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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsZimmerman Will Seek 'Stand Your Ground' Hearing
George Zimmerman will seek to have second-degree murder charges dismissed under Florida's "stand your ground" law in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, his attorney said Thursday.
The hearing, which likely won't take place for several months, will amount to a mini-trial involving much of the evidence collected by prosecutors as well as expert testimony from both sides.
"Most of the arguments, witnesses, experts and evidence that the defense would muster in a criminal trial will be presented in the 'stand your ground' hearing," said the statement posted by Zimmerman attorney Mark O'Mara on Zimmerman's official defense website.
Although the posting did not say so, legal experts say it's likely that Zimmerman himself would testify since he is the sole survivor of the Feb. 26 confrontation.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/zimmerman-seek-stand-ground-hearing-16965605#.UCQLcaDwk4w
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)I mean seriously, is this something that only one side can claim and whomever claims it first the other person just has to stand there and allow the shit beat out of them (or killed by a gun).
Trayvon Martin was being stalked by someone he did not know and I'm sure when he saw the gun his first thought was 'What do I have to do to survive'.
Trayvon Martin is the ONLY person who has a serious claim to 'Stand Your Ground'. Of course he's dead now.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)turtlerescue1
(1,013 posts)does there seem to be a strange thread between Mr. Page in Wisconsin and Mr. Z's self defense for shooting a 17 year old?
Anyone at DU ever read something called businessinsider.com? As normal stumbled on this on my OperaPortal homepage, which yes I stumbled on via a neighbor's son the geek. Amazing stuff I read today. About WhiteSupremist groups, and their Leaders/founders.
Keep in mind I started reading about Zimmerman, that the Prosecution had "accidentally" leaked evidence. Ended up stunned by the background of these "leaders". Of course now I wonder HOW I ended up where I did.
How did we end up with this much hate? This level of assured self-righteousness? I realize I'm old, but am stunned. You don't shoot people because you are happy with your life, you don't shoot people because you care about or like them. There are people I loathe, did not start out to hate, but time and events left little other options, but cannot say that I would shoot or physically harm any of these few. True I might hope they get a large boil on their butt, but that's about the extent. Is there something very wrong with me that I do not understand violence?
WHAT can Zimmerman testify to that takes away murder? HE left his vehicle on his own, and he was told "we don't need you to do that"-he knew a squad was en route. What happened after that is by his own choices. Zimmerman was not in his own home, he was not being threatened on "his" ground, he was on someone else's terra firma. It is one thing to protect yourself, your home, your property, but this mess is none of those things. How can stand your ground even qualify as a defense?