Justice?

gotsnowgotslush

skates like Eck
Joined
Dec 24, 2007
Posts
25,720
3/28/2012

The lead homicide investigator wanted to charge George Zimmerman with manslaughter, on the night of the shooting.

Investigator Chris Serino was instructed to not press charges against Zimmerman because the state attorney's office
headed by Norman Wolfinger determined there wasn't enough evidence to lead to a conviction.

Police brought Zimmerman into the station for questioning for a few hours on the night of the shooting, said
Zimmerman's attorney.

No drug tests. No alcohol breath tests. No blood tests. Are George Zimmerman's fingerprints on file?

One complicating factor in the investigation was that the first detective to interview Zimmerman about the shooting
was a narcotics officer rather than a homicide detective.

An affidavit was taken the night of the Feb. 26, 2012

http://abcnews.go.com/US/trayvon-ma...n-manslaughter/story?id=16011674#.T3MFP_WuE8Y

What is known-

George Zimmerman's father-Robert J. Zimmerman retired from the military.
Became a magistrate judge for Virginia Supreme Court.

“The establishment of the magistrate courts was to make it a people’s court, a common man’s court. I think that the magistrate system
has served our state very well in the rules that we have to operate by and I can’t see changing them."“I feel that I would be qualified
to be a magistrate but under this rule I wouldn’t. I didn’t go to college. I don’t feel we should fix something that’s not broke.”

http://timeswv.com/westvirginia/x647581805/W-Va-Senate-kills-bill-on-magistrate-education

George Zimmerman's mother Gladys Christina was a deputy court clerk/ interpreter for the Virginia Supreme Court.

George Zimmerman was born in Virginia, attended Seminole State College, and aspired to become a law-enforcement officer.

George Zimmerman moved to Florida from Manassas, Va., about a decade ago with his parents.

George Zimmerman had arrests for violence scrubbed from the records. He was allowed to buy a gun.

George Zimmerman's built in excuse- I had a head injury- I can't recall.
 
- Mac D’Alessandro

"When I was a kid growing up in Chicago in the 1970s, my two white parents told their two adopted black children that the first and only two words
we should ever utter if stopped by Chicago Police were “yes sir.’’ This was not out of some insidious desire to raise black men who ”knew their place.”

"Instead, it was a defense mechanism - a precautionary measure to the very real danger that the slightest bit of expressed indignation, even if
perfectly legitimate, could result in being physically assaulted or worse, if you encountered the wrong police officer. I remembered that advice
all too viscerally last week as I read the articles and commentaries about the homicide of Trayvon Martin, the 17 year-old African-American kid
shot dead while carrying a bag of candy and an iced tea by a white neighborhood watch captain. I tried to figure out why I seemed incapable
of doing what I’d successfully done so many times before, step far enough back from an unpleasantness to ensure my role is that of observer,
not participant. Then it hit me: I’ve been a participant in this story my whole life."

The first time I remember using my parents’ precautionary measure, I was 12 and waiting for the school bus in front of my house. Instead of a bright yellow bus pulling up to take me to school, a police cruiser pulled up. I was grabbed by my hair, tossed into the back of the car, and taken several blocks to a crime scene. Then, I was pulled out of the squad car, again by my hair, and thrust in front of a white woman who was sobbing hysterically on the ground while being tended to by police and paramedics.

I realized much later that this woman had been assaulted, but I had no clue at the time because I was a victim myself. The officer holding my hair asked the woman, “Is this the one?’’ to which she managed through trembling sobs to respond, “No.’’ I don’t remember much from that day other than the wave of relief that washed over me after I’d been exonerated; the rage I felt when that officer grabbed my hair again to pull me into the car to take me home, where I was dropped off as though nothing had happened; and the confusion I felt after being invaded by injustice and rage for the first time. At no time during this entire incident did I utter anything other than “yes, sir.’’

Over the years, I’ve used this precautionary measure, including as a college student driving my mother’s expensive foreign car, and as a law student walking home late at night from a law library in an exclusive Boston suburb. Most of the time, I was accosted because I looked “out-of-place’’ (a.k.a. black kid in the wrong neighborhood). All the times, I uttered nothing but “yes, sir.’’ As I’ve aged, the use of this deference as a means of self-defense has come at a cost.

Boston Globe
3/28/12
 
Congressman wears hoodie on House floor to honor Trayvon Martin
March 28, 2012

A congressman wore a hoodie to deliver a speech on the House floor pressing for justice for the slain Florida teen and his family.

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) spoke for moments during a time typically reserved for lawmakers to deliver one-minute speeches on any topic.
But Rush's comments were often difficult to hear as he was gaveled out of order by the GOP congressman presiding over the
nearly empty chamber for violating House rules that prohibit hats from being worn on the floor.

Last week, congressional staff members wore hoodies, on the Capitol steps- in a similar act of solidarity with Martin and his family.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...honor-trayvon-martin-20120328,0,2930754.story

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) gave a speech while standing at the podium.

"Racial profiling has to stop Mr. Speaker," Rush said while taking off his suit jacket, "Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum."

Rep. Bobby Rush removed a suit jacket to reveal a gray sweatshirt. He pulled the hood over his head and, removed his reading glasses, and donned sunglasses.

Rep. Bobby Rush was interrupted by the presiding officer, Mississippi Republican Gregg Harper, who reminded him that
the wearing of hats was not allowed and “members need to remove their hoods or leave the floor.”

Rep. Gregg Harper, R.-Miss., the speaker pro tempore, banged his gavel repeatedly and said, “The member will suspend,”
finally ending with “The member is no longer recognized.”

Presiding Officer Gregg Harper (R-MS) asked the Sergeant at Arms to enforce the prohibition on hats in the House chamber.

Rep. Bobby Rush stopped talking, he halted the speech he was giving. Rep. Bobby Rush was escorted out of the House chamber.
A representative from the Sergeant at Arms office approached Rush and walked out with the Congressman.

"May God bless Trayvon Martin’s soul, his family and — [inaudible]” Rush said as he was removed from the House floor.

“Clause 5 of Rule 17 prohibits the wearing of hats in the chamber when the House is in session,” Harper said after Rush had been taken out.

Rep. Bobby Rush
Democrat • 1st District, Illinois • 10th Term • Sworn In 1993
112th United States Congress
 
What we know-

March 22, 2012

George Zimmerman kicked out of state college

"Due to the highly charged and high-profile controversy involving this student, Seminole State has taken the unusual but necessary
step this week to withdraw Mr. Zimmerman from enrollment," according to a statement from the college. "This decision is based
solely on our responsibility to provide for the safety of our students on campus as well as for Mr. Zimmerman."

Zimmerman, 28, first enrolled at the college in 2003 and was working toward a vocational certificate to become an insurance agent.
He re-enrolled in 2009 and was working toward an Associate in Arts degree in a general studies program, according to the college.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...munity-seminole-state-college-insurance-agent

Rep. Bobby Lee Rush
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 1st district

Huey Rich, Rep. Bobby Lee Rush's son- was murdered, by two men.

October 27, 1999

A judge withheld bail Tuesday for the man charged with the fatal shooting of Huey Rich, the son of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, noting
that Leo Foster could face the death penalty if convicted, in part because of allegations that he and an accomplice
were impersonating police officers at the time of the attack.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...8_1_impersonating-police-warrant-bond-hearing

December 22, 1999

A second suspect has been arrested in the October slaying of the son of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), and authorities
said Tuesday that proceedings to have him stand trial in Cook County could begin later this week.

Darcell Prince, 23, was arrested at about 8 p.m. Monday in Columbus, Ohio, by FBI agents and local police on a federal warrant
charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...fficers-chicago-police-department-chicago-fbi

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,

Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DARCELL PRINCE

Codefendant Leo Foster had a simultaneous dual jury trial

Darcell Prince was found guilty of first degree murder, armed robbery and false personation of a police officer.

"Williams testified that defendant and codefendant announced themselves as police, with codefendant flashing a gold police badge.
Williams believed the two were undercover officers. Defendant held a gun on Williams, while codefendant had Rich on the back of a car.
Rich told codefendant he had not seen the badge. After codefendant showed Rich the badge, the two men scuffled. Codefendant
produced a bluesteel revolver. Rich knocked codefendant to the ground and began to flee the scene. Defendant produced a
silver gun and began shooting at Rich. The two men then began chasing Rich. Williams lost sight of them as they rounded a
corner but heard five or six gunshots in total."

"Williams ran to his relatives' house on Crandon and asked them to call the police. Williams then ran up the street, finding Rich
in a puddle of blood next to his building. Williams went to get medical help, but the police and an ambulance arrived at the scene
before he returned."

"Cook County Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. John Scott Denton testified that his examination of Rich showed that Rich died
of multiple gunshot wounds and the cause of death was homicide."
 
March 28, 2012

The special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case said she hopes to make a decision without a grand jury about whether
to arrest the man who killed the unarmed black 17-year-old in Sanford, according to a Florida newspaper.

Angela Corey, the state attorney in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, took over the case Thursday when Gov. Rick Scott
named her special prosecutor following growing protests and complaints by civil rights leaders that local authorities had
botched the investigation.

"I always lean towards moving forward without needing the grand jury in a case like this," the Miami Herald quoted her
as saying. "I foresee us being able to make a decision and move on it on our own."

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...-jury-special-prosecutor-civil-rights-leaders

A spokeswoman in her office would not confirm the quote and said Corey was concentrating on the
investigation and would be unavailable indefinitely.
 
Well done effort

OP deserves plenty of credit fot that effort.

It's a crime in itself that it might get lost.



I'm drunk. So I'd like to respond... ; P


The end result of this entire situation is that a law will be repealed. A law of freedom, will be repealed.

Up till now we've never heard anything about Florida's squirl-crazy law that allows people to act in defense... and draw on each other if they feel threatened.

It soulds like something from the ol barn days.

But it isn't. It's an existing law.

Sounds crazy, right?


So I ask you this...

I've been alive and aware for 40+yrs. I can't recall one single incident like this that took place in Florida. Never once have I heard about this 'crazy' law. It SEEMS crazy, but it hasn't been. There's never been an incident until now.

The LAW, is not at fault - the jackass who chased some kid down the street is. THAT'S the fault. And in THIS country? We don't throw away everything for idiots like that...

Do we?

Prosecute. Overzealous asshats. Teach.

Lay off, rules, that make sense.


Less knee jerk.
More betta on basis.
 
March. 28, 2012

SANFORD, Fla., March 28 (UPI) -- A surveillance video taken after a neighborhood watch volunteer killed a teen showed
no injuries to the man, who said he acted in self-defense, ABC News said.

George Zimmerman, 28, has said 17-year-old punched him in the nose and knocked him down so his head hit the ground.

The first police report on the incident indicated Zimmerman was bleeding from his nose and the back of his head, and Zimmerman's
lawyer has said the neighborhood watch volunteer's nose was broken in the alleged altercation.

Video shows Zimmerman getting out of a Sanford police cruiser with his hands cuffed behind his back and being frisked, but there is
no readily evident sign of blood or injury. The video shows a police officer looking at the back of Zimmerman's head.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012...ce-of-injury-to-Zimmerman/UPI-16461332921600/
 
I left this tidbit out of the first post- I suppose that I wanted to see how this ?"ploy"?- played out. Did they think that this would be forgotten?

"Police brought Zimmerman into the station for questioning for a few hours on the night of the shooting,
said Zimmerman's attorney, despite his request for medical attention first."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/trayvon-ma...n-manslaughter/story?id=16011674#.T3cpcvWuE8Z

Investigator Chris Serino was not buying the "story", at that moment.
 
March. 28, 2012

SANFORD, Fla., March 28 (UPI) -- A surveillance video taken after a neighborhood watch volunteer killed a teen showed
no injuries to the man, who said he acted in self-defense, ABC News said.

George Zimmerman, 28, has said 17-year-old punched him in the nose and knocked him down so his head hit the ground.

The first police report on the incident indicated Zimmerman was bleeding from his nose and the back of his head, and Zimmerman's
lawyer has said the neighborhood watch volunteer's nose was broken in the alleged altercation.

Video shows Zimmerman getting out of a Sanford police cruiser with his hands cuffed behind his back and being frisked, but there is
no readily evident sign of blood or injury. The video shows a police officer looking at the back of Zimmerman's head.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012...ce-of-injury-to-Zimmerman/UPI-16461332921600/

I've had to watch my share of these types of videos in my career, and they are notorious for not showing details. So while Zimmerman may not appear to have injuries, he may have. The police report states he was bleeding from the nose and the back of the head. I would give the police report more weight.

Now the question would be, how much bleeding from the nose and head. Further investigation could question the officer if it was a drop of blood from the nose, or gushing, or in between. Was the blood on the back of the head a bloody scrape, or a deep laceration.

All I can say is if Zimmerman is claiming a broken nose, he damn well better have medical records to prove it. Better yet, he better have documentation of any injuries allegedly sustained. Documentation at the time of the incident, not two weeks later.
 
"These assholes always get away,"George Zimmerman said to the operator. "(Fucking {racial slur, plural}," said Zimmerman.
Zimmerman is then heard giving directions to the dispatcher. "Shit, he's running," Zimmerman said.

"Are you following him?" the dispatcher asks.

"Yes," Zimmerman responds.

"We don't need you to do that," the dispatcher says.
 
Conservatives vote for strip searching anyone who gets arrested ? Way to protect individual rights, Republicans!
(Anyone, who is anyone worthwhile, does not get arrested- Just ask Trayvon Martin's killer.)

Meanwhile- Just what Florida needed- Another incident and another law to scare the tourists away!

Inquiry into Stand Your Ground law launched in Florida

Frustrated by Gov. Rick Scott's delay in assembling a task force on Florida's "Stand Your Ground" gun law,
Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, has put together his own panel that will meet this week on the statute.

Smith has also launched a web site -- FloridaStandYourGround dot org

"Stand Your Ground It is a highly controversial law that since 2005 has left a string of incidents throughout Florida
and the invocation of “stand your ground” as a shield of immunity from prosecution. There is now a lot of
confusion on the part of the public, law enforcement and our judicial system, and the haphazard interpretation
and application of the law. This movement is an attempt to clarify the parameters of the law and
set the tone for our civilized society."

- Christopher L. Smith

Florida State Senator

District 29
 
Ken Lester named new judge in Zimmerman murder case
April 18, 2012

SANFORD – Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester, Jr., who's been on the bench 15 years and has a great deal of experience with
high-profile murder cases, on Wednesday was assigned the George Zimmerman murder case.

It was originally given to Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, but she recused herself Wednesday after Zimmerman's attorney
asked her to step aside because of a possible conflict of interest: Her husband is the law partner of Mark NeJame, who's been
hired to comment on the case for CNN.

All criminal cases in Seminole County are assigned by chance, based on a rotation system. Next up in that rotation was
Circuit Judge John Galluzzo. He, though, could not accept the case because he formerly practiced law with Zimmerman's
attorney, Mark O'Mara.

Lester, 58, was elected judge in 1996 by challenging an incumbent.

Murder cases tried by Lester

Michael Reynolds
John Michael Buzia
Stephanie Gardner

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/os-george-zimmerman-judge-steps-aside-20120418,0,2080002.story

http://mysanfordherald.com/view/ful...ter-will-now-preside?instance=home_news_right

Zimmerman’s defense attorney, Mark O’Mara, had asked Recksiedler to disqualify herself from the case after she revealed
a potential conflict of interest: Her husband works with an Orlando-area lawyer, Mark NeJame, who was originally approached
to represent Zimmerman on the case. NeJame, who also is providing on-air legal analysis for CNN on the case, declined and
referred the case to O’Mara. The defense lawyer’s exact reasons in asking for the judge’s disqualification remain unknown to
the public — the court file has been sealed by court order.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/18/2755655/new-judge-appointed-in-trayvon.html
 
Post # 3 just makes me so sad...

As for the rest, who's in bed with who? It makes me sick...
 
Zimmerman’s bail set at 150k
4.20.12

George Zimmernman will be eligible for release from jail on $150,000 bail and a host of conditions including electronic monitoring,
Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester announced Friday.

State prosecutors had asked for bail to be set at $1 million

George Zimmerman may be released tomorrow-

O’Mara said several safe locations have been secured for Zimmerman if he is released.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/20/2758885/zimmerman-to-ask-for-bond-in-trayvon.html

http://mysanfordherald.com/view/ful...one-at-Friday-bond-hearing?instance=news_page
 
4/27/2012

George Zimmerman remained free on bond Friday, after a judge said he did not want to “make a snap decision” about raising the bond
in light of new information that Zimmerman has raised more than $200,000 through donations from the public to a website.


SANFORD, Fla. — George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer accused of wrongly killing Trayvon Martin,
will not immediately have to turn over donations to his website, a Florida judge said Friday.

Zimmerman collected about $204,000 in donations through the website, but did not disclose the contributions during
his bond hearing last week, according to Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara.

Apr 25, 2012
The website that George Zimmerman set up to help raise money for his legal defense in Trayvon Martin's shooting has been disabled.

O'Mara has hinted that he will ask Zimmerman to be declared indigent. That would allow taxpayers to pay for his legal bills.

http://www.kvue.com/news/national/148903895.html


That is a far cry, from having no money at all. George Zimmerman's lawyer argued he was penniless.

George Zimmerman declared indigent. And yet, $150,000 bond was raised.

http://mysanfordherald.com/view/full_story/18311008/article-Judge-grants-Zimmerman--150-000-bond?
 
4/27/2012

George Zimmerman remained free on bond Friday, after a judge said he did not want to “make a snap decision” about raising the bond
in light of new information that Zimmerman has raised more than $200,000 through donations from the public to a website.


SANFORD, Fla. — George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer accused of wrongly killing Trayvon Martin,
will not immediately have to turn over donations to his website, a Florida judge said Friday.

Zimmerman collected about $204,000 in donations through the website, but did not disclose the contributions during
his bond hearing last week, according to Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara.

Apr 25, 2012
The website that George Zimmerman set up to help raise money for his legal defense in Trayvon Martin's shooting has been disabled.

O'Mara has hinted that he will ask Zimmerman to be declared indigent. That would allow taxpayers to pay for his legal bills.

http://www.kvue.com/news/national/148903895.html


That is a far cry, from having no money at all. George Zimmerman's lawyer argued he was penniless.

George Zimmerman declared indigent. And yet, $150,000 bond was raised.

http://mysanfordherald.com/view/full_story/18311008/article-Judge-grants-Zimmerman--150-000-bond?

if it's a fund and operates as a charity it's not his money.
 
George Zimmerman had $200,000 support fund, attorney acknowledges
April 27, 2012

On Sunday, when Zimmerman's family members came up with the $15,000 -- 10% of the total bond amount -- needed to secure
Zimmerman's release with a bail bond, they used $5,000 of the money raised on the website, O'Mara said.

Last week, George Zimmerman's family told a Florida judge that they had very little money
with which to help the alleged murderer make bond.

But as it turns out, Zimmerman had in fact raised more than $200,000 from supporters on a website and PayPal account
he established. That new development, divulged by Zimmerman's attorney at a hearing Friday, could prompt Seminole
County Circuit Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. to increase the $150,000 bond he set earlier -- though the judge said that
he wanted to know more about who controls the money before ruling on the matter.

O'Mara said that Zimmerman had already used roughly $50,000 of the money "for living expenses -- rent or whatever," and that the remaining $150,000 was now in a separate trust account under O'Mara's control.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/...eveals-support-fund-2012-0427,0,1035645.story



Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman disables fundraising site

April 25, 2012

The website George Zimmerman created to raise funds for his defense against charges in the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager
Trayvon Martin was shut down this week, Zimmerman's attorney said Wednesday.

When he first established the site, Zimmerman, 28, said he linked it to PayPal in order to raise funds for his defense.

“I reassure you every donation is appreciated,” he wrote. He also said that his site was the only one he had and
warned against others who were soliciting money on his behalf.

The official site was disabled this week. Visitors now see the message “Sorry! This site is not currently available.”
A magnifying glass enlarges the word “not” for emphasis.
 
i'm no fan of zimmerman, but this is BS.
bail is set then... 'oh, wait, you can make bail? ok, i'll raise it.'
 
George Zimmerman had $200,000 support fund, attorney acknowledges
April 27, 2012

On Sunday, when Zimmerman's family members came up with the $15,000 -- 10% of the total bond amount -- needed to secure
Zimmerman's release with a bail bond, they used $5,000 of the money raised on the website, O'Mara said.

Last week, George Zimmerman's family told a Florida judge that they had very little money
with which to help the alleged murderer make bond.

But as it turns out, Zimmerman had in fact raised more than $200,000 from supporters on a website and PayPal account
he established. That new development, divulged by Zimmerman's attorney at a hearing Friday, could prompt Seminole
County Circuit Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. to increase the $150,000 bond he set earlier -- though the judge said that
he wanted to know more about who controls the money before ruling on the matter.

O'Mara said that Zimmerman had already used roughly $50,000 of the money "for living expenses -- rent or whatever," and that the remaining $150,000 was now in a separate trust account under O'Mara's control.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/...eveals-support-fund-2012-0427,0,1035645.story



Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman disables fundraising site

April 25, 2012

The website George Zimmerman created to raise funds for his defense against charges in the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager
Trayvon Martin was shut down this week, Zimmerman's attorney said Wednesday.

When he first established the site, Zimmerman, 28, said he linked it to PayPal in order to raise funds for his defense.

“I reassure you every donation is appreciated,” he wrote. He also said that his site was the only one he had and
warned against others who were soliciting money on his behalf.

The official site was disabled this week. Visitors now see the message “Sorry! This site is not currently available.”
A magnifying glass enlarges the word “not” for emphasis.



more people should donate. this is a media firestorm and I'm just waiting with marshmallows to make some smores when the riots start
 
Seven minutes

February 26, 2012

http://www.miamiherald.com/trayvon-martin/

Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old African American male who was unarmed and on foot.

George Zimmerman is a 28-year-old multi-racial Hispanic American with a SUV and a gun.

George Zimmerman will be 29 years old in October of 2012.

Trayvon Martin will always be a 17 year old teenager, who is dead because of a gunshot to the chest.
 
Seven minutes

February 26, 2012

http://www.miamiherald.com/trayvon-martin/

Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old African American male who was unarmed and on foot.

George Zimmerman is a 28-year-old multi-racial Hispanic American with a SUV and a gun.

George Zimmerman will be 29 years old in October of 2012.

Trayvon Martin will always be a 17 year old teenager, who is dead because of a gunshot to the chest.

I think that it is common that when you die, you do not have anymore birthdays.
 
I hope he gets some jail time. He was in the wrong to begin with by following the boy. If I had some one following me like that I would probably stop, & warn them to stop. I guess that wohld give them the right to shoot me. Kinda fucked up.
 
I hope he gets some jail time. He was in the wrong to begin with by following the boy. If I had some one following me like that I would probably stop, & warn them to stop. I guess that wohld give them the right to shoot me. Kinda fucked up.

Actually if you were on a public street, it may. What gives you the right to tell someone that they can not walk the same street that you are walking?
 
There is a difference between walking the same street I'm walking and following me. If I make three right turns and you're still on my ass we have a problem.
 
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