Sorry De Selby, but following someone, even chasing someone, whether you are armed or not, is not "an act imminently dangerous to another."
Furthermore, you're twisting the law around to try to fit your preconceived notions. For that law to apply, the act that causes the unlawful killing must be the imminently dangerous act. So if Martin had keeled over and died from being chased, then yes, that law would apply. And that law specifically states "the unlawful killing." Killing someone in self defense is not an unlawful killing.
Now let's look at the second statute you quoted....
The killing of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another, without lawful justification according to the provisions of chapter 776 and in cases in which such killing shall not be excusable homicide or murder, according to the provisions of this chapter, is manslaughter, a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
Let's walk through that, shall we? Hrm... "Without lawful justification according to the provisions of chapter 776".... Wait. Would self defense be lawful justification??? Oh my, it looks like chapter 776 is exactly that, Justifiable Use of Force! Hrm. Let's see what all is in there, shall we??? Oh lookie... 776.012 - Use of force in defense of person. 776.032 - Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justifiable use of force.
Oh, here's a good one....
776.041 - Use of force by aggressor. Shall we see what Florida has to say about this??? Even if Zimmerman was the "aggressor"?
776.041 Use of force by aggressor.—
The justification described in the preceding sections of this chapter is not available to a person who:
(1) Is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony; or
(2) Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:
(a) Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or
(b) In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.
Ok. #1 doesn't apply. Zimmerman was not attempting to commit, committing or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony. Strike 1.
#2 - "
Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself." - Hmm.. could it be... Maybe *that's* the law you were thinking he broke.... But wait. there's more to be read-
"
UNLESS" (my, that's an important word in this case)
"
(a) - such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm" yeah, getting punched to the ground and then having your head slammed into the cement sidewalk would fit that definition "
and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant;" Whoopsie. Zimmerman was under Martin, having his head pounded into the cement. I don't see any reasonable means to escape that danger.... Strike 2.
"
or (b) - In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force." Let's see. Zimmerman stopped following/chasing Martin. He's walking back to his car. Yup. Withdrew from physical contact... Oh wait. THERE HADN'T EVEN BEEN ANY PHYSICAL CONTACT YET! According to his statement to police, after he started walking back to his car, this exchange occurred:
Zimmerman told them he lost sight of Trayvon and was walking back to his SUV when Trayvon approached him from the left rear, and they exchanged words.
Trayvon asked Zimmerman if he had a problem. Zimmerman said no and reached for his cell phone, he told police. Trayvon then said, "Well, you do now" or something similar and punched Zimmerman in the nose, according to the account he gave police.
from
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-26/news/os-trayvon-martin-zimmerman-account-20120326_1_miami-schools-punch-unarmed-black-teenagerWait, what's this? "Trayvon asked Zimmerman if he had a problem. Zimmerman said no and reached for his cell phone, he told police. Trayvon then said, "Well, you do now" or something similar and punched Zimmerman in the nose" oh no! "
and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force." Strike 3, and you're out!
Oh, but guess what, I'm not done yet! "
and in cases in which such killing shall not be excusable homicide"
Gee, I wonder what fits the definition of excusable homicide??? Oh, that's right, SELF DEFENSE!
Guess again, Counselor.