After the prosecutor (Bernie de la Rionda) in the state's case against George Zimmerman finished his summation, I switched over to MSNBC to get their take. Martin Bashir's show was on, and he had on as commentators, ex prosecutors Karen DeSoto, MSNBC contributor Joy-Ann Reid, and Professor Michael Eric Dyson.
The most notable remarks came from Dyson, who was lamenting the fact that Judge Debra Nelson had kept the state from using race in its prosecution. It was because of that, Dyson argued, that Prosecutor de la Rionda was forced to ask a series of open ended questions, use code words like, "profile", and "submit" to the jury his inferences as to what the evidence showed.
Dyson also implied that witness Rachel Jeantel herself, was a victim of racism for being the object of a negative public perception in the wake of her terrible testimony. Of course, Bashir and Reid argued that Jeantel's poor impression should not have detracted from the "truth" of what she said.
Excuse me. Jeantel's testimony as to her conversation with Trayvon Martin shortly before he was shot may have been true or untrue. We don't know other than it could be corroborated by phone records that they were speaking at the time in question. There is no recording of their conversation.
Only DeSoto presented a clear-headed view of the trial, which came down to the inability of the state to show that Zimmerman's version of events was false and that he was not in fear for his life or great bodily injury when he fired his gun-beyond a reasonable doubt. Whiter we are talking about 2nd degree murder or manslaughter, self defense is a legal defense to either charge.
Of course, beginning with co-MSNBC host Al Sharpton, that network has played the racial angle from the start. It has been despicable and beyond irresponsible. If Zimmerman is acquitted, and racial violence ensues, people like Sharpton and his cohorts on MSNBC will share in the guilt for that.
It would be far better to use the case of James Byrd Jr. in Jasper, Texas as a template. In that case, all sides of the community came together and justice was done. Of course, the facts in that case were drastically different, but we could all do well to emulate what happened in Jasper in dealing with that crime.
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3 comments:
"If Zimmerman is acquitted, and racial violence ensues, people like Sharpton and his cohorts on MSNBC will share in the guilt for that." Eric Holder and his little DOJ "Community Deveopment" team with their organizing and promotion of group action against Zimmerman will also, in part, be responsible for riots.
Squid
Whiter we are talking about 2nd degree murder or manslaughter, self defense is a legal defense to either charge.
Not if the person claiming "self-defense" started the fight, then fired the shot when the fight they started went against them.
The possibility of a "compromise" or "default" verdict of manslaughter seems to me come a little late in the game. What I believe is up is that both the judge and the prosecution, most likely but not necessarily totally independently, are giving themselves and the jury an "out" on what I believe are racial grounds, in an attempt to prevent riots, while completely destroying what remains of Zimmerman's life in the process.
The verdict is not yet in as I write. I, of course, have not heard/read the evidence in its entirety. This jury may very well convict him of second-degree murder. If it does, it does. The system essentially will have worked as intended, and appeals will determine the final outcome.
The problem is that, something like the Duke lacrosse team proceedings, there is an air of illegitimacy about this. Given the possibility/probability of a successful appeal, throwing in the manslaughter thing reeks of convicting him of something/anything at any cost in order to avoid an outright acquittal.
If he is convicted of manslaughter, both the judge and the prosecutor can say that justice was served. Riots will almost certainly have been prevented. Racial politics and political correctness will have prevailed.
And when the conviction is overturned 2 or 3 or 4 years down the pike, it will be stale stuff with insufficient outrage from the black community to riot at that time. Zimmerman will not be re-tried under any circumstances, but will have paid quite a heavy price for defending himself.
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