Originally Posted by
Finangus
1: Getting punched alone isn't justification for shooting someone in self-defense: however, if you're on the ground, and your attacker has you pinned down, is continuing to attack you, then it may be justified. At that point they're no longer just trying to punch you to shut you up or prove a point, but are instead attempting to seriously injure you.
2: If you consider eye-witness testimony to be fact, then yes.
Also, here's a real fact that should be considered: Treyvon Martin was 6"3'. Zimmerman is 5"9'. Treyvon was also an American football player, which would probably place his weight (given his height) in the 190-230 lb range. Potentially more, depending on the position he played.
If Martin did attack Zimmerman, and if he did pin him to the ground and continue to punch him and slam his head into the concrete, then it's understandable how Zimmerman would have felt his life was in jeopardy. Zimmerman would have been under attack from someone much larger, fit, and likely stronger than himself.
Again, at this point it's all pure conjecture, since what really happened on that night is heavily muddied by conflicting witness testimonies and the media circus constantly parading out conjecture and opinion as hard facts.