Man Convicted Of Shooting At George Zimmerman's Car Sentenced To 20 Years

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo

A Florida man convicted of firing at George Zimmerman last year during a road rage incident was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison.

A jury found Matthew Apperson guilty of attempted second-degree murder, armed aggravated assault and firing into a vehicle, according to a report by the Orlando Sentinel. Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson sentenced Apperson to 20 years in prison.

Apperson was charged in May after shooting at Zimmerman during a traffic run-in. Zimmerman sustained minor facial injuries in the incident.

Zimmerman said on Monday that Apperson showed no regard for human life during the altercation, even seeming joyful at the mistaken thought that he had killed Zimmerman, the Sentinel reported.

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/matthew-apperson-george-zimmerman-sentence

[onehandle]

1. Gun culture eats its own. nt

[kimbutgar]

2. But Zimmerman kills an innocent teen and serves no time

Justice sucks in Florida. Though I am glad that prosecutor lost her election.

[TheDebbieDee]

3. ^^^THIS^^^

Sack of $ hit kills someone on purpose and doesn't get any time! Guy takes a shot at a clear menace to society and misses - gets 20 years!

Flori-DUH again?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

29. Dead men tell no tales.

[barbtries]

13. i know.

i want to cry. this guy was an ass but nobody died.

[kimbutgar]

20. When Zimmerman got off I cried at that injustice

I just lost it that Trayvon was an innocent kid who got murdered by a creep and the whole thing got racialized by fox.

[Raine]

28. Totally agree nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

34. plus 1

[groundloop]

4. Wasn't the guy standing his ground against Z?

Well, at least one violent gun toting idiot will be off the streets for several years.

[hack89]

6. No. Just a case of road rage.

he tried to blame it on Z but the jury didn't buy it. He did not formally invoke a stand your ground defense.

[Chakab]

9. He didn't have to invoke stand your ground. It's not just an affirmative defense. The

law changed the definition of the mens rea for all homicide-related offenses. When the jury is charged by the judge with their instructions for deliberation, the judge has to use the "stand your ground" language RE the offense being justified if the person felt that they were reasonably in fear for their lives.

[hack89]

11. The Florida Supreme Court says otherwise

TALLAHASSEE — In a case that started with a Central Florida tourist brandishing a gun during a traffic dispute, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday said people who use the state's controversial "stand your ground" legal defense have the burden of proving they should be shielded from prosecution.

The 5-2 ruling dealt with a key part of the way the state has carried out the "stand your ground" law, which in part provides immunity to people who use justifiable force in self-defense.

In "stand your ground" cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants are immune from prosecution because of the law. The Supreme Court ruling Thursday centered on who should have the burden of proof during those hearings —defendants or prosecutors.

Justices sided with lower courts that have required defendants to prove that they should be protected from prosecution by the self-defense law

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-florida-stand-your-ground-ruling-20150710-story.html

There is a special pre-trial hearing in stand your ground cases - which has to be specifically asked for.

The burden of proving stand your ground rest solely on the accused.

[truthisfreedom]

5. I'm not sure justice is blind. But it's good to know that the law is applied occasionally

in the wild wild east.

[catbyte]

7. Unbelievable.

[elmac]

8. I wonder if Zimmerman's going to auction off his car now

to the racist simpletons who worship him?

[Old Vet]

10. Holy Shit 20 years, He must have quite a criminal background or refused there plea-deal...

My neighbor walked in on his cheating wife and shot the dude and got 5(five) years prison and 10 years probation with the same charges. And he injured the guy with non-life gunshots, He took the plea deal with no trial.

[GulfCoast66]

31. If you shoot at someone

in Florida and it is proven that you were not defending yourself but committing a crime there are defined jail terms.

[Coolest Ranger]

12. But tell me again voting has no conquences

[perdita9]

14. The irony here is mind boggling

[Hoyt]

15. One of a handful of gun nuts who did not support Zman, even if privately.

[Initech]

16. And George Zimmerman still free after murdering an innocent teenager.

[George II]

17. Probably would have been half that if he didn't miss.

[Doc Holliday]

18. The only charge

leveled against Mr. Apperson should have been "unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits" or possibly "disturbing the peace."

I consider anyone who ends GZ's life to be performing a public service. But that's just me.

[Democrats_win]

19. Zimmerman gets life.

Zimmerman will always be that loser George Zimmerman who killed a young innocent boy. No escape, no hope.

[Skittles]

35. ironic

Zimmerman's life would be so much better if justice had been served and he had been charged with manslaughter and served time

[Friend or Foe]

21. To quote, Maxwell Smart, "missed by that much"!

A killing would have led to a SYG defense. Missing, well, it's just missing.

[Fluke a Snooker]

22. Incredible. (White) murderers get less time.

[Gman]

23. The guy needs to be off the street

before someone gets killed. Doesn't matter it was Zimmerman. Next time it could be a little old lady.

[Skittles]

36. Zimmerman should be off the street too

he stalked and murdered and unarmed teenager FOR NO REASON

[Gman]

37. That and the other altercations he had been in since.

[sinkingfeeling]

24. Florida: one of the strangest states in the Union.

[lonestarnot]

27. I was reminded the other day that people eat people over there.

[LynneSin]

25. So kill a car and get 20 years. Kill an unarmed teenager and become a celebrity

[Kennah]

32. Because guns, 'Murica. Fuck yeah!

The sarcasm tag didn't feel like it was enough. Maybe our national violent obsession will render Climate Change moot.

[MrModerate]

26. The closest brush with justice Zimmerman has ever had. n/t

[trixie]

30. Trump and THIS?

Am I in hell and don't know it? What the hell is going on?

[Kennah]

33. Capone and tax evasion. OJ and robbery. Maybe GZ will go down for kiddie porn. (n/t)