Originally Posted by kane

Who started it is the key.

If Zimmerman pursued Martin, got in his face and was aggressive with him and started the fight you could argue that Martin was just defending himself.

However, if Martin was the one that started the fight it could go the other way.

There might be witnesses and/or physical evidence that can set this straight and clearly tell the jury who did what. However, if that doesn't exist it will strictly be up to Zimmerman and his story. He may or may not take the stand, but he and his lawyers will have explain to the jury how he went from telling the dispatcher that he was going to go meet the police to shooting Martin.

The reason, I think, they are bringing up this stuff about Martin and his tweets/texts is that Zimmerman has an actual history of violence and trouble with the police. You know the prosecution will bring that up so he likely wants to try to prove that Martin was no angel.

In the end I think Zimmerman will lose this case. The situation was completely avoidable. Baring some unforeseen event (like he him hanging up with the 911 operator then Martin bursting out form a hiding place and attacking Zimmerman) Zimmerman chose to put himself in this situation then he chose to use deadly force. That likely will be hard to explain.