EXACTLY. THERE IS NO PROOF THAT GZ Murdered TM in cold blood. With ill will toward him. And that is the end of the case.
IMO, the evidence of ill will is GZ own words calling TM bad names and assuming he was "up to no good" when he was on the phone with LE....
Imo, He certainly didn't think, "oh, as neighborhood watch, I'm going to offer to escort that nice young man home so he gets home safely."
I agree that it was not at any point, cold-blooded murder.
Imo, I believe it was feverish, hair-trigger murder because TM was fighting to get GZ off of him, as Rachel testified.
Fight or flight is real....for myself...as a twelve-year-old girl, and home alone...I had the fight instinct when a burglar broke in.
I was terrified and my adrenaline was pumping, but "fight" kicked in and I banged open my bedroom door, saw the burglar, and SCREAMED at him to "get OUT."
He left (obviously didn't realize a kid was home and must have been your garden variety burglar, not a rapist/child killer).
But I guarantee that if he had tried to touch me, much kicking and hitting would have ensued.
Why my reaction wasn't run, hide under the bed, "flight"...I can't tell you.
But I do know what it feels like to be very afraid and lash out and act tough.
That's why I think TM could have been afraid and hitting GZ.