George zimmerman

[lord bunberry]

It goes to show how different uk law is to us law, I can't see anyway he would have been found not guilty in this country.

[hibsbollah]

Im not sure about this one. On one hand, it sounds as if the prosecution recklessly went after a murder conviction when a manslaughter charge would have had a greater chance of success, and could still have yielded a long (30 year) sentence.

On the other hand, theres a strong argument that a jury in a state like Florida would be unlikely to ever convict a security guard for shooting a young black man wearing a hoodie.

[Killiehibbie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin

Depends on the interpretation of self defence.

[lord bunberry]

Im not sure about this one. On one hand, it sounds as if the prosecution recklessly went after a murder conviction when a manslaughter charge would have had a greater chance of success, and could still have yielded a long (30 year) sentence.

On the other hand, theres a strong argument that a jury in a state like Florida would be unlikely to ever convict a security guard for shooting a young black man wearing a hoodie.
I think he was also found not guilty of manslaughter. My point was mainly to do with the difference between the us and the uk, I'm pretty sure he would have been convicted here.

[Killiehibbie]

I think he was also found not guilty of manslaughter. My point was mainly to do with the difference between the us and the uk, I'm pretty sure he would have been convicted here.If somebody is on top of you telling you whilst punching and banging your head on concrete that you're going to be killed, I reckon any force you use to fight back is reasonable.

[lord bunberry]

If somebody is on top of you telling you whilst punching and banging your head on concrete that you're going to be killed, I reckon any force you use to fight back is reasonable.

If a member of the public chased after someone after being told by the police not to, then after an altercation the member of the public then killed the guy he had confronted I very much doubt he would have been found not guilty in this country.

[Killiehibbie]

If a member of the public chased after someone after being told by the police not to, then after an altercation the member of the public then killed the guy he had confronted I very much doubt he would have been found not guilty in this country.If you believe Zimmerman, which the jury did, he followed him at a distance so he could tell the police his location. It was Martin who approached and attacked.

[lord bunberry]

If you believe Zimmerman, which the jury did, he followed him at a distance so he could tell the police his location. It was Martin who approached and attacked.

What would you do if you were innocently walking home and someone was following you at a distance.

[may 21/05/2016]

The police told Zimmerman to stop stalking him if it was the other way round the would have sent the coloured child to the chair

Sent from my HTC One X+ using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[Beefster]

If you believe Zimmerman, which the jury did, he followed him at a distance so he could tell the police his location. It was Martin who approached and attacked.

If I was being followed by a small fat man (Martin was aware Zimmerman had been following him) in the dark, I might have decided that attack was the best form of defence too.

[Killiehibbie]

If I was being followed by a small fat man (Martin was aware Zimmerman had been following him) in the dark, I might have decided that attack was the best form of defence too.
I'm sure the small fat man wouldn't have be able to catch me when I was 17.

[hibby rae]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin

Depends on the interpretation of self defence.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/17/stand-your-ground-marissa-alexander

This black Florida woman pleaded self defence when firing a warning shot at her abusive husband and received a 20 year sentence last year. There might be more to it than meets the eye but it appears to be a disgusting decision, especially when compared to the Zimmerman case.

[Geo_1875]

What would you do if you were innocently walking home and someone was following you at a distance.

I'd keep my distance. And if I thought my follower may have a gun I'd increase that distance. No danger I'd get anywhere near him.

[--------]

http://catherinesegregationsources.wikispaces.com/file/view/hangout.jpg/33028985/hangout.jpg

Not so VERY long ago this would have been considered self-defence in Florida.

[Sergio sledge]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23310953

An interesting video. It's important to note the distinction this guy makes between what appears to have been the correct legal decision and what may have been the correct decision morally.

[(((Fergus)))]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23310953

An interesting video. It's important to note the distinction this guy makes between what appears to have been the correct legal decision and what may have been the correct decision morally.

Is he making a distinction between legal and moral? Is there one? The point he makes is about the standard of "reasonable doubt" and the fact that, while the case was politicised and brought to trial by an *elected* prosecutor, the jury was *not* answerable to an electorate and thus returned the only verdict that was possible given the evidence presented.

[Treadstone]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23310953

An interesting video. It's important to note the distinction this guy makes between what appears to have been the correct legal decision and what may have been the correct decision morally.

Definitely wrong that 'Britain would not have tried this case'.

[Killiehibbie]

Definitely wrong that 'Britain would not have tried this case'.Hard to tell how the violent encounter would've finished in this country, more likely to be Zimmerman seriously injured. Going by the some of the comments on here that would've been his own fault.

[Treadstone]

Hard to tell how the violent encounter would've finished in this country, more likely to be Zimmerman seriously injured. Going by the some of the comments on here that would've been his own fault.

I was referring to Dershowitz saying that it wouldn't have come to trial in Britain. It would have, no doubt about that.

[HibsMax]

If I was being followed by a small fat man (Martin was aware Zimmerman had been following him) in the dark, I might have decided that attack was the best form of defence too.


I'm sure the small fat man wouldn't have be able to catch me when I was 17.

He's fat now but he wasn't fat then. He's gained something like 120lbs.

[(((Fergus)))]

I was referring to Dershowitz saying that it wouldn't have come to trial in Britain. It would have, no doubt about that.

Since we don't have concealed carry permits in this country, the same scenario could not have arisen. He would have been done for illegal possession of the firearm if nothing else.

If he had killed him with his bare hands, the lack of evidence may have resulted in no prosecution. Unless you have read of some compelling evidence?