Quote from Wallet:
Zimmerman is innocent only "if" he attempted to flee the situation and was then pursued by Martin, there by putting him into a position to defend his ground..... in this he will need to prove the use of lethal force.
When the situation is forced upon you, outside of your control, then the stand your ground law comes into effect.
Zimmerman initiated the visual contact, although it was legal to do so. How ever without the commission of a felony by Martin it is nothing more than watching someone walking through his neighborhood.
Approaching asking who are you, what are you doing here..... is outside the description of the neighbor hood watch. Hey how's it going, nice weather? is more like it. A watch force is not a police department, hence the term "Watch". Zimmerman called 911, at that point he watches from a distance.
Zimmerman had the opportunity to dissolve the situation, the burden will be on him to convince the jury that he tried to get away without an altercation.
You can defend yourself by use of lethal force anywhere if you have no further defense and your life is in imminent danger. However your defense goes out the window if you knowing walk into a potentiality dangerous situation.
If you come to the aid of another person then you step into "their" shoes and the assume the responsibility of the ""suspected" victim, if that person is in the wrong guess what? You see a person getting beaten and come to their aid, but afterward you find out that person was actually the bad guy and the person doing the beating was initially the victim..... you just helped the bad guy and are guilty as a accomplice.
Zimmerman obviously wasn't racially motivated, it wasn't premeditated and it wasn't a act of emotion......... manslaughter in some degree is the only available course for the DA if they choose, which I believe they will attempt. Zimmerman is not a repeat criminal,"if " convicted he "may" see a short stint in a county jail and out on parole at most.
It's a sad unfortunate set of events.
