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After the Trial

While I still believe that George Zimmerman acted in legitimate self-defense, I don’t approve of the person he has become after the trial.  Although some of the post-trial media coverage was/is just as unfair as pre-trial, the reality is that the guy really has turned into somebody who I personally don’t care for.

I think he has learned to pander to the only demographic that consistently supported him: an outlier faction of the conservative political realm (who were right to defend him).  He has a lot of anger towards those who unfairly persecuted (and prosecuted) him.  These things are perhaps understandable, but some of his other post-trial behavior is not.

He has done enormous damage to his own cause and credibility, but the truth of the matter remains that his case truly was a bona-fide false persecution (and prosecution), and that fact is far more relevant than his post-trial antics.

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George Zimmerman has Expressed Sorrow

“I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son. ”

“”I do wish that there was something, anything, I could have done that wouldn’t have put me in a position where I had to take his life.””I want to tell everyone, my wife, my family, my parents, my grandmother, the Martins, the city of Sanford and America, that I’m sorry that this happened.  I hate to think that because of this incident, because of my actions, its polarized and divided America. And I’m truly sorry.”
– George Zimmerman

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George Zimmerman wasn’t racial profiling.. This wasn’t about blacks or hoodies.

George Zimmerman mentioned a number of reasons he was suspicious- and every single one of them was based on behaviors (“it’s raining and he’s just walking around looking about”, “he’s on drugs or something”) or circumstances that were not racial (TM cut between two buildings, TM was walking in an area that had been burglarized, and GZ didn’t recognize TM).

In fact, if you listen to him answer the dispatcher’s question as to race, he isn’t completely sure whether Trayvon was even black or not.  Later in the call, when he sees Trayvon closer, he then confirms to the dispatcher that he was black.  

That this stuff has been completely ignored by the media (as well as GZ’s defense counsel) is unfortunate.  You don’t say “he’s on drugs or something” unless you think someone is acting oddly.  He obviously.. I repeat OBVIOUSLY.. thought Trayvon was acting oddly.

These are some of the reasons he obviously wasn’t racially profiling. I’ve already listed some of reasons it’s obvious he wasn’t racist.  

The reality is that the evidence demonstrates that there was NOT racial profiling going on. Everybody just ASSUMES that Zimmerman ASSUMED that Trayvon was up to no good because he was black or was wearing his hoodie.  Even some of his supporters make this assumption!  It is an assumption that is in contradiction to the easily verified evidence.  

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It was NOT Trayvon Martin Screaming

At the time of the screams:

  • Zimmerman had significant injuries.  He’s the one with the probable broken nose, the lacerations, and the bloody head).
  • Martin is the one with no injuries except a cut on a finger.

Obviously, it was George Zimmerman screaming for help.    The idea that it was Trayvon, wailing for help!, while wailing on George Zimmerman is absurd.  “HEEELP!”  *PUNCH*  “HEEELP!”  *PUNCH*

“Zimmerman came at Trayvon gun-drawn, holding Trayvon at gun-point!  Trayvon was scared for his life!  He was only defending himself!”

That is the only semi-plausible theory available to Zimmerman’s persecutors(a).  However, it makes no sense.  

  • Dee-Dee’s description of the initial verbal exchange between Trayvon and Zimmerman, Trayvon says nothing about Zimmerman’s gun being drawn.  Trayvon would not have said “Why are you following me for?”, he would have said “OMG! Why do you have a gun out!?”
  • When W6 goes outside and tries to stop the altercation verbally, Trayvon does not say “Help me restrain him, he’s got a gun!”  In fact, Trayvon ignores W6.
  • Significant time elapsed from the beginning of the encounter to when the gun was fired.   Why did Zimmerman wait so long to squeeze the trigger?   By the way, struggles for guns don’t take that long.
  • If Zimmerman had a gun pointed at Trayvon Martin, a struggle for a gun is exactly what would have happened.  There was no struggle for a gun.  If someone has a gun in their hand the only way you defend yourself is try to get control of the gun.  There is absolutely no evidence consistent with a struggle for a gun:
    • Zimmerman didn’t have any wounds on his hands, arms, or wrists.   Martin’s DNA or fingerprints were not found on Zimmerman’s gun.
    • Eye-witnesses do not report a revealed gun, nor do they describe a struggle at all consistent with one.
    • If Zimmerman had a gun in his hand, why were all of Zimmerman’s injuries on his head?

Answer:  Trayvon Martin was obviously not defending himself from a drawn gun.  Trayvon Martin wasn’t defending himself at all.  He was beating up George Zimmerman as George Zimmerman screamed for help that never came.  Finally, George Zimmerman drew his gun and fired a single time.

George Zimmerman was obviously attacked, obviously injured, and he was obviously the person screaming for help.  The very notion that it was Trayvon screaming is maddeningly ridiculous.

Note:

a.  The screams still sound more like someone being actively beaten up than someone being menaced with a gun.  

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George Zimmerman was the opposite of a racist.

  1. George Zimmerman mentored black kids.
  2. George Zimmerman had many black friends on his Myspace account.
  3. George Zimmerman went into business with a black friend.
  4. George Zimmerman actively protested on behalf of a homeless black man.
  5. The FBI investigated George Zimmerman and found not a trace of prejudice towards blacks.  Nobody who actually knows Zimmerman labelled him a racist.
  6. George Zimmerman did volunteer work for a predominantly black congregation.
  7. George Zimmerman was a registered democrat that voted and encouraged others to vote for Obama (he’s black).  
  8. George Zimmerman went to prom with a black girl.
  9. George Zimmerman lived in a neighborhood where whites were a minority (i.e., lots of blacks).
  10. George Zimmerman’s wife’s best friend is black.
  11. Zimmerman invited a black neighbor to stay at his house as long as she needed after being rattled by a break in to her house.

Cites for items 1-7 are included.  Click on the underlined parts.  (8-11 recently added and don’t feel like tracking down citations (in part because 1-7 clearly establish he’s NOT a racist), but may do so in the future.

Repeat after me:

George Zimmerman is the opposite of a racist.   George Zimmerman likes, cares for, and affiliates with black people.  This isn’t speculation, this is proven, verifiable FACT.  Anyone who claims that George Zimmerman is a racist at this point is either genuinely ignorant or is outright lying.

George Zimmerman the racist is a ridiculous notion that has been utterly obliterated in the minds of any informed person with a trace of sense.

It’s almost comical how segments of the community can’t let go of the “racist” angle of what happened to this teenager.  I’m all for combating problems in the black community.  People that mentor black children and advocate on behalf of black homeless men?  Not the problem.

One excellent article I’ve read:

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/7/15/255110/What-We-Talk-About-When-We-Talk-About.aspx

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Politically Motivated Prosecution

All sources are from this Wikipedia article (where you can check their corresponding sources) unless otherwise mentioned.  (emphases added)

Timeline

On March 13, 2012, Chris Serino sent a capias request to the state’s attorney recommending charges of negligent manslaughter against Zimmerman, though Serino maintains he did not believe they had the evidence to support those charges and that manslaughter was only included in the capias in order for the prosecutor’s office to continue with their own investigation [113] [114][115][116]

The State Attorney’s office initially determined there was insufficient evidence to charge Zimmerman and did not file charges based on the capias request. [116][118][119]

On March 16, Serino told the Orlando Sentinel that his investigation had turned up no reliable evidence that cast doubt on Zimmerman’s account, that he had acted in self-defense. “The best evidence we have is the testimony of George Zimmerman, and he says the decedent was the primary aggressor in the whole event, everything I have is adding up to what he says.”[120]

Around this time:  

Telling the FBI that he was concerned that people inside the police department were leaking information, Serino cited Sgt. Arthur Barnes, officers Rebecca Villalona and Trekelle Perkins “as all pressuring him to file charges against Zimmerman after the incident,” an FBI report said. “Serino did not believe he had enough evidence at the time to file charges.”

The summary of Serino’s statement does not mention the race of the officers who allegedly pressured him, but sources told The Miami Herald that Barnes and Perkins are black, and Villalona is married to an African-American man. All three, the source said, had been called in by their supervisor and questioned about leaking information in the case.

On March 20, 2012, State attorney Norm Wolfinger announced that a Seminole County grand jury would be convened on April 10 to investigate the death of Martin.[121][122][123]

Kevin Cunningham petitions Florida Attorney General at Change.org.  500,000 Signatures reached by March 20, 2012 Source 1 :Source 2

March 20
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was “devastated and deeply troubled” over the killing. “When someone loses his life at the hands of another, there cannot be any questions surrounding the circumstances of the death,” she said in a statement.

She said she had spoken with FDLE Commissioner Gerald M. Bailey, “and I know that a complete and thorough review of the facts will be conducted.”She added that while it is up to the Seminole County State Attorney’s Office to decide whether to file charges, “I will remain vigilant in ensuring that questions are answered.” Source

On March 21, 2012 IN NEW YORK CITY LIMO (With Crump) Pam Bondi (on phone): : “Hey Sybrina, Tracy, are you there. Hi. I am so very, very, sorry. As attorney general, I have absolutely no legal authority to take the case, and I looked, I tried.”  Source: (6:04-6:38)

[Wow.  (She looked.  She tried.  She’s so very, very sorry).  Unbelievable.  Well, she can’t do it so…] 

Pam Bondi encourages the governor (Source) to assign Angela Corey (Pam Bondi’s friend and her Attorney General 2010 campaign chair, Angela Corey.  

However, after State Attorney Angela Corey was assigned to the case by Florida Governor Rick Scott on March 22, she decided that her office would decide whether to press charges. “…I foresee us being able to make a decision, and move on it on our own.“[54]

[Corey decided right away to cancel the grand jury, because she could “foresee.. being able to make a decision, and move on it.. on [their] own.”.  Oh, and I’m sure she did.   That decision had obviously already been made, they were already moving on it, and it was on their own (regardless of what “the investigation” found).  

In addition to cancelling the grand jury, Angela Corey also prayed with the parents of Trayvon Martin upon their first meeting, referred to Trayvon as a victim very early on, and had friendly telephone conversations with the anti-Zimmerman movement.  At other times simulating impartiality.]

“In a March 29 letter, a claims analyst with the Attorney General’s Office notified Fulton that she had been deemed eligible for the [victim] compensation benefits.”  Source: 

March 30
1:04 “What we care about is justice for Trayvon Martin’s family” [<pause, and as an afterthought>] “…and for both sides”
2:04“Shot, walking home”
2:28 “I’ve spoken to Trayvon’s parents, they are amazing people, and [their] lawyers, who are friends of mine…” 
http://johnkingusa.blogs.cnn.com/201…n-martin-case/

[Wow.  That she would describe the attorneys representing one of the two sides in this case as her friends is, at the very least an example of blatant kowtowing in their favor. 

(Could you imagine if she had said, “I’ve spoken to George Zimmerman and his parents- they are amazing people, and his lawyers, who are friends of mine…”?   Of course not. She would have never said such a thing, even if it were true.  Which it would not be true since neither she, nor Angela Corey, nor the governor ever bothered to even talk to George Zimmerman (or his parents), much less offer any assurances that there would be justice for them.)

Not to mention that Zimmerman had not even hired a lawyer at that point for her to be friends with because he apparently had confidence in the fairness of the judicial system. (I bet he’ll never make that mistake again.)  The bias that came from the governor on down in this case is staggering and blatant.]

April 11 Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement saying she had full confidence in the charges.“ When I worked with Governor Scott to appoint State Attorney Angela Corey to the case involving Trayvon Martin, I did so with the full confidence that a swift and thorough investigation would be conducted,”

Bondi said in her statement. “Today, State Attorney Corey’s decision to press charges against George Zimmerman for the shooting of Trayvon demonstrates Corey’s commitment to bringing justice to Trayvon’s family and allowing due process for Zimmerman.” Source

April 11 Earlier in the day, special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges in a news conference.

“It is the search for justice for Trayvon that has brought us to this moment,” state attorney Corey said.

Corey also had a message for those who have been rushing to judgment on the case.

“You cannot know what it’s like to launch this type of investigation and come to this conclusion,” State Attorney Angela Corey said during the press conference.

“We don’t prosecute by public pressure or petition. We prosecute cases on the relevant facts of each case and on the laws of the state of Florida.”  Source

[Utter bulls**t.]  

Could it be any more obvious that Zimmerman was railroaded due to public pressure?

Assuming the dates are correct on the comment made to Trayvon’s parents from Bondi on the phone and the declaration of the Martin’s as victims, does there need to be any further smoking gun?  

Attorney General Bondi had determined that Trayvon Martin was a victim two weeksbefore this “decision” was made.  Bondi was apologetically pleading with Martin’s parents to forgive her for being unable to prosecute Zimmerman herself twenty days before this “decision” was made.  

Keep in mind, Bondi obviously had it made up in her mind that she was going to have Zimmerman charged before Corey even took the case.  Before any FDLE investigation had been done to base it on.  Zimmerman was going to be prosecuted no matter what the investigation found.    

It makes me so angry that they are just getting away with this in the country I live in. At this point, I am really hoping that people get a sense of outrage and that this matter is investigated and appropriate action is taken. This is obviously not how our justice system is supposed to operate.

Zimmerman was obviously attacked, obviously injured, and he was obviously the person screaming for help.  This was obviously a self-defense situation.  This has never been a murder case.   (The prosecution figures if they shoot for murder, Zimmerman may be intimidated into a plea for manslaughter or the jury will “compromise” on manslaughter.)

That this farce has been carried this far by the government of Florida is a shame. If there is justice the self-defense immunity hearing will find in Zimmerman’s favor, so that he has civil immunity.  I’m sorry Trayvon’s parents lost their son.  However, it would not be fair if the family of the assailant in this case goes on a suing spree, financially victimizing innocent parties, such as the homeowners in that neighborhood and George Zimmerman himself.

References:

Almost all of my information and inspiration comes from some information in an article at the Conservative Tree House here (the part about Pam Bondi specifically. I don’t believe Trayvon’s parents are motivated purely by financial motives, etc.) and the timeline laid out by Diwataman in the comments section.  All I did was add formatting, comments, and some stuff from Wikipedia.
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Zimmerman did not disregard the dispatcher’s advisement, and there was no “chase” or “pursuit” of any kind.

Zimmerman said “[Trayvon] ran”, as in vacating the vicinity.  It appeared that Trayvon was leaving the area, and so Zimmerman left his vehicle to both 1) see which way he went and 2) give a location as to where he was.  

Shortly after Zimmerman left his vehicle, the dispatcher asked him “Are you following him?”, to which Zimmerman replied, “Yeah.”  The dispatcher (believing that Zimmerman was possibly pursuing this person) told him “We don’t need you to do that.”  Zimmerman said, “OK”- a term of agreement and compliance.

In truth, Zimmerman had nothing to comply with, because Zimmerman had been “following” only in the sense that he was headed to a location the “suspect” had been (the “T”-intersection).  He was certainly not following with the intention of overtaking or capturing this suspicious person.  (That’s why he called the police.)

 

Trayvon wasn’t really leaving the area, and Zimmerman wasn’t really “following”.  How do we know?  Read below.  

The location of events

I didn’t make this graphic.  It is from the View from LL2 blog, and was used in a post to demonstrate Zimmerman’s guilt.   For our purposes, graphics 3, 4, and 5 are the only ones relevant.

[The top of red section #5 (where the final confrontation took place) should actually be extended up to the very top of the “T”.  (That is where Zimmerman’s key chain was found (which, if consistent with his narrative of events, is about where he said he was struck in the nose.)  Ear-witnesses also describe the encounter as beginning at the top of the “T” and moving down.  In short, the evidence indicates that the encounter began at the top of the “T”, in the middle of the blue area.

But let’s slant things in Trayvon’s favor.  Let’s say that Zimmerman’s key ring was planted at the top of the “T” (as some have suggested), the witnesses were inaccurate or lying (as some have suggested),  and that the entire encounter began and ended at the very bottom of the red area above.  And let’s also say that Zimmerman’s car was parked to the furthest left point in area 3. ]

By the way, Trayvon knew the area.  He’d been there before.  He’d gone to 7-11 before.  His female friend on the phone never mentioned a thing about him being lost.   In fact, she said that Trayvon said that he knew he was near his place.

Time

At 2:11 into Zimmerman’s phone call, Zimmerman said “Shit, he’s running”.  Almost 2 minutes later the call ends.

 

Speed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_speed (Emphasis added) (Look up citations yourself.):

The preferred walking speed is the speed at which humans or other animals choose to walk. In the absence of significant external factors, humans tend to walk at about 1.4 m/s (5.0 km/h; 3.1 mph).[1][2][3]

In an hour, a human being would walk 3.1 miles.

There are 5,280 feet in a mile so 3.1 (miles) x 5280 feet= 16,368 feet in an hour.  There are 60 minutes in an hour 16,368 feet per hour/60 minutes = 272.8 feet per minute.  Humans tend to walk at 272.8 feet per minute.(a)(b)  In two minutes, a human would walk 545 feet.

Distance:

The distance between the westernmost location of Zimmerman’s car, east down the sidewalk, then south down the side walk, and then east inside of Brandy Green’s living room is 545 feet.

Trayvon could have calmly walked down the sidewalk all the way home by the time Zimmerman finished his phone call. 

Trayvon wasn’t running away from George Zimmerman.  He wasn’t even walking away from George Zimmerman.

How do we know this?  The altercation began at the top of the “T”.

Zimmerman Chasing

Now, let’s take Zimmerman “pursuing” Trayvon.  Let’s pretend that Zimmerman began his “pursuit” and he went East to the middle of the “T” and then headed south “after” Trayvon.  Let’s say he was doing this at walking speed as well.

Merely at walking speed, when he hung up the phone, Zimmerman would have been past Brandy Green’s house.  

George Zimmerman wasn’t pursuing Trayvon Martin.  He wasn’t even walking after him.  How do we know this?  The altercation began at the top of the “T”.

Bottom Line

Trayvon Martin not only wasn’t running home, he wasn’t even walking home.  George Zimmerman was not only not running after Trayvon Martin, he wasn’t even walking after him.  Even at walking speeds- none of that makes a damned bit of sense.  The faster you want to say that either of them were traveling, the more absurd the final location makes it be.

 A Big Picture Look

Let’s say that Trayvon cuts through, Zimmerman spots him, and has the non-emergency dispatcher on the phone before he’s even made it to the street.

Trayvon would be about 1300 feet away (rounding in Trayvon’s favor) from his home, by walking.

Zimmerman’s phone call lasted about 4 minutes (rounding in Trayvon’s favor).

In four minutes, walking speed, Trayvon would have traveled 1091 feet.

Past the spot where the encounter ended.

Bottom Line

The notion of a “high speed pursuit” (or even a walking speed pursuit) is a mind-boggling load of bulls*it.

The idea that Trayvon had been running so hard from Zimmerman that Trayvon was literally out of breath and he could run no more?

UTTERLY RIDICULOUS.

Repeat after me: Zimmerman was not chasing Trayvon.  Trayvon was not running away from Zimmerman.  Nobody who looks closely at the facts is going to buy that.  That concept is complete bullsh*t and the indisputable duration of the phone call and indisputable location of events proves that.  Period.  End of story.  Cut the bullsh*t.

An excellent article for more information:

http://lawofselfdefense.com/zimmerman-trial-myth-busters-did-zimmerman-chase-martin-against-police-orders/

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How the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin Debate Goes Down

Macro-Analysis

Blue is what Zimmerman’s persecutors argue.  Red is what his defenders argue.  

  • Zimmerman murdered Trayvon.
  • No, Zimmerman was being attacked 1.3. and had a reasonable fear of great bodily harm or death 4.
  • Trayvon was the one defending himself, and he was the one in fear of great bodily harm or death.
  • Trayvon had no reason to be defending himself or to be in fear of great bodily harm or death. 2. 3.
  • Yes he did. Zimmerman aggressively chased Trayvon and then threatened Trayvon with his gun.

That’s it.  His persecutors have no place to go after this but the land of ludicrous.

Evidence References

  1. Zimmerman had significant injuries.
  2. Martin had no injuries except a cut on a finger.
  3. Witness(es) saw Trayvon on top of Zimmerman.
  4. Frantic cries for help are recorded on 911 calls.

The evidence indicates (or outright proves) that Trayvon was not chased, Trayvon was  not injured, and was not threatened by Z’s gun.  So how did Trayvon have any legitimate cause to attack Zimmerman?  He didn’t.  And why in the hell would it be Trayvon screaming for help? It wasn’t.

Manslaughter

This has always been, at worst, a manslaughter case. The only serious questions in this case relate to manslaughter.   I think there are basically two approaches one could take to it:

  1. Zimmerman’s fear of imminent great bodily harm or death was not reasonable.  In other words, that he overreacted to a self-defense situation.
  2. Zimmerman’s actions (or inactions) contributed to the circumstances in a way that he should have reasonably anticipated.  In other words, he acted recklessly. 

I’ll approach the question of manslaughter in more detail in a future post,  but briefly:

1. While his injuries were not life-threatening, I believe the fact that Trayvon did not cease the attack while Zimmerman screamed for help (over and over), indicated a desire to really hurt Zimmerman.   Having already sustained a broken nose, I believe his fears of great bodily harm were reasonable.  (His screams for help are incredibly helpful to Zimmerman for so many reasons. Without them, the question of whether his belief was reasonable would be far more difficult to determine. This would be a different case.

[Note:  I am not ignoring Zimmerman’s claim that Trayvon threatened to kill Zimmerman and then reached for Zimmerman’s gun because I disbelieve Zimmerman, but because it can’t easily be proven, and it doesn’t need to be.]

2. I actually believe his actions were understandable and appropriate based on the circumstances as they appeared to be at the time.   I don’t believe he acted recklessly at all.  If I were to criticize anything it would have been placing himself in what he could have foreseen was a potentially  (but not likely)  possibility of a conflict, while armed.   However, as I said, I think he could not have reasonably foreseen that the guy would relentlessly attack him , nobody would help him, etc.  This wasn’t a shoot first, ask questions later situation.

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Understanding the Encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin

Anyone who studies the evidence intelligently, who is capable of an open mind, will soon realize that the original media narrative  is nonsense. They will realize that the notion that Zimmerman went and malevolently (or haphazardly) initiated (or provoked) a physical altercation with Trayvon is just not supported by the evidence. Based on the evidence to date, the following is what actually happened:

No racism

Zimmerman dialed a non-emergency number for the Sanford Police Department to report a suspicious person he didn’t recognize. The reasons for his suspicions included that he did not recognize this person; it was raining, dark, and the person appeared to be leisurely “wandering about”; looking at houses; fidgeting; and acting as though they were “on drugs or something”.  Also, it so happens that there had been a number of burglaries in the neighborhood, and in this particular part of the neighborhood where he first saw this person.

His suspicions were based entirely on behavioral or circumstantial factors- not physical ones.    He only mentioned Trayvon’s race and hoodie when asked to provide a physical description by the dispatcher.  Ironically, while there is overwhelming evidence that the “suspect”‘s race and clothing were of great significance to others (coming to symbolize their cause), there is no evidence they were of particular significance to George Zimmerman. In fact, there is no evidence of racial “profiling” of any kind.

Finally, at no time during the call did he use a racial epithet of any kind.  In short, there is absolutely no evidence that George Zimmerman is racist, or even prejudiced, against black people. In fact, there is overwhelming evidence that George Zimmerman is not a racist.  

In short, this was a person he didn’t recognize, acting oddly, in an area with a recent spike in crime. The neighborhood watch captain, on his way to Target, acted appropriately in calling the non-emergency line and reporting it to the dispatcher.

No reckless chasing

This suspicious person, possibly noticing Zimmerman’s interest in him, approached Zimmerman’s vehicle to “check him out” (and/or to intimidate him as Zimmerman later suggested). Zimmerman, who did not wish to engage this person, remained in his vehicle.  At this point, the suspicious person bounds off eastward and disappears around the corner, heading down the southern path of a “T” intersection.   The suspicious person out of sight, and having apparently fled, Zimmerman exits his vehicle and heads east for the “T” section.

Shortly after Zimmerman left his vehicle, the dispatcher asked him “Are you following him?”, to which Zimmerman replied, “Yeah.”  The dispatcher (possibly believing that Zimmerman was pursuing this person) told him “We don’t need you to do that.” Zimmerman said, “OK”- a term of agreement and compliance.  In truth, Zimmerman had nothing to comply with, because Zimmerman had been “following” only in the sense that he was headed to a location the “suspect” had been (the “T”-intersection).

But his purpose in heading to that “T” was to look down the southern path to relay the heading of the “suspect” to the dispatcher.  After looking south (and not seeing Trayvon), he went straight- continuing a little further east to an adjacent street.  He went to the adjacent street in order to find a house number.  (He had a house number for the street he was parked on (the one on the left/west side of the “T”), but he couldn’t think of the street name at the time.   He did, however, know the name of the street to the right/east of the “T” (he lived on it), so if he had a house number he’d be able to relay his location to the police when they arrived.)

To recap: the ‘suspect’ headed south at the “T”, while Zimmerman headed east.  If his intention had been to ‘chase’, ‘pursue’, or ‘follow after’ the suspect, then Zimmerman would have taken a right at the “T” and headed south after him.  Zimmerman didn’t do that. He clearly did not intend to follow this person in any conventional sense of the word.  He left his vehicle to relay requested information to the authorities.  “Which way is this guy running?”  “Where are you now?”

We know Trayvon wasn’t really running away and that Zimmerman did not pursue Trayvon south.

Trayvon initiated the encounter

On his way back to his vehicle (traveled west across the “T”-intersection), the ‘suspect’ appeared from the south path and, by all accounts, initiated verbal contact with Zimmerman.  Zimmerman states that Trayvon asked Zimmerman if he had a problem. Zimmerman says ‘no’, Trayvon says ‘Well, ya do now’ and then Trayvon strikes Zimmerman, fracturing his nose.  

It is less clear what exactly happened at this point but, in the midst of the assault, the two men moved south down the path.  Zimmerman screams for help.  His attacker tries to cover his mouth and nose at some point, hits Zimmerman’s head against the sidewalk, and when Zimmerman is convinced the guy is reaching for Zimmerman’s gun, Zimmerman draws it first, and shoots Trayvon a single time.  Trayvon dies shortly thereafter.

In closing

That’s it. No racism.  No chasing.  No disobeying the dispatcher. We can’t account for every detail but the timeline of events, the location and extent of Zimmerman’s injuries, the locations of physical evidence, and the accounts of witnesses are all, by and large,  consistent with his account.  That is why he was not originally arrested and why he was not originally charged.  The involvement of political activists and sensationalist reporting by the media finally contrived enough political pressure that George Zimmerman was inappropriately charged.

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This is only meant as a ‘big picture’ introduction to the case.  There is a lot more to this story.  In the future, I will go into more detail and offer proof of my summary above.  I will also go into many of the other aspects of this case in future posts.