Florida has a law that says if you have a gun and pick a fight with someone you have the right to shoot them. However if you are unarmed and attacked by a person with a gun you don't have the right to defend yourself. It's a very weird state.
He was found not guilty because the state did not or could not prove that he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Anyone who watched the trial would have to agree. Even if you or I think George did something he shouldn't have, the state was unable to prove he committed any crime.
For a conviction of even Manslaughter, Zimmerman needed to have no "legal justification" for what he did, and the evidence clearly showed he was getting beat up.
The way the law is, even if you start a fight with someone, if there comes a point when you fear death or major bodily harm, you have a right to use force against them.
People are focusing on the fact that Zimmerman followed Trayvon. I don't feel he should have persued him the way he did but it was not a crime. And even if the state could somehow prove Zimmerman threw the first punch, in the end it doesn't matter. At the time of the shooting, Zimmerman was getting his *** kicked and that gave him the legal right to shoot Martin.
*note: I copy and pasted this from the answer I just gave to a question identical to this one but the answer is still the same*
It was self-defense. Because Trayvon is dead, it is disrespectful to talk badly about him or put him in poor light. However, because of this, people are blaming Zimmerman for killing Trayvon. If you kept up with the trial, you would learn that Trayvon was violent and attacked Zimmerman. Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman, punching him and slamming his head into concrete repeatedly which led to his death. There are many other factors in this case, such as Zimmerman following Trayvon after 911 dispatchers told him not to, but he felt that he was just doing his duties as a neighborhood watchman. Why didn't Zimmerman get a lesser manslaughter charge, then, instead of no punishment at all? Because the jury didn't have the power to submit a lesser charge. The jury's job was to listen to the trial and decided whether George Zimmerman had committed second-degree murder or not, and because Zimmerman shot Trayvon to protect himself, he did not commit second-degree murder.
The jurors did not believe the prosecution proved it beyond a reasonable doubt and I guess they believed Zimmerman that it was self-defense. I believe he should have at least gotten manslaughter. But, hold on. The NAACP is asking the Dept of Justice to investigate and bring a civil suit against Zimmerman. That is the latest. At any rate, just think, his life is ruined and they say he will be in hiding for years probably afraid to go out and will always have to look over his shoulder.
I hope they bring a civil suit against him. He ruined his own life now being an idiot and a hateful person.
If you recall, there WAS a point when the jury was, obviously, considering a manslaughter charge. They sent a question to the judge. The jury wanted clearer legal definitions of manslaughter. The judge slammed the door in the face of the jury. Basically, she said, " You have your instructions. Get busy." I think the judge angered the jurors. Very shortly after snubbing the jury, they rendered a not guilty verdict. Hey, the judge would NOT answer the questions the jury had about manslaughter. What else could the jury do?
There is a difference between murder and killing someone. The state of Florida has a stand your ground law that allows you to use deadly force to protect yourself when your life is threatened by another person. This means that if a person is bashing your head in the ground and trying to cause life threatening injuries, you are legally allowed to shoot and kill that person. In this case, the state did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman was not defending himself. some states protect the attacker/criminal. it doesn't matter whether your life is being threatened, you have no right to defend yourself.
Do you think if Tray said - "Hi Man, I am just going to visit my dad, he lives over there," that maybe this might not have happened? Not that Zimm seemed any smarter... I doubt there was an "excuse me sir, might I ask where are you going?" -
The laws in Fla seem slanted toward the gun toter.. The prosecution case was weak.
Druid, what happened to the stalking threat? Typical American logic.
Read the trial. It was self defense. Get over it.
Are you going to keep asking this question hoping to get a different response?
Murder is a legal term. He killed Trayvon and was found not guilty if murdering him. This was a clear case of self defense.
Zimmerman should be in jail right now but he's free. How the hell that happen?
don't bring fists to a gun fight .when you start shootin tips whit some fool you best know he ain't packin heat fo sho .
Ever heard of SELF DEFENSE?
Self defense is not murder
He was smart enough to choose a black kid for his victim.
Ummm because he didn't do it??? Did I win?
By not murdering anyone, he simply killed a thug attacking him in self-defense.
