American Man Aquited Of Murder

[mikey4444]

Anybody surprised by this verdict ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23304198

[Mamyalynne]

Yes and sadly No.

[modeller]

This will further harm America's image in the world. I would be interested in how the jury was chosen, and what did it consist of ? All we know at the moment it was all female.

[coccinelle]

There was one Hispanic the others were white. I've been following it on US sites.

[ummmm]

Very surprised.

[coccinelle]

This didn't really surprise me as it was in Florida. It's heart breaking for the family though. A black woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison in this US state because she fired a few bullets into the ceiling to frighten her violent husband from beating her, no murder whatsoever. Where is the justice? There's a law in this state, can't remember the name which means this killer was innocent and this woman found guilty.... will send it.

[coccinelle]

It's called 'Stand your Ground' law.

[dr b]

"Not guilty" does not mean "innocent", only that the case was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt about guilt. An good analysis of "why this verdict" here:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/14/us/zimmerman-why-this-verdict/index.html

Without having heard all the judge's instructions to the jury it is hard to fault the jury.

[pixie373]

Very hard to say. This is the problem with carrying guns. If, as he said, the teenager was being threatening towards him and trying to grab his gun, then the American Law will acquit him. Not sure if there were any witnesses to the incident?

[ummmm]

Well the innocent verdict has put a price on his head.

[mikey4444]

Ummmmmmmmm...I am surprised by your "very surprised" !

There is no doubt that Zimmerman did kill Martin. Also the local Police had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the position where they charged Zimmerman in the first place.

So, if Zimmerman wasn't responsible for Martins's death, who was ?

[jackthehat]

They didn't say that he wasn't responsible..........just that it wasn't a criminal act.

[ummmm]

I think public reaction at the time of the killing made me believe that justice would be done.

[coccinelle]

In the UK he would have been done for at least man slaughter as he doesn't deny killing him (in the chest and not a bullet wound) but to be guilty of absolutely nothing is incredible.

[pixie373]

What makes you think it wasn't, ummmm? They seem to be looking at it as self-defence (by another name)

[coccinelle]

Before someone jumps on that sentence; I mean he did aim for the chest rather than a part of the body which would have wounded rather than kill him.

[mikey4444]

Another case of Americans with far too many guns it would seem to me. If they can allow dozens of little school children to die each year from armed mad people. it would seem that they are unlikely to do anything for a poor black man who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But these cases have a habit of righting themselves sometimes. We don't see O J Simpson on many chat show these days do we !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._J._Simpson

[bazwillrun]

"We don't see O J Simpson on many chat show these days do we ! "

no , because currently hes in prison for kidnapping and theft....which hes obviously not gulty of !

[bazwillrun]

" it would seem that they are unlikely to do anything for a poor black man who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. "

so if it was a "poor white man" hed shot youd be ok with that would you ?...or is it yet again your black guilt.

With your agenda you could get a job at the BBC

[Kevink]

//so if it was a "poor white man"//

Well (a) if the guy had been white he probably wouldn't have shot him, and
(b) if he had shot him, he'd probably have been found guilty.

[mikey4444]

Thanks for your well thought reply baz !

You have added more depth and intelligence to this affair then any of the rest of us could manage and I am sure everybody on AB is grateful for your contributions !

By the way I am not black...are you ?