Trayvon Martin's mom says it was an accident

[exboyfil]

George Zimmerman in court today; Trayvon Martin’s mother says shooting ‘an accident’

BY TOLUSE OLORUNNIPA, FRANCES ROBLES AND DANIEL CHANG The Miami Herald

How can she believe that Trayvon is pleading for his life, and it was an accident? That makes absolutely no sense? The lady is just too nice. Being out of control is not an accident.

There goes Murder 2.



“I believe it was an accident,’’ she said. “I believe that it just got out of control, and he couldn't turn the clock back. ... I would ask him, did he know that that was a minor, that that was a teenager and that he did not have a weapon.’’

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/12/2744193/george-zimmerman-charged-with.html#storylink=cpy

[ecstatic]

1. Uggh. Zimmerman shot to kill

It was not an accident!

[enough]

2. Judging from her very moving statement at the press conference, she is so overwhelmed

with gratitude and emotion about the fact that Zimmerman was arrested. Psychologically, she may feel that the truly significant obstacle has been overcome, and she wants now to start healing, forgiving, etc. This is understandable given the unbelievable trauma of having your child killed, and given the fact that she seems to be a deeply sincere Christian.

I have no idea what effect this statement may have on the outcome of the judicial process.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. "There goes Murder 2"

Nope.

[TomClash]

4. So what?

She's not a witness. She wasn't there.

[marshall]

14. She may be privy to information that we don't have

She is closer to the case than we are, and has likely talked to all the officials involved.

[TomClash]

27. Not likely

Why then would the special prosecutor file an Information for Murder 2 if it was an accident? She's closer to the case than anyone. Presumably, she's reviewed everything.

[marshall]

28. She may not know as much as the special prosecutor

But my points is, she probably knows more than you and me.

[Solomon]

5. The right wing and media have seized on this statement

as the lead theme in every report I've heard this morning. Really pissing me off. I have been saying it since Zimmerman started peddling his lies, before its over it will be "the gun went off accidentally". Really pissing me off.

[Tom Rinaldo]

19. Good.

Because the more they do so the more horrible this crime becomes on a human level to everyone who listens to this good all american Mom who just lost her son to senseless violence. The two most important follow through from this human tragedy are 1) to force more whites to confront their latent fear of blacks, and racism, that leads to racial profiling and tragic deaths and 2) to force a reexamination of ""hold your ground" legislation. Whether or not Zimmerman is convicted of willful murder or gross negligence under a Manslaughter stature is way farther down on the list of lasting consequences for our society.

[Blue_Tires]

20. The right wing and media would have seized on anything...

especially had she said "give him the chair" or something

[snooper2]

6. Why would you think that has ANY bearing on the charges filed?

[Daniel537]

7. This statement shouldn't matter when the case goes to court, but

it wouldn't surprise if the jury were to acquit Zimmerman and the next day a juror uses this as an excuse as to why they voted to acquit. The Martin family lawyers should really be telling the family not to speak out in public now that this case is headed to court. Statements like this can come back to haunt you.

[EOTE]

8. She wasn't there.

So her being too kind really doesn't affect the outcome of this trial at all.

[cthulu2016]

9. She's not a lawyer

People often use "accident" incorrectly to refer to error.

[obamanut2012]

10. The Plaintiff is the State of Florida

Not the Martins, since this is not a civil case.

[warrior1]

11. I like to think

that for Trayvon's memory and lasting change in the world, one has to forgive. If this is how she feels, I hope it gives her peace. They want justice and what she says changes nothing about this case.

I respect her for what she has said. She is a bigger heart than I could.

[Bluerthanblue]

21. I like

the way you think. And I agree. She's said "all I wanted was a trial". Think about it- what punishment would ever bring Trayvon back? What punishment will give people pause to think twice about acting as Zimmerman did?

Without a trial, without consequences there is no reason for people not to see actions like Zimmerman's as legitimate. Had the state not pressed charges, with the flimsy excuse that

the SYG law makes it too difficult

, would anyone really take anything positive away from this tragedy?

It isn't difficult for me to believe that Trayvon was a good kid, he wasn't looking for trouble as he walked back to his step-mothers house that rainy evening. Everything his family has said and done throughout this whole ordeal shows the kind of people they are. His brother Jahvaris didn't scream out for blood, neither did his parents. All that they asked was that the authorities not sweep this under the rug. NOT vigilante justice or some kind of pay-back, but that Trayvon's death not go down without the chance that help stop another person from the same fate.

A trial should make everyone stop and ask why a 17yr old shouldn't be able to walk home to a 'gated' community without being shot to death, by someone who believed them self capable of being in possession of concealed loaded handgun without using it to kill someone who- until Zimmerman's gun was brought into the situation- could have posed no threat to him at all.


People need to look at this and learn something.

I admire and respect the way Trayvon's family has dealt with this incredible tragedy. I don't respect the way Zimmerman's father brother and 'friends' have acted, on their own and his behalf.

[kiva]

25. When my nephew was murdered by another young man,

his parents came to this place - the notion of forgiveness gave them a measure of peace. They have two other sons, and I think much of their desire to forgive the killer was to try to bring that sense of peace to the boys.

[RZM]

12. I think what she's saying is that it didn't have to happen. And she has a point there

My opinion has always been that Zimmerman confronted Trayvon and the two had words. The words led to a physical confrontation, during the course of which Zimmerman produced his gun and shot Trayvon.

None of that stuff had to happen. The initial confrontation didn't have to take place. The fight didn't have to take place. And the shooting didn't have to take place.

I think that's what she's getting at. It was an unfortunate and unnecessary series of events that led to the tragedy.

[Solomon]

13. I agree, but that wont stop the rightwing from

milking it to death.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. She's a good woman, it's not a problem if she's merciful toward Zimmerman

First off, she and her husband are the ones who have to live through each day with the searing loss of their son from Zimmerman's actions. She has to find a way to live without being consumed by bitterness and anger over something she can not change. God bless her. her grace sheds more honor on her son and that helps our nation better come to grips with the horrific nature of this "teaching moment". White Americans need to feel in their gut the horror of this, the fact that Trayvon's parents are such good honestly decent people helps drive the point home that this can happen to anyone if steps aren't taken to stop racial profiling and vigilante laws and mentality.

Second, there is a solid hard bitten prosecutor on this case who happens to have excellent "anti-crime" creds in conservative Republican circles. She also happened to be appointed by a right wing Republican Governor. No one can make a claim that she is a bleeding heart liberal trying to push her own anti gun "pro minorities" Democratic agenda., or that she is only buckling to public pressure to go after Zimmerman. I have no doubt she can handle that heat and shut it down.

We are all caught now in the babbling "pre-game show", whether we like it or not. Yes there are some real issues to discuss but the media is trying to fill 10 hours a day of cable news content and it is mostly hyper fluff from both sides. Eventually a real trial will begin and real evidence and testimony will be presented and arguments over 2nd degree murder, manslaughter, "accidents" and the like will be henceforth be based on what goes on in the courtroom. The Prosecutor is a pro.

[Bluerthanblue]

22. bravo-

so very well said.

[Lizzie Poppet]

16. I think she's saying it wasn't Zimmerman's original intent to kill.

That's probably correct, too. Zimmerman's behavior was, from everything I've been able to learn about the incident so far, reckless and irresponsible, and it lead to the death of an innocent person. That's at least manslaughter and Murder 2 isn't off the table. But it wasn't Murder 1.

I don't think she meant "accident" in the sense of an accidental discharge of the weapon.

[arcane1]

17. There goes Murder 2?

His mother's opinions have nothing to do with his charge or his trial. That's not how the system works.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Her opinion on the matter will not be admissible in court

[LanternWaste]

23. Specifically how does the one (accident) deny the other (pleading for life)?

Specifically how does the one (accident) deny the possibility for the other (pleading for life)?

[uppityperson]

24. I hope she can find peace with her son being killed. eom

[surrealAmerican]

26. She's a grieving parent.

If it helps her to believe that nobody would deliberately murder her son, so be it.