<p>And in that scenario, what would he do to prevent Martin from leaving the complex? Do you think that GZ just wanted to be able to tell the police which exit Martin took? </p>
<p>Since you raise the idea of what you would do, I have this question: If you were following someone in your neighborhood who you thought might be a burglar – and that person came up to you and asked, “What’s your problem?” – what would you say? </p>
<p>We don’t know what GZ did when he encountered TM, but we have a pretty good idea of his motivation in relation to Martin. That is, we know what GZ thought of Martin and what he told the police about Martin.</p>
<p>But what’s Martin’s motivation? Why would Martin just jump a total stranger and start beating him, without provocation? If you are thinking about what you would do, then think about what you would do if you were walking home in the dark in somewhat unfamiliar neighborhood, and you realized someone was following you.</p>
<p>^^ Personally, I’d run, which is exactly what Martin did. I most certainly would not jump a stranger who was following me, knowing that I was unarmed and the stranger might be. </p>
<p>And I most certainly would not pursue and confront, as Zimmerman did. It takes a specific frame of mind to do that IMO, which is described well by calimami #118.</p>
<p>First, thank you Calimami. I know there are people who think like that but honestly I am just trying to be fair to the defendant.
Like lasma i probably would have run… Yes, I would likely not have pursued at all. But ivam evaluating each decision very granularly.</p>
<p>And I fully believe tm was terrified. Which is why if things had turned out differently and hehad killed gz and claimed self defense I would probably be even more likely to buy his story.</p>
<p>And knowing just what I know now I am starting to lean toward manslaughter guilty. Still not sure. I don’t think thats an unreasonable position.</p>
<p>Here is the mug shot of Emmanuel Burgess who was sentenced by Judge Nelson on June 21, 2012. Burgess engaged in theft at Twins Lakes. I wonder who made the 911 call on Burgess or if there was one at all.</p>
<p>The prosecution played all of the 911 calls GZ made and when dispatch asked for the race GZ said black. The prosecution will argue TM was targeted because he is black based on GZ calling only about black “suspects”. This assumes there were non black suspects that GZ let get away. Burgess would have been a suspect and he was black. If GZ reported him, it shows GZ was right about his call on Burgess. If GZ didn’t report him, was he one of the ones who got away?</p>
<p>Being right about Burgess has no bearing on Martin. Not calling about Burgess also has no bearing on Martin unless you are saying GZ felt Martin was Burgess and if you are saying that I believe it raises doubt about GZ’s stated actions.</p>
<p>You are saying you don’t know if GZ has anything to do with this arrest but it should be entered as one of evidence but the calls that GZ directly made have no relevant and should not have been allowed to be presented?</p>
<p>Given that GZ’s calls about other “suspects” was admitting into the record even though they were not relevant and don’t show anything, I think every break in 911 call made by anybody and every arrest made for any break in at Twin Lakes should be introduced into the record. It gives the jury a perspective of the actual activity in the neighborhood. Burgess is one of those examples.</p>
<p>I was wondering that too Razor, with all due respect, why choose to share the mugshot of Burgess?</p>
<p>Razor you wondered;
“This assumes there were non black suspects that GZ let get away.”</p>
<p>considering Trayvon was never a suspect outside of GZ’s mind, and was only a teen walking back to his Dad’s place, I guess we would have to consider any non black people walking in the evening would meet criteria for being “suspects” that he would have let get away.</p>
<p>I have a hard time with the language of suspects when it refers to Trayvon. It forces you to join in the GZ think, and frankly my mind can’t do it.</p>
<p>“It forces you to join in the GZ think, and frankly my mind can’t do it.”</p>
<p>Mine can’t either. I’ve tried … really tried … to recreate that evening through GZ’s eyes. To strap on my gun and hang around by the neighborhood entrance looking for suspicious characters I can follow in the dark, carrying a flashlight that doesn’t work. I wanted to find GZ’s feeling of empowerment, but instead I just feel stupid (and my neighbors have stopped talking to me … what’s up with that?).</p>
<p>I guess many would just like to live in fear…in a crime ridden neighborhood and not do a darn thing to help. GZ is getting slammed for trying to do something about his neighborhood…too bad so many would just rather lower the shades in live in fear.</p>
<p>Zimmerman is a defendant in a murder trial, in which he has admitted to killing an innocent 17 year old boy. Whether the jury decides to aquit him or not is immaterial to the absolute fact that he took the life of a young man walking home from a convenience store in the rain.</p>
<p>Nobody is slamming the defendant for any rational things he might have done.</p>
<p>geeps - You and I have been down this road before. Those who support the Second Amendment just hate it when someone goes off and disrespects its intent. I know, I know … “what’s it’s intent?” For sure it’s not to shoot dead a child who’s simply walking home. Every time this sort of thing happens it erodes the citizenry’s belief that universal concealed carry is a good thing … or even an acceptable thing.</p>
<p>geeps, no one is slamming Zimmerman for trying to do something about his neighborhood, and I’m not sure what comments lead you to that inference. If GZ had acted as a responsible member of his neighborhood watch, this thread wouldn’t exist.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, GZ didn’t follow neighborhood watch guidelines. In fact, I imagine his actions increased fear in the neighborhood among those who feel they or their family members might be viewed by the next person as a “suspect”. </p>
<p>After all, part of my definition of a safe neighborhood would include innocent people being able to walk around without being shot. Does that not meet your definition of a safer neighborhood?</p>