Judging the Verdict

I had reserved judgement on the Trayvon Martin trial until all the evidence was presented. After assessing the facts, I was pained to conclude that while the tragedy could have been avoided had George Zimmerman complied with the 911 operator's admonition and not followed Trayvon, that when violence ensued, Trayvon was the aggressor. Zimmerman put himself in the position where force was necessary by doing something stupid and not complying with dispatcher instructions, but stupid does not equal criminal. I imagine if Trayvon had known Zimmerman was carrying a gun, he never would have jumped him, but the youth's untimely demise was ultimately brought on because he forced George Zimmerman to defend his life.