@Abge -- "I learn enough as is appropriate to how it pertains to me."

Apparently you have NOT learned enough, or else you would know that the reason the black commuity is riled up is because of the "Black Leaders" like Shaprton, who was having rallies and getting people worked up about racial justice before this ever came to trial, and is now talking about public violence if the "wrong" verdict is reached...which COULD AFFECT YOU...

So, if you think national race relations, and public violence, and THE CAUSE FOR SAID VIOLENCE is not something that shoudl concern you...then I guess you did you due dilligence.

If, on the other hand, you think race relations are important, and the reason race relations are so fucked up in this country, and if you think knowing WHY public violence might happen that could spread nationally and affect you....then you had better do a better job of paying attention to the news...be it cable or newspapers or the internet or the radio...the outlets for news are near limitless....but I confess, it takes a little work to find news sources that don't just spew and parrot the liberal media party line...

The outlets for PROPAGANDA are limitless. News, not so much...

Ma
Le leaf thats not true. Generally local news carries real stories. It just never trickles up if it is does further the agnda

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAT STUCK IN TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i think we can at least agree that zimmerman's lawyer is a prick

Which one? Baldy?

Thucy, its how I like my lawyers...mean and shitstains. They are not my buddy, they work for me, to do a job. ZImmermans did his job exactly

Stressedlines is right. His attorneys did a great job for him. I don't think its fair that after the state essentially lost the case, they can bring up a new charge at the end of the trial. That isn't right

Here is my final prediction regarding this trial: He will be acquitted, both of second degree murder and manslaughter, because the defense will argue that bringing in a new charge is a fugazi, which it is. He will walk free, which will spark civil unrest throughout the nation.

I'm really think there won't be any serious unrest should Zimmerman be acquitted. A weekend to stay in, maybe, but not a time for riots. The media is just hyping this possibility because it's the story they WANT to be real, in a similar way that they wanted this case to be about a white racist who shot a black child in cold blood.

On what grounds can the prosecution add charges after the trial has started?

Yes. Because blacks butchering white kids dont have.a.shot.at.msm.time

They're not adding charges. They giving the jury instructions that it can convict Zimmerman of a lesser charge.

"Yes. Because blacks butchering white kids dont have.a.shot.at.msm.time "

I don't if you're being sarcastic or not. What I'm trying to say is, having ginned up the racial passions with their coverage they're now pushing for riots to keep this ratings bonanza going. They fooled me at first, but now I'm thinking nothing of the sort will happen.

That's a possibility, but we'll see.

"They're not adding charges. They giving the jury instructions that it can convict Zimmerman of a lesser charge.'

Giving the jury an extra option IS adding an extra charge.

Is that something that's commonly done? It seems like the defense should have a chance to defend against all possible charges?

I thought I read earlier that the judge said "no" to that. Did something change while I was busy today?

@abremacht: I've never heard of this before.
@Draugnar: The judge allowed a child abuse charge and a manslaughter charge.

Child abuse? Of a 17 year old? What the fuck?

Wrong- the judge DENIED the "child abuse" charge. Even the TM-biased judge could see that charge was a fucking joke.

It seems in a later update that the judge actually refused to advise the jury of the child abuse charge after all. The prosecution was only seeking it to try and get murder three but the judge rules both inadmissible and would not instruct the jury. Only the manslaughter got instructed after all. Thank God for a judge with a brain.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/defense-rests-case-in-george-zimmerman-trial-closing-arguments-set-for-thursday/2013/07/11/a74ac8a4-e9eb-11e2-818e-aa29e855f3ab_story.html

Saying that the judge in this case has a brain is being pretty generous, Draug. She hasn't been a shining example of blind justice to this point.

OK, then a few working brain cells. :-)

1) Zimmerman is an idiot.
2) should have been charged with manslaughter to begin with
3) Florida is a stupid state for having a stand your ground law.
4) Florida is an even stupider state for having a stand your ground law and recognizing it only until certain racially tinged liberal media outlets threw a tantrum then suddenly the prosecutors completely forgot the law exists.
5) Prosecutors decided to charge Zimmerman with murder because of politics and race baiting -- not because they had an actual case.
6) The sum total of prosecution and defense testimony proves to me that Florida is a trashy state (race notwithstanding).
7) Trevon M. was a teenager with a teenager brain and while he doesn't deserve to be be dead, was wrong to attack "creepy assed cracker" Zimmerman and bash his head against the concrete (maybe or probably depending on your perspective).
8) Zimmerman is an idiot because he precipitated a preventable fight that ended in someone's death.
9) Zimmerman is a pussy because he had to use his gun to prevent irreversible brain damage to himself from a teenager bashing his head against concrete.
10) In any other state that would be manslaughter, but in Florida it is either no crime or murder. They can't F-ing decide.
11) Race notwithstanding, threats of rioting f-ing BS and says a lot about the civil investment of the people who make those threats.
11) When Zimmerman is acquitted, I'm going to Walmart and breaking the window and I'm going to get me a 70 inch goddamn television. So what if I'm off-white. I deserve a new goddamn tv.
12) The media is not a conspiracy. IT IS A BUSINESS. And it makes money on crap like this because people like us like to opinionate about this kind of crap. In other words, news media is full of shit because of you. Yes, believe it or not, you are part of this.

end of story

Brace yourselves...this thread just returned

Walmart, here I come!

But seriously, actually in spite of my early endorsement of manslaughter, I think the jury actually made the right decision. This is a criminal case and the standard is reasonable doubt. The prosecution failed to prove that Zimmerman precipitated the fight and they failed to prove that he was able to get away from the attack. Whether anyone agrees that Zimmerman is telling the truth, I think the trial ended with reasonable doubt.

Fortunately, I don't think there will be any rioting. But the media reaction to the verdict has been as hilarious as it has been predictable. You could see the talking heads turn bright red even under the make-up.