Trayvon Martin case: use of Stand Your Ground law or pursuit of a black teen?

[Neil]

Video of Zimmerman at the police station in the aftermath of the shooting. Don't look like he's been in a fight to me.

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-last-word/46887730/#46887730

What would you know about fighting?

[HisMajestyBOB]

If there was a fight, I wonder if it was started by Martin acting in self defense, or in fear of his life. He was being followed by Zimmerman, and expressed his fears to his girlfriend. Plus, Zimmerman was a self-appointed Neighborhood Watch officer - the neighborhood had no watch. So Zimmerman approaches Martin after stalking him, maybe claiming to be a watch officer (or maybe not), and starts making demands and acting tough. He gets up in Martin's face, Martin pushes Zimmerman down, Zimmerman pulls a gun, Martin pleads, Zimmerman shoots him.

Total conjecture, of course.

[crazy canuck]

He's not white! 

Where's all the blood from the repeated smashing of the back of his head onto the concrete?

Are you blind? Most of his hair has been scraped away.

[Malthus]

He's not white! 

Where's all the blood from the repeated smashing of the back of his head onto the concrete?

Are you blind? Most of his hair has been scraped away.

I am being slowly beaten to death. 

[crazy canuck]

Malthus, in your case it is involuntary.  Not to worry.

[Kleves]

He was being followed by Zimmerman, and expressed his fears to his girlfriend.

All we have is the girlfriend's word on that, right? I'm not saying she's not credible, but she has the most reason (other than Zimmerman) to alter her testimony.

[MadBurgerMaker]

I am being slowly beaten to death. 

[MadBurgerMaker]

Oh.  Huh.  I just watched the video.  There actually looks to be something on the back of his head.  You can see it between 1:00 and 1:08 or so of the ABC video.  Looks like either a nice sized gash or his dome has a weird line on the back of it.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/george-zimmerman-police-surveillance-16024475

Made a little screenshot of one of the times you can see it:

[Jacob]

As more facts come out, it isn't clear to me that the initial assertions that there was no investigation are correct.  Have you found a source that flat-out states that there was no thorough investigation?

Yeah, it appears that there was at least an initial investigation, which is good. Seems like the decision not to pursue the case came later. It may even have been that under Florida law, that was the correct decision, though that rather points to a problem with Florida law.

I agree 100% that a thorough investigation was called for.  I don't agree that we currently know such an investigation never happened, and so we should be outraged.

You may be right.

[derspiess]

Kind of figured he might be a bit more blood splattered.  What with shooting a guy who was on sitting him and beating his head into the pavement.

You watch too many movies.  But as to why we don't see any of his own blood on him, I'm guessing a paramedic would have treated/cleaned up any wounds before they took him in. 

That said, I'm not sure I see what MBM sees on the back of his head, but it's not exactly a high quality video. 

[MadBurgerMaker]

That said, I'm not sure I see what MBM sees on the back of his head, but it's not exactly a high quality video.

Hold on, I'll zoom in on it for you.  The image quality is going to suck though since as you say, it isn't high quality to begin with.

[Sheilbh]

He was being followed by Zimmerman, and expressed his fears to his girlfriend.

All we have is the girlfriend's word on that, right? I'm not saying she's not credible, but she has the most reason (other than Zimmerman) to alter her testimony.

We've only got his girlfriend's testimony that he was afraid.  We've the 911 tape that he was being followed.

[MadBurgerMaker]

That said, I'm not sure I see what MBM sees on the back of his head, but it's not exactly a high quality video.

Hold on, I'll zoom in on it for you.  The image quality is going to suck though since as you say, it isn't high quality to begin with.

I thought it was a weird reflection at first, but it looks to stay in the same place as his head moves around and the light changes on it.  You can actually see it a little better at a different point, but I don't seem to be quick enough with the clicks.    One of the cops does take a look at the back of his grape earlier in the video too.

I gotta say though: Man, the last time I got blasted in the nose (not broken), I had blood all over the front of my shirt.  I guess he could have changed or he just didn't gush blood like I did or something.

[crazy canuck]

I gotta say though: Man, the last time I got blasted in the nose (not broken), I had blood all over the front of my shirt.  I guess he could have changed or he just didn't gush blood like I did or something.

Yeah, I had my nose broken once during a basketball practice.  There was blood everywhere.  My practice jersey was toast.

It is possible he got cleaned up and changed though.  I can see what you are talking about on the back on the top back of the head.  But I cant find a reference to the orginal claim of where his head made contact with the ground.

[Razgovory]

Kind of figured he might be a bit more blood splattered.  What with shooting a guy who was on sitting him and beating his head into the pavement.

You watch too many movies.  But as to why we don't see any of his own blood on him, I'm guessing a paramedic would have treated/cleaned up any wounds before they took him in. 

That said, I'm not sure I see what MBM sees on the back of his head, but it's not exactly a high quality video.

And you've shot lots of people who were sitting on you?