July 15, 2013

• Why Do People Refuse To . . .

  By now, everyone knows that George Zimmerman was found not guilty, that he acted in self-defense when he shot Trayvon Martin.  Yet so many in the press and among the public at large refuse to look at the facts of the case.  They prefer instead to cling to personal feelings and unsubstantiated personal believe, even in the face of overwhelming expert opinion (police, judges, prosecutors, and attorneys from around the country). 

  It was clear from the very beginning that the State had no case.  The policeman on the spot didn't think there was a case; the investigating officers didn't think there was a case; the police chief didn't think there was a case;  the 1st prosecutor ordered to try the case refused to do so for lack of evidence, and the State had to look for another prosecutor; and the prosecutor who finally did try the case had so little to work with that he had my sympathy.  It was painful to watch him try to work with so little evidence. 

  I watched the case unfold on TV.  I watched it all from opening statements to closing arguments, and I did so with an open mind.  I heard every word of the State's case and the Defense case, and if I were on that jury, I would have to have voted not guilty on the murder charge too.  I thought long and hard about the lessor charge of manslaughter, and it wasn't until after the case went to the jury that I realized I couldn't vote guilty on that charge either, because the evidence wasn't there.  Even the lawyer for Trayvon's parents knew how the verdict would come down, as evidenced by the fact that he advised Trayvon's parents not to come to the court for the reading and save themselves some grief thereby.

  At worst, both men showed poor judgment that night, and it cost one of them his life, and the survivor's life is forever ruined.  He faces the possibility of additional prosecution in civil court and perhaps by the federal government as well if it pursues a civil rights action.  But even if neither of these things happen (as seems likely), George Zimmerman can never lead a normal life again.  His face is too well known.  Where can he go and not be recognized.  Who will hire him without fear of his becoming a distraction in the workplace?

  In the beginning, the local community was screaming for Zimmerman's arrest, without knowing the facts.  Then they screamed for a trial despite of a lack of evidence.  They got both, and now that the results are in, they are still not happy.  It's okay to be saddened by the lose of a loved one, especially one just coming into his manhood.  But it is not okay to demand that a verdict come out the way they want it to come out. 

  And it is not okay to scream that justice was not served in the light of all the evidence presented.  How many did what I did and watched the whole trial?  Why is it that people are unwilling to accept that we can not convict people just because we don't like the verdict.  Don't they realize that that kind of thinking is what leads to vigilantism? 

  The death of of Trayvon Martin is a tragedy.  There's no doubt about that.  If George Zimmerman had stayed in his car, Trayvon would still be alive.  But we can just as easily say that if Trayvon had just continued on home instead of doubling back to confront Zimmerman, he would also still be alive.  So in a way we can say that both men were right and both men were wrong, and all we can do is live with the end result.

  • 7:21 am
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