Trayvon Martin Shooting - Media Thread - NO DISCUSSION

[imamaze]

N.R.A. official attacks Florida shooting coverage
A senior official of the National Rifle Association accused the news media on Saturday of engaging in sensationalized coverage of the Trayvon Martin killing, in the first comments that the gun lobby has made publicly about the fatal shooting since it occurred six weeks ago.
More...

[ThoughtFox]

NRA's Marion Hammer Stands Her Ground
...despite opposition from the Walt Disney Co. and the Chamber of Commerce, Hammer and the NRA were the driving force behind a 2008 law that allows employees to bring guns to work -- as long as they lock the weapons in the car. In a more recent battle, she took on the medical community, getting legislation enacted to prevent doctors from asking young patients about guns in their homes. A judge shot down that law, saying it violated doctors' free speech.
At times, Hammer seems unstoppable.
"There is no more tenacious presence in Tallahassee than Marion Hammer," said Sally Bradshaw, who was Jeb Bush's chief of staff. Baxley, who worked closely with Hammer on Stand Your Ground, considers her "a tremendous inspiration."
~~~ Much More At Link~~~

Stand Your Ground May Yet Survive
“I’m sort of happy about this guy being charged, on the political front, because I’m able to say: ‘See, I told you, it doesn’t say you can’t charge the guy,’ ” said Baxley, a Republican state representative from Ocala.
. . . According to the facts assembled by Corey’s office, Zimmerman looks like an aggressor. He “profiled” Trayvon, says the probable-cause arrest affidavit, which details how he pursued the teen. The document twice points out that Trayvon wasn’t committing a crime and was unarmed.
Assuming the prosecutor’s facts hold up, Zimmerman is going to have a difficult time avoiding a trial — and perhaps a conviction — although many lawyers say he probably committed manslaughter and not murder.
. . . But the six-page 2005 law isn’t a model of clarity, either.
~~~ Much More At Link~~~

Miami Firefighter Rants about Trayvon on Facebook
A Miami-Dade firefighter’s rant about the Trayvon Martin case — posted on his personal Facebook page — is drawing scrutiny from his bosses.
Capt. Brian Beckmann’s post, published for the public Friday by the website theGrio.com, lambasts the prosecutor in the George Zimmerman case and suggests “urban youth” are the products of “failed, *****bag, ignorant, pathetic, welfare dependent excuses for parents.”
~~~More At Link~~~

Before Trayvon: 3 Notable Stand Your Ground Cases
Hernando Riascos Torres and Diego Ortiz -- Pasadena, Texas (2007)
Travares McGill -- Sanford, Fla. (2005)
Yoshihiro Hattori -- Central, La. (1992)
~~~More At Link~~~

Orlando Columnist Quotes Corey on Nancy Grace
GRACE: “In a case like this when you are confronted with force — let’s just say for argument’s sake Zimmerman’s story is true, a 17-year-old hits him. Standing your ground, is he allowed under the law to shoot him dead?”
COREY: “Nancy, our laws are very clear that it has to be a forcible felony and that a reasonable person would have to believe that deadly force is necessary as opposed to just physical force, fighting back and that sort of thing. I’ve prosecuted a woman who shot her husband and killed him because he slapped her, and we argued that was not deadly force and she was convicted and sent to state prison.”

[ThoughtFox]

Zimmerman's Attorney Will File to Remove Judge
Mark O'Mara told WFTV he will file a motion first thing Monday morning at the Seminole County courthouse.
It stems from a potential conflict of interest with Seminole County Judge Jessica Recksiedler.
"Mr. Zimmerman had contacted Mark NeJame to represent him prior to you, Mr. O'Mara. As I have disclosed previously, my husband works with Mark NeJame," said Recksiedler during a status hearing last week.
O'Mara told WFTV that he does believe Recksiedler would give Zimmerman a fair trial, but under the circumstance he is not taking any chances.

Zimmerman's Detailed Case View from Seminole County Docket

Media Lawyers Seek to Unseal Files
The motion was prepared by the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP on behalf of several media companies, including The New York Times, The Miami Herald, The Tampa Bay Times, The Florida Times-Union, CNN, NBC, several broadcasters and other publishing companies as well as The First Amendment Foundation, a non-profit media advocacy group in Tallahassee.
Tribune Co., the owner of the Orlando Sentinel, and WFTV-Channel 9 plan to file a similar motion today.
A draft of that motion, prepared by Tribune Co. lawyers and those at Thomas & LoCicero PL, calls the act of sealing all case records "drastic and extreme…There is no reason to believe that the release of material now will affect the fairness of the trial."

[ThoughtFox]

Video: Frank Taaffe on Anderson Cooper

Frank Taaffe: George was a Model Neighbor

Frank Taaffe: George was a Model Neighbor

Frank Taaffe Believes George Zimmerman Will Be 'Exonerated' - YouTube

Frank Taaffe Believes George Zimmerman Will Be 'Exonerated' - YouTube

Frank Taaffe Explains Why He Supports Zimmerman - YouTube

Frank Taaffe Explains Why He Supports Zimmerman - YouTube

[okiedokietoo]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/16...legal-experts/
Published April 16, 2012

“I do not believe that Zimmerman could get a fair trial in the location where the alleged crime occurred,” said Dershowitz. “For me, the major criteria of a fair trial is could a juror who voted to acquit feel safe back in his community, feel that he wouldn’t be hassled or criticized by community members.”

[imamaze]

Miami Herald, other media outlets sue to unseal George Zimmerman court documents
The Miami Herald and other media outlets are asking a judge to unseal court documents in the case of George Zimmerman, charged with the second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin in Sanford.
In a motion filed Monday, the press asked that a Seminole County circuit judge reconsider a decision made last week to seal the court file, which in Florida is normally a public record.
Zimmerman is charged with the Feb. 26 shooting of Trayvon, an unarmed teen visiting his father’s girlfriend in a gated Sanford community.
More...

Top 10 lessons to take away from the Trayvon Martin case so far
Act I may be over. George Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder. And Trayvon Martin's parents thanked prosecutors for holding him accountable for their son's death.
But we're still a long way from the final scene of this tragedy. There are legal arguments to be made and evidence to be presented. And the conversations about race, Florida's "stand your ground" law and the media's coverage of it all will continue.
But now's a good time to take stock of the lessons learned so far. Here are the Top 10 do's and don'ts, in no particular order, taught to us by the Trayvon Martin case.
More...

Fire dept. could take action over Trayvon comments
A meeting is being held Monday about the posting. Sources said the fire chief is not happy over the Facebook comments, but the big question is whether legally the department can do anything about it. There are legal questions about whether the department can punish Beckmann for comments he made while off duty.
More... Video included...

[sleonardelli]

I'm new here but have been following this case for a while now. I was wondering what thoughts the community might have regarding basic concealed weapons protocol. I realize this is not MSM but I think it's a relative site. Conceal Weapon Myth #2 states:

"Even though concealed weapon holders are peaceful and law-abiding citizens, WE HAVE TO GO OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID CONFLICT. Just because we can legally carry a concealed weapon DOES NOT MAKE US POLICE OFFICERS."
http://myweaponspermit.com/

[francie]

Zimmerman's lawyer: I want a new judge

April 16, 2012|9:37 p.m. EST

"What I don't want to happen," Mark O'Mara told reporters Monday, "is to wait a month or two then find out what we thought was a potential conflict is an actual conflict."

Exactly what the motion says was not clear because the court file is sealed, but Recksiedler is almost certain to grant it. Under Florida law, all a person needs to show is a reasonable belief that the judge might not be fair.

The case would then be reassigned to another judge. Word was not available Monday on who that would be, but all Seminole County felony cases are assigned to judges on a rotating basis, and the Zimmerman case would go to the judge who was due up for the next case.

In another development Monday, news media attorneys asked that the case file be unsealed.

O'Mara and attorneys for the state last week agreed that they wanted paperwork in the file kept secret. That also includes all the evidence that the state will, in the next few days and weeks, provide Zimmerman's attorney.

Two sets of media attorneys on Monday filed motions, saying Zimmerman had not shown a need to seal the case. One was filed by Tribune Co., the owner of the Orlando Sentinel, and WFTV-Channel 9.

"This criminal case has already raised serious questions – from all sides – about the ability of government to do its job and protect its citizens," wrote Rachel Fugate, a lawyer representing Tribune. "Florida's historically open and transparent judicial system should not compound such suspicions by operating in the dark in this case."

More at link:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...ys-mark-nejame

[francie]

Zimmerman's Lawyer Confident Judge Will Leave Case

April 17, 2012|3:21 a.m. EST
April 17, 2012|6:29 a.m. EST updated

(CNN) -- The attorney for George Zimmerman says he is confident his motion to have a Florida judge removed from his client's case will be granted.

"I think she's going to go ahead and grant it and move the case on to another judge," Mark O'Mara, the lawyer, said Monday night.

Zimmerman's defense team formally requested Monday that Seminole Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, the Florida judge assigned to their client's case, be removed after she revealed her husband works with a CNN legal analyst.

O'Mara's office filed paperwork Monday asking that Recksiedler not preside over second-degree murder proceedings involving Zimmerman and the motion to "disqualify" the trial judge "will be ruled on in the appropriate manner," a court official said.

<snip>

As to his client, O'Mara said he speaks "at least a couple times a day" with Zimmerman, whom he described as doing well physically but "frightened."

Zimmerman is scheduled to return to court Friday for a bail hearing.

O'Mara says that he hopes his client will be eligible for bond after that hearing and eventually be allowed to go free until the trial. If he does get out, though, the lawyer said there are legitimate fears about Zimmerman's safety.

Long article at link:
http://www.wesh.com/news/30904815/detail.html#

[ThoughtFox]

Sanford Police Department Neighborhood Watch PDF
What you will not do is get physically involved with any activity you report or apprehension of any suspicious persons. This is the job of the law enforcement agency.
*snip*
Remember always that your responsibility is to report crime. Do not take any risks to prevent a crime or try to make an arrest. The responsibility for apprehending criminals belongs to the police department.

U.S. Senate holds hearing about Martin case and Profiling
"He [Trayvon] was profiled, followed, chased and murdered. This case has captured international attention and will go down in history as a textbook example of racial profiling," said U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami, who appeared as a witness at the hearing.
*snip*
"We are not just talking about professionalizing law enforcement and holding them accountable," said Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who chaired the hearing by subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights.
"We are talking about a new group of Americans who are being empowered to carry deadly weapons and to make decisions on the spot about the protection of their homes and communities — which I think makes this a far more complex challenge," he said.
~~~More at Link~~~

ALEC Group Drops Stand Your Ground Push As Sponsors Flee
The American Legislative Exchange Council, the controversial corporate-sponsored lobbying group whose push for "stand your ground" gun laws and voter ID legislation ignited grassroots protests, announced Tuesday that it is getting out of the social policy field to focus on core economic issues.
*snip*
Several companies -- including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald's, Kraft and Intuit -- had already distanced themselves from ALEC before Tuesday's surprise announcement.
*snip*
"Corporate members were obviously telling them they weren't interested in underwriting that extreme agenda," Graves said. She called ALEC's announcement "a positive sign of the power of the grassroots campaign to hold ALEC and its corporate funders to account for these extreme bills." But, she added, "I think there are definitely significant toxic aspects of the agenda that remain."
~~~More at Link~~~

[francie]

Zimmerman judge expected to step aside Wednesday

April 17, 2012|9:14 p.m. EST

SANFORD — Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler today is expected to surrender control of the George Zimmerman second-degree-murder case.

Her replacement will be chosen from among three remaining felony judges in Seminole County, including:

John Galluzzo, a longtime Oviedo lawyer who has represented two dozen murder defendants while in private practice.

Kenneth Lester Jr., a 15-year veteran judge who gave Michael Reynolds two death penalties plus a life prison sentence for beating and stabbing a Geneva couple and their 11-year-old child to death in 1998.

Debra S. Nelson, a 13-year judge who was a civil-litigation specialist in private practice.

Court officials issued a statement Tuesday saying Recksiedler is expected to decide what to do no later than Friday. But the picture should become clearer today, when Recksiedler is expected to sign an order taking herself off the case.

More at link:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...ppellate-judge

[LiveLaughLuv]

George Zimmerman not charged in Trayvon Martin killing over public pressure: governor

Florida’s governor says they are looking for justice for Trayvon Martin’s family
Comments (9)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 10:50 AM


SANFORD, Florida — Florida’s governor rejected any suggestion charges were filed in the Trayvon Martin case because of public pressure.

Gov. Rick Scott said he doesn’t believe special prosecutor Angela Corey is influenced by anything but the facts.

He says his focus is the same as hers — securing justice for Martin's family and due process for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer recently charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 shooting of the 17-year-old.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...#ixzz1sObGd29m

[Concerned Papa]

Originally Posted by Zak

Thank you so much for the map. Maybe you have posted this map before on one of these threads where you marked the location of the altercation. Can you please point me to that? Thanks so much!

The Zimmerman story says somewhere near the red X.



Along with numerous other problems with their story, the SPD and SFD Fire and Rescue say the body was here:

Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - 17 yo Trayvon Martin Shot to Death by Neighborhood Watch Captain #26

Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - 17 yo Trayvon Martin Shot to Death by Neighborhood Watch Captain #26

[ThoughtFox]

Zimmerman Friend Says George's Head was Bloody Pulp
“He was beaten to a bloody pulp that night, and he’s lucky to be alive. There’s proof of that,” the friend of Zimmerman said.
“He took the pictures himself...to protect himself. He knew they would come back for him. He had a good idea this wasn’t over. He’s not a dumb man.”
*snip*
“You (the media) are going to feel pretty stupid when you see them,” he said. “Soon enough everyone will see the damage this kid did to his head. A lot of people are going to have egg on their faces.
“Once the judge gets a look at these pictures he will dismiss this case and all you can crawl back into your holes,” he told a News reporter.

Judges Bowing Out Due to Conflicts of Interest
The judge in the Trayvon Martin murder case recused herself Wednesday because her husband’s law partner has been hired to comment on the trial by CNN.
Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler had been expected to bow out.
The next judge in the roster, Judge John Galluzzo, then declined to take the case against George Zimmerman because of his own conflict of interest: He used to practice law with Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara.
O’Mara is also the godfather of one of Galluzzo’s children.
The case — sure to be a media sensation if it goes to trial — then fell to Judge Kenneth Lester, Jr. Lester, 58, who has a reputation for keeping things moving and doling out tough sentences, will preside over Zimmerman’s bond hearing slated for Friday.
~~~ More Here ~~~

Memorial in Miami
Back in Miami-Dade, several dozen students led the memorial at FIU's Biscayne Bay campus Wednesday. Joining them: Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, and his brother, Jahvaris.
Students from a religion class that organized the event sang along to "Lean on Me."
Second-year law student Desmond Meade said young people should become more engaged.
"Let's take this opportunity to pick up the torch of the civil rights movement that has been laying on the ground too long," he said. "Take this opportunity to spend less time on Facebook and find out what your elected officials are doing.

[Quiche]

Florida judge to decide on bond for Trayvon Martin's killer

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - A Florida judge will decide on Friday whether to release George Zimmerman on bail before his trial for second-degree murder in the killing of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. took over the racially charged case on Wednesday after another judge stepped aside due to a potential conflict of interest.

He will preside over a previously scheduled pre-trial detention hearing beginning at 9 a.m. (1300 GMT), as he takes up a case that has riveted the United States. It also triggered widespread street protests because Zimmerman, a white Hispanic, remained free and was not charged for more than six weeks after he shot and killed Martin, who was black and unarmed.

Zimmerman was finally jailed last week.

more at link

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/s...0,273691.story

[LiveLaughLuv]

Trayvon Martin's parents turn down invitation to meet with son's killer George Zimmerman
Request is 'self-serving,' attorney Benjamin Crump says
Comments (23)

By Matthew Lysiak In Sanford, Fla. AND Helen Kennedy / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Thursday, April 19, 2012, 4:59 PM
Updated: Friday, April 20, 2012, 2:00 AM


Trayvon Martin's parents have turned down an invitation to meet with their son’s killer, their lawyer said Thursday.

The request from George Zimmerman’s camp a day before his bond hearing is “self-serving,” attorney Benjamin Crump said.

“He had a Web page — never apologized there. Had the voicemails we’ve heard — never apologized then,” Crump said at a news conference. “So, we feel that you all can conclude for yourselves what motivations there are.”



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crim...#ixzz1sa2bzg00

[LiveLaughLuv]

Florida judge to decide on bail for Trayvon Martin's killer
By Barbara Liston

SANFORD, Florida | Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:13am EDT

SANFORD, Florida (Reuters) - A Florida judge will decide on Friday whether to release murder suspect George Zimmerman on bail pending his trial for the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. took over the racially charged case on Wednesday after another judge recused herself over a potential conflict of interest. He was to preside over a pre-trial detention hearing beginning at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT), as he takes up a case that has riveted the United States.




http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...0?feedType=RSS

[LiveLaughLuv]

Trayvon Martin: Parents attend town hall meeting in Tampa

By Jason Lanning / Dalia Dangerfield / Anna Tataris, Team Coverage
Last Updated: Friday, April 20, 2012 @ 05:46AM

TAMPA --
The parents of Trayvon Martin came to the Bay area on Wednesday to take part in a town hall meeting focused on the controversial 'Stand Your Ground Law'.

Martin's parents were in Tampa for a town hall meeting held by the National Bar Association at the historic Beulah Baptist Church near downtown. The noon meeting was billed as 'Stand Your Ground for Justice'.

Hundreds attended the discussion, pushing for the repeal of the controversial Stand Your Ground Law and taking advantage of the chance to see Martin's parents in person.


http://www.baynews9.com/content/news...tin_town_.html

[Just K]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimm...9#.T5FWgdmOFQA

[okiedokietoo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/us...l-hearing.html
By SERGE KOVALESKI and JENNIFER PRESTON
Published: April 20, 2012

[Reader]

Excerpts from Zimmerman's apology, testimony

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/2...s-apology.html

Contradiction:

De la Rionda: And tell me, after you committed this crime and you spoke to the police, did you ever make that statement to the police sir, that you were sorry for what you'd done or their loss?

Zimmerman: No sir.

De la Rionda: You never stated that did you?

Zimmerman: I don't remember what I said. I believe I did state that.

[ThoughtFox]

HLN: Zimmerman's Wife Speaks at Hearing
On Friday, Shellie Zimmerman, in her first public comments since the February 26 shooting in Sanford, Florida, told the court that she is a nursing student four weeks from graduation. She testified that she had no income and was not of the financial means to provide bond in the case.
When asked if she had talked about securing money for Zimmerman's bond she said: "We have discussed that, trying to pull together members of the family to try to scrape up anything that we can." When asked if he was a danger to the community, Shellie Zimmerman said: "No, I do not," she said. "There's no concern whatsoever."
But state prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda brought up two altercations in George Zimmerman’s past, including one arrest. "Yes, he has informed me of those charges," Shellie Zimmerman said. Later, she added, "He's not a violent person, nor is he a threat to the community."

Investigator Gilbreath Put on Stand
Mark O'Mara, questioned an investigator for the special prosecutor, sentence by sentence, about a probable cause affidavit the investigator signed outlining certain facts in the case.
Investigator Dale Gilbreath testified that he does not know whether Martin or Zimmerman threw the first punch and that there is no evidence to disprove Zimmerman's contention he was walking back to his vehicle when confronted by Martin. The affidavit says "Zimmerman confronted Martin and a struggle ensued."
But Gilbreath also said Zimmerman's claim that Martin was slamming his head against the sidewalk just before he shot the teenager was "not consistent with the evidence we found." He gave no details.

Experts say O'Mara Made Smart Move to Question Investigator
"I thought it was a really great thing to do," said Tom Mesereau, a Los Angeles attorney whose clients have included singer Michael Jackson and actor Robert Blake. "He used the hearing to get information that can only help his defense. What was supposed to be strictly a hearing for bail, he used it as a discovery device, and was able to nail the investigator into making very, very pointed statements about the investigation and about what evidence they have."
The questioning exposed some of the weaknesses in the state's case, said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. Attorney in Miami who is now in private practice.
"There are many miles left in this case but I think O'Mara helped the defense by eliciting those responses," Coffey said. "He is going to look for the chance to cross-examine that same investigator and ask him the same questions. If the investigator changes his story, he is going to lose credibility with the jury."

[ThoughtFox]

George Zimmerman At Bond Hearing Apologizes To The Martin Family - YouTube

George Zimmerman At Bond Hearing Apologizes To The Martin Family - YouTube

Transcripts:

CNN Transcript: Bail Hearing Part One
CNN Transcript: Bail Hearing Part Two
CNN Transcript: Bail Hearing Part Three

CNN's Kyra Phillips: George Zimmerman will not walk free today, but the judge did set $150,000 bond right there within his bond hearing, electronic monitoring with GPS, a curfew, and he will have to check in with authorities every three days with regard to his location.

[Reader]

Defense worried about Zimmerman's safety in Florida

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...ety/54456272/1

..........Defense attorneys for other high-profile clients who awaited trial on bail had advice for how to protect the man whose shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin sparked nationwide protests: Get him out of Florida, keep him from going out in public and never leave him alone.

"He clearly puts himself in jeopardy unless he takes precautions," said New York attorney Barry Slotnick, who represented subway shooter Bernhard Goetz in the 1980s.
------

But until then, Zimmerman's attorneys should expect intense interest in where Zimmerman is, said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. Attorney in Miami who is now in private practice.

"I think they have to be prepared for a manhunt by not only members of the media but curious onlookers," Coffey said. "The whereabouts of George Zimmerman will be one of the most intriguing curiosities of the legal world in the coming weeks."

Post-bail security costs don't come cheap, either, and it could be extremely difficult for Zimmerman to pay for it. His attorney is considering having him declared indigent, and his wife has no income because she is in nursing school and does not work.

More at link.....

[okiedokietoo]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice...ist-with-a-gun
By Patrik Jonsson, Staff writer / April 21, 2012
George Zimmerman, charged with the murder of teenager Trayvon Martin, stood up for the downtrodden and wanted to become a magistrate judge to help society. How does this square with depictions of him as a racist vigilante?

At a bond hearing Friday, Zimmerman’s Hispanic mother, Gladys Zimmerman, disagreed with prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda’s suggestion that a 2005 arrest for assaulting a police officer showed a violent streak in the married 28-year-old, who stands accused by the state of second degree murder
Instead, she said it fit his personality in another way: His zeal to intervene to protect a friend who was being pushed up against a wall by men who turned out to be two plain-clothes law enforcement officers..........

According to his mother, Zimmerman, who was once beaten up in high school, cares about the downtrodden and forgotten, going so far as to rally Sanford residents in defense of a homeless man who was beaten, eventually getting a commendation from the city’s mayor for his work on behalf of social justice.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/cops-s...of-jail/nKJgK/
Monday, Jan. 3, 2011
Cop's Son Accused Of Beating Man Walks Out Of Jail