Verdict Watch Thread Saturday July 13

[TexMex]

http://www.richardhornsby.com/crimes/homicide/manslaughter.html


Quick facts on manslaughter

Defenses to Manslaughter

In addition to the pretrial defenses and trial defenses that can be raised in any criminal case, specific defenses to the crime of Manslaughter are:

Excusable Homicide

The killing of a human being is excusable, and therefore lawful, under any one of the following three circumstances:

When the killing is committed by accident and misfortune in doing any lawful act by lawful means with usual ordinary caution and without any unlawful intent, or
When the killing occurs by accident and misfortune in the heat of passion, upon any sudden and sufficient provocation, or
When the killing is committed by accident and misfortune resulting from a sudden combat, if a dangerous weapon is not used and the killing is not done in a cruel or unusual manner.
Justifiable Homicide

The killing of a human being is justifiable homicide and lawful if done while resisting an attempt by someone to kill you or to commit a felony against you.

Self Defense

Also known as the justified use of deadly force, self defense is a defense to the crime of Second Degree Murder. Please view the Florida Self Defense section for more information.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

It is possible to find that murder wasn't proven but also find that it wasn't self defense, as many of us here feel, and that it equates to manslaughter.

That is what my answer says I believe..

I don't believe it is manslaughter either. I would find him not guilty...

 

[Bee Happy]

:twocents: The jury's verdict will clearly state IF they used emotion or not ...

IF they vote acquittal -- they applied the law !

IF they vote 2nd or MS -- they applied their emotions and FEAR !

All My Opinion and MOO !

Fear? lol...okay

I sense a lot of emotion in your post. jMo

 

[dog.gone.cute]

Yes it will...

The jurors won't feel any heat from the media if they come back with a guilty verdict...

They will treat them like heroes...

BBM: This is the "Quote of the Day" ... You are so right on here !

:twocents:

All My Opinion

 

[logicalgirl]

MOM said in an interview that this is the jury he wanted. He was very pleased with this jury and even mentioned that 4 of the 6 were picked by the defense.

I also heard him say in an interview that he likes this judge and has a lot of respect for her.

IMO

 

[Chelly]

So they are telling the jury to be more specific about their question! What was so vague about asking for a clarification on meaning of manslaughter?

 

[MeeBee]

:twocents: The jury's verdict will clearly state IF they used emotion or not ...

IF they vote acquittal -- they applied the law !

IF they vote 2nd or MS -- they applied their emotions and FEAR !

All My Opinion and MOO !

Those are not the only two options.

Why do people feel the need to boil down opposing opinions with "you're just emotional and irrational"? That is just too simple.

 

[Love Never Fails]

I have been here and reading here and there but don't want to participate unless it is about the facts or laws. I am just not into the emotion of the case.

I can not go there right now with every thing so charged and seemingly electric.

I care only about justice in this case.

I know and you are so appreciated. You know me. Passionate and emotional.:blushing: Thanks for your input. You are like a breath of fresh air!

 

[iluvmua]

Why would it matter?

Because If that were my son, I'd be setting in that court room every day especially since we are on verdict watch.

JMO

 

[MeeBee]

That is what my answer says I believe..

I don't believe it is manslaughter either. I would find him not guilty...

I thought you believed it WAS self defense?

 

[cityslick]

So they are telling the jury to be more specific about their question! What was so vague about asking for a clarification on meaning of manslaughter?

Because they already have the instruction? Not sure.

The court doesn't want to get in a situation where they have to explain something beyond what the Supreme Court has said -- as per Bill S.

 

[Maryann123]

Why would it matter?

It's a valid question. Perhaps there are some that have the same question, and perhaps there are some that know the answer. Maybe we should leave it open for someone that may have insight, rather than being snarky.

 

[Just Sailing Thru]

27s
Kathi Belich, WFTV @KBelichWFTV
The jury has ordered dinner. We are waiting for 15 minutes to see if they have a specific question. In recess. #Zimmermanon93 Retweets Collapse
Reply

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

So they are telling the jury to be more specific about their question! What was so vague about asking for a clarification on meaning of manslaughter?

I think it is too easy to answer in a way that can bias them.

 

[katydid23]

This is very nerve wracking. I'll admit that I'm beginning to fear that the verdict will be manslaughter especially since they are asking for clarification.

I have a question which will probably make me look stupid. Surely everyone doesn't sit in the court room hour after hour - where do they all go and how do they know when to come back?

The families usually have a hotel room nearby, and can wait there until called back to court for questions etc.

And the Attorneys often have offices nearby the courthouse. My Dad was a defense attorney and his office was a block from the courthouse. So when other attorneys were on VERDICT WATCH, they sometimes waited in his office for the calls to come in.

The press are not as lucky. They usually sit around in the cafeteria or the front steps or their camera trucks. LOL

 

[Maryann123]

I thought you believed it WAS self defense?

Same thing.

 

[MeeBee]

Because If that were my son, I'd be setting in that court room every day.

JMO

The families don't usually sit in the courtroom all day while a jury deliberates. They go home or go to their hotel and relax and wait for a call that they are needed at the courthouse. Why would they just sit in court all day?

Perspective...

 

[Moonie]

Well of course having jewelry and a screwdriver means he was stealing jewelry, I don't know what other explanation there could be imo. The tattooes, the fighting, the immersion in rap/ culture, etc. I can't get on board with minimizing everything. A 10 day out of school suspension is very serious imo. He was very comfortable with violence, as evidenced by RJ's testimony...sounds like a routine occurrence for him. imo

I don't know if you've read all of the things that are online about GZ. Including claims of molestation by a family member of his. He's no saint either. They both have unfavorable things in their pasts. TM's were committed as a teen and GZ as an adult. We should leave this topic alone for the sake of the Mods.

 

[mdana]

Actually no it doesn't. I am the mom of a teenager. I know that they do stupid things without thinking. I know that as a teenager myself I did stupid things without thinking. I also know that when I was 28 years old that I was no longer a teenager and knew that there were consequences for my actions and that if I was instructed to not do something then I would not do it. I would prefer to have a teenager live next to me that has time to realize what they don't yet know than a grown man that believes that he knows it all and knows what is best despite the instructions given to him when someone's life is on the line.

MOO

BBM

What exactly did GZ do that he was instructed not to do? He left his car and was following in TM's general direction when the dispatcher stated, "we don't need you to do that" which can be regarded as much as a suggestion as an instruction. IMO

BBM-really? I'm not sure even GZ would agree with that one. jmo

Odd the person who said it stated under oath, it was a suggestion...

Sean Noffke, the dispatcher who was on the phone during Zimmerman's non-emergency call, testified regarding his own statements at that time. Noffke said that when he told Zimmerman "We don't need you to do that," he was making a suggestion, not giving an order. He said that dispatchers do not give orders because of liability issues. During cross-examination, Noffke testified that Zimmerman did not seem angry during the call, and that he wanted the police to come to his location. Noffke also testified that he asked Zimmerman which way Martin was going, and that his question could be interpreted as a request to go and see which way he was going. He clarified his statement that dispatchers do not give orders, but suggestions for the safety of the caller. He testified that Zimmerman's swearing and comments about Martin did not raise any particular concern, but under redirect said that Zimmerman's language could be interpreted as "hostile." The defense then asked if Noffke actually heard hostility, and he said no. The defense asked about the statements regarding Martin's race and appearance, and Noffke testified that all of the discussion was for the purpose of identification of the suspect, and did not seem unusual.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Florida_vs._George_Zimmerman

BBM
IMO

 

[Nymeria]

Broward county power outages and cable outages in some areas including my DD residence...there are storms..hopefully that will reduce any violent protests

Totally the opposite!
At least in my case, when I lose power and/or cable (internet!) it usually makes me MUCH more irritable :scared: