A second judge has removed herself from the high-profile Jacksonville murder trial of Michael David Dunn, charged with killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis in a dispute over loud music.
Dunn, 46, is charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder. He shot into a Dodge Durango with four teenagers after a dispute over their loud music, according to police.
Update: Juror B37 - Two members of the all-female jury believed Zimmerman was guilty of manslaughter, while one felt he was guilty of second-degree murder. The woman said Zimmerman “shouldn’t have gotten out of that car” In the end, they set him free to get his gun back.
"Defense attorneys on Wednesday called one of their last witnesses as they started winding down their case. Public safety consultant Dennis Root testified that Martin was in better physical shape than Zimmerman, and that the neighborhood watch volunteer wasn't any athlete.
"He would find himself lacking when compared to Mr. Martin," Root said of Zimmerman."
Reasonable Person: The decision whether an accused is guilty of a given offense might involve the application of an objective test in which the conduct of the accused is compared to that of a reasonable person under similar circumstances. In most cases, persons with greater than average skills, or with special duties to society, are held to a higher standard of care. For example, a physician who aids a person in distress is held to a higher standard of care than is an ordinary person.
Therefore would a reasonable person, who is fat/out of shape, ignore police instructions not to follow an individual who was younger and in better physical shape? Would a reasonable person leave the safety of his/her car to hunt an individual he/she defines as suspicious to law enforcement? Should this person be held to higher standard because he has more than 100 college credits toward a degree in criminal justice. The prosecutors pointed out that George Zimmerman should have known various ways to properly identify a potential threat and follow the directions of a 911 dispatcher. The defense noted that Zimmerman's class training was on full display that night, and that he dealt with Trayvon according to the letter of the law in criminal justice and self-defense.
The reasonable person standard is by no means democratic in its scope; it is, contrary to popular conception, intentionally distinct from that of the "average person," who is not necessarily guaranteed to always be reasonable. The reasonable person will weigh all of the following factors before acting:
the foreseeable risk of harm his actions create versus the utility of his actions;
the extent of the risk so created;
the likelihood such risk will actually cause harm to others;
any alternatives of lesser risk, and the costs of those alternatives.
Taking such actions requires the reasonable person to be appropriately informed, capable, aware of the law, and fair-minded. Such a person might do something extraordinary in certain circumstances, but whatever that person does or thinks, it is always reasonable.
BUT Zimmerman was not fat/out of shape at the time of the shooting as evident by his mug shot. On the contrary at the time of the shooting, (This work was created by a government unit of the U.S. state of Florida and is in the public domain under Florida law. Florida's Constitution and its statutes do not permit public records to be copyrighted unless the legislature specifically states they can be.)
BornOctober 5, 1983
EthnicityCaucasian
Height5 ft 7 in
Weight185 pounds
Update from a MSNBC article: The two attorneys said they had never met their client George Zimmerman, but they had communicated with him over email and on the phone. On Sunday, however, they were no longer able to contact him. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.
The tragedy that happened to Trayvon Martin is bring people of all races and colors together, not dividing the country as Gingrich suggested. Trayvon is the face of many parents' children. He represents the high schooler and college student parents worry about when they are not home.
Like many other kids, Trayvon had a Facebook account. Like kids his age, he post pictures and updates. None of that is relevent now that he is dead. The person that shot him didn't know about his Facebook account, so what does it matter. None of the things and events Trayvon did days, weeks or years leading up to his death are relevant unless the shooter had prior knowledge.
What does matter is Trayvon is dead, and a man that didn't know him or about his Facebook account was moved to action. In the article, How one man helped spark online protest in Trayvon Martin case, Kevin Cunningham read about the killing of teenager Trayvon Martin. Cunningham, describes himself as the “super Irish” learned about the Martin case when he read a story posted for Men of Howard. Cunningham joined the informal fraternity while attending the historically black Howard University as a law student. He had no idea his petition would reach so many so soon and so powerful. "The fact that more than 2 million people have signed this petition shows there are still a lot of good people in this world."
Speaking at the White House, the president said the tragedy struck a chord with him personally.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I can only imagine what these parents are going through. And when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids.
You know, if I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon. And, you know, I think they are right to expect that all of us, as Americans, are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and that we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.
What Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said as he harshly criticized President Obama for commenting on Trayvon Martin’s race as he extended condolences to the 17-year-old shooting victim’s parents on Friday. Obama said, “If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon,” a remark that Gingrich said he found “disgraceful” and “appalling.”
"Well, I think what Newt Gingrich said is that race shouldn't be a factor," Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said when asked about Gingrich's comments on ABC's "This Week".Well in my opinion what I see from Gingrich is a racist remark supported by Bachmann. Clearly Gingrich and anyone who supports him on his statement cannot see pass the President’s skin tone.
Stanley Ann Dunham
(11/29/1942 – 11/7/1995)
President Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham (November 29, 1942 – November 7, 1995), the mother of Barack Obama, was predominantly English ancestry, with some German, Swiss, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh ancestry. The President is biracial. Therefore when he states, “If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon,” the President is speaking about all people of America. Trayvon Martin - no parent of any color wants to bury a child.
Gingrich’s statement is appalling. He just could not pass up an opportunity to make a political statement out of a tragedy. People that divide America are those who totally negate President Obama’s ancestry, and only see a Black man. Undoubtedly, Gingrich supports the “One – Drop Rule. The one-drop rule is a historical colloquial term in the United States for the social classification as black of individuals with any African ancestry; meaning any person with "one drop of black blood" was considered Black.
Madelyn Payne Dunham grandmother &
mother Ann of Barack Obama
Despite the criticisms of slavery, in the prewar years, free people of mixed race could have up to one-eighth or one-quarter African ancestry, depending on the state, and be considered legally white. According to Joshua D. Rothman, Notorious in the Neighborhood: Sex and Families across the Color Line in Virginia, 1787–1861, Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina, 2003, p.68, "To be defined as 'mulatto' under Virginia law in 1822, a person had to have at least one-quarter African ancestry." This is the equal to one grandparent. So President Obama would fare better in 1822 where he would be considered white than in 2012 where’s he considered Black.
Quoting from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past, New York: Crown Publishing, 2009, pp.20–21:
58% of African Americans have at least 13% European ancestry – equal to one great-grandparent
20% of African Americans have at least 25% European ancestry – equal to one grandparent
5% of African Americans have at least 13% Native American ancestry – equal to one great-grandparent
1% of African Americans have at least 50% European ancestry – equal one parent like President Obama
Gingrich received a B.A. degree in history from Emory University in Atlanta in 1965. He earned an M.A. (1968) and Ph.D. (1971) in modern European history, both from Tulane University in New Orleans. He should know these fasts, unless he just doesn’t care. Gingrich taught history and geography at the University of West Georgia. According to the Wall Street Journal, University of West Georgia denied Gingrich tenure and he left the college. Those people think of voting for Gingrich should think about West Georgia’s decision.
So yes when the President said, “If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon.” Trayvon is the face of all teens, chased down by a bully and shot to death – that’s who he is – and we responsible individuals are tired of the racism. We want justice!
Skittles ranks 14 in popularity in the United States. According to Bloomburg Businessweek Skittles made by Mars has an annual sales of approximately $150.2 million. The Trayvon Martin support rallies and protests only increased sales for Mars. Stop buying Skittles and supporting the companies bottom line if they are not going to show support for the cause - buy hoodies for homeless kids; start a scholarship fund and/or buy school supplies.
If you like Skittles, please continue to enjoy them. We should be smart about the actions we take. Rallies may go on for weeks and/or months. Do not provide free advertisement. Just my opinion!
ღஜ✫ Trayvon Martin’s murder has inspired a call for a ‘Million Hoody March’ in New York City on Wednesday, March 21st in Union Square from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
ღஜ✫ Members of a self-proclaimed “New Black Liberation Militia,” based out of Atlanta, GA, say they plan to attempt a citizen’s arrest of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who confessed to fatally shooting the unarmed Trayvon Martin inSanford, Fl last month.
ღஜ✫ Mail Skittles To Police Chief To Protest Trayvon Martin’s Murder!!
New information in this sad case develops every day, and many more questions answered Trayvon was on a cell phone with a teenage female when Zimmerman was following then chasing him. The female teen told Trayvon to run from the suspicious man following him in a SUV. 911 calls verify Zimmerman says "now he's running." So yes, Trayvon was running from Zimmerman, not to him. Zimmerman was the predator, and Trayvon could not out run him.
Zimmerman is at least 10 years and 100 pounds heavier than Martin, but he Zimmerman claimed self-defense. Zimmerman was the one with the gun. Trayvon had a can of ice tea and a bag of Skittles.
Date: Monday, March 26, 2012 Time: 4:00pm Location: Sanford City Hall 300 N Park Ave Sanford, FL 32771
*Rally organizers are asking participants to bring a pack of Skittles to show support for Trayvon Martin.
It's been nearly two weeks and the Sanford Police have refused to arrest George Zimmerman. In their public statements, they even go so far as to stand up for the killer - saying he's "a college grad" who took a class in criminal justice according to change.org
Please join us in calling on Norman Wolfinger, Florida's 18th District State's Attorney, to investigate and prosecute George Zimmerman for the shooting and killing of Trayvon Martin.
Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything. Peter Marshall
The New York Times article was published March 16, 2012 and entitled, “The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin.” That’s an interesting title for an article regarding a shooting of a Black teen. Curious means searching or questioning. When anyone is shot in a residential, non-war environment, should not have questions. Taking a life should not be a matter of fact, daily event to be seen as nothing unique. This is a curious case of the shooing of 17 year old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, FL. Trayvon had been gunned down in a gated townhouse community in outside Orlando. Trayvon was not a stranger to the neighborhood because his father had taken him to visit a friend. The shooting occurred on February 26, 2012.
Fact 1 - The father thought that he was missing, according to the family’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, but the boy’s body had actually been taken to the medical examiner’s office and listed as a John Doe. According to the article, the father called the Missing Persons Unit of the Sanford police. No luck. He followed by calling 911. The police asked the father to describe the boy, after which they sent officers to the house where the father was staying. There they showed him a picture of the boy with blood coming out of his mouth.
Question 1 – How did Trayvon end up missing in the mind of his father?
Fact 2 - Trayvon left his father’s friend’s house his father was visiting to walk to the local 7-Eleven. Trayvon was on his way back to house when he was seen by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain, who was in a SUV. Zimmerman called the police because the boy looked “real suspicious,” according to a 911 call released.
Question 2 – What made this teen age boy look suspicious besides being Black?
Fact 3 - Sanford, FL one of Central Florida’s oldest incorporated cities. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased the land west of Mellonville. Download the Sanford Historic Brochure HERE. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 53,570. In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. Approximately 36% of the population was between the ages of <18 to 24.
Question 3 - So why did seeing a teenage boy walking and Zimmerman being in a car make the boy suspicious except he was Black?
Fact 4 - According to the 2010 U.S. Census for Sanford:
57% of the population is Caucasians and White Hispanics.
45% of the population is Non-Hispanic White or Caucasian.
31% of the population is Black or African-American
20% of the population is Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
3% of the population is Asian.
0.5% of the population is Native American or Native Alaskan
0.1% of the population is Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian.
3% of the population is two or more races (Multiracial).
5.4% of the population is some other race.
Fact 5 - The 911 operator told Zimmerman that officers were being dispatched and NOT to pursue the boy. Zimmerman ostensibly chased Trayvon anyway. He got out of the “safety of his car” at some point confronted the boy.
Question 4 – If one is a law abiding citizen and a creditable member of the Neighborhood Watch, why would Zimmerman ignore instructions given by a police officer? Is it a crime in the United States to ignore specific police instructions? Especially when it ends in loss of life?
Fact 6 - According to the Sacramento Sheriff's Department, some of the instructions for Neighborhood Watch include the following:
Make sure your citizen patrol:
Undergoes training by law enforcement and have their support;
NEVER carries WEAPONS of any kind — e.g. guns, black jack, mace, baseball bat, or knives;
NEVER challenges anyone;
Question 5 – Why was Zimmerman armed? Why did he chase down Trayvon?
Fact 7- As reported by the 13 News, Zimmerman is a neighborhood watch volunteer who was on patrol when he encountered Trayvon. Zimmerman admitted to the shooting. Zimmerman had a 9 millimeter handgun. Trayvon had a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea. The two allegedly engaged in a physical altercation. There was yelling for help, and then two gunshots. Police arrived to find Trayvon face down in the grass with a fatal bullet wound to the chest. Zimmerman was standing with blood on his face and the back of his head and grass stains on his back, according to The Orlando Sentinel. No indication the blood found on Zimmerman was his own. No reports that Zimmerman required medical attention. Zimmerman was taken into custody, questioned and released.
Question 6 – Who blood was found on Zimmerman? Why wasn’t he reprimanded by police for using deadly force?
Fact 8 - Zimmerman said he was the one yelling for help. He said that he acted in self-defense. The police say that they have found no evidence to dispute Zimmerman’s claim. Hmmmm They also did not release the investigation report that should answer the first six questions.
Question 7 – Why not? The report is public record.
Now less stop for a minute and look at the pictures of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. Who do you think was calling for help?
Zimmerman in orange and Trayvon in red
Zimmerman 28 years of age was arrested 2005 and that's his mug shot to the left. Zimmerman appears well built, heavy.
There is no mention of citizen's arrests in Florida's criminal statutes but state courts have cited common law in establishing when such an arrest can be made. The crime has to be a felony. It has to be witnessed by the citizen making the arrest or the citizen has to have probable cause that the person being arrested is guilty of a felony. None of this is in fact in this case, unless it's a crime to be Black teen walking in the rain, and trying to find your father. It can be fatal, but not a felony.
Yes this is a curious case, make more so when you listen to the 911 calls. Zimmerman declares the Black guy looks “strange, like there is something wrong with him, this assholes always get away, he looks like he’s on drugs.”
Question 8 – Would a reasonable person of some intelligentsia leave the safety of his car, and not wait for police, but chase the person Zimmerman describes?
Fact 9 – There are 88 Offenders/Predators found within 5 miles of Retreat at Twin Lakes, which is listed as 1525 International Parkway, Lake Mary, FL 32746.
Question 10 - Was Trayvon afraid of the guy chasing him in a black SUV with a gun?
Fact 10 - Houses seem to look alike.“He’s just looking at all the houses,” Zimmerman said. “Now he’s just staring at me.”
Question 9 – Could Trayvon be looking for the house and address where he left his father?
In an interview this week with the Miami Herald, Police Chief Bill Lee said the 911 calls would prove the incident was not a case of racial profiling, because when asked whether the suspect was white or black, Zimmerman did not know. However the recording clearly shows that when asked, Zimmerman said, “He looks black.” And then a few moments later, “He’s a black male.”
Yes it was! I get racially profiled when I walk my dog in my own neighborhood.
ღஜ✫ Trayvon Martin’s murder has inspired a call for a ‘Million Hoody March’ in New York City on Wednesday, March 21st in Union Square from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
New information in this sad case develops every day, and many more questions answered Trayvon was on a cell phone with a teenage female when Zimmerman was following then chasing him. The female teen told Trayvon to run from the suspicious man following him in a SUV. 911 calls verify Zimmerman says "now he's running." So yes, Trayvon was running from Zimmerman, not to him. Zimmerman was the predator, and Trayvon could not out run him.
