The Zimmerman Case Progresses

If you're one of the possibly four people on the planet who aren't aware of this already George Zimmerman is the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin in Florida in disputed circumstances. Yesterday (11/4/12) he was formally charged with second degree/non-premeditated murder and surrendered himself for arrest. Today (12/4/12) he made his first appearance in front of a Magistrate for a procedural hearing to basically establish who he was, what he was charged with, that he has legal representation and he is being humanely treated. No plea was entered and no application for bail was made.

This story raises questions about the circumstances under which it is acceptable to use lethal force in self defence*. It also raises questions about possible police mis-conduct which in Britain would be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) feeding into today's announcement by the IPCC. So in the timing of the charges being filed the US is trying to make the discussions at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Syria that are taking place more or less now (18:40GMT) that little bit more difficult.

However talking just about the Zimmerman case there is so much public interest in the case I think he will have to go to trial even if it's only so people can see justice being done as he is found not guilty. After all he is presumed to be wholly innocent up until the point the prosecution prove beyond reasonable doubt that he isn't. In the meantime unless there is strong evidence he will flee before trial or a significant threat to his safety I think Zimmerman should be freed on bail.




*the circumstances being discussed relate to civilian life in Florida. In Syria at the moment I think it's more appropriate to judge self-defence in terms similar of the rules of engagement used by US troops in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Basically that means if someone is approaching a checkpoint the soldiers should first shout at them to stop. If they continue the soldiers should fire a single shot into either the ground or the air. If the person still continues after that the soldiers are allowed to shoot and kill them.