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Investigator Wanted Manslaughter Charges Against George Zimmerman
Opposingviews ^ | 27 March, 2012 | Jacob Sullum

Posted on 03/28/2012 5:03:23 PM PDT by marktwain

ABC News has more details about George Zimmerman's description of the fight that ended with Trayvon Martin's death.

Zimmerman reportedly told police "he was heading back to his truck when Martin knocked him down with a punch to his nose, jumped on him, repeatedly banged his head on the ground, [and] then tried to grab Zimmerman's gun." This is the first confirmation I've seen that Zimmerman claimed Martin tried to grab his gun, which makes Zimmerman's claim that he feared for his life more plausible.

But even if we believe everything Zimmerman said, it is still possible that Martin was responding to what he perceived as a potentially deadly threat from Zimmerman. ABC News says Chris Serino, "the lead homicide investigator," did not buy Zimmerman's story and wanted to charge him with manslaughter but was overruled by the state attorney's office.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: banglist; fl; georgezimmerman; trayvonmartin
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It is certainly possible for two people both to believe that they are under deadly threat and for that belief to end in tragedy.

That does not mean that the survivor broke the law.

1 posted on 03/28/2012 5:03:34 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

I’d like to know WHO the “Lead homicide investigator” is....and also since when does someone retreating to their vehicle turn them into a candidate for committing manslaughter?


2 posted on 03/28/2012 5:10:36 PM PDT by goodnesswins (2012..."We mutually pledge our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor")
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To: marktwain

News says that Florida’s State Attorney said that Zimmerman could not be arrested because of the Stand Your Ground law— Zimmerman said at the site that he was in fear of his life and protecting himself. The witnesses on hand corroborated what Zimmerman said about events. [I just got this from my favorite not impartial network— HLN.]

Poor Nancy Grace just disagrees with it all and knows how things should have been done. It’s all “bass-ackwards.”

The enemedia is having trouble making the Sanford Police Dept. look bad.


3 posted on 03/28/2012 5:11:19 PM PDT by Clara Lou (ABO! Go Newt!)
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To: goodnesswins

From some of the few accounts I’ve seen of the Police activities concerning this event, Serino is not a homicide investigator, but is a Narco. I could be wrong because the reportage is awful.


4 posted on 03/28/2012 5:13:48 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (The only flaw is that America doesn't recognize Cyber's omniscience. -- sergeantdave)
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To: marktwain

The survivor used incredibly poor judgement that led to an unnecessary death. Sounds like manslaughter to me.


5 posted on 03/28/2012 5:14:09 PM PDT by Bizhvywt
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To: marktwain

The usual democrat party political lynching of an innocent man.

From the KKK to Media Matters, always the same evil democrat party criminals.


6 posted on 03/28/2012 5:18:05 PM PDT by FormerACLUmember
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To: Bizhvywt

I’m in a lot of hot water here for saying that Zimmerman should never have gotten out of his truck. But, in his defense, I believe Zimmerman says “OK” when the dispatcher says “We do not need you to do that.” He seems to have turned around within a few seconds.

No manslaughter. None at all— especially if it’s established that Martin attacked him— and that seems to be the case. (JMO)


7 posted on 03/28/2012 5:19:02 PM PDT by Clara Lou (ABO! Go Newt!)
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To: marktwain

I read the law the prosecutor tried to use. It did not apply in this case because Zimmerman was protecting himself, and did not shoot the boy while he was committing a property crime.


8 posted on 03/28/2012 5:22:51 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.)
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To: marktwain

The man next to me at a counter talked some about felonies committed when the NBPP offered their bounty for the “capture” of George Zimmerman. He closed by adding, “We oughta put a two dollar bounty on *them*!” I declined involvement, but then asked, “Why so small?” He stared at me for the whole minute or more it took me to factor in the value of the quarry, which is key to setting a bounty.


9 posted on 03/28/2012 5:31:57 PM PDT by Grampa3711 (Some people bring happiness wherever thet go; others, whenever.)
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To: marktwain

I don’t think this means he broke the law. This would be negligent homicide or involuntary manslaughter, which means that he hadn’t intended this to happen, but that there was an involuntary situation in which he was involved that resulted in the death of another person at his hands but which might not have done so without a prior action by him (being armed).

I think what will probably happen is that the family, which is busy trademarking their kid’s name, just wants the money and they will probably sue the HOA. Zimmerman shouldn’t have been armed at that time, since the duties of neighborhood watch people are just to identify something suspicious and call the police. This is a liability issue for the HOA or for whatever group had Zimmerman as a volunteer.

The problem is that the mob that is howling for Zimmerman’s blood is not going to be satisfied with anything less than homicide charges, preferably capital. And the other problem is that US justice has a long tradition of cowering in the face of pressure groups. Look at Rodney King, where they tried him until they got the verdict the pressure groups wanted (not guilty) or some of the many police trials where officers have been tried time and again on various charges (all of them different enough from the first one to avoid double jeopardy) until the guilty verdict desired by “the community” is produced.

This is not going to be pretty.


10 posted on 03/28/2012 5:32:07 PM PDT by livius
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To: Clara Lou

“No manslaughter. None at all— especially if it’s established that Martin attacked him— and that seems to be the case. (JMO)”

As a CCW permit holder, Zimmerman should be held to the higher standard. Zimmerman’s actions could easily be viewed by Martin as threatening. Following a pedistrian in a vehicle at night, in the rain. Then as Martin leaves the road and quickens his pace to avoid or lose Zimmerman, Zimmerman gets out of his car and pursues him on foot, while armed. A good argument could be made that Martin was in fear for his life at that point. The pursuit sounds like a prelude to a drive by shooting or an abduction.

I guess I’m in hot water also. Terrible what the media is doing but defending Zimmerman seems pointless. Zimmerman has created a real ****storm for the responsible gun owners and CCW people in this country.


11 posted on 03/28/2012 5:32:33 PM PDT by Bizhvywt
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To: FormerACLUmember

The usual democrat party political lynching of an innocent man.

From the KKK to Media Matters, always the same evil democrat party criminals.”

There needs to be a whole bunch of photo shopping of Al and Jesse, Barak and some media fools in Klan robes and hoods, with the caption,

IT WAS EVIL WHEN WHITES DID IT AND IT’S STILL EVIL WHEN BLACKS DO IT!


12 posted on 03/28/2012 5:34:38 PM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: Bizhvywt

According to you, the survivor should have continued to take the beating until knocked unconscious or dead to show good judgement.

Remember that if someone attacks you, don’t use that same ‘poor judgement’ as you call it. Instead, take the beating and submit to the attacker.


13 posted on 03/28/2012 5:35:49 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: marktwain

And a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich... what else is new?


14 posted on 03/28/2012 5:38:05 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the sociopath.)
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To: Bizhvywt
A good argument could be made that Martin was in fear for his life at that point.

What part of following Zimmerman as he was walked away and attacked him from behind do you not like enough to include it in your little scenario in how Martin felt threatened? And Martin didn't know he was armed - you left that out.

You sound like the media with it's distortion of facts.

15 posted on 03/28/2012 5:43:39 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: marktwain
This was released yesterday which seems to contradict ABC's report. Is anyone surprised that ABC got it wrong again?

SANFORD, FL – MARCH 27, 2012 – The City of Sanford wishes to clarify a statement made at today’s press conference related to the police report on the Trayvon Martin case. A reporter stated that based on the description of the incident on the report, that the officer on scene wished to have Mr. Zimmerman arrested and charged with the “Uniform Crime Code” listed on the report. That is not accurate.

All police reports from all law enforcement agencies require a “Uniform Crime Code” to qualify an incident and for statistical purposes for tracking types of incidents. This code does not indicate a formal charge that will be lodged against an alleged offender. It is used for internal processing and to type cases.


16 posted on 03/28/2012 6:06:22 PM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: TigersEye

Thank you for that correction.


17 posted on 03/28/2012 6:10:09 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: Clara Lou
I’m in a lot of hot water here for saying that Zimmerman should never have gotten out of his truck.

Plenty of us who think that Zimmerman acted stupidly, but that said, it is hard to argue that the MSM and the race baiters have acted downright evily, fomenting racial unrest and anger. It is totally within reason to think that Zimmerman acts were out of line, but that he may not be guilty of a crime. The more I hear about this case, the more I am coming to believe just that.

18 posted on 03/28/2012 6:46:25 PM PDT by Paradox (I want Obama defeated. Period.)
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To: Paradox

So, if a man wearing a hoodie is entering your yard;

You are not home but a neighbor is at his home;

The neighbor sees the man in your yard;

The neighbor has never seen the man before;

The neighbor calls the cops and is told “do not do anything by the dispatcher;”

So the neighbor does nothing;

The man with the hoodie enters your house and proceeds to steal and destroy what is not worth stealing; and

You tell the neighbor “thanks for not doing anything, you are real smart.”

I guess you are right Zimmerman was stupid.


19 posted on 03/28/2012 7:27:10 PM PDT by dominic flandry
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To: dominic flandry
I guess you are right Zimmerman was stupid.

He nearly got himself killed, yeah, I'd say it was stupid. But I still think he is being railroaded in the worst possible way. I think federal marshalls should be sent to his house to protect him from The Mob.

20 posted on 03/28/2012 7:43:54 PM PDT by Paradox (I want Obama defeated. Period.)
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