Shooting of Trayvon Martin - Page 72

On July 18 2012 03:11 farvacola wrote:

That you can point out the obvious issues in having a gun control debate and then commit those very grievances yourself speaks volumes. Hypotheticals are not helpful. More to the point, the idiosyncrasies of Florida's laws make these general debates even more useless.

On July 18 2012 10:51 dAPhREAk wrote:
updated op with old news pieces while i was away. someone requested manslaughter instructions be added so that was added in the resource section as well.

edit: i would also like to congratulate the media and race card advocates for wasting our nation's limited resources by pursuing a federal hate crime investigation against zimmerman with absolutely no evidence. money well spent there.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/07/12/2212467/more-evidence-released-in-trayvon.html

On July 18 2012 17:13 furymonkey wrote:


You can thank them by sending some money, it's the least you can do.

It was this very pressure that made the case reopened, where mishandling of the case came to light, it wasn't a lost cause. It also showed that justice does not fall to public pressure, where a force conviction appear, the justice is still in people's side.

Better be safe than never, where homicide does not even raise a eyebrow in some country. Make sure no stones unturned!

On July 18 2012 02:45 50bani wrote:

Quick points
Many countries have high gun ownership and lower, in fact much lower murder rates compared to the US. It is hard to find corelations between gun ownership and murder rates.
Within the US, you can compare the states and I think you can not find a negative corelation between gun control laws and murder rates.
The USA has a very high crime rate for a developed country, that's it. Guns have nothing to do with it

SANFORD, Fla. -- George Zimmerman alluded to conflicting statements about finances from his lawyer, Casey Anthony’s former lawyer attempting to woo him and Trayvon Martin’s hoodie in newly released phone calls made from jail, according to an Orlando Sentinel report.

When Zimmerman’s bond was revoked in June after he and his wife failed to disclose $150,000 earned in donations, his attorney, Mark O’Mara, said he was unaware of the assets until April 24.

But in one of the 145 calls released by Special Prosecutor Angela Corey Monday, Zimmerman, 28, suggested that O’Mara knew about at least $37 that had been donated to his site during a conversation on April 14.

Prosecutors have suggested that $37 is code for $37,000, and speculate that finances were often discussed in code between Zimmerman and his wife.

Jose Baez, Casey Anthony’s defense attorney, was hot on Zimmerman’s trail before he chose O’Mara as his lawyer, according to the defendant.

He claims that Baez “called him like crazy”.

Zimmerman also spoke to his wife about his fear of the Black Panthers, who announced a $10,000 bounty for the suspect. The Panthers had previously said if police didn’t arrest Zimmerman, they would.

"I don't want anybody but the judge and the prosecutor to know where I'm gonna be," Zimmerman told his wife in a phone call.

The defendant made a reference to Martin's attire as he joked in Spanish with his wife, saying if he comes out of jail, he will come out wearing a hoodie.

Martin, 17, was wearing a hoodie with a drink and candy in his pockets when Zimmerman fatally shot him February 26.

Zimmerman is charged with the second degree murder. He claims that he shot the teen in self-defense.

(CBS) George Zimmerman will appear on the Fox News channel's Sean Hannity program at 9pm eastern time Wednesday.

Pictures: George Zimmerman charged with murder

The first major interview with Zimmerman, who is charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, will take up Hannity's entire hour-long program, according to a statement from Fox News.

According to the statement, "Zimmerman will open up about what happened the night of Trayvon Martin's death and his experience in the aftermath of the fatal shooting."

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty and maintains that he shot Martin in self-defense.

Long-time trial consultant and psychologist Amy Singer, PhD, who consulted for the defense in the Casey Anthony case, said Wednesday that Zimmerman's decision to be interviewed on national television while under indictment for murder is both rare and, in her opinion, ill-advised.

"You don't want to say anything that will come back and bite you," said Singer, president of Trial Consultants, Inc. "I guess what they're trying to do is damage control, but I'm not sure this is the best way to address rumors."

Indeed, according to the Fox statement, Zimmerman and his defense attorney Mark O'Mara will address "rumors circulating about the bail donations and hidden money."

On Tuesday, the Miami Herald reported that recently released jail phone calls between Zimmerman and his brother-in-law include Zimmerman referring to telling O'Mara about $37,000 in donations that he wanted to transfer out of his defense fund. O'Mara later told Judge Kenneth Lester at his client's bond hearing that his client was essentially broke.

According to the New York Times, O'Mara said in an interview that he did not recall having a conversation with his client about such a large sum of money.

Before he was charged with killing Martin, the former neighborhood watch volunteer contacted Hannity and spoke with him off-the-record. This move was among several that prompted his original attorneys, Hal Uhrig and Craig Sonner, to drop him as a client on April 10.

Zimmerman was arrested on April 11, more than a month after he shot and killed Martin as the teen walked back to the Sanford, Fla. condo where he was visiting his father.

Zimmerman was originally granted bond in the amount of $150,000. But in early June, Judge Kenneth Lester revoked the bond and ordered Zimmerman back to jail when it was revealed that Zimmerman and his wife may have lied about their finances at the bond hearing. His bond was reset at $1 million and Zimmerman walked out of the Seminole County Jail a second time on July 6.

Consultant Singer said she was surprised to learn O'Mara was allowing his client to do a televised interview.

"You just don't want to show your hand," Singer said. "He ought to keep quiet."

On July 19 2012 03:56 Forgottenfrog wrote:
It's bad taste that zimmerman is planning to joke about leaving the jail wearing a hoodie. He just killed someone, planning to turn it into a joke? too soon?

George Zimmerman, in an interview Wednesday with Fox News' Sean Hannity, called the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin a "tragic situation" and "the most difficult thing I'll ever go through in my life."

But Zimmerman, a volunteer neighborhood watch leader, also spoke in detail about what happened that fateful night in February, saying he had followed Martin because he looked suspicious running between houses in the rain.

Martin had turned to confront Zimmerman and "asked me what my problem was" before the exchange escalated into violence, Zimmerman told Hannity in his first TV interview. He said he reached into his pocket to find his phone to call 911 for a second time. "I looked up and he punched me and broke my nose," Zimmerman said, his attorney, Mark O'Mara, sitting by his side.

At one point Zimmerman said he heard Martin "telling me he’s going to kill me."

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for shooting and killing 17-year-old Martin on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., though he says he acted in self-defense. At first, "I didn't think I hit him," Zimmerman said, adding he only found out later that Martin had died.

Now he is in hiding and said he feels his life is in jeopardy, based on death threats he has received. He told Fox News that on the night of the shooting he had gone out to shop at Target -- "that's the last time I've been home."

The case drew intense national attention as speculation grew about the motives for the shooting, especially given that Martin was black. Zimmerman has white and Hispanic heritage.

He dismissed suggestions by some that he acted out of racism.

"I don't think it's fair that they rushed to judgement to assume that," he told Fox News.

Police initially declined to press charges, citing Florida's so-called "Stand Your Ground" law. But a special prosecutor who was called in to investigate concluded that the evidence didn't support Zimmerman's claims, and the murder charge was filed.

When asked what he would say to Martin's parents, Zimmerman said, "I would tell them that, again, I'm sorry."

"My wife and I don’t have any children," Zimmerman told Hannity. "I have nephews that I love more than life. I love them more than myself. And I know when they were born, it was a different unique bond and love that I have with them. And I love my children even though that they aren’t born yet.

"I am sorry that they buried their child. I can’t imagine what it must feel like. I pray for them daily."

Zimmerman, who is free on bond in Florida while awaiting trial, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.

Hannity had spoke with Zimmerman, 28, off the record in April when he contacted Hannity against the advice of his attorneys. Both Hannity and Zimmerman denied claims that Hannity offered the murder suspect any financial assistance or payment.

In his first public interview since the February killing of Trayvon Martin, accused killer George Zimmerman today apologized to the teen's parents and said he is "sorry they buried their child."

"I would tell them that again, I'm sorry," Zimmerman told Fox News' Sean Hannity. "I'm sorry they buried their child. I can't imagine what it must feel like. And I pray for them daily."

The full interview just aired on The Sean Hannity Show:

Update at 10:01 p.m. ET: "I do wish there was something, anything I could have done that wouldn't have put me in a position where I had to take his life," Zimmerman said in wrapping up the interview. "And I do want to tell everyone -- my wife, my family, my parents, my grandmother, the Martins, the city of Sanford and America -- that I am sorry this happened. I hate to think tht because of this incident, because of my actions, it has polarized and divided America. And I am truly sorry."

Update at 9:49 p.m. ET: Zimmerman lawyer Mark O'Mara said Florida's stand-your-ground law should protect Zimmerman. But O'Mara cut Zimmerman off when Hannity asked Zimmerman about allegations that Zimmermand and his wife lied about their finances to get a lower bail. O'Mara said Zimmerman should not discuss it since his wife faces charges related to the bail situation, and Zimmerman himself could also face charges.

Update at 9:42 p.m. ET: Zimmerman said he has had multiple death threats and believes his life is in jeopardy. He said he believes he is entitled to an apology from the Rev. Al Sharpton, film producer Spike Lee and others who rushed to judgment and stirred up public sentiment against him.

Update at 9:36 p.m. ET: He said he thinks about the second-degree murder charge, and the possible life sentence, every day. "I am confident in the system. I really have no choice but to believe in the system," he said.

He said after he shot Trayvon, he was worried that he might be shot by police when they arrived on the scene. He never noticed the seriousness of Trayvon's injuries, he said. Only much later was he told Trayvon was dead.

Update at 9:29 p.m ET: "I am not a racist and I am not a murderer," Zimmerman said. He said he wasn't at first sure that he shot Trayvon. He said Trayvon was on top of him and got off and said "you got me." Zimmerman still didn't realize he had shot him, thinking Trayvon meant that Zimmerman had the edge because he had a gun.

Update at 9:22 p.m. ET: Zimmerman said he reached for the gun after Trayvon told him "you are going to die tonight."

Update at 9:15 p.m. ET: He said he stopped following Trayvon that night when the 911 dispatcher told him he did not need to do so. He said he lost sight of Trayvon for about 30 seconds, then turned around and saw Trayvon.

"He asked me what my problem was," Zimmerman said. He said he reached for his phone but Trayvon punched him in the nose. He said he fell to the ground and Trayvon began "bashing my head into the concrete sidewalk." He said he yelled for help as Trayvon punched him in the head "more than a dozen" times.

He said he thought he might die.

Update at 9:05 p.m. ET: Zimmerman said that before shooting Trayvon he carried his gun at all times except when he was at work. He says he was heading to Target when he saw Trayvon walking in the rain. He said he called 911 when he saw Trayvon darting on and off the sidewalk and looked "suspicious."

He said Trayvon appeared to be eyeing him, but that he was not afraid initially.

Update at 6:42 p.m. ET: Noting that he and his wife don't have children, he tells of having nephews "I love more than life, I love them more than myself."

"And I love my children even though they're not born yet."

Original post by Yamiche Alcindor: George Zimmerman will appear on The Sean Hannity Show tonight for a full hour in his first media interview on the killing of Trayvon Martin, TVNewser reports.

The Fox News show airs at 9 p.m. ET.

The Florida neighborhood watch volunteer is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Trayvon in a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26.

He told police he shot the 17-year-old in self-defense after the teen repeatedly knocked his head to the ground.

Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, will also appear on the show and plans to address rumors about Zimmerman's bail and finances.

This isn't the first time Zimmerman has spoken to the Fox News talks show host. In April, before he was charged and arrested, Zimmerman called Hannity and engaged in an off-the-record conversation, TVNewser reports.

Hannity said at the time that he had agreed not to discuss what they talked about.

A Fox News Channel spokesperson batted down speculation that Hannity had paid for tonight's interview, telling TVNewser that the Fox News host "has never offered to pay any legal fees or any fee associated with George Zimmerman."

The full interview is being aired now on The Sean Hannity Show:

Update at 7:05 p.m. ET: Zimmerman says that before shooting Trayvon he carried his gun at all times except when he was at work. He says he was heading to Target when he saw Trayvon walking in the rain. He said he called 911 when he saw Trayvon darting on and off the sidewalk and looked "suspicious."

He said he Trayvon appeared to be eyeing him, but that he was not afraid initially.

Update at 6:42 p.m. ET: Noting that he and his wife don't have children, he tells of having nephews "I love more than life, I love them more than myself."

"And I love my children even though they're not born yet."

Original post by Yamiche Alcindor: George Zimmerman will appear on The Sean Hannity Show tonight for a full hour in his first media interview on the killing of Trayvon Martin, TVNewser reports.

The Fox News show airs at 9 p.m. ET.

The Florida neighborhood watch volunteer is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Trayvon in a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26.

He told police he shot the 17-year-old in self-defense after the teen repeatedly knocked his head to the ground.

Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, will also appear on the show and plans to address rumors about Zimmerman's bail and finances.

This isn't the first time Zimmerman has spoken to the Fox News talks show host. In April, before he was charged and arrested, Zimmerman called Hannity and engaged in an off-the-record conversation, TVNewser reports.

Hannity said at the time that he had agreed not to discuss what they talked about.

A Fox News Channel spokesperson batted down speculation that Hannity had paid for tonight's interview, telling TVNewser that the Fox News host "has never offered to pay any legal fees or any fee associated with George Zimmerman."

The full interview is being aired now on The Sean Hannity Show:

Update at 7:05 p.m. ET: Zimmerman says that before shooting Trayvon he carried his gun at all times except when he was at work. He says he was heading to Target when he saw Trayvon walking in the rain. He said he called 911 when he saw Trayvon darting on and off the sidewalk and looked "suspicious."

He said he Trayvon appeared to be eyeing him, but that he was not afraid initially.

Update at 6:42 p.m. ET: Noting that he and his wife don't have children, he tells of having nephews "I love more than life, I love them more than myself."

"And I love my children even though they're not born yet."

Original post by Yamiche Alcindor: George Zimmerman will appear on The Sean Hannity Show tonight for a full hour in his first media interview on the killing of Trayvon Martin, TVNewser reports.

The Fox News show airs at 9 p.m. ET.

The Florida neighborhood watch volunteer is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Trayvon in a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26.

He told police he shot the 17-year-old in self-defense after the teen repeatedly knocked his head to the ground.

Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, will also appear on the show and plans to address rumors about Zimmerman's bail and finances.

This isn't the first time Zimmerman has spoken to the Fox News talks show host. In April, before he was charged and arrested, Zimmerman called Hannity and engaged in an off-the-record conversation, TVNewser reports.

Hannity said at the time that he had agreed not to discuss what they talked about.

A Fox News Channel spokesperson batted down speculation that Hannity had paid for tonight's interview, telling TVNewser that the Fox News host "has never offered to pay any legal fees or any fee associated with George Zimmerman."

On July 19 2012 12:21 natrus wrote:
I dont think Zimmerman following Mr. Martin was justified. He had a right to be there. He committed NO crime, If someone was eyeballing me the whole time i walked past him and then when I walked away from him he FOLLOWED ( Zimmerman observed him walk past him while he was in his truck then followed Martin and parked down the road) me I might go on the offensive too. And the "beating" Zimmerman took was not bad enough for killing someone. Just my opinion and maybe my facts are wrong.