George Zimmerman found not guilty.

[avoncallingu]

At 10 o'clock tonight after 16 hours of deliberation - 6 women - 5 white and 1 "mixed race" returned a verdict of "not guilty."

I think that the prosecution let the Martin family down.

A young man walking through his neighbourhood on his way home can be shot dead and his killer walks free.

[walkonby]

are you freaking kidding me? I am so sad for the Martin family as well.

[sassypants]

I think a jury of women (with fathers, husbands, and children) took their time to reach a verdict they can live with for the rest of their lives ... evidence on both sides was just not clear enough to provide guilt without 'reasonable doubt' surrounding that night.

It is part of our legal system to either show guilt or innocence ... and I'm impressed that the jurors sought clarification of legal terms (most of us would be uninformed to do so.)

But - that's my viewpoint ... and it's understandable that there will be many views of this case and the extra information we are provided with as 'viewers'.

[madchives]

first of all, if those nutty americans didn't have such silly/stupid/insane gun laws,
this maybe would not have happened,
and yes i think zimmerman is guility of something, he did shot a young guy,
watched quite a bit of the coverage on cnn, the nutty network, saw an interview with a previous
prosecutor in new york, and he figured since the 'race' issue is not a factor in new york
zimmerman would have been found guilty of something.
perhaps it is a location situation,

remembering something i heard about sanford florida, wasn't long ago that when
the law changed and allowed black people to enjoy the public pools, the
city poured concrete into them, this race thingy is such a decisive problem there.
have a white friend in a chicago suburb, they won't go to a red lobster restaurant
because of where it is and how worried they are about going.

loved what i saw from the calgary stampede
(not the animals being bothered part) the diversity of this country, always
warms my heart

[Shwa Girl]

Trayvon Martin's family can take the case to civil court now.

The US Justice Service is reviewing whether George Zimmerman violated Trayvon Martin's civil rights by following him etc.

Our country is far from perfect but I am so glad that I am a Canadian.

[Patty Smyth]

The biggest factor in this case is there was NO WITNESS other than the 2 involved. That alone is enough for reasonable doubt. If I were on the jury I probably would have voted not guilty also based on that.

That being said he may have been found not guilty but he is certainly not innocent. He made a huge mistake not following the instructions of the 911 operator when they told him to STOP following him. Of course then there are the gun laws. Everyone thinks there a freaking cowboy sheriff.

[frugal50]

Colpevole!!!!

zimmerman now join the ranks of the juice, casey anthony and foxxy knoxxy.

[vesper]

There is a huge difference between what the media reports and the actual evidence at the trial.

Based on the evidence, it is my opinion the jury was correct on this one.

Just like the Casey Anthony case in Florida a couple years ago, the evidence heard in trial is the only evidence jurors can consider, and that evidence is almost always very different then the evidence heard (and often made up) in trials. THe State MUST make the case!

FOr me, the fact the state witness was forced to admit, that yes, Martin was shot in a position consistent with being on top, not under, pretty much destroyed the theory Zimmerman attacked the kid, pinned him down, and executed Martin.

That and the fact witness's saw and heard Zimmerman screaming for his life, not the other way around, as the media repeatedly claimed.

The biggest issue here IMO is media trials. Most of the 'evidence' presented in the media, never made it to trial, mostly because it did not exist.

[Patty Smyth]

^^^ I agree, there are too many armchair lawyers out there spewing all kinds of crap.

[vesper]

^^^ I agree, there are too many armchair lawyers out there spewing all kinds of crap.

Patty... Amanda Knox! Of all the armchair lawyer BS... this one takes the cake. To this day, the media still reports things that have been proven to be false and ignores the evidence that makes it very clean, Knox not only was part of teh killing, but held the knife. Cripes!!

[Darth Penguin]

FOr me, the fact the state witness was forced to admit, that yes, Martin was shot in a position consistent with being on top, not under, pretty much destroyed the theory Zimmerman attacked the kid, pinned him down, and executed Martin.

That and the fact witness's saw and heard Zimmerman screaming for his life, not the other way around, as the media repeatedly claimed.

And yet...If Zimmerman had listened and obeyed what the dispatcher said, ie back off because the police are on thier way, Martin most likely would still be alive and Zimmerman wouldn't have needed to go to trial.

[avoncallingu]

Sadness all around!

[Patty Smyth]

Sorry just had to post this

[frugal50]

Racism can't be proved, but, FACT: Trayvon wasn't doing anything that warrented him to be followed by a strange gunman. FACT: in Zimmermans own words Trayvon was running away from him, so Zimmerman was not in any danger. FACT: Zimmernan follwed Trayvon even after the 911 operator told him not to. FACT: Zimmerman had a gun, FACT: Trayvon did not. FACT: Zimmerman killed Trayvon. FACTS: Trayvon had the right to stand his ground against a gunman who was following him for no reason at all.

[abbasgirl]

And yet...If Zimmerman had listened and obeyed what the dispatcher said, ie back off because the police are on thier way, Martin most likely would still be alive and Zimmerman wouldn't have needed to go to trial.

I've always thought Zimmerman was guilty of being an idiot, but not of murder.