After my thorough legal review of this case (my lunch break). I am charging Zimmerman with culpable negligence (negligent homicide).
Culpable Negligence: Failure to exercise that degree of care rendered appropriate by the particular circumstances, and which a man of ordinary prudence in the same situation and with equal experience would not have omitted.
Homicide: The killing of one human being by the act, procurement, or omission of another. A person is quilty of criminal homicide if he purposley, knowingly, recklessly, or neglegently causes the death of another human being.Criminal homicide is murder, manslaughter or negligent homicide.
I understand he is supposedly protected by the "stand your ground rule". But IMLO, when he left his vehicle and pursued Martin he set into motion the events that led to Martins death, and in fact acted with negligence. If not for his negligence the death of Martin would not have happened.
I rest my case.
Disclaimer: I am a Lunch Time Attorney Only.
What state is this law from?
Here are Florida's applicable statutes.
http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/Chapter782
782.07 Manslaughter; aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person or disabled adult; aggravated manslaughter of a child; aggravated manslaughter of an officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical technician, or a paramedic.—(1)
The killing of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another, without lawful justification according to the provisions of chapter 776 and in cases in which such killing shall not be excusable homicide or murder, according to the provisions of this chapter, is manslaughter, a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.776.041 Use of force by aggressor.—The justification described in the preceding sections of this chapter is not available to a person who:
(1) Is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony; or
(2)
Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:
(a) Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or
(b) In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.
I still make the arrest and let it be tried in court.