My View of the George Zimmerman Murder Case.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the parents of our young brother Trayvon Martin, as well as that of his family and friends. Please note that you are reading the perspective of a black man incarcerated over 20 years (with limited access to the media).

Those of us who have been through the so-called justice system and have some knowledge of the law were not suprised by this verdict, though we had hoped otherwise. From the limited facts we could obtain from the media about the trial most of us felt that the prosecution didn't present a case beyond reasonable doubt. Nor did they overcharge Zimmerman as the media would have us believe. They in face under-charged him.

If you want to see someone who has been overcharged come to New York or Connecticut where minorities are regularly over-charged with not one or two crimes stemming from one incident, but five or six. Get indicted and the list could easily double.

Understand that reasonable doubt means that a jury MUST aquit if they have a doubt that is REASONABLE or a person's guilt. Even if they actually believe he/she is in fact guilty. While proof must be proven beyond all reasonable REASONABLE DOUBT it DOES NOT have to be proven beyond all doubt since all doubt us not necessarily reasonable. If all juries did this prosecutors all over the country would have a much tougher time convicting innocent people. Too often this does not happen. This is why so many people were surprised at this verdict.

I also believe that those jurors did not see their sons in Trayvon Martin. But I believe they did see them in George Zimmerman. Had my mother been on that jury she would have understood that I wouldn't have run away from someone who was stalking me. She would have understood that I would have confronted this person. She would have asked why didn't Zimmerman identify himself as a member of the Blockwatch. She knew that where we live to run from an unidentified undercover cop means you get shot in the back! To confront is to take control through surprise. I believe Zimmerman triggered the fight-or-flight responds in Trayvon. The prosecution should have argued that Trayvon stood HIS GROUND. We understand that if it is necessary to fight that to run would mean that you will not have the energy to fight. So why not get the jump on your pursuer? I believe that this is what Trayvon did. This is what my mother would have understood sitting on that jury. This is what any person living in the 'hood, sitting on that jury would have understood.

With that said, let's distract our energy, not in destruction, but instruction. Learn what our rights are as jurors. Contrary to what you are generally taught, we are above the law. Don't fall for the phrase "equal protection UNDER the law". In the 14th amendment to the Constitution of the United States, it's "Equal Protection OF the Law". As a juror, the peer of an accused person, you have the right to rid said accused person of any law you believe to be unjust with your vote of not guilty and there is nothing any judge can do about it! The term is called jury nullification.

Jury nullification is such a powerful thing that no judge will allow any sitting jury to be instructed on it. If you ever want to see a prosecutor touch the ceiling of any courtroom, just mention those two words. They don't want you to learn that you have the right to judge both the law and the facts of a case as juror. The law itself is on trial, just as much as the cause to be decided. You also have the right to disregard the instructions of the judge. No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law.

Understand that we need people with this knowledge sitting on juries. I'm not saying nullify everything that comes your way, but know what all your options are. George Zimmerman got the justice his peers believed that he was entitled to. Keep this in mind when it's your turn to impart this justice and don't allow yourself to be intimidated by anyone. WE NEED YOU!

Hit me up and let me know what you're thinking...pro or con.

Rich.