I don't think either one displayed poor judgement. If the claim by the girlfriend of Trayvon Martin is true, that the two of them had the following exchange, and to paraphrase:
Why are you following me...why are you hereThen their actions and behavior up to that point are perfectly reasonable and rational. Whatever happened, happened after this point. That's if what the girlfriend said is true. I have no idea either way because it hasn't been documented to my knowledge.
My personal belief, so far, is that a disputed, but not necessarily contentious, social situation triggered something personal in one of them, and it happened quickly.
I agree that their actions up to that conversation were perfectly rational, and I can see myself taking the same actions.
When I refer to “poor judgment” it is this: Zimmerman could have waited for the police instead of walking into the darkness to try to spot the person he thought “might be on drugs or something.” Would I have done as he did? Probably.
Martin could have kept going that last 100 feet to home instead of turning around to confront the strange guy following him. Would I have turned around? Yeah, probably.
And that is exactly what is so tragic. I can put myself in either one’s shoes - up to that point.
The reason I lend credence to the girlfriend’s account of the conversation is that it bolster’s Zimmerman’s account - it shows Martin initiating the conversation.
There’s no doubt it happened quickly. After “Why are you here?” they only needed to explain to each other who they were and why they were there. They only needed to keep talking.
I would be really, really curious to know how long after the events she reported the details of this call. And if the call data records of the cell carriers involved support her account. I think the Martin family’s lawyer claims they do, on that last.