Media got Zimmerman story wrong from start

[Phishfan]

^^^ He did not seek re-election and left office in Januray.

[Spider-Dan]

To run a toxicology report?  You don't understand PC in the least. That is not PC that one is under the influence of drugs.  

Red eyes, slurred voice, unable to walk a straight line, etc.

As far as I can tell, in Florida, an autopsy report requires consent from a health care surrogate.  As I read the statute, if an appropriate health care surrogate cannot be determined, an autopsy may be performed sans consent not less than 48 hours after death.  Martin's father called in a Missing Persons report and was informed of his death the morning after the shooting.

Wouldn't that mean that the police asked for consent to perform an autopsy (and toxicology report) on Martin?  If so, what was their cause for doing so?  And why did they not ask for the same consent from Zimmerman?

Half-hearted investigation is too generous a description.

Wouldn't be surprised in the least if he is challenged, b/c of his reluctance.  Also the DA did eventually cave in to political pressure.

He determined that there was not enough evidence to even charge Zimmerman, yet half the jury went into deliberation believing there was enough evidence to convict him.  Doesn't seem like the DA was particularly motivated to pursue (or even fully investigate) that case.

[pondwater]

The majority of the media act as the "watchdogs of the oppressed" and are biased in that direction. The media always uses people who are affected by emotion rather than logic for their own agenda. Anyone who thinks that the verdict was wrong, ask yourself this. Do you personally know more about the facts of this case than the Sanford PD, original district attorney, and the jury? If you answer yes, you are lying to yourself. If you answer no, you now know that you have been emotionally hijacked or have racial issues. Either way, the case is over and the jury has spoken. Legally, no crime has been committed by George Zimmerman

[CF DolFan]

The result of what three jurors' initial reaction doesn't qualify whether something is illegal or not. 12 people let Casey Anthony walk and besides most of America, the judge thought it was pretty cut and dry.

Long time sequestered juries are usually nuts and see what most people don't. ... IE OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony.

[masterfins]

"Lee publically admitted that officers accepted Zimmerman's word at the scene that he had no police record.

Two days later during a meeting with Trayvon's father Tracy Martin, an officer told the father that Zimmerman's record was 'squeaky clean.'"

If you want to bring up Zimmerman's "police record" tell the whole story.  Zimmerman, when he was 21, was in a bar when a friend was being accused of serving a minor alcohol by a liquor control enforcement officer.  Zimmerman (who I presume had probably been drinking) was belligerent and the LCE officer tried to lead Zimmerman away and Zimmerman pushed him.  So, Zimmerman was arrested.  What you also fail to mention is that this charge was expunged from Zimmerman's record after completing an alcohol awareness course.  Having the record expunged gives Zimmerman the right to say he doesn't have a record.  And since it was expunged I doubt it would have shown up on any search by the Sanford PD.

[Spider-Dan]

Anyone who thinks that the verdict was wrong, ask yourself this. Do you personally know more about the facts of this case than the Los Angeles PD, original district attorney, and the jury? If you answer yes, you are lying to yourself. If you answer no, you now know that you have been emotionally hijacked or have racial issues. Either way, the case is over and the jury has spoken. Legally, no crime has been committed by OJ Simpson

Equally true as everything you just said.

[Spider-Dan]

What you also fail to mention is that this charge was expunged from Zimmerman's record after completing an alcohol awareness course.

If it was expunged, then you would not be able to find it in the records.  Q.E.D.

The charge was waived after Zimmerman agreed to undergo an alcohol awareness course.  The arrest and charges were not expunged from his record.

Furthermore, to tell the whole story you should probably also mention the restraining orders (for domestic violence) on Zimmerman and his ex-girlfriend from 2005.

So we have someone who has been previously arrested for violent, disorderly conduct while drinking, and has had a restraining order granted against him on domestic violence grounds.  No need to check him for BAC, though.  He seems legit.

[Spider-Dan]

The result of what three jurors' initial reaction doesn't qualify whether something is illegal or not.

If you have half the jury leaning towards conviction going into deliberation, the idea that the evidence was too flimsy to even charge him is completely untenable.

[pondwater]

So we have someone who has been previously suspended from school THREE times, kicked out of his house by his mother, bragging about fighting different people and drug use.  No need to check him for being a thug, though.  He seems legit.

Equally true as everything you just said.

Ditto, equally true as everything you just said.

I like word games

[Spider-Dan]

Good point!  If Martin had just killed someone and the police had investigated him with any sort of serious diligence, I would have expected him to be (at a very minimum) arrested, and almost certainly charged with a crime.

Instead of, you know, simply taking his word that he's a Good Guy and letting him wander around a police station unescorted for a few hours.

[masterfins]

If it was expunged, then you would not be able to find it in the records.  Q.E.D.

The charge was waived after Zimmerman agreed to undergo an alcohol awareness course.  The arrest and charges were not expunged from his record.

Furthermore, to tell the whole story you should probably also mention the restraining orders (for domestic violence) on Zimmerman and his ex-girlfriend from 2005.

So we have someone who has been previously arrested for violent, disorderly conduct while drinking, and has had a restraining order granted against him on domestic violence grounds.  No need to check him for BAC, though.  He seems legit.

The article I read said it was expunged, however either way there is not a conviction on his record.  So if a police officer asked him whether he had a criminal record he was completely accurate in saying no.  Regarding his ex-girlfriend, he was not arrested, nor charged, with domestic violence; and they EACH had restraining orders granted against each other.  He really must have gotten good at hiding his violent criminal past though since he avoided any other trouble for (7) years.    Oh wait, I'm wrong he was charged with speeding in 2006.

[pondwater]

Good point!  If Martin had just killed someone and the police had investigated him with any sort of serious diligence, I would have expected him to be (at a very minimum) arrested, and almost certainly charged with a crime.

Instead of, you know, simply taking his word that he's a Good Guy and letting him wander around a police station unescorted for a few hours.

You have said this a few times. Why on earth would you care if Zimmerman wandered around a police station? At the time he was not charged with a crime. At the time there was no direct evidence that he committed a crime. So it would stand to reason that the police wouldn't have him locked up. And, by the way. Zimmerman was and is not guilty

[Spider-Dan]

That's mighty courteous treatment for a murder suspect.

Unless you're saying that the Sanford PD already considered the investigation closed?