Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

I'm not understanding the question. He was told to not pursue or confront before any contact was made between the two of them. I think it is pretty clear that he disobeyed that, pursued, and confronted.

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

What law would have been broken? we dont know how far he pursued.

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

I heard a neighborhood watch captain say that they were trained to do as much.
I think the question of whether it was a lawful order coming from dispatch is what I would like clarity on as well. Telling someone to not confront somebody is a world of difference from telling them not to be in a public place though.
Whether or not it was a lawful order, if I were the police, I would have a huge problem with someone disregarding the direct instructions of dispatch and creating a shooting situation.

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

From what I understand he was not even part of neighborhood watch program. Just something he did. Once again I don't know if he actually broke the law by confronting the kid. If I saw a suspicious person in front of my house and I confronted him in street what law did I break?

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

To me the problem was
A. He was not at his house. For all he knew he could have been in front of the kid's house.

B. (and the biggie here) He had already done something and called the police. He was told by them to not follow him. He said on the recording that the kid was running away from him.

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

I wonder if he actually broke a law by following?

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

Yes, that is something I wonder too. I know that disobeying a lawful order is legal, but I don't know who he was talking to on the phone. I'm not sure if a dispatcher can give a lawful order. I am also not sure if he was talking to a dispatcher. It seems that he called a non-emergency police line, but it was likely a dispatcher on that line as well.

I guess my problem with him having the audacity to follow someone who was not doing anything and then continuing to follow when told not to, stems in large part from the simple fact that I have a black son. Others might not understand this, but I would like to think that he would be able to walk to the store and back unfollowed, unharassed, and frankly undead. I think this guy was way out of line and his actions directly caused the death of a kid and he should not have been able to simply walk away from it...period.

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

Following the dispatcher's advice is optional. I don't believe a dispatcher can tell you what to do and what not to do. There was no crime committed in not following the dispatcher's direction. However I'd consider chasing a random person down the street harassment regardless.

My problem is Zimmerman's account of being attacked from behind is not consistent with one witness: the girlfriend.

Zimmerman claimed he got out of the vehicle to look for a street sign and the kid jumped or ran out from nowhere and attacked him from behind.

The girl who was on the phone with Trayvon seconds before the incident suggests that directly before a scuffle took place, Trayvon and Zimmerman exchanged words. Unless Zimmerman was talking to Trayvon with his back turned (which doesn't make any sense to me) the two stories conflict.

The witness that claims that Zimmerman was acting in self-defense claimed Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman. That does not tell us who attacked who, that simply lets us know that regardless of who started it Trayvon got the upper hand. It's very possible Zimmerman started the fight, and just ended up losing. In which case he couldn't claim self-defense because he caused the conflict and in the state of Florida Trayvon doesn't have to retreat he can "stand his ground". Unfortunately we see where that got him.

Quickly and then I'm going to bed because I have to wake up early tomorrow: a problem I have with this witness that just came forward is that he told Zimmerman and Trayvon that he was going to call the police. The police have released 9-11 calls that contain information about what happened that night from other witnesses. None of those 9-11 calls are consistent with this witness' story, nobody called the police and identify themselves as this witness that saw "everything" and I wonder why? Did the witness never get around to calling the police? I've also received word that the FBI is investigating what they believe to be a 9-11 coming from Trayvon Martin in the seconds before the incident occurred.

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

The witness did not just come forward... I understand he came forward immediately, and his testimony is in the police report. He/she just does not want to be public at this time.

You must be very well connected to the FBI.

Re: Anger + Sadness = RAGE
 

No. God-willing maybe one day.:heeheehee Always wanted to be a special agent since I was a kid.

I was emailed this video. Watch until the end at the very end the story gets interesting:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=8593399