The Show Must Go On
The prosecution tried several times to make a big deal out of the fact that George Zimmerman used a gun to defend his life. They belabored the point of describing the gun in detail, and how it was carried, and how it was loaded. But, if they were in hopes of attacking Florida's SYG law, they fell way short — as pointed out in an recent article by John Lott.
None of the [prosecution's witness] testimony ever explained why the “Stand Your Ground” law was even relevant to Zimmerman’s actions.
The reason that the prosecution didn't get any traction on the SYG issue is that it was never made an issue.
...whether Zimmerman’s actions were legal has nothing to do with the “Stand Your Ground” law.
Prior to “Stand Your Ground,” citizens who wanted to defend themselves from a criminal had to retreat as far as possible and then announce to the criminal that they were going to shoot. The “Stand Your Ground” law simply says replaced the original requirement to retreat to a “reasonable person’s” standard, instead stating that lethal force is justified when a reasonable person would believe that a criminal intends to inflict serious bodily harm or death.
But Zimmerman’s defense has never raised the “Stand Your Ground” law for one simple reason: with Zimmerman on his back and Trayvon Martin holding him down, he had no option to retreat.
On the brink of losing consciousness, and in fear for his life, George Zimmerman not only didn't have the option to retreat, he had no other options at all — if he wanted to go on living.
The evidence presented so far, the prosecution's "case", has left no doubt in my mind that George Zimmerman, while in fear for his life, shot Trayvon Martin in self defense.
It is a case that prosecutors should never have brought, but they let politics influence their decision.
Next, it will be the defense’s turn to present their case. But, for all practical purposes, the Zimmerman trial is already over.
But, as Yogi Berra once said...........
-fl