Zimmerman feared, Martin would beat him to death

[DetlefK]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/03/29/143509/robert-zimmerman-says-trayvon.html

excerpts:

"... telling the station that his son had no choice but to kill Trayvon or risk being beaten to death."
Of course. Using a gun is the only option when a teenager half your weight starts pounding on you.

"Robert Zimmerman (...) said the family is in hiding and can’t go to the doctor or do anything that requires using their own names."
So George Zimmerman has an untreated broken nose and untreated cuts on the back of his head?

[niyad]

1. as church lady would say, "how conveeeeeeeenient"

"Robert Zimmerman (...) said the family is in hiding and can’t go to the doctor or do anything that requires using their own names."

so there will be no evidence of x-rays or doctor visits. what a load of codswallop.

[jwirr]

4. And in a fair court system - no evidence means it does not exist.

[sadbear]

10. When the only evidence of Zimmerman's injuries are in the police video

(no photos, x-rays, doctor examinations, etc.) what is a jury supposed to conclude?

[jwirr]

13. exactly.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Why do you think it is the only evidence?

The video released yesterday was the first empirical evidence as to the state of Zimmerman's injuries. There is more, which has not been released by the State Attorney.

Also there has been no statements as to what tests were performed or if if pictures were taken. Lots of claims nothing was done, but the truth is we just don't know. There should be an EMS report, but it too has not been released. Yesterday's video will not be the only evidence as to the extent of any injuries Zimmerman may or may not have had.

[JDPriestly]

20. Thank you. We don't know a lot of things.

Last edited Thu Mar 29, 2012, 03:20 PM - Edit history (2)

But we do know the essential fact: Zimmerman had a gun and was following Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman admitted that he was following Trayvon in his 911 call. And we know he had a gun because he shot Trayvon.

Even if Trayvon did attack Zimmerman, it was Trayvon who was acting in self-defense.

What would you do if a man with a gun was following you? You'd run. Zimmerman said that Trayvon was running.

That is what we know, and it is enough for probably cause in my opinion.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

22. There is clearly probably cause and yet two state attorneys have refused to arrest Zimmerman

[JDPriestly]

25. It is shocking.

Maybe they are afraid to take on the NRA and the gun lobbyists. What a sorry state of affairs. This is not really about gun ownership but about whether Zimmerman was acting in self-defense. When there is the slightest doubt, that has to be decided by a jury.

[LaurenG]

2. Where are they?

I saw none when he got out of the cruiser.

[Why Syzygy]

3. Photos

Photos of Zimmerman at the police station that night have been released. There are no injuries. No broken nose. No smashed up head. Nothing. He looks just as he did before the incident.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/george-zimmerman-police-surveillance-16024475

Mother Jones has complete coverage.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/03/what-happened-trayvon-martin-explained#policevideo

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. Any closeups? All I have seen is video caps

[Why Syzygy]

28. The entire

video is at the ABC link I posted. Not a cap.

Here's another DU thread about the case.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101719027

[ProgressiveProfessor]

30. Which means no photos...

Taking them is standard procedure. If they were done the State Attorney has them

[Lex]

5. Zimmerman feared, because Zimmerman was a racist.

And his actions were based on irrational fear--because of his racists views--and were unjustifiable under the law (despite what the local police may believe).

[DefenseLawyer]

6. Zimmerman heals really really fast. Zimmerman is Wolverine!

[pokerfan]

19. only explanation

His wounds healed before the EMTs could stitch him up.

[joeybee12]

7. I agree...when I fear someone is going to beat me to death I follow that person.

[JDPriestly]

26. Especially if you think they are high on drugs and possibly unpredictable,

and of course, you wait for them to hit you before you draw that gun that you know you have but they don't know you have.

And all this is especially true if you have a prior accusation of a violent crime and know it.

can't find the sarcasm sign, but SARCASM.

[joeybee12]

27. Type :sarcasm:

[JDPriestly]

31. Thanks. I'll try to remember that. I'm horrible with the internet.

It's just not the way I think.

[otohara]

8. So This Bad Ass With The Gun

was hollering like a scared child?

[Moonwalk]

9. Beat him to death with what? Skittles? Ice Tea? A Hoodie?

Movies aside, it's really, really hard to kill someone with only your fists and feet, especially if they can run away or shout for help--unless Zimmerman is saying this was a cage match and Martin was some kind of killer kick boxer?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

24. Actually it is not all that hard to do great bodily harm with your fists

and reasonable fear of great bodily harm or death is the legal standard.

That said, it does not appear that said threshold was met.

[HooptieWagon]

11. If he feared for his life

Then I giess the lying asshole must have come to the sudden realization that the reality of being a wanna be vigilante didnt match his fantasy.

[Rex]

18. If he feared for his life...why did he get out of his car?

Even after dispatch told him NOT TO PURSUE the kid, he did...strange thing to do when you 'fear for you life' imo.

[monmouth]

12. Dad better be careful, sounds like he's aiding and abetting..n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. +1 all them connections will not

worknot work in a federal case.

[Rex]

16. Wow, they are using the Gush Limpburger method(tm)

of misinformation! Look how well that worked for GUSH!

[Iggo]

17. Don't believe it. He's lying.

[librechik]

21. I thought he was afraid he had a gun in the hoodie.

They change the story so often

Maybe Zimmerman was afraid of being beaten by the bottle of ice tea. That;s enough to open up with the 9mm

[fascisthunter]

29. Pathological Liars... an Embarrassment to America