Zimmerman verdict

After hearing the opposition to the George Zimmerman verdict, I must respond with two points.

First, one reason you would disagree with the verdict is that you don't believe Zimmerman's version of what happened.

The lead investigator, while doing a hostile interrogation of Zimmerman told him that there was a cell phone present at the scene and it had a video of what happened (not true) and if Zimmerman's statement of events didn't match what the video recorded he would be in a lot of trouble.

Zimmerman said something to the effect of "Thank God." That is not the response I would expect from someone who is falsifying his statement.

Second, Trayvon Martin is portrayed as an unarmed 17-year-old gunned down without cause. What is never mentioned, and I assume is OK with the opponents to the verdict, is that Martin punched Zimmerman and knelt down on him while banging his head on the cement sidewalk.

Martin was armed with his fists and cement, as the defense counsel said in closing arguments. Before Zimmerman was attacked, neither person was doing anything illegal, stupid maybe, but not illegal.

- George Maguire,

Oak View