From the start I thought it was a strong case for manslaughter in the Martin case.

[RBInMaine]

I am hoping the jury in the Trayvon Martin case will bring back a finding of manslaughter. I think that the Murder-2 case is a pretty tough climb because of the element concerning the level of intent. Though Zimmerman had anger, frustration, assumption, and prejudice (i.e. believed Martin was up to no good based on his appearance) in his mind and heart, was it intense enough to make him want to kill Martin? He did not shoot immediately. It is fuzzy as to just what was said by whom at the moment of physical contact, etc. Though Murder-2 doesn't require premeditation, there still has to be a very significant level of intent.

Manslaughter is negligent homicide. If you read the editorial by the lawyer in the Miami Herald posted here, he makes a strong case for the manslaughter charge, and I think this is part of why the prosecutors urged the jury over and again to go back to the beginning and look at the WHOLE picture. Zimmerman had a loaded gun. He was a grown adult. He pursued Trayvon against his neighborhood watch program training, against the advice of the dispatcher, and against any sense of good judgement. There is no question he spun a MASSIVE WEB OF LIES afterward to justify his actions. In the end, through VERY negligent behavior, his actions led to a series of events that provoked a confrontation ending in him shooting and killing an unarmed teenager who was just trying to walk home.

ZIMMERMAN WAS VERY NEGLIGENT AND USED HORRID JUDGEMENT FROM START TO FINISH, AND HIS ACTIONS LED TO THIS TRAGIC RESULT. And what you see him doing through his web of lies and changing stories right up to the Hannity interview is trying to convince himself (and others) that his actions were justified.

We are living in a sad world if a teenage kid walking home with candy and a drink ends up dead before he gets home due to the obvious very negligent actions of an adult, an overzealous cop wannabe, and that person is not held accountable. A very sad world indeed if that happens. The manslaughter case is strong and a message needs to be sent that this is UNACCEPTABLE.

[Scootaloo]

1. As per the instructions to the jury...

I think that Murder 2 isn't out of the realm of possibility.

"These fucking punks. These assholes always get away." - Zimmerman's own words.

Nothing in the outline for Murder 2 says it has to be spite, hatred, or malice directed at a specific person; just that such emotions and intents must be there. And I think that line from Zimmerman, famously spoken word-for word on a live CNN feed in the prosecuion's opening remarks, pretty clearly demonstrate such spite and malice.

Now whether the jury goes full-out with Murder 2, or with manslaughter... Either way Zimmerman gets locked up for what he did. But I'm almost certain that "not guilty" will not be passing the jury's lips.

[yourout]

2. The second he he spewed his hate and ignored the 911 operator it became no less that manslaughter...

But you are right the Murder 2 is a bit of a push.

[RBInMaine]

4. Every case is a little different with different circumstances.

Different circumstances, different case, different time, different jury...

I hear you.

We talk about using common sense. Juries do that. I seem them having a hard time with the Murder-2, but I can see them convicting on manslaughter.