[floriduh voter]

If Zimmerman got out of his SUV to pursue Trayvon, right then and there, Stand Your Ground defense does not apply. Zimmerman will need to come up with a different defense. The police were not supposed to be the trier of fact which is the mistake the police made. Why no arrest and an arraignment? There was a death. Hit & Run drivers are treated much worse than Zim killing Trayvon.

The criminal court judge is the trier of fact along with a jury.

Sanford police have relatives who have beaten up black kids. Google that. Sanford police chief is now a black guy which was a good way to earn back some trust in the community.

[William Tell]

floriduh voter said: "Stand Your Ground defense does not apply."

Many posters are speaking as if "stand your ground" laws are essential to claims of self-defense. That is not true.

Self-defense laws, even if not explicitly passed by a legislature, are part of common law. Some states have enacted statutes which institute a "duty to retreat". I'm not sure whether there is a basis for such a thing in common law or not.

The description by Zimmerman includes his intention to retreat. It would be the prosecution's burden to prove that he did not retreat in order to rule out self-defense.

If Zimmerman did retreat, then there wouldn't be any aspect of "stand your ground" that is relevant. In retreating, Zimmerman is not standing his ground, but giving ground. If Martin closed with Zimmerman in order to fight him, then Martin is guilty of assault, even if Zimmerman had previously assaulted Martin.

It's conceivable that both parties committed felonious assault while still being consistent with a legitimate use of self-defense by Zimmerman.

[trappedincanuckistan]

Is SYG Zimmerman’s defense? As I understand it his defense will be straight up self defense. Stop trying to knock down straw men.