General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: If the gun shots are shown to be fired upward then the trial will be over. [View all]The Magistrate
(95,244 posts)If Mr. Martin were defending himself against Zimmerman's threat of harm, Zimmerman has to meet a much higher standard in justifying his use of deadly force:
" 2)?Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:
" a)?Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or
" b)?In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force."
To meet this standard, he pretty much has to establish Mr. Martin was employing deadly force, and there is a duty to retreat if he can imposed on Zimmerman by the statute.
It should be obvious even to you that Zimmerman's various tales of the incident are crafted to try and match the requirements of law applying to the aggressor in a fight he provoked: they are self-serving to a degree that renders them incredible.