Zimmerman Case

[blowndodge]

(CBS/AP) A Florida judge on Tuesday denied a request by George Zimmerman's defense to delay the June 10 murder trial for the former neighborhood watch captain, accused of killing unarmed teen Trayvon Martin during a confrontation in Sanford, Fla. last year.

The ruling came during a pre-trial hearing during which Circuit Judge Debra Nelson considered a series of motions. Nelson ruled Tuesday that George Zimmerman's defense may not bring up Trayvon Martin's past marijuana use, school suspensions or fighting at trial without another ruling granting them permission.

Text messages about Martin's smoking marijuana and trouble at school were released by Zimmerman's defense attorneys last week. The photos released by the defense team also show Martin blowing smoke and making an obscene gesture toward the camera.


Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, told the judge that Martin's marijuana use and past fighting was central to the argument that Zimmerman used self-defense when he confronted Martin last year at a gated community in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty.


"We have a lot of evidence that marijuana use had something to do with the event," O'Mara said. "It could have affected his behavior."

Also on Tuesday, Nelson ruled that a toxicology test showing that Martin had marijuana in his system at the time of his death could not be discussed during opening statements.


The judge ruled against a defense request that the pool of jury candidates be sequestered during jury selection. Nelson denied a prosecution request for a gag order that would prohibit attorneys from talking about the case.


I don't know about you but this Judge sounds like she is stacking the case against the defense. The defense in a criminal proceeding almost never has any of it's potential evidence barred.

Perfect case for an appeal if found guilty. Hopefully the defense attorney WILL SDT the school mates after opening testimony to see what this "kid" was all about!

[Kawhead]

It's gonna be UGLY! Unless the right verdict is returned.

[MAS Tequila]

The libs have convicted him already.

They're afraid of the potential unrest if the non-black guy is found not guilty.

MT

[davidhollinger]

The whole thing stinks to high heaven. The pic of the kid released when this first happened showed the kid like 11 years old and created outrage. Later it was found out the "kid" was closer to 6 feet, 180 lbs or so. I dont have all the details but this guy is gonna get screwed...he is toast before the trial even starts.

[NRiderUSA]

Oh they have already hanged him, if the roles were reversed this would have been dismissed a long time ago.
and by the way if you didn't know....

The parents of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teenager who was shot by George Zimmerman last year, have settled a wrongful-death lawsuit against the homeowners’ association in the gated community where he was killed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/us...suit.html?_r=0

[Todd]

The news is responsible for making a mockery of this incident along with the leaders of Trevon's community that are insighting this.

[glwilson]

Trayvon is just like what Obama's son would have been like... so he stated.

Sweet kid...

[ponch]

Zimmerman is an idiot. He has no one else but himself to blame for his predicament. Is he guilty of murder 2? No. But it was a perfect storm of a high street kid with an attitude and a wannabe cop/hero. There are no winners here.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by ponch

Zimmerman is an idiot. He has no one else but himself to blame for his predicament. Is he guilty of murder 2? No. But it was a perfect storm of a high street kid with an attitude and a wannabe cop/hero. There are no winners here.

I wouldn't go so far to say Zimmerman is an idiot, but I do think he got caught up in the neighborhood watch thing way too deep. Does that make him at fault here in some way or criminally negligent???. . .Could definitely be that he shares some responsibility on the civil side. But I still say when Treyvon made it a life threatening situation (if he did, hell I was not there and neither was anyone else) then Zimmermans reaction was justified.

[davidhollinger]

Agreed, but if I had a choice of which one of them was walking around my neighborhood at night....easy choice.

[ponch]

If Zimmerman was right in the complete situation, ask him if he would play it the same way again. Ask him if he'd stay in the car when told to. I bet he'd do it different this time. Idiot? May be not literally, but definitely off in the head a bit.

[ponch]

That wasn't the situation

[Kawhead]

Originally Posted by ponch

If Zimmerman was right in the complete situation, ask him if he would play it the same way again. Ask him if he'd stay in the car when told to. I bet he'd do it different this time. Idiot? May be not literally, but definitely off in the head a bit.

I'd ax Treyvon the same thing, but he ain't talkin'.

[ponch]

From causation point of view, this precipitated from the moment Zimmerman decided to get out of the car when he was told not to do so. He's on the tape and would be taken apart on the stand over it. Actions have consequences and Zimmerman acted first in regards to how things unravelled. Even neighbors watch people are told not to interdict people. Was this even his neighborhood?

[MAS Tequila]

The fact is that GZ was attacked by Martin, and was getting his ass kicked.

Martin tried to get GZ's gun away from him before he was shot in self defense.

The only reason it made the news was because of race.

The biggest idiot in this case was Al Sharpton.

MT