Rave This: If you think Zimmerman deserves a fair trial before the lynching begins.

You know, I think everyone has a right to a fair trial, but just remember this. We are not his judge. Only God can truly judge this man. In my own opinion, he should have let the police handle the issue, but some people think they are above the law and take matters into their own hands. Justice will be served either way.

What a stupid and inane question.

The question is will he get a fair trial?
I don't think so...

Everyone deserves a fair trial.

The black racist will get him....

This poll is a biased and unfair to Martin. We can see from the poll which side you are rooting for.

Against the "create the news" media.

Why mention it at all. If people keep bringing it up, then it will keep tensions up and race relations high. Especially when you mention "before the lynchings begin".

While we are still called America and not Obama Land. We must be fare and equal under the law. Martin was not shot because of color. He may have been shot because of stupid. There is blame for both. Untill the trial and all the evidence we dont know. Can only speculate. And that makes us all stupid!!

WOW, You just had to mention Obama. How can you give an opinion and turn around a say wait until the trial and the evidence comes out?
No matter what poll comes out, people still find someway to mention Obama.

Everyone deserves a trial. He's guilty of pursuing Martin for sure, but innocent of Murder based upon self defense. Zimmer should and will be punished, but let's not forget the victim mad a choice too, a choice to attack Zimmerman which proved fatal.

I don't think pursuing is a crime. There's prowling, and stalking. There's no charge for pursuing someone suspicious in your gated neighborhood though. I wasn't there though, so I'll let the courts decide.

People get rape and robbed everyday by people pursuing them waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

so rape and robbery are crimes, and if you're pursuing someone to rape and/or rob them, it's called stalking. Following someone in your neighborhood isn't a crime. So I'm not really sure I follow you.

How can you tell the difference? How would you know what someone intentions are?

You can tell the difference by if they rob or rape you? Or if it's continuous, then it's called stalking, and that is a crime. Watching someone in your neighborhood isn't a crime though...

My point is, if they are following you continuously how will you know there intentions before hand. How do you determine if you are going to get robbed or raped? At what point do you defend yourself without letting it happen?

That would all depend on the situation. That is why I wouldn't ever live in a state that doesn't allow concealed carry. The police obviously can't get to the scene fast enough, so I never leave my house without something to protect myself with.

Fair enough. But Zimmerman had a concealed weapon also. How could Martin know what his intentions were without defending himself?

See, I wasn't there. If Martin attacked Zimmerman first, he's completely within the law. If it's the other way around, and Zimmerman physically attacked Martin, then it's 2nd degree murder.

You stated that stalking was a crime, so how could Trayvon tell the difference between stalking or following? Do you not have the right to protect yourself before the attack happens?

If you're not attacked, then your life isn't in danger. You're basically protecting yourself out of paranoia. If they approach you or have a weapon and are initiating the attack, then you're free to defend yourself with deadly force, if necessary. Stalking is a crime, but stalking is a habitual reoccurring event of a person pursuing another person, until the person feels their life is in danger. Seeing someone follow you, while you're in their neighborhood, isn't stalking. Zimmerman initiated contact with the police, so it will be impossible for a court to call this stalking. If anything, like I've said, the court would find Martin responsible for stalking since Zimmerman initiated contact with authorities.

There are many instances in which you are not attacked but find your life in danger. In most cases the victim probably knew and attacked before being attacked.

They would have to establish reasonable grounds for the attack though, like if it was an ex-boyfriend that was following them repeatedly, and had a history of violence, or even threatened you recently, you could probably attack first and claim it self defense. If some random person is following you, and you just sense you're in imminent danger, you shoot them, and the police find no weapons or anything on this person, you're going to have to have one hell of an attorney to establish you were defending yourself.

Which brings us to Zimmerman.

Yep. His trial will come down to witness testimony, and what is written in the original police report. If he has a witness saying that he saw Martin slamming Zimmerman's face on the concrete, matching the police report, then Zimmerman will likely walk away a free man, and sue the state of Florida for a lot of money for pressing charges over a month after he was initially released.

I don't think it's possible for Zimmerman to have a fair trial due to the politics involved in this case. I mean.. the president got involved before nbc was even caught doctoring phone calls and videos. I'm sure his attorney is well aware of this, and it will play a huge role in Zimmerman's defense.

I should clarify. How can you tell the difference between stalking and following? Who must be the one to differentiate the two?

Legally speaking, stalking is the act of continued harassment by following someone enough that they feel themselves, or their territory is in danger. It's also defined if it's done habitually, or repeatedly. It would be differentiated on a case by case basis because of the different variables. Zimmerman simply following Martin on HIS OWN TERRITORY is not stalking. Now if it was Martin's neighborhood where this happened, that would be a different story. Also the fact that Zimmerman is the first person to contact the police establishes grounds that he was weary of Martin stalking his neighborhood.

Good point. So many variables. I do believe that Zimmerman will be his own worst enemy before this trial is over especially if he takes the stand or make any more statements.

Yea, I don't know how this case will go. I don't really have enough correct information to pass judgment because I've heard so many different stories from the media outlets. Kind of pathetic though, since it's so hard to trust the court system, I feel I will never know what really happened, even if he is sentenced to 2nd degree murder. If his story is true, and Martin attacked him while he was heading back to his vehicle, then he was defending himself. How the media sensationalized the story though, he'll be lucky to not get 2nd degree murder. We all know how well Florida law works, just look at Casey Anthony. I don't think we'll ever know the real truth.

No, bad judgement. Why did he call the cops, seek advice, then act against that advice. I'm no Trayvon Martin fan, the truth about this kid has been hidden to incite the useful idiots for sure and distract us, but Zimmerman would have been better off to not call the cops, shoot the kid, then report it as self defense.

C'mon, the cops told him to leave Martin alone during the call. Zimmerman clearly ignored the police and pursued Martin. Martin, clearly a trouble youth being painted as a choir boy, retalitated maybe from fear, probably from agression. Zimmerman elevated the situation by getting out of his car and approaching Martin. For that, there should be a trial, but what happened next was not murder.

The race card seems to be a free pass everywhere today..

Absolutly..

gat?

LOL! I "GAT" you partner!