What bearing has the time when Zimmerman started following got to do with it? He did not shoot until after the alleged assault. The cop saying it would have happened if Zimmerman had stayed in his truck is stupid. It wouldn't have happened if Martin wasn't there either. If you rear end someone, is it their fault because it wouldn't have happened if they stayed home that day?
it matters because the intent of the law is for somebody in public can feel protected if attacked and they shoot.
the law is so vaguely written that this situation falls into gray area. the law was never intended for somebody to follow somebody down, start an altercation, then claim they stood their ground.
the truth is that nothing would've have happened if Zimmerman didn't try to play cop. it's not stupid, it's just inadmissible in court. the cops would've showed up, and the kid would've probably been safe at home.
our justice system is meant to protect us from vigilantism.
self defense, does not protect people who stalk others then get confronted.
i'll even level with you, say trayvann did look suspicious. looking suspicious does not equal actively involved in crime. a 6' teenager walks through a neighborhood, minding his own business, and deserves to get whacked?
if zimmerman would've tried to detain him "citizen's arrest style" he could've been arrested for violating trayvann's civil rights because the kid hadn't committed a crime. even after trayvan fought back, say trayvan did fight back and whipped zimmerman, zimmerman would've been the one in trouble, because trayvann had done NOTHING wrong......yet he shoots the fucker and gets to walk free? and that's somehow justified why? cuz the kid's black? give me a break....