The key point in the defense (as in was it murder, self defense, etc) again, im not a lawyer, i know the law to a point, and the law of God is different than human law, sometimes at least, is that what kind of danger was the 17 year old killer in?  For self defense, there has to be danger, there is no other way to look at it.  

All that came out was that the White kid pushed the Black kid, or at least layed his hands on him, with some different versions of the story.  Some witnesses say more blows were exchanged than other witnesses, or the duration of the physical confrontation, which started, as far as i know, all witnesses agree on that, was when the White 17 year old touched the Black 17 year old.

The key point to prove self defense for me, was he really in danger, was it 5 against 1, 7 against 2, whatever, outnumbered, out weighed, etc.  In any situation, those are some key points generally, the lay of the land, near water, high up, out in the woods, it matters. They did say the White kid was larger at the time, he weighed more.  He was a line backer.  Supposedly both were at least 2 sport athletes, football and track.

So the physical confrontation was key, and if the White kid possessed a weapon, again in a general sense, nothhing has come out that the White kid had a weapon, or the other kids under that tent had, which started the argument, words, as in leave, u don't belong under here, it is for our high school, not yours.  The 1st thing in danger, in human law, common sense, or God's law, if an area is dangerous, leave.

Ok, well, another point, it was not a stadium, as in environment does play a role, at times,  they were not up high, so obviously he was in no danger of falling from a high place.  Maracana Stadium in Brazil in like 10 stories tall, over 100 feet tall.  Falling from the highest point in that Rio De J stadium would be dangerous.  

Why didn't he just walk away?  Because it shows he meant harm, he was not concerned for his own safety.  IF he was in danger, thought that the other kids, the victim's twin brother, the other high school students under that tent, etc, harm him in any way, had their own weapons, etc, he should have told the parents, track coaches, officiating crew, any adult, or called the police, security, etc, it is a high school, with security and other adults around somewhere close. 

A light shove or a medium shove from a low lying area, the 17 year old perpetrator was in no danger at that time.  At least no reasonable danger of grave bodily harm, sometimes someone can shove someone hard enough to hit something, which can cause head trauma, etc.  

Disrespectful to put hands on someone.  To me it was like drawing a line in the sand.  Allegorical more than anything.  I dare u to cross that line.  Touch me and you will see what happens.  Call my bluff so to speak.  It was not 5 against one, one push and then the murder blow itself, from witnesses, not several stabbings, one.  Some witnesses said several blows were exchanged, as in fists, pushes, so it is difficult to really say what happened a little over a year ago.  A defense to me has to have some level of danger he was in, what it seemed like he was instigating the entire thing.  And was there an escape path?  They were not way out in the woods, with no line of sight from others, or out of shouting distance.

My heart goes out to the 17 year old's family, a tragedy, rest in peace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMf1SApdnb4