Florida teen Trayvon Martin was apparently chatting on a cellphone with his 16-year-old girlfriend when he was confronted -- and then killed -- by a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain. That call, says the attorney for the slain 17-year-old's family, is proof that the man did not fire in self-defense but was actually the aggressor.
Martin's Feb. 26 shooting death has been propelled onto the national stage, fueled in part by social media outrage over the unfolding facts in the case. The latest details to emerge are likely to fuel that outrage.
An attorney for the slain teen's family held a news conference Tuesday to present cellphone records that he says prove Martin was on the phone with his girlfriend at the time he was confronted in a gated community in Sanford, Fla., by George Zimmerman, 28.
The girl, whose family did not want her to be named, told ABC News that she was talking to Martin when he said he believed he was being followed. "He said this man was watching him, so he put his hoodie on," the girl said. She then heard Trayvon say to the man, "What are you following me for?" The man then reportedly said, "What are you doing around here?"
The girl said she believes somebody then pushed Martin because she heard his earpiece fall, and then the line went dead.
The U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI have launched a probe of the shooting, and Seminole County state attorney Norm Wolfinger announced Tuesday that he would bring the case before a grand jury next month. If Martin's girlfriend testifies about what she heard that day, it could potentially undermine Zimmerman's claim to police that he opened fire on Martin because he feared for his own safety.
at least something good would come out of this. they really need to change the law.
I have no issue with castle laws or stand your ground laws. I do have issues with it allowing you to start a fight and then kill the person claiming self defense.
Yeah.
That's shocking to me.
In my state (NC) if you provoke the confrontation it is illegal for you to use your gun. Period. It doesn't matter how bad you're getting your azz kicked. It doesn't if the other person then uses their gun. If you start it, you are simple forbidden from pulling/using your gun, no exceptions. None.
Fern
That was when Martin started viciously attacking zimmerman. Then zimmerman on his back, Martin over him beating, zimmerman calling/begging/screaming for help. bang.
So here's what we know.
She then heard Trayvon say to the man, "What are you following me for?" The man then reportedly said, "What are you doing around here?"
She then heard the altercation. Now, my question is, where is Tray's answer? If you think that Z started the physical altercation... wouldn't he wait for an answer to his question first? To me, based on this girl's account, it's much more likely that Tray chose not to answer the question and instead started the physical altercation.
I'm still not saying Zimmerman was justified in shooting him... I don't think he should have even been carrying a gun. I'm just saying there's a good chance that Tray initiated the physical altercation.
That sounds reasonable, although reasonable minds could still differ about what "provoke the confrontation" actually means. Is it the first thrown punch or the first shove? Or does following and confronting someone for no good reason count as provoking a confrontation?Yeah.
That's shocking to me.
In my state (NC) if you provoke the confrontation it is illegal for you to use your gun. Period. It doesn't matter how bad you're getting your azz kicked. It doesn't if the other person then uses their gun. If you start it, you are simply forbidden from pulling/using your gun, no exceptions. None.
Fern
That was when Martin started viciously attacking zimmerman. Then zimmerman on his back, unable to escape the viciously beating, Martin over him beating, zimmerman calling/begging/screaming for help.
bang.
Yup, like a little bitch, unable to defend himself from the kid, 100 lbs. lighter than him, that he was stalking, and then attacked. That's why he's in hiding, right? Why can't he stand his ground now? He's not indicted. He's not in jail. He is a free man. Why doesn't he show everyone how tough he is by continuing to CC around town?
Oh, that's right, when he's not out hunting frightened unarmed black children in his neighborhood, he just a big, fat, racist loser who would get his teeth kicked in before he knew what hit him. What a pathetic loser. No wonder you relate.
That was when Martin started viciously attacking zimmerman. Then zimmerman on his back, unable to escape the viciously beating, Martin over him beating, zimmerman calling/begging/screaming for help.
bang.
Spidey, I know you have issues, but no matter how much you keep repeating this, it will never make it true.
Why would Zimmerman wait for Martin's answer? He already concluded that Martin was up to something, so he probably attacked first. Cowards who hide behind guns tend to do that.
More calls for violence against an currently innocent hispanic man.
More calls for violence against an innocent hispanic man.
Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law is getting new attention in the wake of the Trayvon Martin case.
The state passed the law in 2005 that stated "a person being attacked has no duty to retreat, they may return force with force, and are protected from criminal prosecution for using force through immunity," according to National Conference of State Legislatures.
Recently, several "stand your ground" or "shoot first" laws have emerged. At least 30 states explicitly state there is no duty to retreat, according to the organization.
State Rep. Dennis Baxley, who sponsored Florida's law, told the Associated Press it wasn't written to give people the power to pursue and confront others.
"That's not what this legislation does," Baxley said. "Unfortunately, every time there is an unfortunate incident involving a firearm, they think it's about this law, and it's not."
Fla. State Sen. Oscar Braynon, who represents Miami Gardens where Trayvon Martin lived with his mother, said he is calling for hearings or a select committee to take a fresh look at the law.
He said since the law was enacted the number of justified homicides in the state have skyrocketed. He said in 2005 the state had 43 cases of justified homicides. In 2009, the last complete year available, there were 105.
"I think there is vigilante justice happening and I think people are getting shot," he said. "This is an unintended consequence of the law."
He may very well be found "not guilty" if any charges end up being filed because the self-defense standard in Florida.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-20/trayvon-martin-teen-shot-florida/53669448/1
I hope something really comes out of that bolded part.
That sounds reasonable, although reasonable minds could still differ about what "provoke the confrontation" actually means. Is it the first thrown punch or the first shove? Or does following and confronting someone for no good reason count as provoking a confrontation?
And the girlfriend's testimony really changes nothing. Martin's earpiece could have fallen had he suddenly attacked Zimmerman or if Zimmerman attacked him.
That was when Martin started viciously attacking zimmerman. Then zimmerman on his back, unable to escape the viciously beating, Martin over him beating, zimmerman calling/begging/screaming for help.
bang.
You're actually completely wrong.
Martin was wailing for help while viciously beating Zimmerman, he did this because he already knew the area was full of pussies, their 240lb neighborhood watch captain was getting beat up by a 140lb 17 y/o, so screamed and cried and begged for help knowing the neighborhood would be too full of pussies to come out and SEE anything, they would only HEAR, the screams of a teenager.
This ploy would give him all the evidence he needed to show that he was the one being attacked, nobody would be able to be an eyewitness to the story outside of the combatants. That all changed when your man Z pulled out his gun and quickly blew his wail, cry, beg while viciously assaulting the defenseless 240lb plan to smithereens.
Bang.
Good Shoot.
More calls for violence against an innocent hispanic man.
Are you ignoring the EYE witness that saw martin over zimmerman beating him?
Yep, eye witnesses suck balls. They never get anything right.
