Looks like there’s a trial date for Zimmerman
A judge set a tentative trial date next year for a neighborhood watch volunteer charged with fatally shooting Trayvon Martin.
In her first hearing since taking over the case, Judge Debra S. Nelson said June 10 would be the start of George Zimmerman’s trial, though the date could change as both sides get prepared for what is expected to be a three-week trial.
A judge has ruled that attorneys for a Florida neighborhood watch volunteer can inspect the school records and social media postings of the unarmed teenager he is accused of murdering.
Judge Debra S. Nelson said Friday that defendant George Zimmerman’s attorneys need to know whether Trayvon Martin’s school records and social media postings give any evidence that he had violent tendencies.
The argument for prosecution is that Martin was both a good kid, and was fighting for his life before Zimmerman killed him. I suspect the truth is that Martin was engaged in criminal activities on the night of his death, and was likely in a drug-altered state, and was fully prepared to murder Zimmerman for interrupting him. I think with his Social Media posts, and school disciplinary records as evidence the defense will find that case MUCH easier to make.
“and was likely in a drug-altered state”
In the interests of being fair, the tox report showed only trace amounts of THC in his system, low enough levels that he had not smoked in many days.
That is true, still it says he was clean for what drugs he was TESTED for. I don’t say this to satisfy my feelings about Zimmerman’s innocence, I say this because I can’t see a sober kid (even a hardened gang-banger or sociopath) doing what Martin did, which was run away, then double back and initiate a fight.
But maybe I’m over thinking it.
That behavior could be baiting Zimmerman to come out of his car.
Or, it could be a simple stupid 17 year old troubled kid kind of thing. The only way to know for sure is to test the body for traces of that other drug he was supposedly doing.
Truth be told, I think Zimmerman fucked up. Getting out of your vehicle and seemingly pursuing someone for a short distance is bad enough, but not bothering to identify himself as a neighborhood watch?
It was a legal shoot, but not really a good one. Too many unanswered questions for my liking.
Unless the Police/FBI have samples in cold storage, Martin is in the ground, and it takes a LOT of court action to exhume a corpse.
Also Zimmerman wasn’t on patrol, or on duty with the watch that night, he was out to buy groceries, so Identifying himself as the Neighborhood watch is in a grey area there. IIRC Zimmerman said he didn’t carry when he was on watch.
Still, as somebody who’s run a bushleague security team, one big mistake I found with this was he didn’t immediately call another watch member for an extra set of eyes and another set of boots on the scene.
But then again Zimmerman had made calls like this all the time, with zero arrests from the police, and according to his story (which checks out overall as truthful) he had lost sight of Martin before he exited his car. I can’t say I wouldn’t have done it any different. Why call the cops if you know nothing will come of it?
So the tentative trial date is set for about 8 months from now, and about 15 months from when Zimmerman was arrested?
So much for the concept of a “speedy” trial, as guaranteed by the 6th Amendment. I have to wonder, who’s asking it to go out that far? Even if acquitted, Zimmerman is going to spend well over a year in jail, and he’s done NOTHING but cooperate fully with the investigation.
Says in the report Zimmerman is out on Bail. He managed to satisfy the $1 Million bond.
Also, part of the process requires the defendant to waive his right to a speedy trial. Had he wanted one, he could have demanded one.
What I find Interesting is that Trayvon’s Parents have decided to go full bore Brady and have formed a “ChangeforTrayvon.com” group with the Stated purpose of REMOVING “Stand Your Ground” and “Castle Doctrine” Nationwide.
Guess too many Thugs are getting Return Fire out there.
I guess they got to cash in on him before he’s forgotten. If trademarking “Justice for Trayvon” doesn’t work out, there’s always money to be made if the Joyce foundation will give it to you.