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Benjamin Crump on the Zimmerman trial: "People all over the country are saying ... 'what if this were my child?'"
On a day which saw the defense rest its case in the George Zimmerman trial, this evening "Piers Morgan Live" invited Benjamin Crump to join the program for a live, exclusive interview.
Having been sequestered in the event he might be called upon to give testimony, the co-counsel for Trayvon Martin's family was unavailable for comment to this point. However, with the sequester now lifted, on Wednesday Crump offered his insight into the proceedings to this point:
"If the jury follows the evidence, George Zimmerman will be held accountable of killing Trayvon Martin because nothing has changed. George Zimmerman followed, profiled, made a decision to get out his car and chase Trayvon Martin," Crump summarized for Piers Morgan. "So, who threw what first punch, if they were struggling and rolling on the ground? Well George Zimmerman started this confrontation and so we can never get beyond Trayvon Martin just walking home and a strange man chasing him. Doesn't Trayvon Martin have the right to self-defense?"
As debates over race, courtroom protocol, and Florida law continue to dominate the case's headlines and talking points, Crump made a special effort to identify the emotional elements which may infiltrate the jury room:
"Those women on the jury have children and they have to think that 'this could be my child.' This could be anybody's child. And that's what's so troubling about this case and that's why it's so emotional, Piers," he told the host. "People all over the country are saying, especially minority parents, 'what if this were my child?'"
Watch the clip for more of Morgan's interview with Benjamin Crump, and for the next edition of "Piers Morgan Live," watch CNN every night at 9.
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Mr Crump, if Trayvon Martin was minding his own business going back to his house as you say, what was he doing standing out in the rain looking into peoples houses? George Zimmerman called the police because Trayvon was snooping around the side of someones house in the rain.
I acknowledge that it is one mans word against a dead mans word, but all of the evidence so far has backed George Zimmerman's account.
Whatever happened after that, its apparent George Zimmerman at least was getting beat up pretty good. We all heard the 911 calls and George Zimmerman was truly pleading for his life, and Trayvon continued to beat on him. John Good even came outside and told the melee he was calling the cops. Trayvon kept beating him, then the shot was fired.
This case has nothing to do with race, it all started because someone was snooping around a house that didn't belong to them and the neighborhood was plagued with robberies. Trayvons' butt was where it shouldn't have been, not George. And from all appearances Trayvon jumped George and beat him up pretty good. Take the evidence and fill in the blanks and its a sad story either way.
Trayvon was were he was suppose to be, at his dad'a house, why not have GZ identify himself as the NBHD watch person and then and only then would TM identify himself as an resident in the housing community. The reason that did not happen is because he had a hoodie on. Learn to follow the authorities directions which was: DO NOT FOLLOW HIM, DO NOT FOLLOW, that's the bottom line. I don;t care if TM had of been white, asian, hispantic or what the fact is he was a child approached by a grown man whom didnot identify himself as NBHD watch. This may have been different if he had,it is not abour race for me it is about common sense, and for the record he was where he was suppose to be on his way home from the store to HIS FATHERS HOME WHICH IS ALSO HIS HOME!!!!!!
Why was Trayvon looking inside peoples windows from the side of the house on the way back from the store?
leanthe facts, you're absolutely right in your reply. Unfortunately you can't reason with stupid who try to justify GZ's actions. You're trying to reason with a bunch of Gun Lovin Right Wing Racists that have been drinking the Kool Aid provided by the NRA and their supporters. I'm in Law Enforcement, and I can tell you that if the dispacher say's DON'T FOLLOW THE SUBJECT, YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE SUBJECT! GZ should've listened to the dispatchers instruction and retreated while POLICE OFFICERS would be dispatched accordingly. GZ should get Second Degree at the least.
Bob, we disagree and we will see what the verdict is. Please do not label me certain things because I am presenting evidence from the trial in my rebuttals that disagree with you. Peace
Bob, also see my response below to Al, referencing GZ leaving the car.
Doesn't anyone keep up with the trial? This was NOT Trayvon's HOME nor his dads! His dad is married, was seeing a girlfriend at HER home and Trayvon's mother put him on a bus 200 miles to go where? Because he was kicked out of school with drugs and stolen goods and had drugs in his system that night but that was not his home. His home was in Miami.
Now here we go with the mob squad. Thanks to Crump and the prosecutors setting us back with race relations 30 years
The state proved nothing we did not know. Trayvon Martin a 17 year old teenager, visiting his Dad with a typical troubled kid back ground died from one bullet to the heart at close range by George Zimmerman then a 28 year old man (12 yrs difference in age) admitted to shooting Trayvon in self defense. The state has not proved or disproved the facts. They have not proved that Trayvon did not attack George Zimmerman. Dead people tell no lies. Trayvon had not one mark on his body other than his fingers where it could prove he was in attack mode. George Zimmerman had a lot of bodily injuries to the head area. The state has not proved anything other than a tragedy happened and if this can change today all would be happy. But a person has a right to defend there home, family and especially there life and unless they can even prove in one respect that Trayvon was attacked in anyway as to bodily harm then please show us. Words and verbal insults are not illegal. Personal bodily hurt is a crime. I believe the State has done a great job on what if, however we do not convict people based on anything other than proof and the facts.
Where in the world are you getting your assumptions that "Trayvon was looking in peoples houses?" There has not been one person in that apartment complex that took the stand and said this young man was looking in their house. Go take your Zanax or Prozak or whatever you skipped today. You sound like you are missing a few screws. Try emptying out that trunk of hate that lives in your heart. Trayvon had just as much right to be there as any other resident. At that moment, that was HIS HOME. He was there with HIS father.
writtingmomma, its on the non emergency 911 call from George...it was when George parked his car and first spotted Trayvon...To paraphrase: George spotted Trayvon on the grass on the side of someones apartment looking in the window.
Obviously you have not read that this is not an apartment complex and is a gated community of home OWNERS.. Trayvon's father is married but was "staying" with another woman who owned a home there and they were out for the night leaving Trayvon babysitting her 12 year old so both we're just visiting, him visiting from Miami so he had zero LEGAL right to be there. He may have had permission.
You go girl lol!!
Maybe you haven't been watching or listening to the case...why didn't Mr. Zimmerman list to the 911 operator? leave him alone, help is on the way! please respond to that.
I've watched 90% of this case live on Fox's gavel to gavel coverage... no commercial breaks just a straight courtroom feed.
I can agree with you that George could have stayed in his car, but I don't see this as a violent act or one that would cause me to doubt at that point he was maliciously trying to hurt Trayvon. It was clear that the cops were coming, and I believe that George tried to keep his eyes on this person he spotted looking into peoples homes. George AND Trayvon had every right to walk around that neighborhood. Looking at the evidence, Trayvon initiated the violence, possibly because he got spotted snooping around looking in windows where he didnt live.
Separately, are you aware that Trayvon Martin was busted in school for having a 12 stolen pieces of jewelry and a screwdriver in his backpack? Trayvon said he was holding it for a friend. The jewelry was held in police evidence and has since been returned to the owners.
Peace to you all
Mr. Crump, You got the big money you were after so quit fanning the race flames and tell the truth. Trayvan was not at HIS house, Mr. Zimmerman was at HIS house and Trayvan was living in Miami with his mother. His father left him and the mother and her other child with another man who had abandoned her when Trayvon was 5 years Old. Mr. Martin had remarried but during this time he was living with yet another woman in HER home in Mr. Zimmerman's gated neighborhood. The week before, Trayvon's mother kicked him out of the home and put him on a bus 200 miles to Sanford to be a guest of Trayvon's father's girlfriend because he had been kicked out of school due to drugs in his possession and break in tools. The girlfriend should have warned the dad that there had been serious crime issues in the neighborhood and perhaps Trayvon shouldn't be in and out of the neighborhood at night, especially since he was not a legal resident or child of a homeowner. I suspect that he was supposed to babysit the girlfriend's child because they were out all night and Mr. Martin didn't even know about the death of his son for a couple of days and none of the residents recognized him as living there. I guess that 12 year old was left unnattended all night. Would it surprise anyone to know that Trayvon once again had drugs in his system? Mr. Crump, You got big money from the HOA for yourself and the parents even though neither one of them lived there and this so called kid...Why weren't either or both of these parents with him or supervising him? Also, if you want to help Mr. Martin or any man for that matter, please explain that they need to stay with the mothers of the children that they produce, if you care like you pretend to, instead of causing more race problems. And shame on the parents, who should be arrested for neglecting their so called "child" and guess they approved his tattoos as you have to be 18 in FL to get 1 or 2. You can tell that they can't wait to get out and spend that money.
Donna, to clarify your post, I believe Trayvons father was at a masonic conference for the weekend. I am unsure if his fiancee was with him or at her home.
I believe that someone must be held accountable for trayvon's death. Based on what I've read and listened to, trayvon's parents should examine their parenting history and knowledge of what their son's baggage was before pointing their fingers at others or bringing race into the equation.
who said trayvon was snooping? the only one that is living. y didn't Zimmerman stay put and wait on police? he wanted to make a example out of someone, just so happen its was trayvon, a black young man walking home in the rain. if it was the other way around, trayvon would be found guilty, no questions asked. 2 laws black and white. only in America.
First of all, everyone agrees it is tragic when a 17 yr old is killed, but please stop calling him a boy, " he is not" many 17 yr olds could easily beat up an adult. I am not an American but have grown up watching American Television. I am an avid watcher of all news from sources around the globe including CNN. After many years of observing these high profile cases it is a tragedy what is happening to your society which I have loved and admired my entire life. When the facts and evidence of any case are dismissed and overlooked based on race ethnicity or colour the system is in trouble. And those who support the prosecution purely based on the colour of Travon Martin's skin are Hypocrites and are even more racist than the Caucasian forfathers they loath. Instead of learning from the past they choose to repeat it. " you have learned nothing".
Who are you??? You don't make any sense in what u are saying. There was no where in that case about Trayvon being a peeping tom. If Mr Z would have listened to the 911 operator and back off–there wouldn't be any trial. If he thought Trayvon was a suspect then why not wait for the police? or worse case just keep an eye on him until law enforcement arrived. In my perspective Mr Z wanted to use his weapon, he saw an opportunity and he went for it. This was a senseless murder, no matter how u look at it. No DNA evidence of Mr Z on Trayvon , nor any fingerprint on the gun as the defendant claimed.
These posts are disgusting....it is obvious that some of you do not know all the facts...Trayvon actually LIVED WITH HIS MOTHER IN MIAMI, and was VISITING his father in SANDFORD...if you stop to think one moment and if you believe that he was looking into to houses more than likely it was bc he was lost bc all the damn houses look the same
what blows my mind is that I know people who fall off their bikes and get worse injuries than George Z. And why is it acceptable to bring a gun to a fist-fight? I believe there are over 100X more shooting deaths vs beating deaths. when i googled beating deaths- most hits are 2 or more vs 1 rather than 1 vs 1.....
just look at the beating Rodney king took at the hands of the LA police... and George Z feared for his life????????? please.....
like you have said ,its one mans word against a dead man.well he(trayvon ) was on the phone all through the journey home,why do you choose to believe zimmemans account that he was looking into peoples home .
Why all the comments? The trial ended over 1 1/2 weeks ago with the jury finding George Zimmerman Not Guilty. Reading comments where folks are changing words and events that happened that night, what your think there going to call the jury back and retry GZ because you want to twist the facts. Crump and Parks are chasing a buck and media attention. You get nothing but your senseless comment that means nothing. Piers isn't going to call you to be interviewed on his show. The DOJ isn't going to retry GZ, they have nothing they are spreading the peanut butter. It's over folks so get over it. Now The Martins could bring a wrongful death suit against GZ, problem, All TM charter will surface including who raised him in Chicago for the last 13 -14 years of TM life. School records don't lie so Subrena Fulton will look like a failure claiming she raised her TM when in fact Tracy's Martins 2nd wife Alicia Stanley raised Trayvon. That would be throwing poop in the fan...
Zimmerman had 1 cut on his face and some sratches on the back of his head..which proves that he was not getting beat to death or punched 25 times like he said.. 1 cut on his nose!. Zimemrman was training with mma..if youve watched mma before he could have easily gained control of the situation by wrapping his leg around martin while on the bottom..so many ways to defend yourself while being on the bottom.. teh defense is playing it out like zimmerman wasnt to into the mma and he wasnt that fit or capable to really do anything to defend himself..they even brought his trainer up to say that..thats bull..you wills till have that knowledge to help you during a fight..trayvon got one punch through..no other bruises were on zimmermans face..some scraps on the back of his head..he could have easily got that when they fell to the ground..... zimmerman could have approached trayvon asking questions..trayvon could have attempted to leave until zimmerman grabbed him..trayvon turns and punches zimmerman in the face..then it all begins.. a kid is dead never to tellh is story and 1 man is alive attempting to to gain position of the situation once again
Then why were the only marks on Trayvon on his hand (from punching) and a gun shot wound? Trayvon whooped him pretty good.
Movement, lets speculate... tell me how many times I can smash your head into concrete before you are seriously hurt?
rippednj
i'm curious, have you seen zimmermans face? do you know what a person looks like after being reapetedly beat in the face"25" times as said by zimmerman? his face would have been full of bumps and cuts and brusies..like a helpless ali fight.. and the bashing head into the concrete thing..omg..repeatedly bash at that.. do you know what that woudl have done? black outs maybe.. so far gone he's unable to reach for a gun..your sweet innocent friend
if trayvon beat his head on the concrete like they claim, his head would have been way worse. 2 little abrasions and a broke nose is not cause to kill some. And then y Zimmerman hollering with a gun? He made up all that to b justifiable.
I pray for you and those like you.
If GZ gets convinced old jewish ladys with walkers gonna riot lol......
It is truly disheartening to read the comments posted here for many reasons. There are a group of posters wishing imprisonment on a man we only know through television and internet. Then, there are several others appearing to feel death was what Trayvon deserved. It's amazing that after viewing a trial that has been so clearly about two people who have both been depicted in court as having improperly judging each other, that so many postings of such a judgmental nature would be posted all over the internet. I am not sure how many of you are parents. I am...of a son. I would hate to think that my son does not have the same rights in this country as others sons. I would really hate to believe that someone truly feels that if your child is a visitor in another neighborhood that he should be held in confinement in the house, that he doesn't have the right to go to the store and back because it wasn't his lawful neighborhood. This is America. That's outrageous. I reckon your thinking would be different if it was your child followed, killed, and buried. Could you still sit in support of the law and defend George Zimmerman if he killed your child? I'm sure not. I know I couldn't. On the flipside, as a person who has worked in the defense field for several years, I know that defendants go through a real emotional ordeal sitting in judgement. It's not anything I'd wish on anyone. George Zimmerman was hypervigilent true indeed. And if American justice is not in his future, justice is divine...he'll receive it when God sees fit. I guess what I'm saying here is let's not be so quick to rush to judgement or wish upon these two young men or their families a hell we wouldn't want for ourselves.
I wasn't there, I"m neither black or white, I don't know what really happened that night, but there are some facts I do know, I know that Trayvon was a trouble maker, pot smoker, tried to sell a gun, used to beat up people and enjoyed it, so I'm gonna give G Z the benefit of the doubt and say he is NOT GUILTY.
Please consider GZ's controversial background. it's also beneficial to have a father who's a judge with connections.
In 2005, Zimmerman, then 20, was arrested and charged with “resisting officer with violence” and “battery of law enforcement officer,” both which are third-degree felonies. The charge was reduced to “resisting officer without violence” and then waived when he entered an alcohol education program. Contemporaneous accounts indicate he shoved an officer who was questioning a friend for alleged underage drinking at an Orange County bar.
In August 2005, Zimmerman’s ex-fiancee, Veronica Zuazo, filed a civil motion for a restraining order alleging domestic violence. Zimmerman counterfiled for a restraining order against Zuazo. The competing claims were resolved with both restraining orders being granted.
You are in my prayers. I am praying for your mind and heart to be healed. Jah bless.
praying for our nation these folks aren't interested in facts.
GZ was also a woman beater, arrested for assault on an officer, and a pathological liar...he deserves no benefit of the doubt...GUILTY ...oh yes the first two offenses were dropped...why you may ask? its simple most of his family and friends worked in law enforcement and they protect their own...ever seen training day? ...marinate on that
Is George left handed? I observed him writing with his left hand in the court. Everyone illustrates him pulling the gun with his right hand. Would it not easier to pull the gun from the right side if he is left handed? Just a question.
You can fire with either hand. What's most interesting is that a gun can recoil and cause bodily harm like what we've seen with the tip of GZ's nose. Looks like Blood actually came from the tip of his nose.
It was stated in the trial by the officer who trained him (with the firearm) that although he is left handed, he actually uses his right had to shoot or use the pistol.
Nice show, I like watching Pier Morgan on CNN for wanting to help to others especially foreign origin to Understand America. I also love Judge Alex. I think he is a great judge, in my view Judge Alex wants people to understand the law. I watch JUdge Alex show, he is my favor Judge. I value and cherish people that help other to understand what happened and how the law applied. I am very disturb with Trayvon Martin, why the law is different when it comes to race, why Stand your ground means able to kill others just because.
Stop calling GZ White man he is a Latino Peruvian
PLEASE do what I usually feel y'all do a wonderful job of. I am an American with brown skin who is ALWAYS classified as "black" & I strongly disagree wit the general (and largely the only perspective expressed) notion that the Zimmerman verdict, the jurors & Zimmerman supporters are shockingly insensitive to race, justice, and the Martin family. As a 32yr. old American man of color ("African American"), New Orleans native & 7.5 yr. veteran of the USMC, I identify with Zimmerman and strongly support the verdict! Please pull up some credible and honorable men and/or women of color who support the verdict, jury & Zimmerman to share their perspective. We need to balance the strong willed "black" men & esp. women who have expressed their disgust with all pro verdict elements. Thanks for doing what y'all do the way y'all do it!
The thing you all ar enot remebering is Trevon wa snot on trial..... he was killed. He was murdured by an inadequate, out of shape want to be police officer. He was not looking in peoples houses, he was walking in between the houses to get back to his destination. Im sure him being black had 80% to do with his being profiled...and the hoodie was the other 20%. also if he was on top of GZ where was the blood? The facts are GZ got out of the car and confronted him, whe nyou engage somone you cannot defent yourself for you are the agressor. Lets be real.... his father is a judge, and he is using the hispanic thing to try to keep himself form being hated by identifying with a minority group.
Does our Hispanic George Zimmerman speak Spanish? Who are his Latino friends? Which of the whites outside of his family who testified in the case knew he was Latino? Was Spanish spoken in the house? Zimmerman's father is not Hispanic.
The worst thing about this entire case is all Treyvon had to do was get off the phone with his girlfriend and call the police. He would have been
transferred to the same call center and it would have been squashed.
That's it. At that point if Zimmerman did anything he would be guilty as hell. Police take the side of the person that calls 911.
Now with that said I still think Zimmerman is guilty but Florida's laws are messed up.