“Self defense? You honestly think this kid attacked this guy?”
It’s quite possible the kid might have thrown the first punch, which would be the prudent thing to do when a stranger dressed in street clothes who has 100 pounds on you follows you in his car and then gets out and approaches you. A lot of men, myself included, would probably perceive Zimmerman as a threat and hit him as he approached. THAT is self defense.
Initiating a conflict with an unarmed kid when specifically instructed not to do so by police, and then shooting the kid is NOT self defense, it’s murder.
Precisely what I was getting at.
You are simply wrong in your understanding of what is justifiable under the law, and what is not. Mere words alone are not justification for self defense.
In a public area, it is perfectly legal to follow someone and ask them questions. It is not provocation for a physical attack.
If you attack someone who then legitimately feels that their life is threatened, they may use deadly force to protect themselves.
A dispatcher is not "the police" and their advise is not legally binding. If anyone believes that I am incorrect in this, I will gladly look at evidence to the contrary. They are not on the scene and can only offer advise.