Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Witness: Zimmerman 'Never ... Tried To Help' Trayvon Martin
MSNBC ^ | March 25, 2012

Posted on 03/25/2012 12:30:48 PM PDT by Steelfish

Witness: Zimmerman 'Never ... Tried To Help' Trayvon Martin

By NBC News, msnbc.com staff and news services

A woman who says she and her roommate witnessed the final moments of Trayvon Martin's life told Dateline NBC that George Zimmerman had "his hands pressed on his back" and "never turned him over or tried to help him."

Zimmerman's lawyer, when shown part of the interview being aired Sunday night on Dateline, emphasized that his client would be claiming self-defense.

"I think there were efforts made to render aid to Trayvon," Craig Sonner told NBC's TODAY show.

Mary Cutcher told Dateline that she and her roommate both saw Zimmerman "straddling the body, basically a foot on both sides of Trayvon's body, and his hands pressed on his back."

Cutcher added that Zimmerman told her and her roommate to call the police. "Zimmerman never turned him over or tried to help him or CPR or anything," Cutcher said.

Sonner also reiterated what he had said in recent days, that Zimmerman suffered a broken nose and a gash to the back of his head.

A friend of Zimmerman's who appeared on TODAY with Sonner added that Zimmerman, 28, was distraught over the teen's death.

"Right after the shooting he couldn't stop crying," said Joe Oliver, who is African American and a former TV reporetr and anchor in Orlando.

Zimmerman has not been charged in the Feb. 26 shooting that has ignited racial tensions and raised questions about the Sanford police's handling of the case. Martin was black, and Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is Hispanic.

In a separate interview Sunday, Oliver said that "I'm a black male and all that I know is that George has never given me any reason whatsoever to believe he has anything against people of color.''

(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: georgezimmerman; trayvonmartin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 561-575 next last
To: sauropod

We lived on 34th road in Flushing until 1961.


181 posted on 03/25/2012 3:03:11 PM PDT by jwalsh07
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 165 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

” This is the part that bothers me as well. Zimmerman is on the ground screaming for help getting his face bashed in and not one neighbor goes to help. Had they come to Zimmerman’s aid Martin would still be alive in all likelihood. “

Yep....too bad nobody came to help.


182 posted on 03/25/2012 3:03:15 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: M1911A1
-- The actual statute in Florida, quoted earlier in the thread, indicates that if you start a confrontation, then try to back out but the other party doesn't stop, you can claim self defense. --

I think that principle is universal. The law recognizes tables turning, and what amounts to "surrender," at least in the physical sense.

But, the person who starts a fight really is at a serious disadvantage, in that they commit a tort and/or crime in the first place; and the other person has a right to counter force with force.

Here the evidence has Zimmerman overwhelmed by superior force, and yelling for help for a good 10-20 seconds. He has no history of starting physical violence, and as others have pointed out, people who carry are generally the least likely to initiate use of physical violence.

183 posted on 03/25/2012 3:04:02 PM PDT by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: Steelfish

Define a “non-deadly” attack.

Any physical attack must be considered potentially deadly. If someone is willing to physically harm you, they are able to kill you in that attack.

If the reports of the punk attacking the shooter first are accurate, the punk got what he deserved. End of story. You roll your dice, you take your chances. If the kid didn’t attack first and Mr. Zimmerman was not harmed before shooting, then he’s committed murder. The evidence however suggests that he was attacked.

If the prosecutor tries the non deadly attack angle, he’s going to have his @ss handed to him in the court room.

Sorry but that kid picked the wrong target to hit. He paid for his mistake with his life. Get over it and move on.


184 posted on 03/25/2012 3:04:18 PM PDT by BCR #226 (02/07 SOT www.extremefirepower.com...The BS stops when the hammer drops.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pops88

Silly me I thought typing on a droid was accepted here.


185 posted on 03/25/2012 3:04:26 PM PDT by org.whodat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 178 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Slayton
Just to give some indication of Zimmerman's attitude...

There is a previous call to the police, similiar situation..suspicious individual...
Zimmerman says he does not want to approach the individual.

6 previous calls were available here...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/videogallery/68912622/News/Past-911-call-George-Zimmerman-reports-black-male-he-s-seen-before#pl-62773735

...but I can't seem to access them any longer.
Searching elsewhere but so far without luck.

186 posted on 03/25/2012 3:04:59 PM PDT by kanawa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Aria
Zimmerman should have done what the dispatcher said.

The dispather said that they didn't need Zimmerman to follow the suspicious stranger and I've seen nothing other than speculation to suggest that he did anything other than to cease following him.

If you have a valid link, to something other than someone's biased opinion, I'll be glad to check it out and revise if necessary.

187 posted on 03/25/2012 3:05:09 PM PDT by norton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
The man who wrote the law, and two governors and many elected representative say you are wrong. Take it up with them.

Ahhh, so it's a political court you'd place Zimmerman before, not a court of judge and jury, or of law. You'd have him face politicians to determine his fate.

I've read about these courts in the history books.

188 posted on 03/25/2012 3:06:13 PM PDT by 101stAirborneVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 171 | View Replies]

To: Steelfish
Once you have the victim subdued, you cannot use deadly force.

That's certainly true.

Do you have any particular situation in mind to which that assertion is relevant?

189 posted on 03/25/2012 3:08:11 PM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: sauropod
Buy yourself a dictionary if you do not know how to use google.
190 posted on 03/25/2012 3:08:11 PM PDT by org.whodat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 176 | View Replies]

To: norton

From what I heard it sounded as though Zimmerman was following him despite being advised not to. But of course I could be wrong. One side of the tape hardly tells the whole story. But I also got the idea that the whole thing probably was avoidable.

We shall see.


191 posted on 03/25/2012 3:08:31 PM PDT by Aria ( 2008 wasn't an election - it was a coup d'etat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 187 | View Replies]

To: hinckley buzzard
The problem is, it's not limited to that particular group. You see that reaction from many different people of varied backgrounds and beliefs, but most of those reactions are based upon either incomplete information (ignorance), or a desire to placate the black community in general. It's disgusting, but that is our society in this day and age.

Santorum is pandering to the emotional female vote and it is a transparent ploy that is readily visible to anyone paying attention. It only underscores the pitiful choices we have been presented with this election cycle, IMO.

192 posted on 03/25/2012 3:08:31 PM PDT by Pox (Good Night. I expect more respect tomorrow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 172 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07
-- This is the part that bothers me as well. Zimmerman is on the ground screaming for help getting his face bashed in and not one neighbor goes to help. --

Because they know that disrupting a brother who is administering a beatdown is often "cause" to become a future target. The social contract is broken.

193 posted on 03/25/2012 3:09:16 PM PDT by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: 101stAirborneVet

I’ve read about these courts in the history books.

The trials usually end with firing squads.


194 posted on 03/25/2012 3:09:33 PM PDT by trappedincanuckistan (livefreeordietryin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 188 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat

OK Dumbass. I’ve tried to be polite here.

Let me break out the Crayolas so even you will understand it.

Is every law passed by “public opinion” as the deciding factor lawful?

Case 1) Dred Scott decision.

Case 2) the Kelo decision.

Case 3) ObaMao care (individual insurance mandate decision).

Take your time in answering, make sure your answers are correct and don’t dare insult me like that again.


195 posted on 03/25/2012 3:13:07 PM PDT by sauropod (You can elect your very own tyranny - Mark Levin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 190 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat

“Silly me I thought typing on a droid was accepted here.”

It certainly is and you’re within your right to make a post with the errors I cited. It’s within my right to call you out on all of them. Many of us prefer not to post blatant errors publicly that make us look uneducated, but it’s your right. Go for it. It does, however, make your arguments much weaker if you appear uneducated.


196 posted on 03/25/2012 3:14:08 PM PDT by pops88 (Geek chick over 50)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 185 | View Replies]

To: TASMANIANRED

What are you talking about, do you know what a discussion forum is??, and the rules here prevent the personal BS. And your opinion of what is and what is not, is your opinion.


197 posted on 03/25/2012 3:14:58 PM PDT by org.whodat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: Cboldt
Obama is hoping to change that.

Wanna buy a bridge in Brooklyn?

198 posted on 03/25/2012 3:16:19 PM PDT by jwalsh07
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 193 | View Replies]

To: Steelfish
Once you have the victim subdued, you cannot use deadly force.

Subdued? Who was subdued and when did the deadly force occur after that?

I guess only YOU could twist the fact that Martin had Zimmerman on his back and beating on him as being "subdued".........

Kinda like Custer saying "don't worry men, we have them right where we want them"........

199 posted on 03/25/2012 3:16:50 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (No matter what you post here, someone's going to get pissed off......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Scoutmaster
-- It makes me a little queasy to think you can kill somebody just because you think they're going to seriously injure you, particularly if you may have precipitated the incident after the police told you not to do so. --

Well, you've reached that uneasy position out of error. A couple of points - what the dispatcher said Zimmerman "need not do" was pursue Martin. Generally, this is to protect the peace, and BOTH parties. IOW, the advice is just as much intended to protect the good intentioned person, as it is to enable some sort of imagined "police monopoly" on the use of force.

That said, you, Zimmerman, and even Martin are free to follow, contact, and speak to strangers. What none of is allowed to do is initiate unwelcome contact, be it a kiss, hug, or blow. Once you start the use of unwelcome contact, you are on the wrong side of the civil law, for sure, and likely on the wrong side of criminal law too. And if the person you are touching reasonably perceives a threat, they can use force to get you to stop.

The statute is pretty clear. You picked out one section of it, but there is a whole chapter there. I blockquoted a chunk of your link back at you, to show that the law does, in fact, account against the person who started it.

200 posted on 03/25/2012 3:17:29 PM PDT by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 162 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 561-575 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson