arentol said:
The only thing I know of that Zimmerman seems to have in his favor is the timeline
And his injuries, and the ever-changing story of the prosecution's star witness, and the known violent & drug-using history of the attacker, and their disparity in size/strength/age, and the witness who saw Martin sitting on Zimmerman's chest beating him, and...
This blog has about 30 posts (so far) about the case, the persecution, the facts, the geography, Zimmerman's injuries, etc., most done in great detail, very thoughtful. Many link to more official sources, also to people who have done other/different/more analysis on the issues.
http://statelymcdanielmanor.wordpress.com/category/courts-and-cops/the-trayvon-martin-case/page/4/
Those are the first/oldest posts; work your way through to the latest.
Of particular interest:
geography (with pictures)
http://statelymcdanielmanor.wordpre...se-update-4-geography-and-narrative-analysis/
Martin's drug use that night (with pictures)
http://statelymcdanielmanor.wordpre...case-update-9-of-tea-and-skittles-and-blunts/
pictures of Zimmerman's head injuries (yes, in color)
http://statelymcdanielmanor.wordpre...rayvon-martin-case-update-17-black-and-white/
seems to indicate Martin could have made it home
If you look at the pictures of the area, the maps, you'll see how close to his dad's apartment he was. A young strong person (he played football) could run that distance in maybe 10 seconds. Then he'd be at home, going in the door, when Z walked along the sidewalk to tell police where M was.
[Zimmerman] is facing prison regardless of what happened
No, he's not. Since the state can't prove it was not self-defense, unless there are more grave "errors" by the persecutor or judge (both of whom should be disbarred for incompetence IMO) he will remain free, and rightfully so. I only hope M's family is well-insured, because there will be quite the civil suit to recover damages.
It is a broad open path and the pursuer will be able to see him and chase him all the way to his home if he stays in the open on the path
Wrong. This happened at night. It was dark & raining. M could have been at his dad's door, in the dark, well away from where Z last saw him, in seconds.
Look at the first picture in update 9.
Plenty of places to hide, no lighting, very dark.
The attacker is now between Martin and his home
Z was not between M & his dad's apartment, and Z did not attack.
under Florida law it is still murder, it is just justified murder if there is an acquittal based on self defense
Murder is wrongful killing.
Self-defense is not wrongful killing.
Therefore self-defense is not murder.
The state has to prove that Z was not acting in self-defense.
this needs to be looked at in an open and honest manner
Read through those blog posts, read through the things he links to.
He does a really good job of looking at what's happened "in an open & honest manner".
even if Zimmerman didn't directly start the physical fight, he is still at least equally responsible for what happened thereafter
Wrong.
Looking at someone is not reasonable cause to attack them, to hit them, to beat their head against the sidewalk, to break their nose.
Even if you completely ignore Z's claim that once M saw the gun in his waistband (after M had knocked Z to the ground & started beating him), M said he would take it & kill Z with it, having his head bashed against the sidewalk is serious bodily harm and could lead to death.
There are pictures (see update 17) of Z's facial & head injuries. There are grass stains & wetness on the back of his clothes. Not on every surface - the back.
If you are armed and you provoke a fight
Z did not provoke a fight.
Watching someone is not provoking a fight.
(Well, at least not for normal people. Apparently for drug-using violent teenagers it can be.)