By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
If you’ve been keeping up with the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman Trial, than you already understand how explosive this case has been thus far. As we all await to hear the jury’s verdict which is sure to come very soon, both sides continue to ask themselves just whether or not George Zimmerman will be acquitted and avoid being charged with Second Degree Murder or Manslaughter. It has been a very long road to the courtroom, but as a result of social media awareness and protests throughout the country, George Zimmerman had to finally face his day in court. While we all want justice for Trayvon, now that all the witnesses and evidence has been presented, there’s nothing else left to persuade the jury but the closing arguments.
Earlier today, the Defense made its closing argument, and unlike the Prosecution, it wasn’t emotional and relied on “facts” they believed would force the jury to acquit George Zimmerman.
The Prosecution’s rebuttal was just as strong as its closing argument, as it was highlighted that Zimmerman lied on numerous occasions and was trained as a neighborhood watch volunteer to not ever take the law into his own hands. The point that Zimmerman also incorrectly viewed Trayvon as a criminal without even having a good enough reason to on initial sight was also driven home. CNS News reports:
De la Rionda said in his closing argument that Zimmerman assumed Martin was a criminal who was up to no good when he confronted him in his neighborhood. A scuffle followed, and Zimmerman fired his gun.
“A teenager is dead. He is dead through no fault of his own,” de la Rionda said. “He is dead because a man made assumptions. … Unfortunately because his assumptions were wrong, Trayvon Benjamin Martin no longer walks this Earth.”
Judge Debra Nelson’s ruling to allow consideration of the manslaughter charge came despite the objections of Zimmerman’s lawyers.
To win a second-degree murder conviction, prosecutors must prove Zimmerman showed ill will, hatred or spite — a burden the defense has argued the state failed to meet. To get a manslaughter conviction, prosecutors must show only that Zimmerman killed without lawful justification.
Allowing the jurors to consider manslaughter could give those who aren’t convinced the shooting amounted to murder a way to hold Zimmerman responsible for the death of the unarmed teen.
Check out the video of today’s closing argument and rebuttal below:
The Prosecution did a much better job with the rebuttal than they did with their actual closing argument.
They had to.
This trial has had me engaged and I am honestly scared that Zimmerman may be aquitted but I don’t think that will happen.
Expect a conviction of Manslaughter sometime this weekend. The verdict will most likely be read tomorrow afternoon.
No matter what his life will never be the same! And that’s justice too!
I love this quote the Prosecution said at the end of their closing argument: “If it was Trayvon Martin who shot and killed george zimmerman what would your verdict be?”
That was powerful. That gripped my heart when I heard that.
Now you already know the answer to that if you asked the majority of GZ’s supporters that question.
It’s up to this group of six white women now. I am praying for justice!
Reminds me of that line from A Time to Kill. Wow…
Sometimes I wonder if that could actually happen of GZ gets off.
I watched the rebuttal but I didn’t watch the defense closing because I refused to watch them try to justify killing a child.
Agreed. I just can’t even hear them talking anymore. The child just turned 17. Jesus Christ…