The better question in my opinion is why couldn't both of them claim self defense? There is no duty to retreat so why can it not apply to both?

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- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
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You may be right -- that both might have had a legitimate claim to self defense.

In legal terms, the burden is on the prosecutor to prove that the survivor was at fault.

But if both had a legit claim, how may we deduce that one of them is at fault more than the other such that we might exonerate one and condemn the other?

Are you so certain as to their guilt or innocence that you would condemn the one and exonerate the other?

What I am saying is that under the current law I do not see how a decision can be reached. I guess we will have to see what the prosecution is trying to prove.

Had there been a duty to retreat I think it would be more clear cut.

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2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
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- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Both guilty. Exhume TM and put him in the same cell with Z.....

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I agree that we both need telepathy to draw a definitive conclusion.

But we don't have to draw a definitive conclusion.

All we have to do is conclude, beyond reasonable doubt, that the accused is solely responsible for the events.

Are you there?

Beyond a REASONABLE doubt?

One time (15 years ago) my wife and I were watching our elementary school child compete in rec soccer. One of the parents said there was a guy over at the playground that gave her the creeps.

I walked over there and looked him in the eyes and asked, "Is one of these kids yours?"

He reacted badly and aggressively towards me, then walked away. I pulled out my old cluncky cellphone and reported the guy to the 911 folks. I don't know what happened after that, Was I wrong?

What would you have done if he ignored you and did not answer? If the answer is call 911 go for it. If it goes beyond that .....

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2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
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- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

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Not that this has anything to do with the case. If I was TM, I would have run. GZ looks like he's pretty easy to outrun.

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I bet TM was fast but not fast enough to outrun a bullet.

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You have assumed, of course, that Z would shoot a fleeing person in the back. Can you justify that assumption--I mean, other than the dark canyons of your own mind? Does Z have a history of prior shootings of fleeing suspects?

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TM could have outrun GZ with 1 leg. AND a bullet in the back is hard to claim self defense.if TM had run and zim shot him in the back i bet he would already be serving time.there was a case close to me yrs ago.a lady claimed 2 guys broke into her house.she managed to get away and grab a gun and shoot one of em in the chest 2 or 3 times.she then got her kids and left the house.all would have been good.BUT she went back in the house and pumped 3 more shells into the back of his head.that got her life.

Zimmerman has gained weight since the shooting. Outrunning him may not have been as easy as you think on the night of the shooting.

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His bullets, however, have not slowed down one bit...

Well, if he'd shot the kid in the back, it would be pretty clear cut, and Zimmerman would be facing a life sentence or the electric chair.

Personally, I think there should be such an offense as "criminal asshattery", and Zimmerman should be on trial for it.