Scroll Left Scroll Right

U.S. Prosecutors: Colo. gunman threatened professor 1 of 9
World Iran: "Rural white" Americans fond of Ahmadinejad 2 of 9
U.S. Minneapolis gunman had just been fired: Police 3 of 9
Gallery Manipulated photography before Photoshop 4 of 9
Sports Regular NFL refs return, get standing ovation 5 of 9
CBS This Morning Beach Boys reuniting for last time? 6 of 9
Politics Voter registration fraud claims singe GOP 7 of 9
Entertainment Another ratings coup for Honey Boo Boo 8 of 9
World Somali militants forced from last stronghold? 9 of 9

August 9, 2012 10:23 AM

Print
Text

Trayvon Martin murder suspect George Zimmerman will seek 'stand your ground' hearing, attorneys say

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

George Zimmerman

/ AP Photo/Seminole County Sheriff's Office

(CBS/AP) SANFORD, Fla. - Attorneys for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with murder in the fatal February shooting of Trayvon Martin, say they'll seek a "stand your ground" hearing that could lead to criminal charges being dismissed.

Pictures: Trayvon Martin shooting

A statement posted Thursday on the website for Zimmerman's legal team says evidence released by prosecutors shows "clear support for a strong claim of self-defense."

Zimmerman says he shot 17-year-old Martin in self-defense under Florida's so-called "stand your ground" law, which allows someone to use deadly force, instead of retreating, if they believe their life is in danger.

Under the law, Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester can dismiss the charges if Zimmerman conclusively shows he fatally shot Martin because he "reasonably believed" he might be killed or suffer "great bodily harm" at the hands of the unarmed teenager.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder. If the judge rules the evidence fits the conditions of "stand your ground," Zimmerman would also be immune from civil action in the Feb. 26 shooting in Sanford, Fla.

Zimmerman is now free on $1 million bond.

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

19 Photos

Trayvon Martin shooting

View the Full Gallery »

91 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 91 Comments


by DevoutPlayerhater August 12, 2012 7:35 PM EDT: Florida Stand Your Ground law seems to be a license for people to murder anybody. For example, if I have a quarrel with somebody, all I have to do is lure them to Florida, get into an altercation with them where there are no wtinesses, shot and kill them, and I am entitled to immunity from prosecution because all I now have to say is that the person attacked me and I tried to fight back but felt threaten that they would cause bodily harm to me so I shot them.

That is exactly what happened here: Zimmerman profiled Trayvon Martin (for no reason whatsoever other than the color of his skin), chased himm down, shot and killed him. Now, Zimmerman is claiming self-defense. That's non-sense. Shooting and Killing a child can not find its way into that law. Had Trayvon been of any other race than black, chances are Zimmerman would not have thought the person was suspicious just because they were walking through the community with a hoody on in the rain. Essentially, Trayvon died because of the color of his skin.; Reply to this comment


by Simple_Simon432 August 11, 2012 9:54 AM EDT: by andie52 August 10, 2012 7:15 AM EDT
Rules for a 'stand your ground' hearing

A defendant has the burden of proof and must show that:

He was in a place where he was lawfully entitled to be.

He was not violating the law.

He was attacked.

He had a reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm.

SOURCE: Florida Statute 776.013(3)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Zimmerman hasn't got a chance at that hearing.

1- We all know that Zimmerman had no lawful right to be outside at night in his neighborhood, especially after receiving direct orders from a police officer to stay in his vehicle and do not keep an eye on the suspect. He was also told to wait for the police to show up.

2- We all know that Zimmerman was running through his neighborhood, waiving a gun around, acting the fool. Then he accosted a young boy and those are all illegal acts.

3- We all know that either Zimmerman forced Trayvon to stand his ground and defend himself or the attack never happened and Zimmerman slammed his face and head into a nearby curb to make it look like he was attacked. There's no evidence to any of this, but we know it's true because Zimmerman is a vigilante, lying, cop wannabe, racist, murderous, criminal with an extensive rap sheet of multiple encounters with police his whole life.

4- We all know there was no assault and Zimmerman didn't have any fear of bodily harm. He was much bigger than Trayvon and older too. We cannot even consider Zimmerman's side of the story. Everything he has said in regards to what happened that night, should be dismissed as a big fat lie and the judge shouldn't allow anything he says into trial.

The only evidence that should be given any credibility is the fact that Trayvon is dead and Zimmerman shot him. The jury doesn't need anything more than that to consider.; Reply to this comment

by ReckonedTruth August 10, 2012 11:10 AM EDT

FYI..The hearing to declare a dismissal of all charges upon George Zimmerman's defense> according to Florida's SYG law is scheduled for October 3rd-2012.. the majority of the evidence involving the alleged shooter(zimmerman) and charged with 2nd murder of Trayvon Martin will be presented by both councils, Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester presiding.

Reply to this comment


by ahendryx819 August 10, 2012 12:14 PM EDT: October 3rd? Talk about dragging it out...

Good, I'm glad that the state will be able to provide their evidence. This will ensure that he will not have the charges dismissed. But really, they couldn't have just done this at the trial?


by Simple_Simon432 August 10, 2012 1:37 PM EDT: I agree, there is no possible way that a little child like Trayvon, could have knocked down an adult twice his size and beat him. This simply could not have happened.
Once the state presents their foolproof physical evidence, there is no chance the charges will be dropped. Nothing Zimmerman says should be admissible in court.
He will have to prove his innocence or go straight to prison. If Zimmerman can't prove what happened that night, he is automatically guilty.
This cop wanna-be, vigilante, murderer shot the young child in cold blood for no reason other than to try out his gun and shoot a little black boy, it's just terrible. No mercy for Zimmerman.


by ReckonedTruth August 11, 2012 9:57 AM EDT: ahendryx819...

I understand your point.. the court system is what the court system is.. and this is a high profiled case where protocol is the issue of concern.. because protocol wasn't followed UNDER THE LAW as in DUE process for Trayvon Martin.(i.e. the Sanford PD Chief and the State County ATTY along with the State Prosecutor were JUDGE and JURY in this case..closed the case without a FULL INVESTIGATION based upon the sooters word and those the PD CHOSED as witness statements and dismissed other witness statements ).. so now protocol has to be followed by the book and not loosely as the PD Chief decided..and as result he was FIRED..and I hope after this case.. other cases similar are looked into in Sanford, FL., because similar compliants have been made against the Sanford PD..

George Zimmerman doesn't want to go to trial..really he doesn't..trust me..

Furthermore.. what has surfaced is the FACT as PUBLIC information GZ didn't graduate from Seminole State Univ. as he proclaimed.. this information was accidently linked from the prosecutor's office-showing GZ class grades of which he failed and barely passed..along with the photo of TM lying FACE DOWN after being shot with his hands underneath him..that's a strange position..after being shot as a person on top another person..you would think he would have been lying on his back after being shot and GZ pushing him off him? Did GZ have blood on his red windbreaker after he shot TM? In which was not given to the PD dept to my knowledge which would further state the foot-print direction of the gun shot..

Its going to be interesting to see what both councils has upon discovery..and why the prosecutor went with 2nd degree murder on this case and not involuntary man slaughter? 2nd degree murder is specific..which includes MALICE and CONTEMPT.. and to you naysayers.. research what 2nd degree as descript is ..SO MS.COREY is probably looking for a plea from the zimmerman camp..and from what I've researched as evidence is powerful from both sides..BUT the last conversation TM have on the phone is KEY to what he thought and said he was fearful..that someone following him and perhaps was out to do harm to him..THAT'S KEY...(and I will say cell phones are profound evidence nowaways..)that conversation was captured if I'm not mistaken as evidence against GZ statement of account maded..you will be able(as evidence) to hear the audio on TM cell phone as evidence..when TM and GZ spoke before TM cell phone disconnected.. and I don't believe TM doubled back..GZ locked himshelf at the BACK gated because he didn't TM to leave the gated community before the SPD arrived..and not knowing that TM was residing there as visitor and if its PROVEN TM did doubled back to GZ? Probably because if someone is following me? The last thing I want this person to know is where I reside ..where TM stepmother and younger brother resided near the back gate exit..


by Simple_Simon432 August 11, 2012 10:22 AM EDT: Mr. ReckonedTruth

I agree, the police should investigate every killing, whether it appears to be a self defense situation or not. It should automatically be assumed that anyone claiming SYG is lying.
Besides that, in this particular case, Zimmerman's father stepped in and flexed his authority, forbidding the pressing of any charges against his son.

I also am looking forward to seeing the state's fool proof, rock solid evidence against this racist vigilante. There is no possible chance that Trayvon doubled back with the intent to attack Zimmerman. It just isn't possible. Besides, if Trayvon had doubled back to accost Zimmerman, he was fully justified in doing so. I know of many situations where being afraid or having someone show you a complete lack of respect fully justifies a person to stand their ground and beat down their stalker.

I don't see any reason why Lester wouldn't have scheduled this hearing for next week, both sides have had ample time to work out their strategies.


by ahendryx819 August 13, 2012 10:49 AM EDT: Quite honestly, I'm surprised at how people who choose to support this psycho are just blowing off that phone call as if it never happened. That phone call goes a long way into defending Trayvon, because he told the girl on the phone that he thought he was being followed. She also heard him ask Zimmerman what his problem was before it disconnected. It goes to show that Trayvon didn't just start swinging, as George and all of his nutjob supporters would want everyone to believe. That, coupled with the 911 tapes, should be enough to keep him from having the charges dismissed, because as ReckonedTruth has stated quite well, those 911 tapes do prove that there was malice toward Trayvon from Zimmerman before he confronted him. Whether his supporters like it or not, there is evidence against him, with witnesses. These people didn't have to see the confrontation to know that Zimmerman was provoking it.

by Simple_Simon432 August 10, 2012 9:10 AM EDT

I agree with the majority of the comments here.

This George Zimmerman is a low life, racist, cop-wannabe, thug, vigilante, gun wielding, creepo!

I think Zimmerman planned this whole thing out in advance! He went driving around looking for a young black child, who he could try his new 9mm out on! Once he spotted his target, a little black boy named Trayvon, he started to stalk his prey, waiting for his chance. First he called the police, who clearly told Zimmerman, "Do not get out of your vehicle and wait for the police! Do not follow the child, wait for us". This was a direct order from a police officer, but Zimmerman knew better! Zimmerman proceeded with gun in hand, waving it around like a kid with a toy. As he proceeded to stalk his prey, a small black child, he could feel the adrenaline pumping, he was about to use his gun for the very first time!
As he approached Trayvon in the darkness, Trayvon noticed him and turned to ask, "Why are you following me?"
He saw the gun and did what any fearful child would do, he stood his ground! That's when Zimmerman tackled him and ultimately shot him!

At this point, Zimmerman knowing the SYG law, had to slam his gun into his face and the back of his head to make it look like he had been in a fight. There were only a few drops of blood and a few scratches!
The police came and took Zimmerman to the police station, where every single officer in the station didn't believe his story. They were about to charge him with murder, when Zimmerman's father showed up and laid down the law. He forbid the police from charging George and told them they must sweep the whole thing under the carpet and forget it!

We all know what happened after that!

Reply to this comment


by nottblu August 10, 2012 9:58 AM EDT: "I think Zimmerman planned this thing out in advance" Man you just can't make this stuff up! Or apparently you can!


by code187gz August 10, 2012 9:17 PM EDT: Wow, you are a great storyteller! I want a shot at this too, I think this could be really fun!! So let me begin...
I won't go back all the way to the day he murdered Trayvon. I will start with the interview with Hannity. It was delightful wasn't it? Poor George. I loved so many aspects of it. I loved the part where it wasn't his gun, it wasn't Trayvon's gun, it was just the GUN! Oh my! I know and You know that gun fell right out of Jesus' hand and praise the lord. Trayvon did everything to get that GUN but what? None of his DNA was the Gun or the holster? The other weird part about the gun scene is how Trayvon's shirt doesn't line up with the bullet hole and then there is the DNA of GZ on the lower inside of Trayvon's shirt. Now that just has me baffled to no end because it almost and I say almost sounds like he was trying to get away from GZ and why would he do that while he is doing his MMA style beating on that poor, poor man?
Then how can we forget the part where he says it was all God's plan. Being a big "huge" believer, oh how I wanted him to expand on his insightfullness. Please tell us more George but Hannity must of interupted him at that point, actually at many points. But I think what George was trying to say was he wouldn't be sitting there if it weren't for God's plan that he had the GUN and killed Trayvon. But it kept me up at night because I kept wondering about God's plan that evening and I wondered if it was God's plan that George make Trayvon fear him and wonder why he was following him. But then George had to golden opportunity to show us what a thoughtful and caring person he was when Hannity asked him if he had any regrets and we all know what he said. Hannity went further and asked would you of still got out of your truck? Would you of done ANYTHING differently? And we all know what he said.
I'm sure there is a nursery rhymes somewhere about cooking your own goose! Sweet dreams :)


by code187gz August 10, 2012 9:33 PM EDT: It is sinful to make a mockery of anyone who lost their life by the hands another.

by andie52 August 10, 2012 7:15 AM EDT

Rules for a 'stand your ground' hearing

A defendant has the burden of proof and must show that:

He was in a place where he was lawfully entitled to be.

He was not violating the law.

He was attacked.

He had a reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm.

SOURCE: Florida Statute 776.013(3)

And it helps if the defendant takes the stand which will be a huge issue for Zimmerman who has already been proven to be a liar who doesn't do well on the stand and certainly will have problems being cross examine

Reply to this comment


by nottblu August 10, 2012 9:59 AM EDT: "proven to be a liar" Please list the lies.


by ahendryx819 August 10, 2012 10:11 AM EDT: Hmmmm.......nottblu, just for starters, how about his lie that he reached in his pocket for his phone, and couldn't remember where he put it? Come on. That's just one of the many.


by Simple_Simon432 August 10, 2012 1:26 PM EDT: ahendryx

I agree that is a major league big time lie. They should deny Zimmerman his SYG hearing, based on that lie alone. The only justice for a young child like Trayvon being shot, is Zimmerman sitting in prison for life!

by ReckonedTruth August 9, 2012 9:52 PM EDT

one third of the 83 comments on this thread belonged to "kkltr76" where are the comments?.. are they REMOVED? Interesting.. Or is kkltr76 creating another tag name?

Reply to this comment


by ahendryx819 August 10, 2012 10:12 AM EDT: Yeah, it's nottblu

by archon41 August 9, 2012 5:51 PM EDT

You nutjobs really have to have your little cocoons of fantasy, don't you? You just can't face the fact that we, the believers in Zimmerman's innocence, outnumber you. Most of us, being productively engaged, can't spend all our time in front of a keyboard trying to "spin" this event. There is a poll,in the 8/9 edition of the Miami Herald, you should take a look at. Conducted by an independent public relations research group, it shows that far more registered voters believe in Zimmerman's innocence that guilt.

This is a sham prosecution, initiated to placate racist demagogues. It began with Crump's "mystery witness," Dee Dee, and may very well implode with her. Don't think we haven't noticed how you have started to distance yourselves from her improbabilities. Now, the "party line" has become downright lies (he wuz seen with gun in hand; he wuz told to stay inna truck), and fanciful conjectures based on trivial and imagined "discrepancies" in Zimmerman's statements. But just how do you think public perception of prosecutorial integrity will be affected if it comes to light, under close examination, that Dee Dee's memory has been "assisted"? She is going to take you down like a chunk of lead on the Titanic.

Reply to this comment


by Mick_from_Amsterdam August 9, 2012 6:05 PM EDT: See Dan? I TOLD you he'd be back...


by ReckonedTruth August 9, 2012 6:19 PM EDT: I could care LESS what a poll states and polls AREN'T reliable..because it depends on who the researchers are..and the audience they're targeting.. so polling can be VERY BIASED.. very political..


by Mick_from_Amsterdam August 9, 2012 9:42 PM EDT: As you said yourself, in another incarnation, as kkltr76, "This is not a popularity contest"

But at the same time, according to you, thanks to the next Zimmerman PR scam and "new evidence" "that he suddenly remembers, people" will be swayed to change their opinions and become supportive of Zimmerman...

WHO THE HELL CARES? (if true)

That might aid his online panhandling efforts...but not his court case!


by code187gz August 10, 2012 1:43 AM EDT: The poll only tells me how many people would believe a liar. Are you kidding me "discrepancies"? He is an outright liar. He even got on Hannity and said he wasn't afraid of Trayvon and he would do it all over again...no regrets! What part of a depraved mind don't you get? No one is making this stuff up, GZ cuts his own throat every time he opens his mouth.


by ahendryx819 August 10, 2012 10:15 AM EDT: Yeah, Obama's up in the polls too... I have no faith in our country anymore. Because of people like you.


by johnnycanuck56 August 12, 2012 12:02 AM EDT: actually, archie...I have been following this for a long time and you seem to be spending an incredible amount of time in front of your keyboard with your own spin on this case. You are absolutely EVERYWHERE on the internet! Do you ever WORK or SLEEP ?


by code187gz August 12, 2012 9:13 PM EDT: Archon41, this isn't a football game or a tug of war. Just because you think GZ supporters "outnumber" anyone doesn't make him an innocent man of 2nd degree murder. Just so you know this isn't up for a vote or a poll. What happens is GZ gets to defend himself in his SYG trial then it will go to a jury when he loses that.
GZ will have an opportunity to give yet another version of what happened that night. As far as "imagined" discrepancies, you must not be good at paying attention to details, eh? You can read/listen to GZ's many stories all over the internet if you have time to hit a few keystrokes.
It sounds like you are kind of betting on a horse. How much money have you sent him? Well, you do have one thing going for you, if a person wants to murder someone, Florida is the place to go. The proven ineptness of the prosecution is on your side. They are a losing horse with two legs not knowing what the other two are doing.
Unfortunately, GZ will never be a free man though and you know it. He has a very tough road in front of him whatever the outcome.
To bad you can't pull out your bible and 2nd amendment rights out of your ass.


by code187gz August 12, 2012 11:00 PM EDT: My apology in advance for my last remark in my previous post. I am a retired attorney and I've watched pukes like GZ walk many times only to somehow have it happen to them again. Not only that but how many unsolved murders do you think there are in Florida? This puke has no remorse, no emotion and you think he is safe to walk the streets? He is a sociopath straight up.
I think most of you poor slobs are worried about your gun rights and how this case will affect it. Well, don't. I don't think any of you give rats ass about GZ. You should be more concerned about the nutjob Holmes in CO.
Okay back to my scotch.


by ahendryx819 August 13, 2012 10:54 AM EDT: Hey. Nutjobs is MY word, meant for people like YOU. How dare you steal it?

by ahendryx819 August 9, 2012 4:31 PM EDT

Charges won't be dropped. Lowered, maybe. But not dropped. Lester's not that stupid.

Reply to this comment


by ahendryx819 August 9, 2012 5:03 PM EDT: Uh, except for the obvious, like the FACT that Zimmerman got out and began following Trayvon and instigated the whole thing.

This isn't about revenge; this is about someone FINALLY being held accountable for his actions, now that he's taken a life. And not exploiting a law that was written with good intentions of saving real victims, like abuse victims, should they need to protect themselves. Do you not remember that even the author of the law said Zimmerman should go to jail?


by ReckonedTruth August 9, 2012 5:56 PM EDT: I agree the trail will happen and far from dropped in the CRY of STAND YOUR GROUND..for the SIMPLE FACT GZ pursued TM.. and the
the zimmerman-ites are hoping this doesn't go to trial..because if this goes to trial ..trial there's acertain 50 percentage chance he will be convicted for the murder of a UNARMED minor.

and for the ONE ZIMMERMAN-ite..who has NO CLUE what so ever what the LAW is..and bent on injuries as justification to murder someone soley? AGAIN your STUPID..just as stupid GZ is and why he's in this situation..

furthermore..

these DUMB-DUMBS what no CLUE what 2nd degree murder charges as
ensued with..which as MALICE AND CONTEMPT..as evidence upon his own words..citing that TM was on drugs, hands in his pocket as if he had a weapon he told the 911 dispatcher.. the explicatives against a person he never known ANYTHING about..

I'm very courious how many times GZ seen TM before he acosted TM..after all TM was residing in the gated community with his step mother and little sister..


by spartan1827 August 9, 2012 4:17 PM EDT: nottblu
Couldn't have said it better it doesn't matter what you think only what can be proven and proof ask Casey she will tell you of course Al didn't come for that one no money or hate in it for his legion of plebs.; Reply to this comment

by johngaltwho August 9, 2012 4:15 PM EDT

I thought that in the Florida SYG law as written, that the protections afforded someone who takes lethal action requires a higher threshhold if they are deemed to be the aggressor. In this case, it is not hard to see how Zimmermann should be seen as the aggressor -

Reply to this comment


by johngaltwho August 9, 2012 4:26 PM EDT: I said its not hard to see how he could be seen as the aggressor. You're certainty belies a bit of prejudicial bias as you complain about what is or is not speculation. There is a plethora of evidence that at the outset Zimmerman engaged Martin while Martin was minding his own business. Whether Martin's reaction to that legally justifies Zim's later action remains to be seen.