Posted on 04/12/2012 12:11:40 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer arrested yesterday in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, faced a judge for the first time this afternoon.
Meanwhile, a probable cause affidavit has been filed in the second-degree murder case. In the two-page document, prosecutors offer little new information about the shooting.
However, they said in the affidavit that "Zimmerman confronted Martin," an apparent contradiction of Zimmerman's version of the events that led to the shooting.
The document says Trayvon's mother identified the screams for help heard in a 911 call as those of her son. It also reveals that investigators interviewed a "friend" of Trayvon's who was talking to him in the leadup to the shooting.
Based on the description, it appears the friend was the girl described by Martin family attorneys as his girlfriend.
"During this time, Martin was on the phone with a friend and described to her what was happening," the affidavit said. "The witness advised that Martin was scared because he was being followed through the complex by an unknown male and didn't know why."
Martin tried to run home, the affidavit says, but was followed by Zimmerman. "Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and followed Martin."
The affidavit goes on to say that "Zimmerman disregarded the police dispatcher" who told him to stop, and "continued to follow Martin who was trying to return to his home."
Zimmerman, the affidavit says, "confronted Martin and a struggle ensued."
According to the affidavit: "Trayvon Martin's mother has reviewed the 911 calls and identified the voice crying for help as Trayvon Martin's. Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest."
Zimmerman's first appearance began just after 1:30 p.m. He faces a second-degree murder charge in the Feb. 26 shooting, which sparked international outcry.
(Excerpt) Read more at ctnow.com ...
It will be interesting to compare what she said early on vs what she told police investigators when they finally got around to interviewing her (reportedly not until after Corey got on the case). Benjamin Crump claims to have recorded her affidavit early on, before the story went national, and showed her T-Mobile call logs to the media.
It seems likely Corey hopes to use her testimony to impeach the account Zimmerman gave the cops when, without having lawyered up, he walked them through the events at the scene the day after the incident.
However, it's the Looney Left that should be worried about legal representatives. The Martin's lawyer has and is failing to cork up the mouths of the parents and extended family members who are falling all over themselves spouting too many details and too many lies to a breathless viewing America.
This Martin lawyer thinks the loquacious family is helping the case when it's the exact opposite. What mom, dad, unc, etal are blabbing about now is being carefully notated....and their crazy statements will return to smack them right in the face when they're on the stand. The defense attorney will twist them up like Auntie Anne's mall pretzels.
They'll be trapped in discovery, also....although the interrogator never lets on at the time....just lets them tell lies without comment or even a hint of a raised eyebrow. They'll be on sworn record. Then attorney O'Mara will spring the trap on them during their trial testimony.
Snap, Crackle, POP!
Leni
This article fails to define “confront”. I’m confronting you right now with this post. Am I breaking the law? Is it illegal to textually or verbally confront someone? Perhaps if you’re white or Hispanic and the subject is black?
None of these allegations are proven facts, they are all allegations made by those that have reason to lie.
I’d like to know the location of the “chest” wound, if it was a contact wound.... and the trajectory of the slug.
I certainly can’t tell with absolute certainly if Zimmerman is innocent of any wrong doing, not without all of the evidence and in person interviews of the witnesses. However, based on the totality of the circumstances of the disjointed and cluttered information that I have heard/read, I do not believe this shooting to be anything other than self defense.
Unfortunately, Zimmerman could very well get screwed by the system.
Bottom line for me: REGARDLESS of the reason for the contact, If I am on the ground, overpowered by a stranger in the dark that has told me that he is going to kill me and he is smashing my head against the concrete while pulverizing my face.... and during this moment in time I have a strong believe that I am about to die.... I WILL USE ANY FORCE necessary and available to me to stop the threat of dying... up to and including the killing the SOB.
I don’t give a damn what color the bastards skin is.
Now I might be considered unreasonable, but if some Black jackass or anyone else/color, puts out a Wanted Dead or Alive bounty on me, and/or threatens my loved ones, I would not hide. I would research the person(s) responsible, develop a plan, and then at the time of my choosing, I would confront them up close and personal.
Those time lines are interesting.
I know it’s somewhat of a gray area,
but I just don’t see how it would become an obligation to die
even if you threw the first punch.
I was told in self-defense class that when your attacker is no longer a threat,
if you continue to use force, you legally become the attacker.
Paints a funny picture, doesn't it?
Trayvon sitting on top of Zimmerman, smashing his head against the ground, all the while shouting for help.
I have a strong believe = I have a strong belief
John is the most important person in this case. He saw Zimm getting beaten. He heard Zimm scream for help.
translation the prosecutor used a “ham sandwich” pc affidavit.
I don’t say you have an obligation to die, but you also can’t just claim self-defense and walk away. You’re liable for the death, though probably not for murder one.
A mugger who starts losing the fight and kills the muggee can’t claim self-defense as justification for the death. Nor should he be able to. He’s liable for the original armed or strong-arm robbery as well as for the ensuing homicide.
The autopsy of Martin revealed NO injuries other than the gun shot wound!
people jot across the street to ask the time.
Do I try to kill them? no.
And there is not truth to the accusation that Zimmerman confronted Martin and that is in conflict with what Capt. Zimmerman’s father has stated.
So, Trayvon's girlfriend cannot be considered a reliable witness because she was involved with Martin, but Zimmerman's father's statement is reliable? He's just as biased as she is, and his statement is hearsay (as he is simply reporting what his son told him)
Based on the affidavit the whole case is the girl on the phone. Good thing they will get a “preview” of her testimony and a chance at cross-examination at the pre-trial “self defense” hearing that I’ve read can be held in Florida.
Unless I’m confused the prosecution affadavit is not the prosecution’s attempt to state what happened. It’s their summation of why they are pressing charges. Of course they give the version of events that best meets the necessary criteria.
It is the defense attorney’s job to spell out the “other side of the story.” Where prosecutors get into trouble is when they go beyond presenting their side of the case and get into suppressing exculpatory evidence. Which happens all the time.
what about the autopsy? what was the proximity, direction of the bullet? If zimmerman’s clothing was taken into evidence, where it it. If it was not why and where is it?
You not the only one that finds that odd.
However, they said in the affidavit that "Zimmerman confronted Martin,"
That's been the claim all along despite all the evidence to the contrary. Nothing to be concerned about......
If by luck he is afforded a FAIR trial, Mr. Zimmerman should be exhonerated of all the atrocities the MSM, race baiters and poverty pimps are accusing him of.
The legal fees that Mr. Zimmerman is going to suffer, over and above the bond he is going to have to pay, could devastate him and his family.
I've heard that there has been a defense fund that is going to be provided by a firearms organization, I hope that is true.....
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