The chasm widens in a country divided after a Florida jury found a neighborhood watch volunteer not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. Is there a local lesson here? More than a year ago, President Barack Obama called for
The chasm widens in a country divided after a Florida jury found a neighborhood watch volunteer not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. Is there a local lesson here?
More than a year ago, President Barack Obama called for the nation to do some soul searching after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot to death by neighborhood watch coordinator George Zimmerman. It was a call to reflect on how we view others who appear different from ourselves and perhaps to consider what it really means to “stand your ground,” the term given to justifiable killing in self-defense.
This past week, a jury said Zimmerman acted out of self-defense, prompting the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division to start a new investigation on possible hate crime charges.
As the debate continues over Zimmerman’s fate in a federal investigation, the issue we can look at is how to prevent this scenario from happening in our own neighborhoods.
The shooting happened in a gated community that was plagued by burglaries. Whether Martin was returning to his father’s home from a convenience store, or if he was casing properties as Zimmerman claims, the use of deadly force was avoidable.
As Kauai residents take greater preventive steps to protect their property during a time of high crime rates, the Zimmerman case is a reminder against zealousness or de-humanizing a perpetrator.
The stress of a home burglary or vehicle break-in feels like a personal assault. It leaves you reeling with questions of: Who did this? Do I know the perpetrator? Will they ever catch them?
The anger of that moment is frightening, and for a homeowner, it is understandable that they would take great steps to prevent it from happening again.
This island is unique for its racially diverse residents with a common bond as Americans, but also for embracing Hawaiian culture and values. Yet, there are clear economic and social divisions that create barriers, and walls can go up as crime rates rise and people take aim at police and the courts for not doing enough.
The anger expressed by homeowners does, however, at least draw some concern that as people arm themselves to at least give thought to the idea of de-escalating a potentially deadly situation.
It is easy to imagine ourselves as Clint Eastwood or Bruce Lee during an encounter with an intruder. Once an act of deadly violence is committed, we then have the rest of our lives to ask ourselves if an act of self-defense was avoidable — or unnecessarily place ourselves and family at risk of violence that may not have occurred without provocation. Consider that Zimmerman was an appointed coordinator of a neighborhood watch group for a gated community. He was hyper sensitive to potential crime after several break-ins and getaways of suspects who fled before police could arrive.
When he saw Martin, he was quick to identify him as a burglar. Whether Martin was leering into windows or returning home from a convenience store, Zimmerman’s use of deadly force, justified or not, came after he ignored instructions from police dispatch to remain in his vehicle and wait for police. Instead, Zimmerman worried that his potential burglar was getting away, pursued and confronted him. This prompted the angry reaction that resulted in Zimmerman sustaining a broken nose — and then the shooting and killing Martin just 70 yards from his father’s home.
Whether you agree or not that Zimmerman had racial animus (will or intent) and should be charged with a hate crime in addition to murder, the scenario begs for self-reflection. A good person, especially a victim, can be quick to assume or even act outside of their better sense.
In this case, the jury was presented evidence on Zimmerman’s state of mind during the physical altercation. Members of the jury were not allowed to hear evidence on his state of mind in the minutes leading up to the encounter with Martin.
Someone guarding their neighborhood is in a good position to recognize a stranger as someone who they need to report if they are acting in a suspicious manner. It is another situation entirely to profile the presence of someone as suspicious for merely looking like they don’t belong.
• Island Crime Beat is a weekly column by court reporter Tom LaVenture.
