On February 6th, 2012, Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman while on his way home. This event sparked national outrage, as many believed Martin, a black teenager, was a victim of racial profiling. Months later, Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder, and thus began the case State of Florida v. George Zimmerman. This case made national headlines, and many were unhappy with its ruling. Ultimately, this case is incredibly significant due to what occurred, the laws involved, the evidence presented, the final verdict, and the case’s lasting impact.
The circumstances of the crime are what made this crime and this case such a national headline. The victim, Trayvon Martin, was walking home after purchasing snacks from the local 7-Eleven when George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, saw him and became …show more content…
Defense attorney Don West described how Zimmerman claimed he was attacked by Martin, saying "Little did George Zimmerman know at the time in less than 10 minutes from him first seeing Trayvon Martin that he, George Zimmerman, would be suckered punched in the face, have his head pounded on concrete and wind up shooting and tragically killing Trayvon Martin." The defense did its best to prove Zimmerman’s innocence, while also recognizing the unfortunate outcome of the events that occurred. West would go on to say "The evidence will show this is a sad case; no monsters here. ... George Zimmerman is not guilty of murder. He shot Trayvon Martin after he was viciously attacked." This is a very different story than the one presented by the prosecution. While one side portrayed him as an innocent victim, the other painted him as the aggressor, who threatened Zimmerman up until the point where he felt so threatened that he had no other option but to use lethal force (Winch and Sloane). Later proceedings would continue to express these two distinct