NOT GUILTY

Stunning,  Amazing, Shocking

These were words I heard used on the news when the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial was announced.  I'd use another one:

OBVIOUS

 

 Under Florida law second degree murder is defined as: The unlawful killing of a human being, when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual, is murder in the second degree.

Manslaughter is defined as: The killing of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another, without lawful justification according to the provisions of chapter 776 and in cases in which such killing shall not be excusable homicide or murder, according to the provisions of this chapter, is manslaughter

Self-Defense

Florida law also recognizes Justifiable Use of Force: A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.

Justice is not served by the mob...

or by appeasing the mob.  The jury's verdict vindicates the Sanford police department and its fired chief.  Of the roughly thousand murders a year in Florida, this one was tried in the forum of public opinion by the media long before it was tried in court.  While the majority of the evidence presented in court supported Zimmerman's account of events, the prosecution's case seemed to be based entirely on emotional appeal and little supporting evidence. 

This case never should have gone to trial in the first place.