patrick.net

omgbacon says

if I was in the same situation, I would consider being followed by a guy in an SUV and then chased on foot as at least creepy, if not threatening...especially if that individual appears white and has a shaved head.

OMG! Shaved heads are the white equivalent of hoodies! Watch out Mr. Clean!

I've got to give props to bacon for flipping that issue.

thunderlips11 says

Zimmerman was a frustrated wanna-be cop, who never could be because of his DV/Assault arrest record. This was the primary driver.

There are also reports he was canned from a Security Guard job for overzealous behavior. This statement from a co-worker is very revealing about his mentality:

George Zimmerman lost job as party security guard for being too aggressive, ex-co-worker says

I agree. This is what makes it ambivalent as to whether Zimmerman committed first-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter. I'm about 50/50 on which one he should be charged with. It all comes down to how much premeditation Zimmerman had.

He certainly was in a pissed off, gun ho state. But how much intention did he have to hurt Martin. It's hard to say. There's certainly evidence to suggest that Zimmerman was out to get Martin after being frustrated that he didn't get all the other blacks. The question is whether or not there is enough evidence.

I suppose it doesn't matter too much since Florida's 10-20-Life law ensures that Zimmerman, if convicted of manslaughter using a gun, would get at least 25 years in prison.

Bap33 says

Like I said, we let anyone over 18 vote, and anyone over 21 buy booze, so anyone of age should be able to carry anything they wish at any time, if they can legally do so.

Anyone who can legally carry a gun can carry a gun. That's a truism.

Now it might be interesting if we had some rational criteria for determining who can and who cannot legally care a gun and what kinds of guns and ammo they could carry.

Bap33 says

THere are laws against murder and intimidation. Weather or not a gun is involved should not matter.

The voters of Florida disagree with you. Personally, I don't believe in minimum sentencing laws as they unjustly assume there are never extraneous circumstances. However, the social conservatives in Florida got "all tough on crime" and demanded stricter laws.

Politicians always obliged because being tough on crime is always a good political move. As a result, Florida has a law called 10-20-Life which states

So, in Florida, where the shooting took place, the use of a gun is very much important. Ironically, the passage of the 10-20-Life law was mainly motivated to target black criminals and billboards are posted all over black neighborhoods with the above image.

Now maybe like me, you don't agree with minimum sentencing laws in general or the 10-20-Life law in particular, but it was passed by social conservative voters, people just like you bap.

Dan, please go here and then comment: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/trayvon-martin-police-report-reveals-crime-scene-details-175656087.html

thank you.

I am all for 1 strike, but I'll take 3 strikes. The death penalty by hanging, in a public arena, with the body left hanging - completely nude - for three days while birds feast on the eyes and other soft tissue, and dogs eat the entrails that gather on the ground - is how I suggest we deal with gangs, child molestation, kidnapping, forced sodomy rape, murder while robbing, first degree murder, car-jacking (not just armed, but any), drug sales of any amount for any amount of money. Public death by hanging in a time frame of about 1 year from the time you do the crime until you swing. It's time to get productivity up to speed.

Bap33 says

Dan, please go here and then comment: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/trayvon-martin-police-report-reveals-crime-scene-details-175656087.html

The article isn't particularly useful, but the police report is. Now, police reports are not evidence. They are merely reports. The police report does collaborate part of Zimmerman's story. It implies that Zimmerman was on his back and that he did bleed, although it does not describe the bleeding as slight or heavy. So it doesn't match up with the story that Zimmerman got severely assaulted.

Also, we cannot be sure that the grass stains weren't caused by Zimmerman himself after he shot Martin. He could have easily panicked after the attack and rubbed his back against the grass to simulate a tussle.

In all, the police report, even if taken as completely accurate, doesn't give us much insight into what happened.

However, the police report does state that Zimmerman committed "Homicide - negligence, Manslaughter, Unnecessary killing to prevent unlawful act". It does not state what "unlawful act" was being prevented.

If we were to go by the police report, which we shouldn't since it's not valid evidence, we'd convict Zimmerman of voluntary manslaughter and sentence him to a minimum of 25 years in prison.

However, it would take testimony under oath in a court of law by the police officer to carry any weight. And that requires at least charging Zimmerman with something.

As for race-baiting, neither the article and the police report mention any such thing. Only the reader comments do, and they carry no weight in this case.

Racism was clearly the motive behind this crime, even if it was just the irrational fear of any young black man. Understanding that is important to prevent future crimes of this type and to establish motive. Beyond that, race is irrelevant. What matters is that Zimmerman unlawfully killed a minor and he used a gun to do that in violation of Florida's 10-20-Life law. The only question is whether it was first degree murder or voluntary manslaughter.

Florida's Stand-Your-Ground law does not apply to fights that you pick. See my Punchy McAsshole example.

FortWayne says

Some parts of FL are not a civil paradise like the Bay Area. You have to take into account that these laws prevent a lot of crime.

That certainly was the intent. I don't have statistics showing whether or not it worked, but here's the background on the 10-20-Life law.

Sun Sentinel: `10-20-life' Should Deter Gun Use from July 02, 1999:

The law was a top priority for Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature, and unlike some anti-gun legislation, this one takes aim at the correct targets: criminals. It has won support both from the National Rifle Association and Handgun Control Inc., usually bitter ideological and political enemies.

The law is simplicity itself, summed up in a new TV ad campaign starring actor Chuck Norris, star of TV's Walker: Texas Ranger: "Use a gun, and you're done." Bush recruited old-pal Norris as a celebrity spokesman for the campaign, and he was a good choice.

The law makes one fact abundantly clear: "It is the intent of the Legislature to establish zero tolerance of criminals who use, threaten to use, or avail themselves of firearms in order to commit crimes and thereby demonstrate their lack of value for human life."

Make no mistake, conservatives not liberals made this law.

Florida lawmakers made the right choice by appropriating $500,000 to help publicize the new law and its tough mandatory penalties on TV and radio stations, billboards and posters, both within and outside Florida. Ignorance of the law will be no excuse.

And to this day, you see such billboards and hear commercials of the 10-20-Life law every day in Florida.

Dan8267 says

How so? Everything I've said is backed up by evidence: video or audio.

Even this most recent statement of your is backed up by evidence?

"Racism was clearly the motive behind this crime, even if it was just the irrational fear of any young black man."

Can you please provide this evidence? Are you aware that NBC has been caught doctoring the 911 call trying to portray Zimmerman as a racist?

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/04/nbc-to-investigate-itself-over-editing-911-call-of-george-zimmerman.html

Bap33 says

I am all for 1 strike, but I'll take 3 strikes. The death penalty by hanging, in a public arena, with the body left hanging - completely nude - for three days while birds feast on the eyes and other soft tissue, and dogs eat the entrails that gather on the ground - is how I suggest we deal with gangs, child molestation, kidnapping, forced sodomy rape, murder while robbing, first degree murder, car-jacking (not just armed, but any), drug sales of any amount for any amount of money.

Wow, your just like Jesus! I'm sure Jesus would strip naked a human being, kill him, and let his flesh rot for selling a pot joint, especially since the list of drugs that are legal and the list that are illegal is determined mainly by the pharmaceutical lobby. Would that strip naked and rot law apply to alcohol sales during prohibition?

I thought you conservatives were all about personal responsibility and not letting the nanny state get out of control.

Not that I'm for the legalization of pot, but in the least you're punishment seems disproportional to the crime and it's debatable whether or not the state should be allowed to control the commerce of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. In any case, such regulations do seem to go against the free market that Republicans are always trumpeting.

Now, we could make a good case for outlawing hard drugs that cause people to become violent. The case against those drugs is that taking them imposes the risk of violence upon others and that violates their rights. But if anything, this standard would make alcohol illegal before marijuana. And this is coming from someone who enjoys a good glass of wine but has never smoked pot or tobacco in his life.

But more importantly, doesn't your bloodlust to get the baddies completely contradict Jesus's teachings of forgiveness and compassion? Now, I'm only calling for Zimmerman to be charged with either voluntary manslaughter or first-degree murder. I'm not calling for the death penalty or sexual humiliation or body mutilation. I want justice, not vengeance. And those two goals are mutually exclusive.

As someone who has studied Jesus's teachings for the first 18 years of my life, I don't get how you can reconcile relishing in another person's suffering -- even a bad person -- with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

As Bill Mayer said,

You’re supposed to look at that figure of Christ on the cross and think, “how could a man suffer like that and forgive?” Not, “Romans are pussies, he still has his eyes.”

socal2 says

Dan8267 says

How so? Everything I've said is backed up by evidence: video or audio.

Even this most recent statement of your is backed up by evidence?

"Racism was clearly the motive behind this crime, even if it was just the irrational fear of any young black man

Zimmerman called 911 46 times, always to report "suspicious" blacks. In the 911 call he made on the day he shot Martin, Zimmerman stated that "they [blacks] always get away". Yeah, I say that an objective person would consider Zimmerman to be a racist.

Dan8267 says

Now, I'm only calling for Zimmerman to be charged with either voluntary manslaughter or first-degree murder.

Why not second degree murder? As the facts stand today that seems like a very possible outcome to me. At least more than first degree.

Dan8267 says

Zimmerman called 911 46 times,

Here is more evidence of crapy reporting by all of the networks.

Zimmerman called 911 46 times since 2004 which works out to about 5 times a year. It is certainly more than I have ever called 911. But I have never done security or neighborhood watches. What's normal for that line of work?

Needless to say, 911 calls is hardly "evidence" that Zimmerman is a racist. There is enough evidence (if it pans out) to convict Zimmerman of manslaughter, why do you, Al Sharpton and the Media need to invent racist motives when you don't have the facts to support such a terrible charge?

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2012/04/trayvon-martin-is-everything-you-think-you-know-just-media-bs.html

Dan8267 says

However, the police report does state that Zimmerman committed "Homicide - negligence, Manslaughter, Unnecessary killing to prevent unlawful act". It does not state what "unlawful act" was being prevented.

Dan, the act(s) are mentioned in the 911 calls by Zimmerman (first) and the 911 calls by those who watched and heard the fight and shot (second). The police on site wouldn't add anything other than FIRST HAND info (you know this).

Dan8267 says

Zimmerman called 911 46 times, always to report "suspicious" blacks. In the 911 call he made on the day he shot Martin, Zimmerman stated that "they [blacks] always get away". Yeah, I say that an objective person would consider Zimmerman to be a racist.

Prove that the calls were only to report blacks
Prove that blacks are not the ones doing bad things in that area
You inserted [blacks] into the call ... NBC would hire you in an instant.
Prove that of the 46 calls made (in whatever time frame you are using) there was only 46 instances that required a 911 call in the area, or maybe, there were 298 911 calls in that area, with only a few being made by Zimmerman?
Prove the race issue.
Who's the racist when negros murder negros? Or when "X" murders "X"?

Dan, on your Jesus points:

Someone is supposed to protect the weak and innocent from those who chose to do harm. THat is why we have punishment. Jails and prison should be the only way to keep criminals safe from the public that demands justice ... not the other way arund, like it is now, where jails and prisons are used to protect the public from evil people.

The forgiveness you are talking about is on a personal level. So, when some dude breaks into your home and rapes and dismembers your family, you are supposed to not hate him, but forgive him of his sins -- on the personal level -- but, for the good of society, the crimes committed must be accounted for and justice served. Justice served.

The figure that some look at on a cross is their mistake, not mine. Those graven images are not correct, in my understanding of the Bible. I don't carry idols or graven images. Jesus is not on a cross, or in a tomb. God's spirit is not in the arc of the covenant either. What, exactly, did Jesus say should happen to those who harm "little ones"? What, exactly, did Jesus say would be the results of choosing sin over God's word? Just use the red letter edition, it makes it simpler.

THe fact that more negro males die as fetus, and from the hands of other negros, then all other forms of death combined, should result in a call to action by Sharpten and Jackson. Why is that not their rally cry? Simple, personal accountability is not welcome on the left. Racebaiting allows for more excuses and more dead humans. God's Word works.

socal2 says

Needless to say, 911 calls is hardly "evidence" that Zimmerman is a racist.

They aren't proof, but they are evidence. 46 calls and they all relate to black men? There are no suspicious white people?

Dan8267 says

They aren't proof, but they are evidence. 46 calls and they all relate to black men? There are no suspicious white people?

Who is reporting that all 46 calls relate to black men? Link please.

Seriously, how many major facts have the media screwed up (or distorted) so far? Don't you think it would be prudent to step back a bit and stop fanning the flames and making accusations of racism that you can't back up with "facts"?

Dan8267 says

And although you might not think that there's sufficient reason to believe that Zimmerman was motivated by racial bigotry that day, there's a hell of a lot of Americans with no vested interest who do.

Alot of Americans think Obama is a Muslim or born outside our country too. Are you really pointing to the dumb lynch mob (who has been fed distorted information from the Media) as an excuse to accuse people of racism?

FFS - dude. Will you not be happy unless they begin race riots in Florida over this one sad case? It is completely irresponsible for our media and commenters to sensationalize this story and gin up race hatred the way they've done the past few weeks. Now the hype has been built up so high, we can only expect riots and violence if the evidence points to Zimmerman's innocence.

Why does this one case warrant so much hysteria and sensationalism while we hear absolutely nothing about all of the other murders that happened the same week, month or year? Is there an epidemic of hispanic neighborhood watch dudes shooting innocent people that requires this level of national attention?

Dan8267 says

Zimmerman had called 911, 46 times during those 15 months

I notice that the "esteem" Psychology Today is still reporting false information. The 46 calls spanned over 8 years, not 15 months.

Dan8267 says

OMG! Shaved heads are the white equivalent of hoodies! Watch out Mr. Clean!

I've got to give props to bacon for flipping that issue.

For me this is where racism enters this whole discussion. Whether or not Zimmerman is racist or racially profiled Martin is irrelevant to the situation. Basically, you don't need to explore Zimmerman's personal racism to come to the conclusion he did something wrong. Do I think Zimmerman behaved as he did out of racial bias? Yes. Do I think he did it because he hates black people? No.

Where racism enters into this discussion is in the fact that it is assumed by many that Martin must have been the aggressor and must have been doing something suspicious.

It's also in the fact that the assumption also exists that Martin had absolutely no grounds for feeling threatened by Zimmerman and than Martin had no personal right to self defense. Why should he be scared of a some random self proclaimed neighborhood watch captain? What possible reason could he have for feeling threatened by a stranger chasing him through the neighborhood?

The important thing to remember is that Zimmerman chased down someone who lived in the complex, effectively instigating and forcing a conflict, and then shot and killed that individual. If this is how Zimmerman acts in public toward his neighbors he has no business living around anyone or owning a firearm.

socal2 says

Dan8267 says

Zimmerman had called 911, 46 times during those 15 months

I notice that the "esteem" Psychology Today is still reporting false information. The 46 calls spanned over 8 years, not 15 months.

Reports on this seem to contradict. Some say months some say years.

Bap33 says

So, when some dude breaks into your home and rapes and dismembers your family, you are supposed to not hate him, but forgive him of his sins -- on the personal level -- but, for the good of society, the crimes committed must be accounted for and justice served.

Ah, but by that philosophy one should not take joy in the suffering of others, even those guilty of heinous crimes. And that's not what I get from social conservatives. They have orgasms at executions.

Also, if you actually believe in a magically just afterlife policed by an all-knowing cop, then there is no reason to punish people in this life. At most, you can deter crime and stop crimes in progress. But to punish a person for any reason but deterrence, and most evidence suggests that our punishments don't deter, would be immoral.

leoj707 says

Reports on this seem to contradict. Some say months some say years.

Perhaps a good reason not to "report" this information then?

leoj707 says

Reports on this seem to contradict. Some say months some say years.

At least we can all agree that there is a lot of misinformation floating out there about this case.

That's the problem with politicizing a criminal case. This should be treated as a criminal matter, not a political one.

My main concern is that if a Stand-Your-Ground defense is accepted then assholes who get in fights will kill their opponent simply to make sure only one side is told. That's a fundamental problem with Stand-Your-Ground.

socal2 says

leoj707 says

Reports on this seem to contradict. Some say months some say years.

Perhaps a good reason not to "report" this information then?

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/03/trayvon-martins-killer-was-looking-for-trouble-and-found-it/254815/
"We've just learned from the Sanford Police that there is evidently a typo on the first page of the neighborhood watch calls report they provided. The date range of Zimmerman's calls, they say, evidently is 2001-2012, not 2011-2012, which means his 46 calls came over a 10- to 11-year period -- roughly four calls per year -- and not four calls per month as the initial police statistics revealed."

leoj707 says

evidently a typo on the first page of the neighborhood watch calls report they provided

Good find. Never ascribe to malice what can be explained by incompetence.

There certainly is a lot of misinformation being reported about this case with all the news agencies and bloggers trying to report the news as fast as it happens. Not enough fact checking. I'll agree to that.

I suspect if we give the Sanford Police enough time we will discover that Trayvon Martin was armed with an AK-47 and a member of Al Qeada. These are good cops in Florida, let's give them more time to investigate. They caught a high school kid with marijuana residue on him for fuck's sake. Let's see Patrick's NorCal cops solve a crime like that.

socal2 says

Why does this one case warrant so much hysteria and sensationalism

Because people can not believe that Zimmerman hasn't been charged with anything.

Nobody is demanding that he be found guilty or convicted. But he needs to be tried.

Guess what ? If he had been charged and was awaiting trial, we wouldn't even be aware of the whole thing.

It is outrageous that he is free and hasn't been charged with any wrong doing.

That's what has caused all of the commotion. Well, that and also the perception that Florida has too many hillbilly racists to have the kind of normal justice system that would have charged Zimmerman with a crime.

marcus says

Guess what ? If he had been charged and was awaiting trial, we wouldn't even be aware of the whole thing.

right ... until the "not guilty" verdict came and then it's Rodney King all over again. The racebaitors do not want rule of law (just like Lord Barry), the racebaitors want rule by Bully Tribe. Note: Before modern weapons, Bully Tribe law was the law. When a weapon allowed a smaller, weaker, smarter person to defend himself the Bully Tribe system got weaker. This is why the progressive/liberal/left wants weapons to be removed from those who believe in Rule of Law. That will give the more agressive, less inhibited members of the Bully Tribe the advantage, putting America under Bully Tribe law. We can look to Africa, and how the Christians are treated there, for an idea of how Bully Tribe law works when weapons are taken from the people.

marcus says

Well, that and also the perception that Florida has too many hillbilly racists to have the kind of normal justice system that would have charged Zimmerman with a crime.

wow .... so much racism .... so much hate .... and you have access to young minds?? America is doomed if schools have many teachers like you and no filter at home to keep the kids minds right. Wow.

marcus says

It is outrageous that he is free and hasn't been charged with any wrong doing.

yea ... boy .... he just HAD to be in the wrong ... since he wasn't beat up enough to satisfy you? since the prowler lost the life fight? since the prowler was prepaired to attack and mame, but unprepaired to face an equalizing weapon? since the prowler was part of a speically protected class? You are rediculous.

Bap33 says

since he wasn't beat up enough to satisfy you?

omgbacon says

martin was a recent arrival to the community. personally, if I was in the same situation, I would consider being followed by a guy in an SUV and then chased on foot as at least creepy, if not threatening...especially if that individual appears white and has a shaved head.

Stand your ground

Doesn't anyone see a slight problem with a law which would protect either party from prosecution and in fact incentives each party to kill the other in order to minimize the legal repercussions?

I, for one, do not have a problem with any amount of beating Martin did to Zimmerman. Martin's a minor and a member of a minority that has been lynched and beaten for decades. Some big creepy guy in unmarked vehicle and a skinhead haircut follows Martin around. Martin tries to evade the guy, even calls a friend to tell her about this. The creepy dude keeps following him, then jumps out of the car and approaches Martin in a clear state of rage. And yes, we know that Zimmerman was steaming from the 911 call.

Hell, if I were in Martin's situation, I'd have shot Zimmerman the moment he approached me. And I'm white! I'd be thinking that Zimmerman wanted to sodomize me.

If Martin had had a gun and had used it to kill Zimmerman, he'd be using the stand-your-ground defense right now. How can both parties be legitimately standing their ground?

And if Zimmerman was beat up by a teen that was way smaller than him, that just means that Zimmerman is a pussy, too. Or perhaps that fear gets the adrenaline pumping faster than anger. In any case, it certainly would be reasonable for Martin to defend himself with his fists. He was the David being stalked by the Goliath.

Oh, and this happened at 7 p.m., not the middle of the night. It certainly is reasonable to be out at 7.

marcus says

Because people can not believe that Zimmerman hasn't been charged with anything.

Nobody is demanding that he be found guilty or convicted. But he needs to be tried.

I can't believe I'm actually agreeing with Marcus, but yes, this is the point.

I don't have a problem if the jury decides that Zimmerman isn't guilty. A lot of evidence with be presented by both sides in a trial, so we can't say what the outcome of the trial will be. And the most important evidence might not have even come out yet. The FBI is still investigating.

However, this case clearly calls for a trial. Just think about it from the point of view of Martin's family. Their 17-year-old child died. He had his entire life ahead of him: senior year prom, career, finding a nice woman and getting married, having kids, seeing the world. All those dreams and hopes he had are now snuffed out. His family deserves at least to see that our justice system values Martin's life enough to question whether or not his death was a crime. To fail to do so, is to say that Martin's life was cheap.

Bap33 says

right ... until the "not guilty" verdict came and then it's Rodney King all over again.

I agree that this is a possibility, but in this instance I don't think anyone in this forum would have a problem with a not-guilty verdict after a trial.

Case in point--->
Dan8267 says

I don't have a problem if the jury decides that Zimmerman isn't guilty.

And, remember the outcry on this forum about the Meserly verdict? Oh, wait... that's right there was none.

However, with the current evidence arguing that Zimmerman was some sort of neighborhood hero is using reasoning just a ridiculous as anyone who thinks rioting after the verdict would be justified.

To me, the more important issue, by far, is whether or not stand-your-ground can be used in defense of a situation that the accused instigated. If it can, we can expect much more violent street brawls.

University of Texas

Dan8267 says

But to punish a person for any reason but deterrence, and most evidence suggests that our punishments don't deter, would be immoral.

I disagree with this. In the case of violent crime, regardless of whether imprisonment deters the perpetrator from committing such crimes again after released, it takes them off the streets making the streets safer.

I also tend to be more okay than many liberals with executions, as long as there is a high degree of certainty in the conviction and for certain heinous violent crimes, including many but not all murders.

My reasoning is that for someone who has adapted to prison life, and can't handle life out on the streets, I just don't think going back to prison is a sufficient "worse case scenario" for their behavior (if they were for example to commit murder).

But this is not something I'm not interested in debating, just sharing my opinion.

I fully understand the other point of view. I just disagree with it.

Dan8267 says

Zimmerman called 911 46 times, always to report "suspicious" blacks. In the 911 call he made on the day he shot Martin, Zimmerman stated that "they [blacks] always get away". Yeah, I say that an objective person would consider Zimmerman to be a racist.

Now that you have more accurate info regarding the content and quantity of 911 calls, are you still going to allege Zimmerman is a racist?

If so, what is your new evidence?

marcus says

It is outrageous that he is free and hasn't been charged with any wrong doing.
That's what has caused all of the commotion. Well, that and also the perception that Florida has too many hillbilly racists to have the kind of normal justice system that would have charged Zimmerman with a crime.

There are far more egregious examples of criminals going free or repeat offenses that should warrant this level of national shit-storm as opposed to this manslaughter case. At least here in SoCal, I can think of numerous examples of Pedophiles getting out of jail early only to kill or rape more children. Yet these cases only warrant a local news story for a day or two. No marches, no comments from our President, no national story.

Even if you believe the very worst version of events against Zimmerman, it was Manslaughter at worse. No one is suggesting Zimmerman was out to rape or steal from Martin.

I think your second paragraph explains the sensationalism. The PC Media and race hustlers like Al Sharpton could not pass on an opportunity to go after "perceived" white red-necks with guns.

Take away the guns and race, and no one would care about this sad story.

socal2 says

Take away the guns and race, and no one would care about this sad story.

that is the most correct point made thus far. I support an armed population to protect themselves and me if needed.

@Dan,
you are correct, 7pm is not very late at night. That seems kinda early for a neighborhood watch patrol too. I wonder if there is a case of west-coast time stamp on the story? THat would make it 10ish, and that would match the early reports. But, the story details keep changing, and that makes it tuff. 7pm is not late for walking around in any area, and is pretty early for anti-crime patrol (unless the crimes in that area have been happening in the early evening)

socal2 says

Even if you believe the very worst version of events against Zimmerman, it was Manslaughter at worse.

No, the worst version of events would make Zimmerman guilty of first degree murder.

socal2 says

No one is suggesting Zimmerman was out to rape or steal from Martin.

Right.