re: #105 Obdicut

If you’re on a street, it isn’t impossible to flee - simply run in the opposite direction from where the alleged assailant came from. The incident didn’t occur on a dead end, cul de sac, or otherwise involve a group of people blocking avenues of exit. That makes the claim all the more dubious.

What I’m talking about with precipitating events deals with the chain of events and conduct of the respective parties.

Zimmerman starts following Martin.
Martin allegedly attacks Zimmerman.
Scuffle ensues.
Zimmerman shoots Martin.

Additional points in the timeline are fleshed out here.

If you consider Zimmerman following Martin the precipitating event, Martin gets the benefit of SYG and had no duty to retreat from Zimmerman because he could have felt himself threated with deadly force.

If you start with Zimmerman’s claim that Martin hit Zimmerman first, then Zimmerman gets benefit of SYG.

The Sanford police and/or state attorney initially chose to start their analysis with the latter, and ignored the former.