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May 8, 2012 3:11 PM

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George Zimmerman 'not guilty' plea at arraignment for Trayon Martin killing

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman

/ CBS/AP

(CBS) SANFORD, Fla. - A written plea of not guilty was entered today on behalf George Zimmerman, the central Florida neighborhood watch leader who's charged with murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Pictures: George Zimmerman faces murder charges

Zimmerman did not attend Tuesday's formal arraignment in Seminole County, where the juget set a pre-trial hearing date of Aug. 8, CBS affiliate WKMG reported.

Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, filed the not guilty plea on behalf of his 28-year-old client and waived Zimmerman's appearance. O'Mara also waived Zimmerman's right to a speedy trial in filing for a continuance, citing the need for more time to prepare the defense case.

In another development, O'Mara said that of the $200,000 raised by Zimmerman's now-defunct website, just under $50,000 is being used for his security and setting up his living arrangements in hiding. The other $150,000 has been turned over to an independent administrator to manage.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in Martin's Feb. 26 shooting death in Sanford.

Martin's family and supporters claim the black teen was a victim of racial profiling.

Zimmerman has claimed Martin attacked him and that he fired in self-defense.

Complete coverage of the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case on Crimesider

26 Photos

George Zimmerman faces murder charges

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22 Comments +

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by ubh8tin May 11, 2012 10:50 AM EDT

Trayvon is dead because he was in the middle of bashing some dude's head on the pavement, and that dude happened to be armed. Trayvon's death is tragic, and the force Zimmerman used could be debated for days on end, but let's not pretend that the kid was a martyr and that Zimmerman was a racist. Trayvon was not an innocent little kid with a colorful bag of skittles. At 17, I'll still call him a kid, but the guy was a 6'2" football player who was on a 10-day suspension from school for mari juana possession. There's no reason to believe that Zimmerman was into identity politics. He came from a multicultural family that included Latinos, blacks, and whites. Trayvon went by the Twitter name @NO_LIMIT_NIGGA, and re-tweeted things like, "Hahaha Hoe u got USED fa yo loose a&& pu* &y.! Tighten up.! #Literally" Super classy.

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by rightontarget May 11, 2012 5:53 PM EDT: Yeah, some "dude" that was following/stalking him. (Jerk Zimmerman should have let the REAL cops do their job and stayed in his car.) Zimmerman is just some bully, cop wannabe..who couldn't cut it in the real world. I actually don't think Zimmerman was a racist and I'm sure the kid was no angel. That being said. Zimmerman is an egotistical, bully, who just wanted to throw his weight around. I don't think he ment to kill anybody but his history of agressive behavoir speaks for itself. I think the likes of Sharpton need to get off the "race" bandwagon because I do not think that was an issue but Zimmerman should NOT be allowed to get away with his actions. (although he probably will) I don't think the murder charge will stick but Flori-duh needs to change their stupid law so that other power hungry bullies can't abuse it and get away with it.

by Larry732 May 10, 2012 9:37 AM EDT

Wow! Carolyn has really taken a beating here. You guys sure seem sure of your opinions.

I would like to suggest a hypothetical situation that may make all of you think.
Try and imagine this. What would have happened if Zimmerman had left his gun at home. I realize the first thing you want to say, is Zimmerman wouldn't have bothered with Martin, had he left his gun home and you may be right. But let's just assume that for this senario, everything is exactly the same, except for the gun.
What would have happened if 60 seconds later the police pulled up and saw what John saw. Martin would have been arrested for assault, on the spot. Even after telling his version of what happened, exactly as it did, he would have still been charged with assault.

Why? Certainly not because he was black. He would have been charged with assault and he would have been charged as an adult. This goes a very long way to bring things to light. Was Martin entitled to deliver a beatdown? Well, to some people, maybe. In some communities, maybe. To the law, absolutely not. There were no grounds present, for Martin to have become violent. At least nothing we know about supports that. I'm not talking about what people think should happen or what people feel about Zimmerman's actions that night. I'm looking at this from a legal standpoint as well as considering it's the state that has to prove their case, without there being any other possible senario. Any other possible senario would be considered reasonable doubt. If the state can show that the possibility exists that Zimmerman's version of what happened is possible, zimmerman will be aquitted.

I believe the court will dismiss this case before it even goes to trial. Looking at all the possibilities of what may have actually happened, the court will determine that the severe lack of physical evidence will require the judge to dismiss the case.

After that, I hope they nail the special prosecutor for everything she's done that was improper in this case.

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by rightontarget May 10, 2012 10:04 AM EDT: Oh please, your fantasy senario is just that, fantasy. Lets "suggest" what would have happened if Zimmerman had NOT persued the kid LIKE HE WAS TOLD by the cops. Whose to say just exactly which party "delivered the beatdown"? Nothing has been proven in that regard as to just who was the aggressor. If "self defense" is in play whose to say Martin wasn't the one defending himself? Zimmerman's agressive personality has been well documented. I hate the fact that the likes of Al Sharpton have turned this into a "race" issue. I think it is just a BULLY issue.


by Larry732 May 10, 2012 10:51 AM EDT: @rightontarget, You obviously didn't get the point I was trying to make. You seem to think everything is going to be different in court. The defense only needs to show a possibility that Zimmerman's account is possible. Something that will be very easy to do.

Zimmerman was not told anything by the police. A 911 operator simply said, we don't need you to do that, hardly an official order. Also, Martin was not a kid, he was a young man, all 6'3" of him.

You seem to think once this case gets to court, that somehow things will be clear. There is no way to determine who delivered the beatdown? That is reasonable doubt. Without an eyewitness to the event or video proof, it will be impossible to prove one way or the other. Although we do know who was on top during the fight.

You suggest that maybe it was Martin who was defending himself. Just how do you expect that to be proven in court without an eyewitness or video proof? Impossible!

For some reason, people aren't looking at this from the standpoint of proving a case beyond a doubt. They're looking at it from an emotional standpoint.

This reminds me alot of the Casey Anthony case. So many people though she killed her kid and thought she should have been imprisoned. Those whackos were on the news, acting like protestors, holding signs and chanting. None of them looked at it from a legal standpoint. None of them cared about proof beyond a doubt. They were emotionally motivated. This is exactly the same thing here. It's not about what you think or how you feel. It is proof beyond a doubt. That is the only thing that matters in this case.

Don't forget, proof means there is not a single other reasonably possible senario that could have occurred. That will be an impossibility in this case, due to the lack of eyewitnesses or video proof!


by rightontarget May 10, 2012 1:04 PM EDT: Larry, I don't know what will happen in court but I DO know what I think is right. Zimmerman SHOULD be held accountable, that's not to say that he will be. Also that Florida law needs to be CHANGED so that power hungry, bullies like Zimmerman can't abuse it. Just my opinion. Nobody said life is fair but those who support Zimmerman in his actions are what is discouraging to me.


by ahendryx819 May 10, 2012 3:24 PM EDT: I get what you're saying, Larry. I know that there is no person alive, except Zimmerman, who can tell us what exactly went on that night. However, my opinion only became stronger when my suspicions about his past were confirmed. I work with violent crime offenders on a regular basis; specifically those who are convicted of domestic violence. As soon as I read the initial story, I thought Zimmerman's actions seemed to match that of someone who is controlling of others. This seemed, not premeditated to me, but like he flew into a fit of rage when the dispatcher told him they "didn't need" him, and after Trayvon refused to stop and engage him. Sure enough, a week later, his background check was circulated. Guess what was on it? Not only domestic violence, but also assault on a police officer. This, along with his actions before confronting Trayvon, convinced me that he was wrong. I don't think he deserves a first-degree murder charge, but I do think he deserves voluntary manslaughter at the very least. Abusive people have a horrible time taking accountability for their actions, especially when they're not forced to do so through the justice system.

by rightontarget May 9, 2012 1:59 PM EDT

by Carolyn624 May 9, 2012 9:52 AM EDT
I completely agree with Chico. Nothing Zimmerman did was illegal. He obviously cared very much for his community. Maybe he cared just a tad too much, but again, that's not illegal.
****************************************************

LOL!!! Carolyn, what Zimmerman "cared" about was being "in charge". This Billy Badazz, cop wannabe (who couldn't cut is as a real cop) became a neighborhood watch guy in order to play policeman. A REAL neihborhood watchman would have done what they are SUPPOSED to do, WATCH and report and NOT tried to take matters into his own hands. I think dumbazz didn't intend to kill anyone and maybe the kid did jump him because Zimmerman appeared to be STALKING him. Either way, Zimmerman should NOT have been carrying a gun. No "neighborhood watch" people are encouraged to carry firearms. This jerk wanted to walk around like he was in some Dirty Harry movie and wound up killing somebody. Had he NOT approached the kid (his choice) and listened to the cops and NOT persued the kid, Martin would still be alive. Zimmerman needs to be held accountable somehow and the law in Florida needs to be changed so other Dumbaza, power hungry jerks don't abuse it. I don't think race was an issue but STUPIDITY AND EGO were!!!!

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by ahendryx819 May 9, 2012 3:27 PM EDT: Exactly, thank you!!! Zimmerman has a record of getting violent with those who don't do as he says. His assault and domestic violence charges are probably the reason he didn't get to be a cop. So he declares himself "neighborhood watch captain," so that he has an excuse to control and intimidate others. Which is why I think he got mad and engaged Trayvon in the first place, because he was mad that the dispatcher told him NOT to do so. Abusive people almost always tend to be aggressive and controlling in most, if not all, of their interactions with others, so this shouldn't surprise anyone.

One last thing here Carolyn: Let's not forget that Trayvon was NOT doing anything wrong...he was simply walking home in the rain, for God's sake!


by ubh8tin May 11, 2012 10:55 AM EDT: Trayvon Martin was a troubled teenager without supervision and a history of drug use, while serving a 10 day suspension for taking a baggie of pot and mari juana pipe to school, I mean who wouldn't believe that a 17-year-old kid, serving his third school suspension (this year), this time for drug use and a mari juana pipe in his backpack; and home alone - unsupervised albeit supposedly "grounded"; would hoof-it, at night, in the rain, right before the NBA All-Star game, for a single can of "Tea" for himself, and a bag of "Skittles" for his half-brother. Isn't that what all 17-year-old tattooed kids with Gold teeth, who enjoy getting "head, and loose a** pu$$y", carry around screwdrivers (described by teachers and school administrators as a "burglary tool")in their backpacks filled with women's jewelry, while writing "What The Fu&%" on school lockers and assaulting bus drivers and attacking neighborhood watch captain

by ahendryx819 May 9, 2012 11:34 AM EDT

Honestly, I feel like this particular case is going to cause the entire self-defense claim to be exploited.

Some of you talk about Zimmerman being the helpless victim, only killing Trayvon out of self-defense, and Trayvon is the "thug" who started the whole thing. And, had that been true, I would support Zimmerman. However, his actions before the shooting tell me that he wasn't afraid of Trayvon until Trayvon fought back. HE is the one who stalked Trayvon and approached HIM. Carolyn: when you talk about people being strong enough to fight back, and then defending Zimmerman, you're contradicting yourself. Trayvon is the one who fought back after being stalked and confronted by Zimmerman for no reason. This whole case pisses me off, because self-defense laws are written for people who are genuinely fearful for their lives, for example, a domestic violence victim whose ex breaks into her house. Oh! Speaking of, Zimmerman has a past domestic violence conviction! Just some food for thought.

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by ahendryx819 May 9, 2012 3:21 PM EDT: You don't know that--Zimmerman approached and engaged Trayvon AFTER stalking him in his car. That makes him the aggressor. Therefore, HE broke THE LAW!!! And let's not forget that stalking IS illegal.


by Tim2710 May 10, 2012 9:54 AM EDT: Zimmerman did nothing illegal by following. He did not stalk.

Stalking has a legal definition. It is done over weeks or months. It is not a one time thing.

Zimmerman was not convicted of domestic violence either.


by snowbirdnomore May 10, 2012 11:54 PM EDT: Wow. A lot of assumptions. Problem with police? 1. He defended a friend who was attacked by an undercover policeman-who never identified himself as a cop. 2. Domestic violence-he threw his ex girlfriend on the bed after she hit him. Yeah, a real monster, lol. Stalking is illegal but this wasn't stalking-use a dictionary. Proof of assault is given to George as he had a picture taken 3 minutes after altercation by a impartial by-stander showing blood all over his head, witnesses statements and the EMT who treated him for head and nose wounds. According to the mortician, Trayvon didn't have a mark on him, other than gun wound. According to 911 tape, George lost sight of Tray and was headed back to his car. As far as racist remarks, Gerorge's great grandfather was an Afro Pervian, which he was aware of and his tutoring Black children plus being only White/Hispanic to seek justice for a Black man beaten by police chief's son. does not give creedence to him being a racist. By the way, that police chief became an ex-chief due to George's efforts.

by TexGEOas May 8, 2012 5:09 PM EDT

CBS is still showing Trayvon's baby picture... and ominous pictures of Zimmerman. Subtle but obvious bias.

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by CHICO_KK May 8, 2012 5:18 PM EDT: The media's coverage of this story has been a disgrace from the beginning! I've watched and listened to all of the news outlets and Fox News is the only one that at least tries to be unbiased, as they are on most subjects.


by dunkeaters May 8, 2012 8:05 PM EDT: "Fox News is the only one that at least tries to be unbiased, as they are on most subjects"

Can't tell if trolling or blind to reality.


by tij123 May 9, 2012 2:25 AM EDT: That picture of Trayvon with a hoodie makes him look like a hood.
Trayvon has pictures 9 days before he died.

Search Google for "Final Memories: Trayvon Martin 9 Days Before His Death (PHOTO)Posted April 14, 2012 by Amir Rowe"

His pictures above 9 days before he died shows a handsome and smart-looking young man.


by tij123 May 9, 2012 2:27 AM EDT: That picture of Trayvon with a hoodie makes him look like a h00d.
Trayvon has pictures 9 days before he died.

Search Google for "Final Memories: Trayvon Martin 9 Days Before His Death (PHOTO)Posted April 14, 2012 by Amir Rowe"

His pictures above 9 days before he died show a handsome and smart-looking young man.

by ahendryx819 May 8, 2012 3:30 PM EDT

I'll say this much: At least Zimmerman raised his own money for security and what not, instead of expecting the state to pay for it, as Casey Anthony did. Doesn't change the fact that I think he wouldn't need security, had he just did what the police dispatcher told him to do....

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by CHICO_KK May 8, 2012 4:52 PM EDT: At the same time, if Martin had acted civilized and talked to Zimmerman, rather than going ballistic on him, he would be alive today!

Act like a thug, die like one!!!


by ahendryx819 May 9, 2012 11:25 AM EDT: I'm sorry, but I feel that Martin did what he should have. Kids are taught at a very young age not to talk to strangers, right? Especially if the stranger has been stalking you for a little while, and all you're doing is walking down the street. I wouldn't have talked to him either; I probably would have run from him. But then, I'm only a 5'4" woman, not a tall male...