Quote from Wallet:
The "stand your ground " law is designed as an extension of the "make my day law" where it is lawful to defensibly shoot someone that has invaded your home. It was designed to extend that precept outside the home into everyday life, car-jackings, at your business, etc... where a dangerous situation is forced upon you - the law excludes you from civil action.
Zimmerman called 911, that alone signifies that he thought something was up, not right, specious. To be honest I haven't listened to the complete 911 tapes but I do recall something, blurb on the news, where Zimmerman told the dispatcher the he (Martin) looked specious or something to that effect.
By that we can conclude that Martin was not committing a felony, wasn't breaking into anybody home, nor was he endangering the life of someone else.
"IF" Zimmerman approached Martin at this point, Zimmerman is the one initiating the contact which he (Zimmerman) believes is potentially dangerous thereby possibly putting himself in harms way and not in defense of another person. The Stand Your Ground law wouldn't apply here at this point in the altercation as the situation was not forced upon Zimmerman.
Only if Zimmerman approached Martin and then tried to flee once the fight took place or left the area and Martin followed would the SYG law come into play.
From the little I know about the case, I try to get away from it as imo it's really a non-national headlines news story (seems everything I turn on the radio or TV it's being discussed) There's witnesses of the fight, Martin on top of Zimmerman, Zimmerman's broken nose, blood and grass stains what ever. What we don't have witness too was what happened before from the initial 911 call leading up to the altercation which is crucial for Zimmerman's SYG defense. It's his testimony. All the other bullcrap being spun about peoples past is irrelevant to the case.
With that I can see a DA trying Zimmerman, making him prove that he was in the tenants of the law and justified in shooting Martin. Which may actually be a benefit to Zimmerman if found innocent, it will keep him from any civil actions later.
just my $.02
I tend to agree with this, except I have trouble seeing how the SYG law is even in play. Zimmerman's defense seems to me to be more of a traditional self-defense claim rather than a SYG issue. His argument is that Martin suddenly attacked him, put him on the ground, mounted him, was beating the snot out of him and trying to take his weapon.