The American Spectator : Memo to the Zimmerman Judge

Text Size

Memo to the Zimmerman Judge

Judge Lester should recuse himself in the Zimmerman-Martin case.

Honorable Kenneth R. Lester, Jr.
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court
Seminole County, Florida

Dear Judge Lester:

I just finished reading the text of the “Order Setting Bail“ regarding George Zimmerman, wherein you raised the bail to one million dollars. With great respect, I am moved to tell you that it was a distressing experience to this old retired lawyer because the order was so far removed from the actual facts of the case.

In that order you portrayed the defendant, George Zimmerman, as a clever, knowledgeable person who has “tried to manipulate the system when he has been presented the opportunity to do so.” You described him as a fellow who lied to everyone, including his own counsel, about the state of his finances and accordingly was not to be believed on any matter. You waxed eloquent on the deception played upon you when Shellie Zimmerman, the defendant’s wife, stated in court that she was not aware of any funds the couple had.

Your honor, you then went on to state: “While not exactly the same, this Court finds that deceiving the Court at a bond hearing is akin to violating a bond condition.” Then, sir, you came perilously close to equating that deception to the act of committing a new offense while out on bond.

You went on to consider the defendant’s past and present conduct and had to conclude that there was no record of previous convictions “or failure to appear at court proceedings.” You reviewed the defense claims that Zimmerman’s silence in the presence of his wife’s false testimony in court was occasioned by his fear and confusion. You rejected those arguments and then jumped to this extraordinary conclusion: “Although there is no record of flight to avoid prosecution, this court finds that circumstances indicate that the Defendant was preparing to flee to avoid prosecution.”

On the core issue of the weight of the evidence supporting the charge of second degree murder, you concluded that the State’s case was “strong” and to support that finding you mentioned the infamous probable cause affidavit submitted by special prosecutor Angela Corey. In that affidavit and in testimony of one of her investigators, it appeared that “the Defendants actions were imminently dangerous to another and that he acted with a depraved mind regardless of human life.” You agreed with those damning statements.

In my view, you are wrong on each of these important points, save one. The Zimmermans did mislead you on their finances and my hope is that you see that for what it is, a small part of the overall picture. Recall that George and Shellie have been the victims of what amounts to a national lynch mob, led in part by the president and the attorney general. They have received a flood of death threats from the Black Panthers and many others. They have been forced to leave their home in Sanford. So have other family members. George has had to leave his job and his college. They have been forced into hiding and he must now stay in a safe house. Think of how you would feel if you received constant death threats and had to leave everything with which you were familiar. In that situation, it is quite understandable that you would become secretive and be very cautious when asked about your finances in a court hearing.

These are terrified young people and you are treating them as clever pariahs and devious criminals. You are supposed to assure their dignity and their safety. You have sought to do neither. Just the opposite. For shame.

It is as if you had graduated from the Al Sharpton School of Law.

My review of all of the available evidence and information leads me to believe, as have other legal analysts, that the state’s case is fatally weak. That has led me to conclude that George Zimmerman is innocent, which is an extraordinary public statement for an old lawyer and legal scholar to make — since the case has not yet been tried. I am not saying merely that there is insufficient evidence for the state to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. I am saying innocent. Period.

Here are some of the facts that led to my conclusion. Zimmerman’s claim of self defense is supported by almost every piece of information that has come to light. The first police officer on the scene arrived within minutes of the tragic shooting. He observed that Zimmerman was bloody and looked beaten. The second police officer arrived moments later and reported that Zimmerman told him that he had been screaming for help but that no one would help him. The fire department emergency medical technician told of how he had treated Zimmerman’s head and face wounds. A subsequent doctor’s report confirmed his injuries and stated that he suffered from a broken nose.

Such reports made within a short time of the incident, in my experience, are the most persuasive. There is no time to make up stories in such hurried circumstances. All of them support Zimmerman’s claim of self defense. These statements made in the heat of the moment, or near to it, are much more compelling than the affidavit filed by Angela Corey months later, an affidavit you cited with approval.

None of the early statements by officials mentioned any hint of racial bias in any comment made by the defendant.

Trayvon Martin was killed with one shot to the chest fired at close range. This was consistent with Zimmerman’s description of the encounter. Had Zimmerman been intent on stalking and killing the young man, he could have taken out his pistol and fired several shots from a distance, perhaps hitting him in the back.

Page: 1 2 >

About the Author

Arnold S. Trebach, J.D., Ph.D., the author of several books, is professor emeritus of public affairs, American University. He was involved as a front line protester in the original civil rights movement and has been a federal civil rights official.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (108) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

c. j. acworth| 7.9.12 @ 6:46AM

Sorry, counselor. We currently live in a post-racial Amerikkka don't you know? What that means in essence is that Zimmerman, a WHITE Latino, obviously saw the young, inoffensive student Martin as an Obama surrogate. (Remember that President Obama himself said that the boy looked like the son he never had.) So, fueled by hate stoked by the infamous T-Baggers, he ruthlessly gunned down a helpless young man, full of promise and hope for the future. Or something. Anyway, he'll surely hang.

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 8:36AM

I wonder if Bob Dylan is preparing a Song for this Whitspanic young man, about to be RAILROADED by another John Roberts, in Sheep's Clothing?

You know, like "The Hurricane" song.

Probably not.

There must be something about the Court, and its Judges, that we're missing. I mean, it's as if on Day One, all of the Male Judges have their Testicles removed, and they're sewn on to the Female Judges.

We've got a White/Hispanic/Jew being dragged behind a Judicial Pickup Truck, for one reason, and one reason, only.

It's an Election Year.

The White Republican Governor appoints a White "Republican" Woman, as a Special Prosecutor, whereby she sets the Railroad in motion, by Charging this guy who's Injuries, the Witnesses, and his Lie Detector Test, all CONFIRM his account of what happened that night, even as the MSM was busy Doctoring Video, Editing Audio, and running pictures of this 180lb. Football Player/ Gangbanger that were taken when he was in the 5th Grade.

To this day, we haven't gotten a REAL TIME PICTURE of this guy.

She's got nothing on this Whitspanic.

And, the Judge - (Minus his Balls) has also jumped on that Railroad with accusations of Malfescence where Bond was concerned, that he wants us to believe are this Century's Version of The Lindbergh Baby Case.

Meanwhile, back in the real world?

Blacks are Killing EVERYBODY, all the time, and nobody gives a Fck.

God Bless Amerika.

Get a Gun.

Cobalt| 7.9.12 @ 11:43AM

Recent photo of precocious, winsome Trayvon Martin:

http://www.wagist.com/wp-conte...../Ax26X.jpg

Cobalt| 7.9.12 @ 11:46AM

......and another photo of dear Trayvon:

http://theconservativetreehous......jpg?w=640

TW in SC| 7.9.12 @ 2:42PM

Yep, such a cute boy. His testosterone level far exceeding his IQ. In the past, a father would've channeled that hormone-riddled lad with hard work and discipline. But, given that most black kids grow up without dads these days, and because their mom's can't imagine their sons being anything but little angels-on-earth, the society of blacks is broken and will take an apocalypse to fix. That may come in the form of riots, all-out war, who knows? But as long as teenage black thugs are given free-rein, they will continue to kill and continue to die.

I'm glad TRAY-von is dead. Really. To think of how much money he would've cost the taxpayers in prosecution, police-time, incarceration, loss-due-to-theft, etc., it's a good thing he was terminated with extreme prejudice.

That the black comm-yoon-it-TAY thinks collectively that everyone is out to "hang the ni**er" all the time. From my experience, this is not true. But, I have always noticed the undercurrent of anger that almost all of them seem to have. This is self-destructive. But they need to look at themselves critically and be honest with themselves which is perhaps the hardest thing to do.

Aristocat| 7.10.12 @ 12:35AM

Great article by an experienced attorney.
How can George get a fair trial since the judge has already stated that he is guilty?
The state lied in their charging affidavit...Zimmerman did not "profile" Trayvon; Zimmerman did not "confront Trayvon. As Alan Dershowitz stated, the state's affidavit was required to state "the truth, the whole truth." It was not the truth, it was not the "whole truth" because it omitted Zimmerman's statements and injuries, and the statements of witnesses. Zimmerman is a political prisoner and should be released at once.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 7.9.12 @ 5:50PM

TLP;

Given that Mr. Dylan's name at birth was Zimmerman, perhaps he has show the wise restraint that Judge Lester should have shown regarding personal bias, and recused himself from the chore of writing the folk song.

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 6:04PM

Indeed.

Brookschwarzenegro | 7.9.12 @ 9:20PM

"Blacks are Killing EVERYBODY, all the time, and nobody gives a Fck."

Then how come there are still people in the world?

MK48| 7.10.12 @ 12:51AM

Brooksdipshit.......they killed over 20 in Chicago last week end and that was a slow weekend.

What did the white chief of police say............

Aristocat| 7.10.12 @ 12:37AM

Zimmerman is innocent and the victim of a political lynching by the state of Florida.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 7.9.12 @ 7:04AM

It's obvious the liberals in Florida involved in this case need to bash Zimmerman anyway possible. A fair trial is not enough anymore. The PC crowd has to be satisfied.

TW in SC| 7.9.12 @ 2:46PM

What's weird is that the liberals who want to bash Zimmerman are, in effect, bashing an hispanic. The convoluted argument they use is so puerile that it defies explanation. Or, maybe because the left is so glad a black thug was killed, they're hoping for a two-fer by also getting rid of an hispanic.

Gary B| 7.9.12 @ 4:18PM

Black trumps everything. Just ask Hillary.

Appleby| 7.9.12 @ 7:14AM

I'd suggest it might be time to re-release "To Kill A Mockingbird", but I have the feeling that the current generation(s) are incapable of understanding its message.

Anthony| 7.9.12 @ 7:51AM

Yeah well, this non retired lawyer not only agrees with Mr. Trebach, but concluded after reading the pathetic arrest warrant affidavit, that Zimmerman was getting the Duke Lacrosse treatment, on steroids. The warrant wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. It read like a NY Times editorial.
Both the judge and the prosecutor are woefully biased and have completely cowed to the blood-thirsty mobs screaming for Zimmerman's head.
Zimmerman has only one hope, and that's a jury of his peers. Of course, getting a jury of his peers will be his make or break situation.
My fear is that the ordinary citizens chosen to serve will be given" the treatment" by the dispicable leftist media. The pressure will be unbearable and if the pressure got to Robert's, it will get to these folks.
Absent a rare act of courage and honesty, Zimmerman will be a victim of the leftist mob currently in control.

DTOM| 7.9.12 @ 8:41AM

If a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court couldn't withstand the threat of "the treatment," what chance has Mr. Zimmerman?

Will we really be able to keep our Republic?

Next stop, Nov 6.

Don't Tread On Me

Bob Grant| 7.9.12 @ 12:25PM

If I may, I will use the term "The Treatment" in the future because it is so true. The list of examples of people caving on principle because of The Treatment is endless. The latest, and most destructive example, is, as you pointed out, John Roberts.

Anthony| 7.9.12 @ 1:41PM

Well DTOM & Bob, we can only hope 6 or 12 ordinary Floridians will not cave to the pressure, but the left has gotten so brazen in its threats, in that all components are in full attack mode. Robert's was threatened by Obozo in front of the entire nation and nobody blinked!!! I am not sure that our Republic can be saved.
Certainly, if pathetic Romney can't pull out this election, all Americans will be getting "The "treatment" if Obozo is re-elected.

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 8:44AM

I know.

Let's elect a Black President. Then, we can put all of this Racism, behind us.

I mean, if we elect a Post Racial Black President, who doesn't believe in Red States or Blue States, only The United States, then there's no way that Racial Animosities can do anything, but get better, and we will all come together with the help of this Great Uniter.

What?

We already did that?

Never mind.

Pete| 7.9.12 @ 9:20AM

Zimmerman is being systematically lynched by the racists in the Obama administration. As much as we'd like to stay out of and therefore above such a thing, I think Romney should use this to his benefit. What better way to court the Hispanic vote and those who support the second amendment? And we know the press will cover it, unlike Fast & Furious, which can and should be linked with this case (Holder & guns). By refusing to jump into the racial quagmire with these clowns, we let them control the narrative.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 10:25AM

He kept his passport because he was thinking of fleeing...nuff said.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 10:54AM

This is not "nuff said." You have no idea what Zimmerman was thinking. Do you claim to have clairvoyant powers?

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 11:05AM

Genius, what OTHER reason but to flee would you need a Passport? This isn't rocket science.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 12:29PM

What does that mean "need a Passport?" I have a Passport. Does that fact alone mean I am a flight risk? Mr. Zimmerman was in possession of a Passport before the Martin incident. He is still in possession of a Passport. What has changed? What you are saying is that anyone accused of a crime and in possession of a valid Passport must be automatically assumed to be a flight risk and either denied bail or have bail set exhorbitantly high. Why didn't the Judge just have Zimmerman surrender his Passport for the duration of the trial? Answer, because this trial is not about the law, it is about politics.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 2:09PM

Well the Judge did, that's the rub and Zimmerman gave him an old expiring one, and kept the valid one for himself.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 2:21PM

This is interesting. I recently renewed my passport and was REQUIRED by the State department to turn in the old one with my application. Hmmmm....

John Navratil| 7.9.12 @ 3:15PM

Albert Magnus,

I too had to submit my passport with the application. It was, however, returned.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 3:27PM

Mine was not. I received my new Passport over the weekend and that was all. The State Department kept my old one.

My point was that the Judge had other means to prevent a Zimmerman flight. The bail, in my opinion, was set as high as it was for political reasons, just as the trial itself is being prosecuted for political reasons. Justice is not being served under Judge Lester.

John Navratil| 7.9.12 @ 3:49PM

Albert Magnus,

You'll get it in a few days by separate post. At least, that's who it was with mine.

John Navratil| 7.9.12 @ 3:50PM

... at least, that's HOW it was with mine.

John Navratil| 7.9.12 @ 3:51PM

PS: I agree with your political assessment.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 3:57PM

I'll keep an eye out for it. I really didn't know it would be returned.

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 6:07PM

Speaking of "Passports".

Where's The Muslim's Passport?

And, why does he have a Connecticut Social Security Number, if he was born in Hawaii?

Hmm?

John Navratil| 7.9.12 @ 7:33PM

TLP,

Whatever he is --- he is a cipher, isn't he?

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 9:33PM

Yoou were right. My old passport arrived in the mail today. I stand corrected.

John Navratil| 7.9.12 @ 3:15PM

Kingofthenet,

To travel to other countries AND to return. I've have a passport for over fifty years, yet never -- yet -- had to flee.

NaomiBlue| 7.9.12 @ 4:55PM

Zimmerman did NOT keep his passport. His lawyer had it. In the first bond hearing Judge Lester said the passport was a non-issue. Then by the time of the 2nd bond hearing, Judge Lester had forgotten he had said that and said it was an "issue."

RCV| 7.10.12 @ 1:35PM

That was because at the time of the first bond hearing, the judge hadn't been lied to by the defendant.

Jake| 7.10.12 @ 9:21PM

You , like Judge Lester, must think you are Miss Cleo.
There is no evidence , not a hint, that Zimmerman ever intended to flee.
Zimmerman's lawyer Mark O'Mara had the replacement passport for three weeks
in his briefcase , but, forgot to inform the court.
The Conservative Treehouse website has done an amazing job of gathering data and analyzing all the available material.
Judge Lester and Angela Corey make Mike Nifong look ethical.
The Sanford detective , Chris Serino who drove the manslaughter charge and who tailored the investigation to his animus towards Zimmerman has had to surrender his detective shield
and is now a beat cop on the night shift.
Hmmmm...
The state's key witness is a 16 yr old girl named Dee Dee . Her interview , weeks after the shooting , was an incoherent mess , replete with inconsistent and contradictory statements. She was completely incomprehensible and appeared to have been badly coached by either Serino or the family's attorney Benjamin Crump.
Her happy and contemporaneous tweets following the shooting indicate a 16 yr old who only had a passing relationship with Trayvon . She was not his girlfriend nor did she seem particularly disturbed by his death.
She can never take the stand as she would be eviscerated on cross.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 10:45AM

George is going down, let me tell you why, because he is lying. He 'might' only be lying about relatively small stuff but the ONLY thing George has going for him is his credibility. For example, I think there is a STRONG possibility, that there was a mutual confrontation and it got physical, who grabbed who first? Who knows? It doesn't really matter because that is NOT the story George tells, he says he was jumped, ambushed, Now Martin's girlfriend is going to say what she heard, about this guy following him, about sounds like a struggle, who ambushes someone while talking to their Girlfriend? Oh but she 'could' be lying? If that was the case why wouldn't she said she heard the other guy call her boyfriend a Nigger, and that he was going to enjoy killing him? If your going to lie, convict the other guy HARD.No, all she said was she heard a struggle and the phone went dead. I understand why George lied, he wanted to avoid ANY chance of seemingly being partly responsible, but ALL the Prosecutor has to do is destroy this 'ambush' story and replace it with malice intent on the part of George.

2Anglico| 7.9.12 @ 12:35PM

kingofthenet is so far behind the curve on this case he must really be "kingofthebong".

Skippy| 7.9.12 @ 3:59PM

Glad he's got it all figured out.
Ask him who killed JFK?

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 4:18PM

He's actually the Kingofthenuts.

Gary B| 7.9.12 @ 4:24PM

Cool. Let's forget the trial. I mean black trumps brown. He must be guilty.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 10:52AM

"For example, I think there is a STRONG possibility, that there was a mutual confrontation and it got physical..."

Yup. This is STRONG direct evidence, your own personal ideas of what is a "possibility." Are you on the witness list for the trial?

You provide no information, only opinion. You ignore actual evidence and try to twist what is undeniable into something it isn't. Your belief in your "STRONG possibility" is meaningless. You are a racist and want to see a lynching, pure and simple. George Zimmerman is innocent. Live with it.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 11:04AM

I gave you evidence, the fact his girlfriend did NOT directly finger George as saying something damning is EXCELLENT evidence... that she is telling the truth. All the rest of what I said is also true, the Prosecutor has TWO jobs to accomplish, prove what George said is false and replace it with her 'idea' of what happened.I will say this if 100% of George's story is true, he is fine, if only 95% is true he is TOAST.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 11:19AM

This is circumstantial and of little importance. It does not in any way contradict the actual PHYSICAL evidence. And your "100% vs. 95%" is meaningless drivel. If proper criminal prosecurotial procedures are followed, Zimmerman need only show reasonable doubt. If he really needs "100%" then the process is corrupt and the prosecutor is committing a criminal act by proceding under false conditions.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 11:33AM

It's like throwing one cyanide laced M&M into a barrel of them and mixing them up. What do you do? throw the whole thing out.Same thing with the OJ trial, once you got Furman lying on the stand, what part of his testimony is true, what evidence was/was not tampered with? i would have found OJ innocent myself because of that, but it also works in reverse, IF you as a defendant aren't 100% truthful, where did the truth end and the lies begin? I have NO idea, so I am going to convict you.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 11:47AM

The physical evidence demonstrates the facts of the case. What Zimmerman says is only part of this, a narrative. If the evidence fits one narrative, and not another, then that narrative is likely to be substantially true. THIS is where the trial should go.

As for being "100% truthful" this is an impossible standard to meet for anyone. Assuming Zimmerman actually lied about something, say his money situation, that does not affect the physical and eyewitness evidence in any way.

If you as a juror vote to convict solely because of a less than 100% truthful statement by a defendant, you are choosing to ignore the physical evidence. You are in effect saying, "when in doubt convict." This is the exact opposite of what "reasonable doubt" means, which is a systemic protection for defendants, so it does not "work in reverse." You would be outvoted by other jurors anyway and a retrial setup.

Riff Raff| 7.9.12 @ 11:54AM

I can see why you would have aquitted OJ and would convict Zimmerman today. The physical evidence in the OJ trial pointed to guilt. The physical evidence in the Zimmerman case points to innocence. But if Mark Fuhrman lied, that should outweigh any physical evidence, just as if George Zimmerman lied it should outweigh any physical evidence. What is clearly consistent in this is that you discount actual evidence in favor of any shred of an excuse you can find or make up, to either acquit or convict based on race and race-politics.

Bob Grant| 7.9.12 @ 12:00PM

You DO know taking a law degree class from an institution that advertises in the back of Popular Science is not the greatest of ideas?

You may the be Kingofthenet but are the Court Jester of the law.

You don't really understand how our criminal court system works. Do you?

You simply cannot apply what occurred to a prosecution witness to the testimony of a defendant.

Mike W| 7.9.12 @ 1:44PM

King has clearly not followed the case since early April. Since that time, a mountain of evidence has been released indicating that GZ's story was consistent.

Photos of head lacerations, a broken nose and black eyes, and evidence that the gunshot was at close range as in inches,not feet, all indicate a desperate person killing someone who was pounding his head into pavement.

Unfortunately, the racist media and racist government are in the middle. Once Obama made his arrogant, ignorant "look my son" statement then the power of the presidency is also thrown against GZ.

The bright side is that one less thug is in this world.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 2:18PM

From day one I knew little George was getting his ass whooped after starting with the wrong person, Till he found the COWARDS strength in the steel of a gun.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 2:28PM

You don't know this. From the actual evidence it appears that Zimmerman saw someone in his gated community whom he did not recognize, and as a member of the Neighborhood Watch, he called police to look into it. Dispatch told him he didn't have to follow any longer (they did not tell him to stop) and shortly thereafter Martin confronted Zimmerman. It appears from eyewitnesses and from Zimmerman himself that Martin went after Zimmerman after discovering he was being watched and the watcher was talking on his cell phone, ostensibly to police.

I find it a little disturbing that you would call a man who is out in public looking after his neighborhood a "coward", but easily find excuses for a obvious thug who resorted to violence. Obviously you do not think that have your head bashed into pavement is life threatening. It is. Zimmerman was justified in shooting in self defense and Martin paid the price for his own actions. Live with it.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 2:34PM

The kid was No Thug or Criminal that night, George was wrong, admit that to yourself at least. Remember the road to hell is paved with best intentions.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 3:17PM

In will admit nothing of the sort because it is not true. And by all accounts, your hero Mr. Martin was bashing the head of Mr. Zimmerman into pavement. THAT is a violent criminal act, so the "kid" WAS a thug and criminal that night. So far, the only "provocation" for Mr. Martin's actions was that Mr. Zimmerman was observing his behavior and reporting on it. Do you really think this justifies the violent assault by Mr. Martin?

P.S. I am not going to Hell. Have a nice day.

Bob Grant| 7.9.12 @ 3:44PM

Maybe the problem is "certain" people use violence as the first, second, and third options? That tends to be the default position in many, many, many, of these types of situations.

When the stare down doesn't work, resort to sucker punching...right?

Maybe Trayvon Felt he was being "disrespected" by Zimmerman because of the way he followed him. That didn't give him the right to confront Zimmerman.

Maybe Travon should have better understood the concept of Risk/Reward? That might have saved his life.

Riff Raff| 7.9.12 @ 3:47PM

People who carry guns are generally not cowards, whether private individuals, police officers, or military personnel. It takes a good deal of courage to carry a loaded weapon and accept the responsibility that goes along with it. We are not a "nation of cowards" as Eric Holder would have us believe. Holder is far more the coward for spouting such provovative and inflammatory epithets while hiding behind the guns of government bodyguards.

Skippy| 7.9.12 @ 4:08PM

It is fitting and just for a thug to be shot to death while assaulting an innocent man.
I sincerely hope George smiled as he looked straight into Trayvons eyes as he died.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 7:42PM

Your sick individuals, that's why I carry a .357 magnum, they will be picking you instigators up with shovels.

Skippy| 7.9.12 @ 8:12PM

A wheelgun?
They still make those?
A. I don't believe you even own a handgun.
B. I still don't believe you.
C. Nobody believes you.
D. Nobody fears the gun you don't own, much less carry.
But hey, that was some butch post, tough guy!

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 9:43PM

This is rather shocking. Now you are threatening (an empty threat to be sure, done as it were via internet, but a threat nonetheless) posters here with violence. No one here is an instigator, save you yourself with your worthless threat. Clearly you have no sense of justice whatsoever, favoring as you do the unprovoked violence of criminals while condemning the legitimate self defense of the innocent. Assuming you really do possess and carry a .357, perhaps you should be reported to the local authorities for making threats. The last guy who did that in my neighborhood wound up in jail and getting evicted.

Now put your cap gun away like a good little King and go to bed with your teddy bear. No more internet for you tonight. You're getting cranky and need your sleep.

RCV| 7.9.12 @ 11:46AM

I suspect that if Mr. Trebach were sitting on a trial bench, and a defendant lied to him about his finances in order to secure a lower bail, he'd feel a little differently. This judge did what any judge would do when faced with a defendant who tried to deceive the Court.

Riff Raff| 7.9.12 @ 11:57AM

Fine. Now tell me how a judge should react to the prosecutor's suppression of exculpatory evidence (Alan Derschowitz had a few words on this issue), and the brazenly political nature of this prosecution?

Mike W| 7.9.12 @ 1:47PM

Your liberal impulses are pushing you to see an innocent man as guilty. The truth should have no side, be it conservative or liberal. GZ is getting railroaded by the system and because he is an Hispanic not black shouldn't make any difference to anyone.

RCV| 7.9.12 @ 1:59PM

I don't see Zimmerman as guilty of anything at this point. But he lied to the judge to get a lower bail, and the judge raised his bail. He's lucky that's all that happened to him on the bail motion.

John Navratil| 7.9.12 @ 3:24PM

RCV,

O.J.Simpson, a man of considerably greater resources than Mr. Zimmerman, had his bail set a $250,000. I guess $1 million isn't what it used to be.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 3:37PM

Mr. Simpson also had a battery of high priced lawyers ready to defend him and attack every word uttered by a prosecutor or witness. Mr. Zimmerman has no such luxury. The prosecution has the full resources of the local jurisdiction, the State of Florida, and if things do not go according to plan, the US Government as well.

RCV| 7.9.12 @ 6:47PM

His bail was originally quite low for the charge, but got raised, as I said, only because he'd lied to the Court about the resources available to him. He seemed to have little trouble posting it.

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 6:20PM

He passed his Lie Detector test. And, don't give me that Bullshit, that Lie Detector Tests, are Unreliable. If he had FAILED that Test, MORONS, like you, would be all over that fact.

His Injuries upheld his Police Report, as well as the Eye Witness Reports.

WTF is your problem with the idea that this PUNK, who was IN A GANG, started this whole Confrontation?

Why don't you tell all of us Dummies, why the MSM went to such Great Lengths to Doctor the Photos, Edit the 911 Calls, and refuse to show us an UP TO DATE PHOTO of this little Angel?

I said you were Smart.

I hereby Retract my former statement.

You sound like a Punk.

Bill84728| 7.9.12 @ 11:55AM

The person who will be judging George Zimmerman's jury trial has stated, before listening to the evidence and the arguments of counsel, that "the Defendants (sic) actions were imminently dangerous to another and that he acted with a depraved mind regardless of human life."?

This is his approach to the case before one iota of evidence comes into play?

Not only should he be recused, if he's any kind of a lawyer, he should recuse himself.

Bill84728| 7.9.12 @ 11:57AM

I understand that it appears that George Zimmerman may have lied about his financial affairs, but that's hardly a foundation for the conclusion that he shot Trayvon Martin with a "depraved mind regardless of human life," don't you think?

RCV| 7.9.12 @ 6:50PM

I don't know what the legal standards are in Florida, but in most states, as in California, a judge is REQUIRED to assume that the charges in the complaint are true for the purpose of setting bail. The jury, at trial, will of course start with the opposite presumption, but it doesn't work that way for bail-setting.

Tom Kyba| 7.9.12 @ 12:44PM

It's very simple. Kingofhisownselfesteem and rcv think everyone here is a racist lynch mob in waiting(or they just get a sexual thrill harassing others). So no need to wonder about NBC's doctoring of tapes, they were just trying to be sure that the truth came out. If only we could be so penetrating in our analyses as kingofkensington and rtd. These two cartoon extras from South Park need to have their fun when not chasing the rear ends of farm animals. "Hi, I think I'm some sort of king or something, and me and rtd are like all smart and stuff.

rightwriter| 7.9.12 @ 12:57PM

State Attorney Angela Corey and Judge Lester are using the process to punish George Zimmerman when they know the facts can't support the charge of second degree murder. It is questionable the facts can even support a manslaughter charge. Judge Lester is no longer a disinterested judicial party, he is part of the prosecution, probably determining the greatest danger to his career is the charge of racism from the anti-gun left and especially a State Attorney who wants a trophy, for whatever reason. Fortunately, there is still the probability of a jury trial, even if the judge is a self-demonstrated political stooge.

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 6:22PM

THE FACTS support Self Defence.

The little Gang Banger got what he deserved.

RCV| 7.9.12 @ 6:51PM

That's what the trial will determine, TLP.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 7:03PM

The District Attorney and the Police concluded from the facts that there was insufficient evidence to prove that a crime had even been committed and that no charges were warranted. There shouldn't be a trial. Only in response to political pressure did a Florida State Attorney drop in and file charges. This is politics, not justice. This is, of course, my opinion and you are entitled to yours as well.

nathan| 7.9.12 @ 1:42PM

Why this lawyer brings up the CVSA is beyond me. Who cares? Lie detectors are so very beatable which is the reason they aren't admittable in court. You can go on the internet to a site that tells you how to beat them. This lawyer should know that. And even if he was telling the truth about the specific moment at hand that was only part of it.

What's being left out is that and you all can and will correct me I'm sure on this, when he called 911 on Martin, he was told, don't follow him. He shouldn't have. He stated later he needed the precise address. Why? This was his neighborhood after all wasn't it? And when he found Martin again, why get out of his car? Why go near him? As we understand it, he approached Martin, not Martin approached him? To what purpose? Note, it's raining, night, poor visibility. Supposedly Martin called his father? and said I'm being pursued by some strange guy. If THAT phone call happened, then Martin may have been in fear for HIS life. When George approached him Martin may have used physical force to defend HIMSELF against someone he thought was stalking him. George could have prevented all this by obeying the police dispatcher in the first place. Is he guilty of murder 2? Beats me. Is he guilty of bad judgement and trying to play cop? Looks like it?

rightwriter| 7.9.12 @ 3:14PM

George Zimmerman had as much right as Trayvon Martin did to be out of his car and walking around that neighborhood, for any or no reason. And yes, as a neighborhood watch volunteer observing what's going on in his neighborhood, he was violating no law, armed or not. Any resident could have legally done the same. The police dispatcher had no authority to order Zimmerman to do otherwise nor did Zimmerman have a duty to follow that direction if he thought a criminal act, like a burglary, might be taking place. Americans are not required to hide in their house or car while people move around their neighborhood in the dark. Trayvon Martin had no legal right to attack Zimmerman simply because he was being followed. That Martin did not simply continue on his way home and decided to attack Zimmerman means Martin was the criminal aggressor. He was not shot from a long distance nor shot in the back while trying to get away. All evidence supports Zimmerman's story and supports a conclusion that Trayvon Martin caused his own death. Too bad Trayvon's parents didn't successfully teach him to behave any better and to avoid trouble, instead of causing it.

Bill84728| 7.9.12 @ 5:15PM

You're right about polygraphs as far as their use as trial evidence is concerned. They're just not reliable enough when it's proof beyond a reasonable doubt you have to establish. However, cops and prosecutors know that they're often accurate, accurate enough to justify a decision to go forward with an ambiguous case or drop it.

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 6:24PM

So, in your opinion, FAILING a Lie Detector Test is no big deal?

Good luck with that.

Idiot.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 7:45PM

You can pass a lie detector test IF you feel your in the right, IF Zimmerman felt he was within his power to detain someone(Even though he could not legally) it would not show up.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 9:47PM

A Polygraph test shows when someone is stressed about answering a question and in anticipating the question to be asked. Some people can fake it and pass. Most cannot. No one has suggested that Zimmerman attempted to detain Martin, so that point is rather irrelevant.

Bill84728| 7.9.12 @ 1:50PM

Wasn't the last cell phone call made by Martin a call to his girl friend?

Isn't there a question of fact as to whether or not Zimmerman approached Martin that last time, or Martin accosted Zimmerman, asking him why he was following him, and then attacking him with the famous fight then starting?

There's quite a bit of parsing that exchange with the police dispatcher regarding an alleged order not to follow. If I were on the jury, I'd interpret the dispatcher's words as telling Zimmerman he shouldn't continue following, with Zimmerman's answer suggesting he was going to stop.

Was Zimmerman guilty of bad judgment? Yeah, I think so. Was he playing cop? Maybe.

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 6:31PM

Who says he DIDN'T stop.

According to his Police Report, he was heading back to his vehicle, when this little Angel came up behind HIM.

After listening to the eye witness reports, and Martin's own Father telling Police that the Screams, that were heard on the tapes were "DEFINATELY" not his son's, why would anyone believe that this PUNK, wasn't the Agressor.

Lose the White Guilt, people, and remember that 56% of all Violent Crimes, committed in this Country, are committed by BLACKS.

Wake Up.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 2:30PM

I think second degree murder is WAY out of line, this should be a manslaughter case, not sure if it's a less included charge. It doesn't matter if George was hurt, NO ONE said there wasn't a fight, NO ONE believes George was the stronger of the two. The only thing that matters is how the fight started, either George is telling the truth and he was Ambushed, or he confronted Martin, and martin opened a can of classic Whoop Ass, until George resorted to the gun because his mouth was bigger than his muscles.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 3:23PM

When someone comes up to speak to you, do you automatically "open up a can of whoop-ass?" I tend to think not. What IS clear is that NO ONE suggests that Zimmerman ambushed and physically assaulted Martin. Using one's "mouth" regardless of its relative size compared to one's "muscles" is no justification for physically assaulting someone and bashing his head into pavement. That you think it is speaks volumes about YOUR character.

Bob Grant| 7.9.12 @ 3:51PM

It appears the opened "Can of Whoopass" was more like a Can of Worms for poor Travon; as in Worm Food!!!!!

As the great philosopher Harry Callahan once said:

"Some cans are better left unopened".

MK48| 7.10.12 @ 1:06AM

I thought Callahan said...."make my day".

Albertus Magnus| 7.10.12 @ 9:04AM

He did. Dirty Harry said many things. Most of them simple and profound. He also said, "A man's got to know his limitations." Clearly, Travon Martin the Thug did not know his own.

Bob Grant| 7.10.12 @ 12:45PM

In cases such as Travon Martin, I like to channel Harry Callahan. Maybe he didn't specifically make the quote buy who here can deny he wouldn't have in response to such a stupid statement made by Kingofthenet?

Skippy| 7.9.12 @ 4:14PM

Happy George shot this turd.
Send more up my way so I can get some too.
Soon we will have to shoot many, many thugs.
Welcome to Obama's America.

rocky01| 7.9.12 @ 5:14PM

This appears to have been a young kid with a penchant for getting into devilment as my gramdma would say, possibly on the road for more run-ins with the law. But still a young kid. Are we really ready to line them for shooting?

Skippy| 7.9.12 @ 5:39PM

No, we should not line them up for shooting.
Yes, we should shoot them one at a time if they assault innocent people.

rocky01| 7.9.12 @ 5:45PM

I would opt for intervention if at all possible and agree society should protect the innocent. My guess is we lose a generation of young people first, thanks to Obama's America, as you say.

Kingofthenet| 7.9.12 @ 7:47PM

If George laid a hand on me they would be picking up his body with a snow shovel to get all the pieces. I would stand my ground and shoot the SOB

Skippy| 7.9.12 @ 8:16PM

Wow!
Your second "I'm an armed and dangerous dude" post is even more thrilling than the first!
How come we all know it's BS?
Answer: it's your post.

MK48| 7.10.12 @ 1:10AM

Hey Skippy don't mind Kingofthelotion the gun would slip out of his hand.

Albertus Magnus| 7.9.12 @ 9:51PM

No one has demonstrated that Zimmerman laid a hand on Martin or even attempted to. You are assuming facts not in evidence. So your "stand my ground" comment is irrelevant. You really need some instruction in justice, morality, and ethics as clearly you understand nothing about these.

Bill84728| 7.9.12 @ 5:18PM

How the fight got started is critically important, but that's going to be a credibility call at trial. Once the fight got started, it seems eminently provable that Zimmerman was justified in believing that his life was at risk and therefore to use deadly force to bring the fight to an end. Even if Zimmerman started the fight, by the way, if Martin escalated it, Zimmerman might still walk.

JD| 7.9.12 @ 4:28PM

All logic seems to suggest that Zimmerman had no appreciable financial resources until he became internationally demonized and started getting donations from sympathizers. His financial situation must be in flux. Who's to know whether what is true now was even true a few weeks ago?

rocky01| 7.9.12 @ 4:50PM

Cogent and well written, it's easy to see through the fog surrounding the case; this essay is a beacon.

Skippy| 7.9.12 @ 5:43PM

"If I had a President, he would look like Mitt Romney."

TLP| 7.9.12 @ 6:32PM

I like you better, with each post.

Skippy| 7.9.12 @ 6:56PM

Please tell me that's a good thing. :)
You rule, Tim.