Not Guilty Verdict: Shooting Of Trayvon Martin

July 13, 2013

Trayvon-MartinThe jury in the trial of George Zimmerman — who fatally shot an unarmed teenager — returned a not guilty verdict this evening [July 13].

According to CNN, the all female jury basically had three choices: to find Zimmerman guilty of second-degree murder; to find him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter; or to find him not guilty.

On February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin was walking back to his father’s fiancee’s house from a convenience store in Florida, where he’d bought Skittles and a drink. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, spotted him and called police saying he thought the teenager was “suspicious.”

A 911 dispatcher told Zimmerman that officers were on the way and not to follow the allegedly suspicious person. However Zimmerman got out of his car and ended up shooting the 17-year-old, who sustained fatal wounds. Zimmerman has been accused of racially profiling the African-American teenager, a claim the defense denied.

The acquittal means Zimmerman is a free man and will be able to walk out of the courthouse, however one of his attorneys said that Zimmerman is a “marked man and lives in fear for his life.”

Many Bermudians have been following the trial, and within minutes of the verdict many locals began to flood social media expressing their outrage at Zimmerman walking free.

Read More About

Category: All, Court Reports, Crime, News

Comments (154)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

Articles that link to this one:

  1. Weekend Reports, Photos, Videos, Links & More | Bernews.com | July 15, 2013
  1. MAKE MY DAY says:

    I sent the following email to Mark O’Mara’s website….

    Congratulations to George Zimmerman on receiving the *RIGHT* verdict!!!

    Congratulations to you and your team – including of course Don West for clearing George Zimmerman of the “false charges” that were brought against him for political and racial reasons!!!

    I’m sure your services will be in high demand in the future for performing a brilliant defense case!!

    Well done sir!!!

    • Jus' Askin' says:

      You really are funny dude ;-)

    • Jolly Rancher says:

      someone is dead & the man that did it is free I don’t see anything to congratulate the defense team about! It Is ridiculous and GZ has to live the rest of his life watching his back trust and believe …Trayvon went to the store to purchase skittles and ice tea now tell what possible was he trying do make GZ him tastE the rainbowwwwwwww???? come on

      WHERE IS THE JUSTICE

      • margeI says:

        I wonder why this young Trayvon Martin’s past crimes were not allowed in the trial ? and his cell phone photos should have been allowed in this case….he was not an innocent kid, and in this gated community there was a lot of home invasions….so what the hell do you do to stop these crimes ? you set up a neighbor hood watch….and at the end of the day this was the outcome…….there is more to this story, and it will all come out.

        • andre says:

          margel are you serious? An innocent not he did not deserve to be hunted down because of a suspicion based on wearing a hoodie in the rain. That is the polices job to persue not some vigilante.

        • jonny says:

          Margel, what about GZ past crimes of assaulting a police officer and domestic abuse. How innocent is he. The point is GZ profiled Travon. Are you telling me all the home invasions in that neighborhood where done by all black ppl.

          • Sandy Bottom says:

            Excluded was the fact that TM videotaped friends beating up a homeless man. Along with gun and grug photos.

            When you talk about “past crimes” of assaulting a Police officer, you’re actually blatantly lying. There was an allegation but no case was ever pursued. No charges and no conviction. No “past crime” exists. You’re relying on lies and fabrications, which makes your whole argument appear weak.

      • Jesus Kosher Hot Dog says:

        I’m not sure why this is on Ber News.

        None of us knows what happened that night so why are we all experts? Why the guessing and conjecture?

        Move on…nothing to see here people.

        • jonny says:

          because its national news you prick

          • rock says:

            National, really? Not Bermuda national. Stop being silly. He is right, none of us are experts.

          • Sandy Bottom says:

            Not in Bermuda you prick

    • frank says:

      well I suppose you are an a==hole let me set you straight George only followed him because he was black
      the 911 person told him to stay in his car okay
      he had o loaded gun mr martin had skiddles and a drink
      it is a rainy night and this greepy guy is following me
      he shot him not because he had to but because he wanted to
      a wanna be cop.
      sad in 2013 a white Hispanic can shoot and kill a black man
      and be in court with a grin on his face
      George Zimmerman is going to get what he deserves sooner or later
      no justice no peace

      • John says:

        Small minded, what if it was the other way round??? Get a life

        • andre says:

          Race is an element but it does not matter what complexion of skin colour. If George Zimmerman had waited for the police to arrive. We would not be here talking about it. He may not b e guilty but he is responsible for killing someone.

          • jonny says:

            It does matter, incase you didn’t know, Justice is not blind and never will be, because the ppl are not blind. Race is always a major factor in these cases because GZ would never had acted the same way had that been a white kid walking home in the rain with a hoodie, he probably would have stopped and offered him a ride.

    • Impressive says:

      Even if you believe that idiotic statement that you posted, you could have waited a few days before posting that rubbish.. People are hurting sir.. a young boy was shot and killed, and you got to nerve to say that the shooter was a victim because of political and racial reasons..

      words cannot express how really disappointed a fellow Bermudian can write such nonsense, regardless of what color, age or sex you may be.. simply amazing.. wow

    • Devils Advocate says:

      This is obviously a trolling statment he/she just wants to stir the pot and would never have the balls to say this in public.

    • Mazumbo says:

      Did you feel the same about O. J Simpson and his Dream Team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • jonny says:

      You are an idiot, talk about racial reasons, GZ profiled Travon simply because he was black, talk about he looked like he was on drugs, how you make that judgment watching from a car in darkness. You know if the roles where switched Travon would have been on death row. Make MY Day you a @#$%

      • R@s cl@d says:

        If everyone breaking into your neighborhood is black, you going to follow the Chinese guy?

    • jonny says:

      http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/zimmerman-verdict-spotlights-2012-stand-your-ground-case?ocid=ansnews11

      you cant tell me race doesn’t play a part or that justice is blind

      • R@s cl@d says:

        Why is this story so important to you? Black youth have been killing Black youth in Bermuda for years, where is your outcry and indignation ? All of a sudden Al Sharpton opens his mouth, the media jumps on the bandwagon , and now because you have been told it is racist you are ready to make noise.

  2. What's next? says:

    It appears the next thing we’ll see is the White House and Department of Justice file federal charges against Zimmerman (for depriving Martin of his civil rights). Don’t forget that Obama has already interjected himself into the case with his “if I had a son comment …” and the Department of Justice provided very signifant amounts of support for anti-Zimmerman rallies including one run by Sharpton.

    Meanwhile I’d also expect Zimmerman to sue the special prosecutor for malicious prosecution – she’s already been criminally indicted by a Grand Jury for falsifying the arrest warrant and withholding evidence (a whistleblower in that matter has already been fired).

    • jonny says:

      well they did it to OJ a black man,even tho he was acquitted they sued the pants off him, so GZ a (white Hispanic) should suffer the same fate

      • R@s cl@d says:

        If GZ is a white Hispanic, would you say Obama is a white Black?

  3. Truth is killin' me... says:

    The prosecution was a joke. He should have been guilty of manslaughter. Zimmerman was a wannabe cop! His defense team were on the ball. Too bad they can’t retry his ass.

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      Based on what facts?

      • jonny says:

        prosecution did drop the ball, GZ is guilty but since they didn’t offer an alternative to events, he got off. The evidence was there to contradicted GZ story so I don’t know what the prosecution was thinking. They say travon was the aggressor, um yea, he was fighting for his life from some creep following him.

    • Based on??? says:

      To repeat Sandy Bottoms question, based on what facts?

    • margeI says:

      I think zimmerman was protecting his gated community….folks we have to protect our families, and the amount of crimes that were going on in this community….something had to be done…

      • jonny says:

        Yea, its called neighborhood watch, that means call police when you see suspicious activity. So I guess a black man walking in the rain with a hoodie is suspicious because only black ppl commit home invasions. What neighborhood watch captain drives around strapped with a concealed weapon? GZ had a gun that is why he felt confident enough to disobey the dispatcher and get out of his car to look for Travon. Remember these words “these a$$holes always get away”, how about his tv interview where he told the reporter “it was gods plan” and that he wouldn’t have done anything different. No remorse for shooting an unarmed kid, oh my mistake, Travon was armed with a sidewalk.

        • Sandy Bottom says:

          He did call the police. Unfortunately TM then backtracked and confronted him, broke his nose, and slammed his head into the ground.

  4. Takbir Sharrieff says:

    Justice is the eventual working out of the will of Allah…..over a period of time…!Zimmerman will receive Justice…..guaranteed.!

    • frank says:

      well I the only place George will be safe now is to go live up on the space station hmmm

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      Allah was off on vacation for the last 3 weeks I take it.

  5. yes says:

    why did Trayvon M
    Martin not have even one character witness?

    • jonny says:

      cause prosecution dropped the ball again, it makes me wonder whether this was all a plan. The door was wide open when the defense brought in that last witness, who talked about one breakin by black ppl, so I guess there has never been a breakin by white ppl in that neighborhood.

  6. God 1st says:

    white privelege was granted in this case which is part of the global extermination of the black race world wide.

    george zimmerman pursued Trayvon martin and his intentions were clear from the on-set .

    • will see says:

      He is not considered white!
      Half Hispanic/Latino.

      • jonny says:

        Well he’s not black, he’s a white Hispanic, hence the jury of his peers, 5 white women and one Hispanic male, not a single black face in the entire Florida area could be found to serve on the jury, really?

        • Sandy Bottom says:

          Well, as you said, it was all a “plan”. The prosecution bungled the case on purpose.

          This is what passes for intelligent discussion around here.

    • E$ says:

      He’s mixed

    • Hey says:

      What??? Extermination…..you are obviously in need of medical help. I can’t wait for you to live the rest of your life…How crazy is it going to drive you that you are WRONG.

  7. God 1st says:

    Florida passed its “Stand Your Ground” law in 2005. Since then, at the behest of the National Rifle Association and the American Legislative Exchange Council, variations on the legislation—which allows individuals who say they believe themselves to be in imminent danger to use deadly force—have been enacted by state legislatures across the country. After the killing of Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012, as media outlets in Florida and nationally have reported: “Police initially did not charge Zimmerman with a crime, citing Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law.”

  8. God 1st says:

    Rodney Glen King (April 2, 1965 – June 17, 2012) was an African-American construction worker who, while on parole for robbery, became nationally known after being beaten by Los Angeles police officers following a high-speed car chase on March 3, 1991. George Holliday, a resident in the nearby area, witnessed the beating and videotaped much of it from the balcony of his nearby apartment.

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      Yep. Nothing at all to do with this case, of course.

      • Mazumbo says:

        Black people have been killed and murdered with no justice in America since they came over on ships, what are you all surprised for, same s–t different year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        • Hey says:

          How about Rebecca Middleton.

          • margeI says:

            where was the out cry with Rebecca, the blacks were very silent about this horrible murder of a young girl….Bermuda is the most racist place in the world !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bermuda is all about playing the race card….just listen to a certain talk show host….

            • Mazumbo says:

              Where was the outcry from whites for the last 300 years in Bermuda for blacks who had to fight the injustice of the Oligarchy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And still fighting.

            • SMH says:

              Margel… Are you even from this planet , let alone local When the Middleton case happened “ALL” Bermudians were upset… Black and White. I still get pissed whenever the topic comes up and yes I’m a young black Bermudian. If you think/thought the black folks were silent, then you weren’t listening. From what I remember the black Bermudians had said they had an idea of the nationality of the perpetrator even before the case went to court. Now I must agree with you racism does exist here, but if you honestly think that Bermuda is the most racist place in the world you obviously must not get out much. Also lets keep in mind that the folks that botched up that case weren’t local, but we were the ones (black and white) left holding the bag. Injustice… Yes… But different situation.

            • Impressive says:

              Most racist place in the world??? omg,, this is getting worse.. Can you tell me the last time a Bermudian crowd has thrown bananas at a sports team that had members of the team that didnt look like the majority of people in the stands???

              ohh, and by the way, I am not talking about 1963.. I am talking about 2012 with the latest incident, but ho hom, we are the most racist because we have talk shows that put racial issues on the table to be discussed.. okay makes sense.

              Do you even know that prior to 1998, for someone to speak their mind about political and social issues was taboo?? maybe you don’t..

              For the record, the murder of Rebecca Middleton was a terrible incident, one in which each and every Bermudian should feel sadness and have some degree of compassion for the parents.. However, if you are trying to equate that to over 400 hundred years of slavery and injustice where Blacks where taken from their native land, treated like animals, brought to a different country in shackles, sold like cattle, whipped, raped, made to work for no money.. Then when they where given “freedom” continued to be treated in an inferior manner, made to work for little or no pay, outcast, abused, and used to build up many of the stronger North American countries, to name a few..

            • jonny says:

              what the hell are you talking about, Bermuda was up in arms over those boys getting off for what they did.

              • Sandy Bottom says:

                Really? Were you even here? Quite a lot of people were very restrained in how ‘up in arms’ they were.

          • Mazumbo says:

            I feel for the family of Rebecca Middleton and I resent the scum bags that did it , but my concern is historical. There is a saying who feels it knows it, I cant speak for the white community and their injustice but I can speak for mine. And mine is ongoing since we came over on ships and I’m not downplaying what happened but my struggle is daily.

        • Sandy Bottom says:

          He wasn’t murdered.

          • Mazumbo says:

            No he was killed for just being BLACK

            • Sandy Bottom says:

              He was killed because he picked on a guy with a gun.

              • jonny says:

                he was killed for fighting for his life against an armed racists. Travon didn’t pursue GZ, he was minding his own business, eating his skittles

                • Zombie Apocalypse says:

                  And while eating his skittles he managed to break GZ’s nose and slam his head to the ground.

            • Hey says:

              So why is his mum still alive

  9. God 1st says:

    The videotaped footage shows five Los Angeles area officers surrounding King and several of them striking him repeatedly. During the beating of King, other officers stood by, without seeming to take action to stop King from being struck. A portion of the footage was aired around the world, inflaming public outrage in Los Angeles and other American cities where racial tension was often high. The videotape also increased public sensitivity to, and anger about, police brutality, racism, and other social inequalities throughout the United States.

    • Hey says:

      Are you trying to incite racial hatred? What does the awful Rodney King crime have to do with this case?

      • Mazumbo says:

        No one has has to incite racial hatred its already a part of our moral fiber in society as a matter of fact most countries that have African people especially European countries or countries with white dominance demonstrates that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        • Sandy Bottom says:

          So why did the majority of the US vote twice for an African American President? If ‘racial hatred is part of the moral fibre of society’?

  10. God 1st says:

    Simi Valley, Calif., April 29 — Four Los Angeles police officers were acquitted of assault today in the videotaped beating of a black motorist that stunned the nation.

  11. Dee Dee says:

    If it had been the other around with same representation. What would the outcome have been?? Hmmnn.

    • Hey says:

      It would have been the same.

      • Impressive says:

        hey,, i have a brand new pink cadillac in my garage.. I will sell it to you for $55 bucks.. You don’t have to worry if its will be allowed on Bermuda’s roads as I got Bruce Willis to make a personal call to Premier Cannonier to allow this car to be used in Bermuda since its such a classic machine..

        so if you want it,, just give me a holla,, $55 is a steal as its full of gas too.. check me

  12. d.o. says:

    @god 1st. I guess we know what you are. I don’t know if it is right or wrong other than one has to believe and trust the judicial system. Both parties had lawyers and were tried before a judge and jury. In this case the jury made a decision based on what they determined from both prosecution and defense arguments. Further the defense and prosecution vet the jurors. I did not watch the proceedings but can only determine the prosecutors case was flawed, hence the verdict.

  13. God 1st says:

    George zimmerman’s father is a white American of German descent[56] and his mother is Peruvian with some black ancestry through her Afro-Peruvian maternal grandfather.Zimmerman’s voter registration record lists him as Hispanic and a registered Democrat.

    • Zombie Apocalypse says:

      These details appear to be very important to you.

  14. God 1st says:

    @ we will see

    Hispanics and Latino do not identify with the black race.

    Facts show that george’s father is white so that means he has white in his D.N.A as well.

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      He has white in his DNA? You really are a frikkin idiot.

      • SMH says:

        LOL “White DNA” Using that logic that must make 99% of the island Caucasian!!! Guess you learn something everyday!

        • Mazumbo says:

          99% has white in their blood doesn’t make you white its the pigmentation that determine’s your race and if that’s the case blacks would be excepted in the white community, do you ask yourself why its 99% white blood in blacks ,do you want to go there or its too embarrassing for you. And being white dos’nt give you a go card eg. Dr Barbara Ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          • Sandy Bottom says:

            You don’t have any idea about the science of DNA do you.

    • Hey says:

      Wow you really are a hispanic, puruvian, latino, white and self hater…. You have to think very little of yourself to have so much hate. Is this God ‘s way and word.

  15. lissa says:

    so lets say zimmerman lost a fight against martin – does this mean that martin deserved to be shot dead?

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      Let’s say someone is slamming your head against the ground. Are you allowed to use force to stop them?

      • Um Jus Sayin says:

        His head would not be slammed against the ground if he would have followed directions and just stayed in his car and let the professionals do their jobs!

        • Zombie Apocalypse says:

          His head would not be slammed against the ground if TM had not done that. TM confronted GZ and wanted a fight.

      • You got it! says:

        Exactly right. That is all this case is actually about.

        All the other nonsense is distraction for certain people to further their own agendas.

      • jonny says:

        How about are you allowed to use deadly force to fight for your life against somebody following you with a gun

        • Zombie Apocalypse says:

          So let me get this straight. GZ calls the police, and then immediately pursues and starts a fight with someone half a foot taller than himself, and who might be armed. After he gets a broken nose and his head slammed against the ground, he decides to shoot the guy. And he does all this because he wants to be a policeman.

          Is that what you think happened?

  16. Banana says:

    Lets say GZ was a female neighborhood watch volunteer. She pursues TM and then ends up with the same injuries and TM is shot. Are we having the same conversation? Still debating whether TM was a victim? It doesn’t matter what race or gender GZ is or was. TM was 6 foot 2 and GZ is 5 foot 7. Self defense claims that you all allowed to use force (deadly force) if you feel as though your life is in danger. All of the evidence and facts support this TM wasn’t simply “walking home with Skittles.”

    • Who knows it feels it! says:

      …ok…so what u and the world are missing is the fact that GZ started this…if he hadn’t racially profiled TM, if he hadnt gotten out of his car, if he hadn’t followed him like the cop told him not to, he wouldn’t have gotten his arss worked and end up shooting an innocent 17 year old boy! Someone starts following you rather than let your wanna be cop self be known that your neighborhood watch, you scare this young man, than what else do you expect…TM stood his ground first! Superficial injuries versus death! Sad case to even see people siding with GZ in Bda…then again, why am I surprised, the racial divide is no different! Sad sad sad case!

      • Racially profiled? says:

        He didn’t profile anyone (other than suspicious behaviour – someone walking close to houses in a neighbourhood that had numerous breakins in recent months and several cases of teenage boys being caught peering into vacant houses).

        The news networks edited Zimmerman’s 911 call to make it appear that the only reason he was following Martin was race.

      • blessings says:

        So that means if a white guy comes in a black neighborhood in a suit-or a black guy comes in a white neighborhood in a hoody, he should be followed because he is not like one of us? We should call 911 and ignore what they say and gun him down? Either could be a hitman in disguise and bold at that!! Who gave Zimmerman the order to shoot? He is not free? As of now his mind is in bondage- his a fool!!!

        • Sandy Bottom says:

          Depends. If the white guy starts a fight with one lone person, breaks his nose with a sucker punch, straddles him, ans slams his head against the ground, then he might expect someone to try to stop him.

    • j crew says:

      Female, male, what difference does it make? Neighborhood WATCH volunteer!! That means his/her job stops at WATCH. After calling the police, they are not to get their gun and follow someone they THINK is up to no good.
      Now, if someone sees Zimmerman can they follow him, let him beat them up, and then shoot him?!
      This is serious. That could have been me, my brother, my son.
      If you just dislike/distrust black people, or think that any one of them is a potential criminal, then just say so. Don’t bore me with falsities, trying to pass them off as fact. Where was Trayvon going if he wasn’t going home from the store?!
      What would you want your child to do if he is being followed by a guy with a gun who thinks your child is up to no good? Who do you think should be making the better choices, the adult or the child?!

      And I hope everybody remembered to set their clocks back 50 years last night!

      • Banana says:

        Do you just listen to the prosecution with no thoughts of your own? You probably also believe the halocaust was a lie. My comment did not involve race, yours does. TM sought GZ as the evidence shows. Your empathy is getting in the way of your judgement.

        • j crew says:

          It is well known GZ was part of a neighborhood watch.
          GZ admits he had a gun. Tells the police officer on the phone that yes, he is following a suspicious person. Was told not to do so. All of this is recorded. Got none of this from “prosecution”.

          Based on my own thoughts, I figured that, since TM lived there, had skittles and a drink, and was walking in that direction, I assumed he was going home. He wasn’t about to break into any house.
          If we cannot agree on the above, we cannot talk. Simple. Believe what you want to believe.

          Also, my comment involved race because this whole incident revolves around race. Remember Emmett Till getting beaten, eye gouged out, and shot in the head for ‘reportedly’ flirting with a white girl? And then the accused getting off, by an all white jury? History tends to repeat itself, particularly when we do not learn from it! You see, empathy for Emmett Till by people who remember, has been passed down to the next generations in the form of empathy for TM – just like empathy for the killers of Emmett (or lack of empathy for Emmett) has been passed down in the form of empathy for GZ (or lack of empathy for TM).

          What that means is that we haven’t progressed as far as some would want us to believe.
          But if you do not see the connection, who cares?

          And i’m not following you on the empathy/judgement thing. To me, judgement is based, to some degree, on empathy or lack thereof. You empathize with GZ, I empathize with TM. What?

          • You got it! says:

            George Zimmerman was not talking to a police officer on the phone and was not told to stop following the suspicious person.

            He was talking to a civilian dispatcher, and the dispatcher gave him a standard disclaimer that he was not required to follow the suspect. This is different from being required to not follow the suspect.

            This removes liability from the police in the event that the caller continues to follow the suspect and ends up, say, being punched in the face by the suspect and having his head slammed into a concrete sidewalk by him.

            By no means an instruction from a police officer to cease following the suspect.

          • Banana says:

            I don’t empathize with either…one was dumb for being overly assertive in his paroling and the other was dumb for engaging in a physical confrontation. There aren’t any winners here. This isn’t racist, GZ didn’t know the guy was black. He might have “profiled” him by the way he dressed but if you do your research, Zimmerman was active in the black community. TM called him a cr@%&er and one would have to agree that the levels of THC in his system probably impaired his judgement. There is a reason why all the witnesses, police, jury, judge, and investigators agree with this logic. If there truly was a case under such national scrutiny, GZ would be behind bars. But hey, maybe the Supreme Court will pick up the case and decide something different.

          • Sandy Bottom says:

            And TM ended up confronting RZ, fighting him, breaking his nose with a sucker punch, and slamming his head against the ground. What he didn’t think about was the possibility his victim had a legally carried gun.

    • jonny says:

      You really are a banana, the correct answer is, stay in your car and call police. The whole reason GZ disobeyed the dispatcher is because he had a gun and felt confident enough to persue Travon and that is why the scuffle took place, Travon was fighting for his life also against a man who brandished a gun against him. That is what the prosecution failed to present.

  17. god1st says:

    @ d.o

    I do not support or trust the western system; it derives form european civilization and life styles. western culture is characterized by a host of artistic, philosophic, literary, and legal themes and traditions; the heritage of celtic ,Germanic, hellenic, jewish,slavic,and linguistic groups as well as Christianity which played an important part in the shaping in the western civilization since at least the 4th century.

  18. Alvin Williams says:

    White America has gotten it’s revenge over the OJ Simpson not guilty verdict with one of thier own Zimmerman walking away from the shooting
    death of Trayvon Martin.
    What was his crime having a Black father living in a gated community in
    which he was visiting and walking through it with a hoodie covering his head on a rainy night?
    Trayvon Martin was a victim of racial profiling; a risk every black man faces whether he live in America or any other country where the Euro-centric mentality exists. So much for the comming into being of a so-called post racial America since it’s first black president Barack Obama was elected.We will now hear of how great the American system of justice is? but let’s see if the Federal government takes up the case and brings Zimmerman to book for his violation of Trayvon Martin’s civil rights by shooting him to death.

  19. Kindley says:

    How did Zimmerman know that Martin was unarmed?

    • Who knows it feels it! says:

      He would have known this as soon as TM started using his God given hands….duh!!,

      • You got it! says:

        His God-given hands… to punch him and slam his head into the concrete sidewalk.

        • jonny says:

          So slamming his head in the concrete and that lil cut on his head is all that came out of it, BS. That cut would have been much larger then that if it was as violent as the defense presented. Ever thought that Travon may have been in fear of his own life at the time of the attack, how do you know GZ didn’t attempt to subdue Travon 1st and Travon fought back. Who cries for help with a gun in their possession 1 sec before a shot is fired.

          • Zombie Apocalypse says:

            Broken nose and bloody head. That’s trivial to you? You’d just let that continue would you?

    • Um Jus Sayin says:

      He may or may not have known, that is why his a@@ was told to stay in his car. He was not qualified to find out either!

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      He didn’t know that at any point. But at the point TM picked up a slab of concrete, he was armed.

      • jonny says:

        Travon did not pickup a slab of concrete your moron, it was the sidewalk they lifted to present in court.

        • Zombie Apocalypse says:

          The sidewalk that GZ’s head was slammed into?

  20. BermudaGirl says:

    A lot of lives have been ruined. One has been taken. Do not take out your own personal racist hatreds out on this court decision. The law is the law. Move forward, and be kinder and more caring to your white/black/hispanic brothers and sisters. We are all in this together, we all have feelings, and we are all trying to get by the best that we can, and will all ultimately die. That is the bottom line. Life is short.

    • Who knows it feels it! says:

      …who knows it feels it! Until you’ve walked the walk, easy for you to say we all simply die some day. Pray you never have to feel such unimaginable pain these parents have felt?

    • jonny says:

      Such wise words have no meanings when injustice is constantly heaped on one particular race.

  21. Kindley says:

    Thank you BermudaGirl. Well put.

  22. Serious though says:

    Pissed!, no comments

  23. As a father myself i put myself in the place of the Martins, but as the law in amercica stands, we know justice not always perfect and goes the way we want!!i should hope they take it to federal court !!!but for all who think it is a racist verdict, i do not agree, to @alvin williams and all who choose to scream about race, how many trayvon martins have been killed in the last 8 to 10 years on our streets of tiny Bermuda??and where was your voices of protest? If Mr Zimmerman, did in deed do this crime, i can bet you he will get his day<<for the rest of his life he will have to look over his back, and if not in this world than the next..The sad thing about this is that if president Barack Obama did not bring this to the media attention like the young girl in Chicago we would never have heard abot this, how many are killed daily but gets no attention because the media or politicians do not bring it out??

  24. Ganja mon says:

    At the end of the day this would NOT have happened if it wasn’t for Zimmerman. The reason GZ had a better story was because he was able to tell his side of the events, leaving the state to prove some how that he lied and or exaggerated. I wonder if these same people praising GZ and his attorney had the same feelings as when Casey Anthony was cleard of charges?

    people are crazy!

    • Zombie Apocalypse says:

      This would not have happened if TM hadn’t confronted GZ. If he had kept going and not turned back and started a fight with GZ, none of it would have happened.

      Interesting how none of TM’s past was allowed at the trial. They went to great lengths to make sure his character didn’t get referenced.

  25. god1st says:

    @ hey

    I don’t know if you came out of the womb of an uncle tom or a European .

  26. god1st says:

    @ hey A jury has found George Zimmerman not guilty of all charges in connection to death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. But while the verdict came as a surprise to some people, it makes perfect sense to others. This verdict is a crystal-clear illustration of the way white supremacy operates in America.

  27. god1st says:

    Throughout the trial, the media repeatedly referred to an “all-woman jury” in that Seminole County courtroom, adding that most of them were mothers. That is true—but so is that five of the six jurors were white, and that is profoundly significant for cases like this one.

    @ hey

    • Zombie Apocalypse says:

      So the proportion of black jurors actually exceeded the proportion of black people in the US. And you seem to find something unfair about that.

  28. god1st says:

    We also know that the lone juror of color was seen apparently wiping a tear during the prosecution’s rebuttal yesterday. But that tear didn’t ultimately convince her or the white people on that jury that Zimmerman was guilty of anything. Not guilty. Not after stalking, shooting and killing a black child, a child that the defense insultingly argued was “armed with concrete.”

    @ hey

  29. UpsetwithVerdict says:

    In this trial there was one adult with a gun and a child with skittles and a drink. The adult called the police and was told to leave the child alone. The adult didn’t listen to the police and decided to pursue the child as he walked. The child asked why are you following me and an altercation happened between the child and the adult. The adult is 10000% guilty of manslaughter. But my gut is he did it on purpose an planned to use his gun anyway n if it wasn’t Trayvon it would have been on another young black man. Until black people Exodus out of America this will always be this case as it has been from the beginning in slavery. In Zimmermans own words ‘they always get away’ which is in reference to young black men is a very racist comment. This was a terrible case and leaves me very upset. No justice for Trayvon, but don’t worry cause the ultimate Judge will deliver his verdict very soon. The Judge that don’t sleep n sees n know all things.

  30. MAKE MY DAY says:

    @What’s next? says:
    July 14, 2013 at 11:07 am…

    **BINGO** and well stated!! Tks for injecting the “Truth” into this matter!! The order came down from BHO/Holder to Special Prosecutor (Angela Corey) in Jacksonville to go after GZ at any cost to appease the blacks in the country!!

    Remember that the Sanford police did NOT want to prosecute him for lack of evidence (60 days) and he also had the “right” to self-defense because he was being beaten by Martin!! You have the “right” to self-defense in all 50 States as well!! You also have the added factor of “Stand your ground” in many States as well!!

    As I have previously stated this was all politically and racially motivated – but at the end-of-the-day the **EVIDENCE** was not there for a conviction of any kind!! The “jury” got it right!!

    Also, RE: Meanwhile I’d also expect Zimmerman to sue the special prosecutor for malicious prosecution – she’s already been criminally indicted by a Grand Jury for falsifying the arrest warrant and withholding evidence (a whistle-blower in that matter has already been fired).

    Her A..Hole is in BIG trouble – especially when you are indicted by a Grand Jury for falsifying an arrest warrant – in her position as a prosecutor!!!

    god1st says:
    July 14, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    The lone juror of color that you refer to was in fact a Hispanic woman – I’m sure you know what a Hispanic is?? Google it!!

    Ganja mon says:
    July 14, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    Take the RACE factor out of this case!! The “evidence” spoke very clearly in favour for GZ… The prosecution did NOT prove their case beyond “reasonable doubt” – it is as simple as that!!

    Alvin Williams says:
    July 14, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    Nothing to do with “white America” as you would have us believe!! It had all to do with a black president (BHO) and his racist AG Holder!! They made the decision to go after GZ for racial and political reasons and it *backfired*!! Case closed!!

    Also, the Federal government have NO case regarding the violation of Trayvon Martin’s civil rights – as this was not proven as a racially motivated “hate” crime!! Dozens of US attorney’s both black and white have affirmed that fact as well as the FBI – which did a separate investigation last year into these facts!!

    Incidentally, OJ Simpson did in fact get-away with a double murder as well – but what goes around comes around and he is now doing 33 yrs in a Nevada prison!! Justice finally served!!

    Racially profiled? says:
    July 14, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    RE: The news networks edited Zimmerman’s 911 call!! They sure did and none more than NBC – who completely altered the audio to make GZ look bad!! Zimmerman’s attorney’s are going to *Sue* them for Millions of $$$!!

    Impressive says:
    July 14, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    RE: a young boy was shot and killed!! He was a 17 yr old youth 6′ 1″ tall (almost 18) and wanna be “gagsta” who had been suspended from school 3 times (once for fighting) and a marijuana user!! He was NOT the little *Saint* you portray him as!! He also had a photo of a gun on his cell phone!!

    These are all the FACTS!! It is what it is!! All Martin had to do was keep walking home instead of confronting and assaulting Zimmerman – and he would be alive today!! He caused his own demise!!

    • amazed says:

      Thankyou!!!!

    • Billy Mays says:

      His height is irrelevant. The contents of his cell phone are irrelevant. His past suspensions are irrelevant. He was lawfully walking on the sidewalk. He was unarmed. He did not initiate contact. He was abiding by the law in every way. His murderer, however, initiated contact for no reason whatsoever, contrary to the instructions of the police, and when his victim was creeped out – as most of us would be when being stalked at night – he confronted his murderer armed with Skittles. Zimmerman stalked and shot dead an unarmed, law-abiding person. That is murder. To allege “self defense” is like saying it’s self-defense when a thug attacks someone in a bar, and then kills his victim when the victim unexpectedly fights back.
      You may or may not be racist, but you are surely a fool.

      • Sandy Bottom says:

        Your version of events makes no sense and that’s why it was rejected by the jury. It also was not corroborated by witnesses. What happened is that TM was irritated by GZ, and after GZ called the Police, TM initiated contact with GZ, confronting him. There was a handfight where TM’s height WAS relevent. TM sucker punched GZ, breaking his nose. Then ended up on top of GZ slamming his head into the ground.

        So at that point, GZ had no choice but to make it stop.

        It’s evident he was assaulted, and It doesn’t make any sense for someone to call the Police and then start trouble.

        TM’s previous character is relevent. If he saw himself as a thug he would be more likely to act like one. But that evidence was kept out if the trial.

  31. God 1st says:

    @ make my day
    Go and find the facts about the black juror .

  32. Muff diver says:

    Rebecca Middleton,OJ Simpson’ wife,both murdered,where was their support?

    • j crew says:

      Two very sad cases.
      Do you want me give you a list of unjust black murders? Whose list do you think will be longer?

      • LOL (original TM*) says:

        I did not want to weigh in on this at all I think the jury was wrong.

        What’s that got to do with anything. So the black list could be longer, does that make any of these murders more or less wrong. Please your racism is showing next you be talking like whites in Bermuda carry on like whites in the US…………….tea party………major PLP tactic try to paint white here as whites in the US this does two things makes it easier to hate what you don’t know and attempts to bind a group of people based on race remeber the other “secret report” ……. Until people get to know each other before letting others that may have any ax to grind tell you who someone is go find out for your self.

        LOL this is a mest up case the jury did not see a conviction in the cards for this case. Could it be that both parties had a bit of the blame here. In this corner a fake cop and in the other a person that due to the racial history of the US probably was scarred to the point of believing he had to protect himself from any possible out come. It came to who ever had the best weapon.

  33. Alvin Williams says:

    I doubt very much Zimmerman would have stalk a white male in the way he
    stalk Trayvon Martin.
    He was told not to get out of his car and to wait untill the police arrived but took it upon his self to confront Trayon and shot him to death in the process. He is afraid of black men now; well may he have many nightmares untill justice catches up to him if the Federal government don’t get him first for violating Trayvon Martin’s civil and human rights.
    No one tell me about racial forgiveness, First comes atonement and I have
    not seen enough of that comming from the Euro-centric world with respect to thier historical and current treatment of the non-white world.

    • Grand Wizzard says:

      what a retarded thing to say, and retarded way to think. i really hope you are joking cuz its pathetic to a new level.

    • Zombie Apocalypse says:

      This case is probably “solved” by the information from the 911 transcript. From my understanding, GZ reported being watched by TM, who disappeared into the shadows. After a short delay, GZ followed, unable to see TM. At that point TM had a head start and should have been well on his way home. Instead he either stopped and waited for GZ, or backtracked and approached GZ. GZ reported TM watching when GZ was talking on the phone. But the confrontation happened after GZ hung up with the 911 dispatcher, and in the opposite direction from TM’s house from his last position as reported by GZ during the 911 call.

      So it looks like TM either waited in the shadows for GZ, or more likely backtracked. GZ could not see TM, but TM apparently could see GZ. So TM controlled the contact, and waited until GZ hung up the phone to initiate the contact.

      It makes “sense” that an offended 6’2″ teen would attack a smaller man who he does not realize has a gun.

      It makes less sense that a guy who has called the cops 50 times before without this kind of problem, who as already asked the police to intervene, who knows the police are on the way, and who has a pistol, decides to chase down and fistfight a larger man.

  34. MAKE MY DAY says:

    @God 1st says:
    July 14, 2013 at 9:19 pm

    There was NO black juror – there were 5 white and on Hispanic woman!!!

    You need to do you “due diligence” more thoroughly!!

  35. MAKE MY DAY says:

    That should read…ONE Hispanic woman!!

  36. BermudaGirl says:

    You all sound petty, hateful, and racist. You are just keeping it going; this is the time to CHANGE, one by one, action by action.

  37. Love My Son says:

    This was not a case about racism, period.

    Not all homicide is criminal in nature, and not all homicide is murder. Murder is first degree homicide, and it is when you had the sole intention to kill with either predetermination, malice, or afterthought. Second degree isn’t that much different, it just takes away predetermination.

    Zimmerman approached Martin because he found Martin suspicious; whether that was influenced by his race, the way he was dressed, or the way he was behaving is completely irrelevant.

    So Zimmerman approaches Martin, and a fight breaks out. The evidence showed that Martin, being offended, assaulted and battered Zimmerman, when then Zimmerman pulls his gun out and fires point-blank into Martin’s chest. The ballistics showed that the shot was taken point-blank from the ground, and suggested Martin was on top of Zimmerman. The fact that Zimmerman had injuries to his face and head when the police arrived showed that Martin was indeed battering Zimmerman’s head into the concrete.

    On top of this, Florida has a “Stand Your Ground” law that states you can use lethal force in self defense if your life is potentially in danger. There was no evidence to suggest Zimmerman had the gun pulled previously to the skirmish, and on top of that, common sense would suggest that Martin would not have risked assaulting Zimmerman if the gun was indeed pulled out on arrival.

    So based on all of this, can you prove without a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman approached Martin with the sole or potential intent to kill?

    Absolutely not. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests self defense and manslaughter.

    Therefor he is not guilty of criminal homicide.

    The end. Get over yourselves.

  38. Kunta says:

    The justice system in a country which epitomizes white supremacy just acquitted a white man for killing a black teenager, who he racially profiled and stalked before using deadly force; and you see fitting to call the bloggers racist rather than the system itself!?!

    BermudaGirl you live in a make believe, utopian bubble! Grow up!

    • Grand Wizzard says:

      Zimmermans friends are all black. he is not and was not a racist. learn the facts. using deadly force in self defense is the law in Florida, unlike many other states. Trayvon was in a private neighborhood watch zone, being patrolled by Zimmerman who was on duty.

    • BermudaGirl says:

      I am only saying that we have 2 choices:
      a) pick up the hate and carry it around, treat each other with suspicion and malice.
      b) Realizing we are IN an imperfect world, make a PERSONAL decision to put the hate down, and begin to treat everyone we deal with as a human being, change our own personal attitude toward others, and watch how things change…slowly, yes, but YOU will feel better, I promise.

    • Bob says:

      He’s a Latino…….not white.

  39. Um Jus Sayin says:

    Firstly, RIP Trayvon, and to his family continue to trust in God. Secondly, the prosecution did a poor job of presenting the facts. Fact 1: Neighborhood Watch means just that – WATCH!!! Fact 2: GZ was told to remain in his car until police arrived, and he did not! Fact 3: GZ shot and killed an unarmed man, after stalking and provoking him. Fact 4: GZ bit off more than he could chew and reacted. I think that the verdict would have been different if the prosecution presented the facts and not tried to play on the jury’s emotions. If only he would have remained in his car, and let the REAL police do their jobs, how different could the outcome have been. It is a real tragedy. I hope that this self-defense bulls#@*t defense does not get out of hand for other would be killers. I hope that true justice will prevail.

  40. Mazumbo says:

    This guy looks like a mini Obama

  41. god1st says:

    @ make my day

    Do your research

  42. santana says:

    This CHILD was shot and killed for NO REASON and his parents lost their Son! It is a complete travesty of any kind of Justice!!!! Zimmerman a self appointed neighborhood watch person was obviously THE WORST person to ever have such appointment! What about Domestic abuse charges against him seemingly brought by his spouse, does that depict a stellar human being? Does that indicate he may have had a Bully inside of him– easy to abuse a woman and he thought it would be easy to confront a teen age boy! It was obviously not so easy as he then killed him. The CHILD was defending himself after being confronted. Imagine how scared he must have been!
    I hope that the hue and cry from the Country and around the World will make a difference in this Case! Who decided that 4 female Caucasion Women would make the best Jury? That was also some kind of travesty! It was also very incorreect the way Trayvon’s female friend was viewed and treated. She may have a difficult life path but she was Trayvon’s friend and more respect should have been shown to her!
    The World is watching this and so far all I can see is injustice!
    misty
    Canada

  43. Bob says:

    He was found not guilty by a jury…..is that not justice? If not why not?

  44. Bob says:

    The prosecution and the defense pick the jury…….