Of George Zimmerman and the double tragedy of Trayvon Martin's killing.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Usually, when there's been a controversial acquittal in a high-profile criminal homicide case--think for example OJ Simpson or Casey Anthony--while the legal proceedings have ended, the debate goes on. And this is usually accompanied by the fact that the person who stood trial has denied culpability for the killing, whether you choose to believe him or her or not.

And after that point of acquittal, the debate continues on: "Did he/she do it?" People will analyze the evidence, construct theories. They'll weigh in on those who knew the former defendant the best, and see whether or not they believe the claims of evidence. Sometimes there will be newly discovered evidence that seems to point to the person's factual guilt. Sometimes there will be newly discovered evidence that seems to support the person's claim of innocence. One way or another, the conversation of "Did he/she or didn't he/she?" will rage on, and time will often provide clues one way or another into answering the question.

However, the George Zimmmerman case is unique. We know George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin. George Zimmerman has never denied that fact. The only thing that was ever at issue in the case was whether or not he was justified, if he was truly acting in self-defense. So it's not a whodunit. And the worst part is that the one person who could provide insight into that ultimate question--other than Zimmerman himself--is dead: Trayvon Martin.

There are a few little clues post-acquittal that might give added insight into Zimmerman's motives and state of mind that night in February 2012. We now know that Zimmerman's wife had a major argument with Zimmerman and had left the house in anger that night. We've also seen glimpses of Zimmerman's behavior post-acquittal that seems to indicate a highly volatile personality--he's been arrested for domestic violence twice, detained briefly by police another time. He had a Twitter feed (since suspended) full of both racist utterances and an almost gleeful extolling of his role in Trayvon Martin's death. And now he's trying to hawk the gun he used to shoot Trayvon for profit, claiming it's a historical artifact.

But that's all indirect evidence, not direct evidence. And short of Zimmerman coming out and admitting, "I wasn't in fear of my life, I just shot Trayvon in anger because he refused my efforts to detain him", I fear we'll never have any hard answers. I did follow the Zimmerman trial basically gavel to gavel. I never found Zimmerman's claims of self-defense to be believable--most notably, I kept on coming back to the ludicrious notion that someone fleeing a person and managing to lose that person all of a sudden decides to double back and ambush the person they've just managed to escape--it just never made any sense. And Zimmerman's actions didn't make any sense that night. But we all know Zimmerman killed Trayvon, and he'll never spend a day in prison for doing that, and the one person who could definitively dispute Zimmerman's claims is dead. And that's the double tragedy that will follow Trayvon's Martin premature death.

[metroins]

1. I watched the trial as well

On this site, I'm assuming a large, very large, number of people will disagree with me. I went into the trial thinking Zimmerman was not justified and I left the trial thinking it was justified self defense.

The forensics showed the lethal shot was fired in an upwards motion, consistent with a person being on top. Trayvon had grass stains on his knees, Zimmerman had them on his back. Zimmerman was neighborhood watch, which means he's literally looking for bad actors and he had no legal obligation to stay in his vehicle.

We also now know through Trayvons phone that he enjoyed fighting and texted a friend about hitting somebody to stun them and using ground and pound tactics in a fight.

I do find it believable that George followed him. Trayvon felt threatened and decided to attack first. Trayvon had the upper hand, Zimmerman feared for his life and used his gun. You can die from being beaten on concrete.

There's a lot of stuff you can add in on both sides (Zimmerman domestic, Trayvons lean mixture/suspension etc) but I think the facts of the moment justify the shooting.

Zimmermans actions after the trial however show he should be in jail or a psych hospital.

[1939]

2. You can't compare the cases

OJ and Casey Anthony couldn't be positively tied to the deaths. Zimmerman was tied to the death and the trial was about justification.