Let's talk about Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman, and how unbelievably fucked up this all is

iatee would replace them with hydraulic ones purchased at Ikea.

― go down on you in a thyatrr (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 31 May 2012 19:01 (11 months ago) Permalink

bond revoked

― Roger Barfing (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 1 June 2012 18:56 (11 months ago) Permalink

if he is shanked in jail is it justice?

― Grimy Little Pimp (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Friday, 1 June 2012 21:07 (11 months ago) Permalink

no

― lou reed scott walker monks niagra (chinavision!), Friday, 1 June 2012 21:12 (11 months ago) Permalink

maybe?

― s.clover, Friday, 1 June 2012 21:23 (11 months ago) Permalink

I'm on the plus side of maybe

― Grimy Little Pimp (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Friday, 1 June 2012 21:25 (11 months ago) Permalink

cool dude

― twittering spinster (k3vin k.), Friday, 1 June 2012 21:25 (11 months ago) Permalink

at this point dude is a martyr to the john birchers even if he's acquitted, so...

― s.clover, Friday, 1 June 2012 21:53 (11 months ago) Permalink

don't be a creep

― lou reed scott walker monks niagra (chinavision!), Friday, 1 June 2012 22:47 (11 months ago) Permalink

you make a useful point. thanks for the input.

― s.clover, Friday, 1 June 2012 22:58 (11 months ago) Permalink

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/martin.asp#little

― the acquisition and practice of music is unfavourable to the health of (abanana), Friday, 1 June 2012 23:05 (11 months ago) Permalink

"175 muscular pounds"

― Sisig Steve (stevie), Saturday, 2 June 2012 09:43 (11 months ago) Permalink

Zimmerman has turned himself into police ... again. I must have missed a beat of this story. Is it because his bail was revoked?

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 3 June 2012 17:49 (11 months ago) Permalink

yes

― the route is ban (k3vin k.), Sunday, 3 June 2012 17:51 (11 months ago) Permalink

Lied about how much money he had, and having a second passport.

― nickn, Sunday, 3 June 2012 19:27 (11 months ago) Permalink

I'm shocked, shocked etc. http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/florida-stand-your-ground-law-yields-some-shocking-outcomes-depending-on/1233133

In the most comprehensive effort of its kind, the Tampa Bay Times has identified nearly 200 "stand your ground'' cases and their outcomes. The Times identified cases through media reports, court records and dozens of interviews with prosecutors and defense attorneys across the state.

Among the findings:

• Those who invoke "stand your ground" to avoid prosecution have been extremely successful. Nearly 70 percent have gone free.

• Defendants claiming "stand your ground" are more likely to prevail if the victim is black. Seventy-three percent of those who killed a black person faced no penalty compared to 59 percent of those who killed a white.

• The number of cases is increasing, largely because defense attorneys are using "stand your ground" in ways state legislators never envisioned. The defense has been invoked in dozens of cases with minor or no injuries. It has also been used by a self-described "vampire" in Pinellas County, a Miami man arrested with a single marijuana cigarette, a Fort Myers homeowner who shot a bear and a West Palm Beach jogger who beat a Jack Russell terrier.

• People often go free under "stand your ground" in cases that seem to make a mockery of what lawmakers intended. One man killed two unarmed people and walked out of jail. Another shot a man as he lay on the ground. Others went free after shooting their victims in the back. In nearly a third of the cases the Times analyzed, defendants initiated the fight, shot an unarmed person or pursued their victim — and still went free.

• Similar cases can have opposite outcomes. Depending on who decided their cases, some drug dealers claiming self-defense have gone to prison while others have been set free. The same holds true for killers who left a fight, only to arm themselves and return. Shoot someone from your doorway? Fire on a fleeing burglar? Your case can swing on different interpretations of the law by prosecutors, judge or jury.

• A comprehensive analysis of "stand your ground" decisions is all but impossible. When police and prosecutors decide not to press charges, they don't always keep records showing how they reached their decisions. And no one keeps track of how many "stand your ground" motions have been filed or their outcomes.

― Brony! Broni! Broné! (Phil D.), Monday, 4 June 2012 16:43 (11 months ago) Permalink

It has also been used by a self-described "vampire" in Pinellas County, a Miami man arrested with a single marijuana cigarette, a Fort Myers homeowner who shot a bear and a West Palm Beach jogger who beat a Jack Russell terrier.

this is making me feel terrible but... poll?

― WHEY AHR MAH DREGUNS? (DJP), Monday, 4 June 2012 16:56 (11 months ago) Permalink

yes please

― Convert simple JEEZ to BDSMcode (Austerity Ponies), Monday, 4 June 2012 17:02 (11 months ago) Permalink

http://gawker.com/5917881/george-zimmermans-wife-charged-with-perjury-joins-him-in-jail

― Grimy Little Pimp (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 21:30 (11 months ago) Permalink

man see u

― la musica de harry frogbs (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 22:15 (11 months ago) Permalink

She seems charming.

― I found him in a Bon Ton ad (Nicole), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 22:16 (11 months ago) Permalink

Gawker commenters showing a good bit of charm themselves:

Clementine Rountree
And, you know, the thing about a Shellie... she's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. 10 minutes ago

EOTxx
And she's fat!!! 8 minutes ago

― Victory Chainsaw! (DJP), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 22:20 (11 months ago) Permalink

Their commenters are pretty terrible in general.

― I found him in a Bon Ton ad (Nicole), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 22:23 (11 months ago) Permalink

I cant work out how to read the gawker comments anymore, on a complete aside. do they scroll sideways now instead of drill down?

― Pureed Moods (Trayce), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 00:45 (11 months ago) Permalink

they drill right into your brain iirc

― goole, Wednesday, 13 June 2012 00:58 (11 months ago) Permalink

My company's web filter seems to block a lot of comments sections. I should write someone an email, thanking them.

― Convert simple JEEZ to BDSMcode (Austerity Ponies), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 15:19 (11 months ago) Permalink

They should really advertise that as a perk in all job postings, tbh.

― heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 15:26 (11 months ago) Permalink

That reenactment video that was just released, when was it recorded? Because if it happened right after, Zimmerman sounds reasonable, including why he didn't just stay in the car (he was looking for a house number to give to the police; apparently not only was it raining, but he had a flashlight - out of batteries - and since he was behind a house there was no street name or house number visible). Obviously if the video is a lot more recent it is more suspect, but he's clearly beat up in the video - face, back of head - and he's calm. If what he says is at all accurate, I can totally see why he might shoot. Now, let off the hook? That's a different argument.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:11 (11 months ago) Permalink

"reenactment video"??

― goole, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:15 (11 months ago) Permalink

I saw it here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/os-george-zimmerman-video-reenactment-20120621,0,822087.story

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:15 (11 months ago) Permalink

I'm not sure that "a reenactment video" can be considered evidence of anything much, as compared to having Zimmerman give his testimony in court, which amounts to the same thing, except for taking the oath and knowing the consequences of perjury.

― Aimless, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:17 (11 months ago) Permalink

longer description here

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/21/justice/florida-teen-shooting/index.html

And the investigator expresses doubt that Zimmerman, who had lived in the neighborhood for three years and described himself as head of the neighborhood watch, did not know the names of the three streets in the subdivision.

"To be honest with you, I have a bad memory anyway," Zimmerman said, adding that he has attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and takes medication for it.

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:20 (11 months ago) Permalink

I don't know the names of several streets right by me, and I live on a city grid. Ever tried to navigate a gated subdivision? Shit is hard.

Of course, this could all be post fact bs. But the context he provIdes and shows helps.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:25 (11 months ago) Permalink

devil's advocacy at its finest

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:26 (11 months ago) Permalink

tbf i don't like the idea of you declaring yourself neighborhood watch captain and stalking kids with a gun either

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:28 (11 months ago) Permalink

Me? Just saying. I do believe he should be in jail for killing him. The irony is that if he did not have a gun,.Zimmerman would have had a case to get Martin arrested for assault.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:29 (11 months ago) Permalink

if you believe his story

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:29 (11 months ago) Permalink

The way he describes it it hardly sounds like he stalked him with a gun. But I don't know who to believe. It's a mess,.and largely the fault of Florida on several levels.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:30 (11 months ago) Permalink

again, if you believe his story, that he merely noticed a kid, called the police, had no idea which of the three streets in the neighborhood he watches is, went to find out, and the kid decided to beat him to death with his fists en route to deliver skittles

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:33 (11 months ago) Permalink

The irony is that if he did not have a gun,.Zimmerman would have had a case to get Martin arrested for assault.

I . . . do not think that is "irony."

― Julie Derpy (Phil D.), Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:33 (11 months ago) Permalink

"emotionally troubled vigilante suggests victim was the violent stalker, not him"

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:35 (11 months ago) Permalink

Again, the story here is not the stuff that we don't, and probably never will, know - the story is weeks of no arrest and coverup.

― Andrew Farrell, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:40 (11 months ago) Permalink

Zimmerman sounds reasonable, including why he didn't just stay in the car (he was looking for a house number to give to the police

this is the least reasonable claim imaginable if you're saying you've seen a suspicious person in your neighborhood. "I didn't want to get out of the car, he seemed dangerous, but I needed to get an address, so I left the car, placing me in the direct path of the person I'm claiming I thought might be dangerous." "Doesn't pass the smell test," as they say on Law & Order.

― decrepit but free (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:42 (11 months ago) Permalink

it's possible martin did react violently to being stalked, though in zimmerman's version the teenager is on a roid rage while he screams "like 50 times" for help. no neighbor is backing that up.

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:43 (11 months ago) Permalink

but, you know, he doesn't have that great a memory anyway

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:45 (11 months ago) Permalink

It's all a mess. But according to dude - who might be or is a total liar and is a murderer - he thought the guy was gone and got out of the car to get an address. Would I do that? No. Would I carry a gun? No. Could I shoot someone? No. Could a defense like Zimmerman's prevent a jury from convicting him? Probably.

Florida's fault: 1) Allowing the stupid law (concealed carry and stand your ground) 2) Not arresting Zimmerman way back when 3) taking forever to eventually arrest him 4) giving in to pressure and launching a prosecution that seems very unlikely to succeed.

Honestly, I'm not sure why I should be prone to believe or disbelieve him, one way or the other. Regardless, he should have been arrested, and before that, Martin should not have been killed.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:52 (11 months ago) Permalink

if he's found innocent, i'm definitely blaming the Stand Your Ground law for making it apparently ok to stalk people with a violent weapon as long as you think you're a cop, and as long as you kill the person who has a problem with you stalking them. however, to be "huh who knows his story makes sense kind of maybe not but who knows" requires exactly the kind of mushy head that makes the whole "shadow of a doubt" thing a little regrettable at times.

― da croupier, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:56 (11 months ago) Permalink

Honestly, I'm not sure why I should be prone to believe or disbelieve him, one way or the other.

You should be inclined to doubt his word very seriously because he shot and killed an unarmed teenager. His claim that he feared for his life amounts to an extraordinary claim, which, as we know, requires extraordinary evidence.

― decrepit but free (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 21 June 2012 17:00 (11 months ago) Permalink

I totally agree. But it's evidence we (they) do not have and may never have, and to outright discount even the possibility that he was (in the legally if not morally defensible) right is as bad to me as the assailing Martin ad hominem for having smoked pot and getting suspended. Again, blame the law for being a piece of shit, but in light of said piece of shit law, Zimmerman's description sounds more nuanced than "I hopped out of the car, gun out, chased the punk down and shot him." The law is one of the all time pieces of shit because it gives a legal advantage to the last man standing.

Anyway, did anyone else catch when that video was made? If it was made right after, before the shit hit the fan, I'd be more inclined to find his description plausible. Though clearly the guy is in CYA mode.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 June 2012 17:03 (11 months ago) Permalink

(And I've said all along Zimmerman murdered him and should have been arrested. It's just a matter of what degree.)

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 June 2012 17:04 (11 months ago) Permalink