A Slight Victory For Trayvon
BY CLARENCE BARR, II
Earlier this week a court hearing for the Trayvon Martin murder case was held where the lawyers representing accused killer George Zimmerman argued to have certain aspects of Trayvon’s life (mainly his purported drug use, school suspension records and history of fighting) allowed into evidence for the upcoming trial.
The defense asserted that Trayvon’s background is pertinent to the overall case because it supports Zimmerman’s claim that his use of deadly force under the Stand Your Ground law was necessary considering he was face-to-face with a common thug, high on marijuana and prone to violence.
Apparently, the judge on the case wasn’t buying the defense’s position and ruled that those aspects of Trayvon Martin’s background were irrelevant to his murder. The decision was affirmation to all those observing the proceedings that the case will continue on with the focus squarely on the actions of George Zimmerman on the night in question.
As far as I’m concerned, this should have never been an issue from the beginning. I mean when does a person’s character, regardless of how boorish or shady, play a role in his own murder when he’s the one who’s confronted with aggression?
If the situation were reversed and Zimmerman was going about his business and Trayvon initiated the interaction that resulted with Zimmerman being killed in the process, then the background argument would be more valid. But since it was Zimmerman who picked up his gun and left his house for the sole purpose of confronting a man he was instructed by authorities to leave alone, then it shouldn’t matter if Trayvon was the illegitimate son of Bruce Lee, Zimmerman deserved everything that came with pursuing the situation without cause.
While I feel that the court made the right decision by not allowing the victim to be placed on trial because of things in his past, there is no denying that in the loss, Zimmerman also claimed a certain victory as well.
That is because, even though Trayvon’s character assassination won’t make it into the courtroom, it’s hard to imagine any potential jurors not being influenced by the massive coverage that has gone over every detail of Trayvon’s life prior to his murder.
In fact, I would be surprised if it wasn’t all part of Zimmerman’s defense team’s plan. Using the media to do the work for them just in case they were shot down by the court.
The sad reality for the Martin family is that the damage may have already been done. Any information that won’t be allowed in court proceedings will, more than likely, already be in the back of the minds of the 12 men and women who will decide Zimmerman’s fate.
Hopefully though, like the judge, they’ll be able to look past whatever flaws they may find in Trayvon’s brief past and see that, at the end of the day, he was just another typical teenager walking down the street who never made his way home. A young life cut short by someone who went out of his to end it.
For Trayvon’s sake, when the time comes, maybe they’ll find it in them to see Trayvon’s death for what it was and, with that, do what seems only right.
Anyone wanting to contact Clarence Barr can reach him at: Clarence Barr, II, 43110-018; P. O. Box 7007; Marianna, FL 32447-7007. Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bulletin Publishing Company.
