The future George Zimmerman Acquittal Trial Megathread!

[Siege]

Machism is extremely retarded as I understand people do, like showing up what they don't have, or humiliating females, or talking trash. I was taught since I was a kid that machismo was a negative trait that made men commit mistakes.

And you call yourself a Spaniard. 

Sefaradi, persecuted by Spaniards.

[derspiess]

The prosecution would still have to overcome Zimmerman's self-defense claim in a manslaughter case. With the evidence they have, I don't see how they could do that.

I'm not convinced that a manslaughter charge could be successfully prosecuted either, but it would at least make for a more interesting conversation. 

I've read that the jury could theoretically convict Zim of a lesser charge (manslaughter)-- anyone know how that works?  Does the jury just have the option to lower the charge & convict him, or does there need to be a hearing of some sort before they do that? 

[Siege]

Were you born an adult Siege? Young men are stupid. There is no greater mystery here.

You have to grow up quickly in Israel.
We get to make those stupid decisions in combat.
Well, not everybody. Most kids in Israel end up as pogs anyway.
Though pogs do get shot at too. And blown up.

[derspiess]

Were you born an adult Siege? Young men are stupid. There is no greater mystery here.

You have to grow up quickly in Israel.
We get to make those stupid decisions in combat.
Well, not everybody. Most kids in Israel end up as pogs anyway.
Though pogs do get shot at too. And blown up.

In my ROTC class we had a guy by the last name of "Paugh" that our battalion SGM always called "Pog".  Not sure if it was intentional or unintentional (SGM was Puerto Rican, so he may have just been trying to pronounce the name phonetically).  Anyway, pog was an appropriate term for him as he was prior enlisted with a Signals MOS and really didn't have the appropriate physical condition for any combat duty.  Hell of a guy, though. 

[Malthus]

What's a "pog"?

[Barrister]

WTF is a pog, since I assume you don't mean the 90s-era kids game...

[garbon]

What's a "pog"?

[garbon]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pog

[Siege]

People Other than Grunts.

[Capetan Mihali]

The prosecution would still have to overcome Zimmerman's self-defense claim in a manslaughter case. With the evidence they have, I don't see how they could do that.

I'm not convinced that a manslaughter charge could be successfully prosecuted either, but it would at least make for a more interesting conversation. 

I've read that the jury could theoretically convict Zim of a lesser charge (manslaughter)-- anyone know how that works?  Does the jury just have the option to lower the charge & convict him, or does there need to be a hearing of some sort before they do that?

The jury just does it.  They are called "lesser-included offenses" and they come with the jury instructions when they go to deliberate.  Whether or not they are included, and which, is something the two sides argue about or agree on pre-trial. 

The jury has to decide on all the lesser-includeds.  So, for my Knoxville chainsaw massacre case, our guy was charged with three counts, attempted murder + two aggravated assaults  "Has the jury reached a verdict on all the charges?"  "Yes."

"As to charge one, attempted murder, to wit, with a chainsaw?"  "Not guilty"
"As to the lesser included offense of attempted voluntary manslaughter?"  "Not guilty" -- [n.b. "attempted" voluntary manslaughter doesn't really make any logical sense]
"As to attempted manslaughter?"  "Not guilty"
"As to reckless endangerment?  "Guilty."

"As to charge two, aggravated assault, to wit, with a knife?"  "Not guilty"
"As to assault?  "Not guilty"

"As to charge three, aggravated assault, to wit, with a chainsaw?"  "Guilty."

(Now the fun on appeal was that reckless endangerment and aggravated assault require two conflicting mental states, so one has to go, obviously only the reckless endangerment can stand we argue.)

[Siege]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pog

That was awesome. I liked the MPs getting spit at, at Gitmo.

I would like to add, that another way to spot a pog is when they mention "combat arms".
This is a way to include armor, military police, cavalry scouts and artillery with infantry.
"I'm combat arms" or "I have a combat arms MOS", as oppoussed to "I am infantry", "I'm 11B", or "My MOS? Infantry."

[Eddie Teach]

It's a sad commentary on modern warfare if infantry is the most prestigious type of soldier.

[Siege]

It's a sad commentary on modern warfare if infantry is the most prestigious type of soldier.

Only in western countries.
In the muslim world, the far east, and the 3rd world in general, infantry is the lowest job.

That, should tell you a lot about why they suck so much.

War have always been, and will always be, about the infantry.
There is no victory until you close with the enemy and take their ground and hold it.

[Eddie Teach]

Used to be you could scatter the opposition's foot with a good cavalry charge. Or even an armored cavalry charge.

[derspiess]

It's a sad commentary on modern warfare if infantry is the most prestigious type of soldier.

They are, but only in their own circles.  I wish I could remember some of the infantry jokes I heard from armor and artillery officers I knew.  They were doozies.