GEORGE ZIMMERMAN WILL BE ACQUITTED

June 29, 2013. When commentators discuss the case of George Zimmerman, who is accused of murdering Trayvon Martin, they lose sight of the legal standard in the case. The prosecution has a heavy burden, and the evidence produced so far indicates that the jury will have to acquit Mr. Zimmerman.

Both White and Black commentators discuss whether Mr. Martin or Mr. Zimmerman was on top in the struggle. The issue of who was on top is simply not clear. For that reason, the prosecution does not have proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman was the aggressor and that he did not fear for his life. There is too much evidence to the contrary. Zimmerman was quite banged-up with wounds and blood on his face and head. One witness (for the prosecution!!) said that Martin was on top and was raining blows down on Zimmerman. While such evidence is not decisive, it is more than enough to create a reasonable doubt about Zimmerman's guilt.

Like the O.J. Simpson case, there is a wide difference between the views of White people and those of Black people. Most Black people want Zimmerman to be convicted no matter what the facts are. This is because Zimmerman was obviously profiling Martin on account of his race. Even after he was told by the police not to follow Martin, he went ahead and followed him. Most likely, Zimmerman suspected that because Martin was a black kid he was there to burglarize a condominium. Martin probably became enraged that he was being stalked by a security guard in a gated community where he had every right to be. He probably confronted Zimmerman and wound-up beating him.

Most White people want Zimmerman to be acquitted. This is because they assume that a black kid in a gated community is up to no good. They assume that George Zimmerman was simply doing his job in following Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman probably assumed that Black kids are responsible for a disproportionate amount of property crime. There had been a number of break-ins in the community, and Zimmerman supposed that they were carried-out by someone like Trayvon Martin. It is possible that Zimmerman was right. Martin may have been looking for a condo to break into, but we have no evidence to support that speculation.

Thus, the issues transcend the actual facts of the case. The real issues are Black versus White. Black people are angry that security guards and police in gated or other communities are suspicious of any Black people they see there. White people feel that Black kids do not belong in gated and other communities, and support the right of security guards and police to keep such kids under surveillance.

In the Zimmerman case, the jury may not consider these broader cultural issues. They have to decide whether George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin in self defense or whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that he shot Martin without any justification. Because the actual facts of the case are in dispute, the all-white jury is likely to acquit.