayvon Martin.

State prosecutors see the case as open-and-shut, arguing that Martin was simply a kid buying a soda at a convenience store. When Zimmerman called 911 to report a suspicious individual, police told him to stand down until they arrived; he did not.

While authorities note that the one possibly threatening detail about Trayvon Martin was a simple hooded sweatshirt, George Zimmerman claims that Martin physically attacked him.

Florida's Stand Your Ground law is clear: an individual has no duty to retreat from a public confrontation in which he or she reasonably perceives a danger. As the Miami Herald notes, Floridians are allowed to "meet force with force." In fact, Zimmerman was not initially arrested by police at all for this very reason.

And, the law receives strong support. A recent Quinnipiac University poll finds support for the state law at 56 percent, with only 35 percent opposed to it.

While he was eventually charged with second degree murder, state prosecutors have no easy task to explain why Stand Your Ground should not apply to George Zimmerman. In fact, anyone facing charges of murder or homicide in Florida should discuss their situation with an experienced criminal defense attorney who will hold the prosecution accountable for proving their case at every step and ensure the defendant's rights under state law are respected.

[calex59]

This account is full of lies, especially the tired old canard, that has been disproved, that Zimmerman didn’t “stand down” when he was told. Actually he was never told to stand down but when they told him to quit following he did.

[AAABEST]

...Martin was simply a kid buying a soda at a convenience store...

They forgot the part about the poor little kid stopping to break Zimmermans nose and bash his skull into the pavement.

[panaxanax]

Whether found guilty or not guilty, there will be riots.

[Sherman Logan]

Truly dumb article. Zimmerman’s claims of self-defense have nothing at all to do with Florida SYG law, but rather rely on rights to self-defense included in earlier Florida law, and indeed in the law in every other state.

Now his claims may be untrue or invalid, as if it can be shown that Z started the fight, but even in such a case they still have nothing to do with SYG.

SYG may be a bad law, and modifications may be appropriate. But misstating what the laws says and how it applies is no help whatsoever to the public conversation on the issue.

[2ndDivisionVet]

This article came from a law firm in Florida.

[driftdiver]

“The law is clear that residents can meet force with force when they feel threatened.”

The law doesn’t apply IMO. When someone is sitting on your chest choking the life out of you retreat isn’t very feasible.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I haven’t read the actual statute, but I don’t think that the word “feel” is in there. At least I hope it isn’t.

[sheik yerbouty]

They can rename the town Sanford & Son. maybe that will mollify the melanometricist mob..

[driftdiver]

No it doesn't use the word 'feel'. See text below. The law came into being because there were cases where people were convicted for defending themselves because they didn't run away. Oversealous or anti-gun prosecutors would prosecute people who failed to retreat regardless of the threat they faced.

JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE

776.012 Use of force in defense of person.—

A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or

(2) Under those circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013.

[scooby321]

There will not be riots in Sanford, Florida.

He will never be convicted. Leaks by the Newspapers doesn't change the facts a thug up to no good and was attacking George Zimmmerman got what he deserved

[scooby321]

There will not be riots in Sanford, Florida.

He will never be convicted. Leaks by the Newspapers doesn't change the facts a thug up to no good and was attacking George Zimmmerman got what he deserved

[SkyPilot]

Martin was simply a kid buying a soda

I know it is not PC, but the media continue to lie about the "soda" or "ice tea" that the 6'2" Trayvon Martin had purchased.

It was an Arizona Watermelon drink. Crime scene photo below:

I bring this up NOT because of stereotypes or because it is significant to the facts of this case. No, I bring it up because this fact, like almost all of the facts of this case, have been distorted, suppressed, and manipulated by the Media, the Democrats, the Community Organizer, the Race Hustlers, and the Prosecutors.

[SkyPilot]

Martin was simply a kid buying a soda

I know it is not PC, but the media continue to lie about the "soda" or "ice tea" that the 6'2" Trayvon Martin had purchased.

It was an Arizona Watermelon drink. Crime scene photo below:

I bring this up NOT because of stereotypes or because it is significant to the facts of this case. No, I bring it up because this fact, like almost all of the facts of this case, have been distorted, suppressed, and manipulated by the Media, the Democrats, the Community Organizer, the Race Hustlers, and the Prosecutors.

[JoeProBono]

[wolficatZ]

AriZona Watermelon Fruit Juice Cocktail to be exact.

[Godebert]

Update #26 Part 2 – Trayvon Martin Shooting – A year of drug use culminates in predictable violence…

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks 2ndDivisionVet.

[kennyboy509]

Zimmerman was not ordered to “stand down” or to stop following Treyvon.

When Zimmerman was asked what he was doing, he replied that he was following Treyvon.

The exact words of the 911 dispatch was “we don’t need you to do that”

That sounds like a suggestion rather than an order.

[Sacajaweau]

Just remember.....MANY residents heard the cries for help and NOT ONE went out to help.

Of course I don't blame them....because our sweet little Tray may have had a GUN.

And that's why they didn't go out....because of Obama's son TRAY....not Zimmerman.