NPR gets slimier by the day, but this piece may be their most disgusting yet.
The verdict will hinge less on any lofty sense of justice than it might on what instructions the judge gives to the jury. The jury may convict Zimmerman of second-degree murder outright. They might decide that Zimmerman probably intended to shoot Martin, but that the prosecution still didn’t clear the bar for conviction, and acquit him. They may decide that the prosecution didn’t prove that Zimmerman was guilty of homicide and still convict him of a lesser charge like manslaughter.
One Trayvon Martin Case, But Two Very Different Trials » News » OPB
They forgot to mention the most likely case – the jury follows the law and rules that Zimmerman acted in self-defense.
“and acquit him”
Why did you leave off the rest of the sentence? “intended to shoot Martin” would be pre-meditated murder.
What are you arguing for? That Zimmerman didn’t intend to shoot him? That he pulled the trigger accidentally, or was intending to fire a warning shot in the air? I don’t think even the defence team is saying that.
Nobody contests the fact that Zimmerman intentionally shot Martin, the question was whether he was within his rights to do so, since intentionally shooting someone in self defence is legal.
The article simply lays out the three options available to the jury:
a) Convict
b) Acquit
c) Convict of a lesser offence
That really does cover all possibilities.
The wording “intended to shoot Martin” strongly implies pre-meditation.
The correct way to phrase it is
Disgusting .. this whole thing pisses me off more and more every day!
In Australia the accused does not have to prove self defence. The state has to prove that it was murder, manslaughter or gbh causing death. That is, the state has to prove it was not self defence. Is it the same up there?
Andy, we have a perfect storm with this trial, consisting of Florida law which is notoriously corrupt and flexible in its application, combined with the President of the United States saying that if he had a son, he would look like the victim. That was a thinly veiled reference to Martin’s supposedly light complection, which was diabolical in its intent since Obama would have known that a light-skinned Obama son would be held more valuable by most Blacks, with whom he has a bit of a reputation problem these days. Of course the light complection of Martin was later found out to be a photographic fabrication by television media. But the President has said it, and that means that the message has already been sent: fail me, and you will be held accountable for the damage to my political position.
RTF
I should have put “victim” in quotes, since that individual apparently attempted murder and there is another victim who is on trial for it. RTF
If Obama had a son, he would look like Trayvon
If Obama had another younger brother, he would look like Christopher Dorner.
If Obama had another uncle, he would look like Henry Louis Gates.
If he had a real father, he would have been taught the value of silence.
The media, especially NBC, has guaranteed that whatever the verdict, this case will be divisive, and more people will be hurt or killed as a result. The only reason this case became high-profile is that race and gun agendas could be exploited.
Expert says evidence jibes with Zimmerman’s story
Posted: Jul 09, 2013 4:20 AM EST
SANFORD (AP) – An expert on gunshot wounds hired by the defense testified Tuesday that George Zimmerman’s account of how he fatally shot Trayvon Martin is consistent with the forensic evidence.
Dr. Vincent Di Maio said that the trajectory of the bullet and gun powder on Martin’s body support Zimmerman’s version that Martin was on top of him when Zimmerman fired his gun into Martin’s chest. The gun’s muzzle was against Martin’s clothing and it was anywhere from two to four inches from Martin’s skin, he said.
“This is consistent with Mr. Zimmerman’s account that Mr. Martin was over him, leaning forward at the time he was shot,” said Di Maio, the former chief medical examiner in San Antonio.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/22789195/2013/07/09/911-calls-becoming-heart-of-zimmerman-trial
CNN seems to be the worst offender with their daily mock trials and Pier’s expectations for mass riots if an acquittal is reached.
It’s a race baiting media with an agenda fit for handcuffs!
These pseudo-journalists belong in a prison cell with Gyro Jerry, where they’ll come to fully appreciate the soothing effects of Preparation H:)
NPR is not really getting slimier. You are just noticing it more.
The fact of the matter remains that the jury will likely rule based on whatever side gave the most compelling argument. The sad fact is that not many people today are able to understand what things like circumstantial evidence or the right to self defense really means.
“based on whatever side gave the most compelling argument”
You mean which side gave them the “offer they can’t refuse” through back-channels?
RTF