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brett_jv

(1,245 posts)
67. The problem is, we really don't know.
Tue Jul 16, 2013, 02:50 PM
Jul 2013

And for a long time, I was thinking the same thing as you. You can go back through my recent posts and see me saying I wanted Zimmerman to go to jail for what he did, that I think he's a murderer and even that he left his house with the intent to kill.

Yesterday, however ... I learned of the situation with the disallowed-by-the-judge text messages and Trayvon's personal recent history ... apparently Trayvon had been in numerous fights, according to these texts. He'd also been recently kicked out his mothers home for his behavior, he'd been suspended from school on more than one occasion for pot possession (in fact he was suspended at the time of his death), and he'd also been caught by school officials with women's jewelry in his backpack that he'd been unable to explain where it came from, along with a screwdriver (which officials wondered whether it was possibly a burglary tool at the time).

Now, to be clear, I'm still 100% on Trayvon's 'side' in this whole thing. I FULLY believe, as the Judge did, that this stuff was basically immaterial to the case at hand. It doesn't 'prove' anything. I also think Trayvon had a right to defend himself, I even think under the circumstances, given ZimZim's failure to identify himself or his 'goals', Trayvon had a 'right' to throw that first punch. And I don't buy about 95% of Zimmerman's 'story'.

However, given the totality of Trayvon's personal 'situation' at the time of the murder, I actually find it very easy to imagine that Trayvon could've thrown the first punch. I just don't think that gave Zimmerman a right to shoot him in the chest. I think Zimmerman, in the shape he was in at the time, could've easily whipped Trayvon's skinny ass if he'd wanted to. But he didn't want a fight, he wanted to kill Trayvon.

I don't, however, think it was a racial thing though ... the FBI did a thorough investigation and found no evidence of racially-based intent, so ... who am I to doubt their assessment? I certainly know a lot less about the facts than they do.

Race, however, WAS involved in the ensuing actions of the police, IMHO. And I bet came into the juries mind as well. People's racial stereotypes are what makes Zimmermans's story even conceivably seem true.

Me neither. DanTex Jul 2013 #1
"bash his head into the sidewalk" - LOL, like that really happened anyway. MH1 Jul 2013 #12
one handed.. grahampuba Jul 2013 #49
Zimmerman is warped. A warped killer, no less. lumpy Jul 2013 #71
Exactly! SoapBox Jul 2013 #2
That "good heart" stuff is really twisted and scary. ananda Jul 2013 #3
Nobody who heads out into the streets with a loaded firearm, Maedhros Jul 2013 #46
truth heaven05 Jul 2013 #4
Don't forget Trayvon's Gansta Thug life SaveAmerica Jul 2013 #5
With his evil tattoos!1!! csziggy Jul 2013 #97
I heard he went skiing! That was the gateway sport. First Colorado powder... SaveAmerica Jul 2013 #99
And horseback riding! With his family! csziggy Jul 2013 #106
K&R. nt raccoon Jul 2013 #6
Even though people keep trying to tell me it doesn't matter... Blue_Tires Jul 2013 #7
That's a perfectly valid point MrScorpio Jul 2013 #9
Which is why I say even I could have run a better prosecution Blue_Tires Jul 2013 #28
Yep! brush Jul 2013 #39
Zimmy went HUNTING. bvar22 Jul 2013 #17
I don't think that was the only time Z was hunting... Little Star Jul 2013 #27
Yes, Zimmerman was on the watch for prey. He notified authorities many many times that there lumpy Jul 2013 #74
"And he hasn't evaded going to prison yet." I have high hopes Z will be charged with a hate crime. Little Star Jul 2013 #75
Most decent people hope for that. lumpy Jul 2013 #78
And therein lies the difference BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #44
Purely in the interest of accuracy ... brett_jv Jul 2013 #62
he was already following t. when the dispatcher said that, running or walking quickly to keep up, HiPointDem Jul 2013 #70
Regardless of these particular details ... brett_jv Jul 2013 #88
you got the details wrong & you're saying others are resorting to BS? If it were me & the HiPointDem Jul 2013 #90
At least I admit I made a minor and largely irrelevant error brett_jv Jul 2013 #107
"It doesn't matter who was On Top." bobclark86 Jul 2013 #69
You make some good points. I have thought all along that Zimmerman may go free. A Simple Game Jul 2013 #79
But the asshole is a damned hero to many on the right. Kablooie Jul 2013 #110
I suspect most of that hero worship will be lip service only. Hopefully Zimmerman A Simple Game Jul 2013 #111
Then the Fucked Up Florida Law is WRONG, bvar22 Jul 2013 #84
EXACTLY my point. bobclark86 Jul 2013 #96
I think it was Zimmy who ran up to Trayvon and grabbed him, probably made threats, kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #8
and remember this? ewagner Jul 2013 #65
I agree Zimmerman was the aggresser from start to finish. I believe Zimmerman tried to 'arrest' lumpy Jul 2013 #76
Why wouldn't you assume the first to verbally confront wouldn't be the first to physically confront? dkf Jul 2013 #10
Because Zimmerman is at his core, a bully. MrScorpio Jul 2013 #14
The first verbal move..."why are you following me?" dkf Jul 2013 #19
Which one of those two statements sounds the most defensive... MrScorpio Jul 2013 #22
The initiation of verbal contact is the aggressive move. dkf Jul 2013 #25
bullshit...no matter how many times you claim it noiretextatique Jul 2013 #33
Independently, by their very nature, which is a defensive statement and which is aggressive? MrScorpio Jul 2013 #37
You've got to be kidding...no really, you've GOT to be kidding uponit7771 Jul 2013 #42
The initial aggressive move was... raindaddy Jul 2013 #47
Seems to be logical rufus dog Jul 2013 #48
Everything I have ever learned in a self-defense class WolverineDG Jul 2013 #50
bs grahampuba Jul 2013 #51
I continue John2 Jul 2013 #52
LOL RedCappedBandit Jul 2013 #53
YAFOS Starry Messenger Jul 2013 #55
Bullshit. lumpy Jul 2013 #80
Trayvon also said "Get off, Get off". chowder66 Jul 2013 #57
Running from Zimmerman = first move?! You have OVERTLY have a bias on this issue uponit7771 Jul 2013 #18
First confrontation was verbal, initiated by Trayvon according to Rachel Jeantel's testimony. dkf Jul 2013 #20
The first confrontation was following and staring at a teen enough to make him uncomfortable. uppityperson Jul 2013 #23
From afar does not equal confronting. dkf Jul 2013 #26
Well then, that throws out your confrontation also. Evidence is Zimmy's words. uppityperson Jul 2013 #32
AFAR?! Zimmerman didn't get close to Martin in his car?! You're kidding me right?! Did you read any uponit7771 Jul 2013 #40
Zimmy followed Martin in his car, how slowly do you have to drive to do that? azurnoir Jul 2013 #72
asking a fucking question is not "confrontation" noiretextatique Jul 2013 #30
This poster OVERTLY has a bias against Martin, doesn't even have the facts remotely straight even uponit7771 Jul 2013 #31
He has been branching out from the "911 mosque" omg-ness. uppityperson Jul 2013 #35
of course this person is...and there are a few more noiretextatique Jul 2013 #36
The confrontation started with the repeated following of Trayvon for NO REASON AT ALL!!! I don' see uponit7771 Jul 2013 #38
Are you back again with this brush Jul 2013 #43
You are correct, Soundman Jul 2013 #59
There is little John2 Jul 2013 #64
Unfortunatly people don't always use common sense in coming to conclusions. lumpy Jul 2013 #81
As a person who has seen hundreds of Soundman Jul 2013 #104
Why won't you tell us what his motive was? reusrename Jul 2013 #113
I don't believe it for one instant! Bake Jul 2013 #11
Martin friend, he was on the phone with' said that Martin thought he had ditched Zimmerman. lumpy Jul 2013 #83
Me neither. Iggo Jul 2013 #13
zimmerman is practiced and unrepentant liar. considering the bullshit he tried to pull KG Jul 2013 #15
That's where I'm at. But some swallow Z's shit as the gospel truth. Little Star Jul 2013 #34
a liar datasuspect Jul 2013 #41
Z Defenders believe Zimmerman wanted to give Trayvon a big ol bear hug & tell him to keep his grades uponit7771 Jul 2013 #16
"Shit he's running" proof that Trayvon was not mzmolly Jul 2013 #21
Exactly BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #45
I believe Martin's friend's testimony was key to the truth. The defense succeded in squelching lumpy Jul 2013 #86
Recommend. John1956PA Jul 2013 #24
i never believed it either noiretextatique Jul 2013 #29
I can only think of a single reason why TM attacked first (if thats is what happened) Half-Century Man Jul 2013 #54
My thoughts exactly. SeaLyons Jul 2013 #87
The bigger the lie, the easier it is for the morons to believe. That Trayvon struck first is a valerief Jul 2013 #56
I disagree, I believe Trayvon attacked Zimmerman after he saw Zimmerman had a gun. DrewFlorida Jul 2013 #58
You know something? MrScorpio Jul 2013 #61
this handmade34 Jul 2013 #68
Zimmerman had John2 Jul 2013 #77
+1, In Zimmmermans walk through he even SAYS "I went for my cell phone" after seeing TM... uponit7771 Jul 2013 #85
I'd like to believe that ... brett_jv Jul 2013 #94
This x a million... PsychGrad Jul 2013 #60
But Not Beyond A Reasonable Doubt ConservativeDemocrat Jul 2013 #63
Yes first he ran then he came back and punched Zimmercop. mzmolly Jul 2013 #66
The problem is, we really don't know. brett_jv Jul 2013 #67
Everything John2 Jul 2013 #91
Not sure how any of what I mentioned is hearsay ... brett_jv Jul 2013 #102
The FBI didn't do a thorough investigation. They dropped the infinished investigtion when Florida lumpy Jul 2013 #92
I don't believe it either. Hubert Flottz Jul 2013 #73
you can explain til you mstinamotorcity2 Jul 2013 #82
Yes, the gym owner got free advertizing by court testimony and he was certianly selling it. He was lumpy Jul 2013 #95
I have never heard that term used before. mstinamotorcity2 Jul 2013 #98
He was tired of the creepy ass cracker stalking him krawhitham Jul 2013 #89
Despite conflicting stories of a physical fight. Rex Jul 2013 #93
Of course not. Because it's the most fucking unbelievable story I've ever heard in my life. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2013 #100
Zimmerman caught up to him (from behind), grabbed his sweatshirt, and SoCalDem Jul 2013 #101
That is exactly what I thought went down. eilen Jul 2013 #109
Zimmerman was expecting a fight when he got out of the car Ohio Joe Jul 2013 #103
Why isn't there such thing as negligent homicide? SIBIndi Jul 2013 #105
I believe Zimmerman produced the gun in an effort to detain Trayvon Skittles Jul 2013 #108
And even if he had that is the part that is self-defense - TBF Jul 2013 #112
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