Breaking News12:13 PM (edited) - Public George Zimmerman to be charged in Trayvon Martin shooting, official says Sanford, Fla., USA
Wed Apr 11, 1:56 p.m. EST: The +Washington Post reports that Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey plans to announce as early as this afternoon that she is charging neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, according to a law enforcement official close to the investigation. It was not immediately clear what charge Zimmerman will face.
(CNSNews.com) – Attorney General Eric Holder praised left-wing activist Rev. Al Sharpton at the opening of the National Action Network (NAN) convention on Wednesday, and also stressed that the Justice Department is conducting a thorough investigation of the fatal Trayvon Martin shooting that “will examine the facts and the law.”
Sharpton, president of NAN and host of MSNBC’s Politics Nation, has led several rallies demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman, who reportedly shot Martin on Feb. 26. On Mar. 30 in Sanford, Fla., where the shooting occurred, Sharpton pledged that his group would “move to the next level if Zimmerman isn’t arrested.”
At the opening of NAN’s 14th annual convention in Washington, D.C., the attorney general first thanked MSNBC’s Rev. Sharpton “for your partnership, your friendship, and your tireless efforts to speak out for the voiceless, to stand up for the powerless, and to shine a light on the problems we must solve, and the promises we must fulfill.”
Concerning Trayvon Martin, Holder said, “I know that many of you are greatly -- and rightly -- concerned about the recent shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a young man whose future has been lost to the ages."
"As most of you know, three weeks ago, the Department of Justice launched an investigation into this incident, which remains open at this time, and prevents me from talking in detail about this matter," he said.
“Although I cannot share where current efforts will lead us from here, I can assure you that, in this investigation – and in all cases – we will examine the facts and the law,” said Holder. “If we find evidence of a potential federal criminal civil rights crime, we will take appropriate action. And, at every step, the facts and the law will guide us forward.
The National Action Network, which Sharpton founded, has held multiple rallies about the Martin shooting, largely critical of shooter George Zimmerman, irrespective of an ongoing investigation.
Zimmerman, who has not been arrested in the case, said he acted in self-defense after following Martin on Feb. 26, the night Martin was killed. A Florida special prosecutor announced on Monday that the case will not be taken before a Florida grand jury, though the investigation will continue. The FBI and Justice Department are also pursuing their investigations.
And this is ultimately why he will be arrested anyway. Here's the thing though, he has affirmative defense on the stand your ground law, and for self defense - based on witnesses. If that's the case, he will not even go to trial probably.
By Kevin Johnson, Marisol Bello and Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY
George Zimmerman will face murder charges in the death of Trayvon Martin, special prosecutor Angela Corey announced Wednesday night. He will face charges for murder in the second degree, she said.
"It is the search for justice for Trayvon that brought us here today," Corey said during a press conference Wednesday evening.
Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer, is in custody, but Corey said she would not say where "for his safety as well as everyone else's safety."
"I can tell you we did not come to this decision lightly," Corey said. "We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition." she said.
She said she spoke with Martin's parents moments before her announcement.
"We launched an intensive investigation building on the work by the Sanford Police Department," and the previous prosecutor.
She said Zimmerman turned himself in.
Zimmerman, whose father is white and mother is Latina, told police he shot Trayvon in self-defense after following the unarmed black teen in a gated Sanford community Feb. 26.
The decision on charges in this case is a particularly brutal and difficult choice, legal and forensic analysts say.
Zimmerman's claim of self-defense, Florida's stand your ground law, questions about racial profiling, intense public attention and nationwide rallies calling for Zimmerman's arrest have combined to make the case a complicated stew, the analysts say.
Michelle Jacobs, a defense attorney and law professor at the University of Florida who teaches about the role of race in prosecutions, said self-defense is difficult to establish in this case because it's unclear who was defending himself against whom.
"If Trayvon Martin perceived an unknown individual to be a threat to his safety, then he was entitled under the self-defense law to protect himself," she said.
She said the case is further hampered because police did not fully investigate after the shooting. For example, Sanford police conducted toxicology tests for drugs and alcohol on Martin, but not Zimmerman.
"We lose the opportunity to get that kind of information because of a lack of thorough police work," she said.
Jacobs said, Corey is "going to have to eat her Wheaties because no one is going to be satisfied no matter what she decides. ...There is no easy choice she can make."
Even if the case does get to a jury, she said it could be another Casey Anthony case, in which the jury acquitted the mother of killing her toddler because jurors said there was not enough evidence to convict. Corey is "hamstrung by the reality of the what's been given to her," Jacobs said.
Little by way of physical evidence has been released publicly. Lawrence Kobilinsky, a forensics expert at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, says the physical evidence – the autopsy and ballistics reports for example – will likely play an important role for the prosecution because the eyewitness accounts are unreliable in this case.
Witnesses who called 911 or have spoken to the media have said it was dark. Some say they heard the scuffle between the men, but didn't see it.
"In this case, the witnesses give contradictory statements," he said. "It's a mess. It's a total mess."
He says the evidence should be what guides the decision to arrest Zimmerman.
"It's the politically correct thing to have him arrested, but I don't know that there is enough evidence," Kobilinsky said.
David LaBahn, president and CEO of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and a former prosecutor, said self-defense cases are most often the most difficult to prosecute. Often, the killer and victim know each other or are from the same neighborhoods and deciphering what actually happened is difficult if one of the witnesses is dead and there are no others to refute or corroborate the suspect's version of events.
"There are a lot of other sides to them," LaBahn said.
There's no guarantee Zimmerman will face trial. The case may yet be thrown out under the state's stand-your-ground law.
George Dekle, a University of Florida law professor who prosecuted serial killer Ted Bundy, said that if Zimmerman is charged the court will hold a hearing to determine if he is entitled to immunity from prosecution under stand your ground.
If a judge finds there is insufficient evidence to show that Zimmerman acted in any way other than self-defense, he can toss the case out of court.
"This is no fun case for a prosecutor," Dekle said. "You will get one group of people or another after you like a pack of wolves. ...No matter what happens you are going to get toasted."
Trayvon's parents, in Washington to attend the National Action Network convention, said they were "confident'' in the criminal justice system and appealed for a peaceful reaction to whatever decision is announced by the Florida special prosecutor. The network, a civil rights group, has been calling for an arrest in the case.
"It's been a nightmare for 44 days,'' said Sybrina Fulton, the slain teenager's mother, referring to the time since her son was killed. "God is holding me up and keeping me. ... I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that justice will be served.''
Benjamin Crump, the family's attorney, said it was "troubling'' for the parents when they heard Zimmerman's lawyers announce this week that they were withdrawing from the case and that they were not certain of Zimmerman's location.
"The killer of Trayvon Martin is unaccounted for,'' Crump said. "His (former) lawyers said he wasn't in the state of Florida. We're very concerned about that.''
Rev. Al Sharpton, president and founder of the network, which has been leading a series of protests in wake of Trayvon's death, also called for calm in anticipation of the prosecutor's decision.
"Trayvon Martin's name must not be tarnished,'' Sharpton said. "We denounce anything other than non-violence. We are not in the business of revenge. We are in the business of justice.''
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who also spoke at the convention, pledged that an ongoing federal civil rights inquiry into Trayvon's death would be "a thorough and independent review of the evidence.''
"Although I cannot share where current efforts will lead us from here,'' Holder said, "I can assure you that, in this investigation – and in all cases – we will examine the facts and the law.
In Sanford, the Rev. Harry Rucker, pastor of First Shiloh Baptist Church, said he feared Sanford could erupt in violence if Zimmerman is not charged.
"The system seems to be protecting this individual," said Rucker of Zimmerman. "This whole situation is larger than Trayvon Martin. It's about the ills in our country. It's about hatred and violence. ... There are some real violent activists who want to inflict violence if a warrant isn't issued. They are waiting for an opportunity to get violent."
He said without charges against Zimmmerman, he and others would lose confidence in the criminal justice system.
Rucker said if the right thing is done, Zimmerman will be charged with a crime and a warrant will be issued for his arrest. However, he added that he feared even if charges are filed, locating Zimmerman more than a month after the shooting may prove to be a challenge.
Sentiments ran strong elsewhere in Florida. Charles Favors, past president of the Melbourne-based chapter of the NAACP, said he believes a crime was commited.
"Somebody had to be responsible for that crime," he said. "Whether he's guilty or innocent, the system says you must go to trial. You must have your day in court.
"I know if I shot somebody, I'd go to court," Favors said.
http://radioboston.wbur.org/files/20...on-624x405.jpg High School students chant during a rally demanding justice for Trayvon Martin, Friday, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Neighborhood crime-watch captain George Zimmerman claimed self-defense and has not been arrested, though state and federal authorities are still investigating. (AP)
The shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old Florida boy by a crime watch volunteer has re-ignited the debate about so-called “stand your ground” laws. Until a few years ago, in all 50 states, the law was straight-forward: if you were threatened, but could safely retreat, you had a duty to do so.
But now, at least 20 states, led by Florida, have passed laws that allow citizens to use deadly force in the face of great bodily injury or death anywhere that they have a lawful right to be.
Here in Massachusetts, there’s an effort underway to pass such a law. It’s called the “Common Defense Bill,” and it’s sponsored by State Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre). Brewer’s office said he was unavailable to talk to us about the legislation, so instead we talked to Jim Wallace, executive director of the Gun Owners’ Action League.
April 11th, 2012, 23:36
Malsua
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
So I've got a question...
Does Zimmerman have to take one for the good of Florida? Follow me on this...he gets exonerated, stand your ground comes under fire, everywhere. Bloomingidiot in NYC is already making noise "Everyone should be required to flee". If Z goes down, SYG is safe.
Sucks to be him...just the opposite of Bill Ayers...if you recall, Ayers said "Guilty as sin and free as a bird". Zimmerman will be Innocent as a baby and locked up for life.
April 11th, 2012, 23:44
vector7
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
Welcome to socal justice in Amerika, we're dealing with a Marxist Administration.
Without listing numerous companion threads and posts, what wouldn't you put past them now?
April 12th, 2012, 02:40
vector7
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
In other news...
Taco Bell Shooting Victim was Holding Leash, Not Weapon
LAVEEN - Police are saying more about a shooting at a Taco Bell Tuesday night in which one man died.
They're also identifying the victim as 29-year-old Daniel Adkins.
About 7:30 p.m., a 22-year-old man and his girlfriend ordered food at the Taco Bell drive-thru and were told to pull up while their order was prepared.
At the same time, Adkins stepped around a corner into the path of the vehicle and angry words were exchanged between he and the driver.
They got into an altercation and Adkins was shot once by the driver. He died at the scene.
The driver, a 22-year-old black male, called police but has not been arrested.
At first, the couple claimed that Adkins had a metal pipe that he swung at them -- but it turns out he was holding a dog leash with his yellow lab on the other end.
Family members want that driver arrested, but he's claiming self-defense.
"He needs to be behind bars. I'll never see my brother again," says sister Marina Reyes. "If he felt that my brother was threatening him, he could have easily just rolled up the window and called the cops."
A metal pipe or bat was never located. An independent witness did say Adkins swung his fists in the driver's direction.
“He swung his fist towards the driver window, and at some point the driver shot him,” says Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson. “Just because we don’t book a person immediately does not mean we don’t charge a person at a later date.”
The dog, Lady, stayed by Adkins' side until the Humane Society came. Adkins lived with his mom and dad. He's 29, but his family says he's mentally disabled and has the mental capacity of a 12-year-old. He didn't drive, and walked wherever he went.
"This person is still on the loose and I don't agree with that. So he's saying self defense, then where's the weapon? Where's the pipe? They didn't find anything on my brother," says Reyes. "He was just too aggressive, you don't need to go that far."
The shooter's name has not been released. The investigation is still ongoing.
Follow this story: One Dead in Shooting Outside Taco Bell
I think that's perfect. I think it's a strategy by the prosecutor.
They know Zimmerman is not guilty under stand your ground but the blacks will riot if Zimmerman is not charged.
If they had charged him with manslaughter, they would have wanted to put him in jail because that's a charge they could get a conviction for.
With man 2, they have to prove he maliciously pulled the trigger and that he intentionally sought to kill, it's a burden of proof that doesn't exist in this case.
As far as the prosecutor's office goes, this is their only route out of the woods. Zimmerman will go to trial and he will go free. The prosecution can say repeatedly "We're following the law" and they still get to let an innocent man go free. It's all about saving face and preventing a bunch of property damage by blacks.
April 12th, 2012, 12:34
American Patriot
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
Sometimes they shoot high, aim low Mal.
They could still convict him on a manslaughter charge as it is the lesser of the two. This was according to about seven different lawyers that were on Fox News yesterday discussing this exact strategy.
April 12th, 2012, 13:09
Malsua
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
It's crazy that we're in an inverted world now where 12% of the population can demand the head of someone...and get it.
April 12th, 2012, 13:11
American Patriot
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
Trayvon Martin's mom says she thinks his killing was an 'accident'
Trayvon Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, talk to TODAY's Ann Curry about the arrest of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot their 17-year-old son. During the interview, Martin's mom says she believes her son's death "was an accident."
By Ian Johnston, msnbc.com
Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton told the TODAY show Thursday that she believes her son’s fatal shooting by George Zimmerman was an accident.
Follow @msnbc_us
“I believe it was an accident, I believe that it just got out of control and he couldn’t turn the clock back," she said. "I would ask him, 'Did he know that that was a minor, that that was a teenager and that he did not have a weapon?'” she added.
Special prosecutor Angela Corey announced Wednesday at a news conference in Jacksonville, Florida, that Zimmerman was going to be charged with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
"We did not come to this decision lightly," Corey, who was appointed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to re-examine the case after public outcry over the initial decision not to arrest Zimmerman, said at a news conference in Jacksonville.
Zimmerman shot and killed Martin, 17, in the town of Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26.
Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, who took the case late Wednesday after Zimmerman's previous attorneys withdrew, said his client would plead not guilty and that he would seek his release on bond. Zimmerman, 28, was scheduled for an initial hearing Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
O’Mara said on TODAY he was surprised the prosecutor brought second degree murder charges against his client.
“I was. Again I’ve only seen the evidence that has been presented through the media. But I was surprised that they charged him at that level," he said.
Martin's mom suggested that Zimmerman, who claims he killed Martin in self-defense, should apologize if he is remorseful.
“One of the things that I still believe in: A person should apologize when they really -- when they are actually remorseful for what they've done,” Fulton said. Zimmerman to plead not guilty to second-degree murder
And she expressed sympathy for Zimmerman’s family, even as she continued to mourn the loss of her son.
“I understand his family is hurting, but think about our family that lost our teenage son. I mean, it's just very difficult to live with day in and day out,” Fulton said. “ I'm sure his parents can pick up the phone and call him, but we can't pick up the phone and call Trayvon anymore."
Mark O'Mara, the new attorney for George Zimmerman, tells TODAY's Carl Quintanilla he was surprised his client was charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
April 12th, 2012, 13:13
American Patriot
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
The mother said "All we've asked for is an arrest, nothing more, nothing less... and we got it. Thank Jesus...."
Ok, now that the arrest has been accomplished how quickly can the lawyer get this guy out of jail so he can move someplace safe?
This is one of those perfect times when the Witness Protection program ought to be used.
(CBS News) The attorney for George Zimmerman said he'll seek his client's release on bond Thursday after he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, adding the neighborhood watch captain is frustrated, tired and stressed.
Appearing on "CBS This Morning" Thursday, defense lawyer Mark O'Mara wouldn't address specific facts of the case, saying that he hadn't yet seen all the information that special prosecutor Angela Corey used in making the decision to charge Zimmerman Wednesday.
But he said the issue of self-defense, which Zimmerman has claimed in the deadly Feb. 26 encounter with the 17-year-old Martin, would likely be one facet of the defense. Zimmerman prosecution to be uphill battle Trayvon Martin's parents "at ease" after arrest Zimmerman booked on 2nd-degree murder charge
Under Florida's "stand your ground" law, the use of deadly force is permissible if an individual feels threatened.
O'Mara just recently took over Zimmerman's defense after his two former attorneys - Hal Uhrig and Craig Sonner - withdrew from the case after revealing Zimmerman contacted Corey, the prosecutor, and Fox News host Sean Hannity without their consent and that they had lost contact with him.
O'Mara met with Zimmerman for the first time Wednesday night after he was taken into custody by police. Zimmerman is due in court Thursday afternoon, where he is expected to plead not guilty to the charge. O'Mara also said he would seek a bond motion during the appearance, saying his client posed no flight risk and his release was important for the purpose of building the defense case. Timeline of events in Trayvon Martin case Fla. special prosecutor seen as "tenacious" Special Section: Trayvon Martin Shooting
The two men didn't discuss the events leading up the shooting, O'Mara said, instead focusing on Zimmerman's current state of mind.
"He's frustrated. He's tired. He's stressed. So, we just need to sort of take it one day at a time," O'Mara said. Watch Mark O'Mara's full interview in the video player above.
April 12th, 2012, 15:53
Ryan Ruck
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malsua
So Zimmerman has been charged with murder 2.
I think that's perfect. I think it's a strategy by the prosecutor.
They know Zimmerman is not guilty under stand your ground but the blacks will riot if Zimmerman is not charged.
If they had charged him with manslaughter, they would have wanted to put him in jail because that's a charge they could get a conviction for.
With man 2, they have to prove he maliciously pulled the trigger and that he intentionally sought to kill, it's a burden of proof that doesn't exist in this case.
As far as the prosecutor's office goes, this is their only route out of the woods. Zimmerman will go to trial and he will go free. The prosecution can say repeatedly "We're following the law" and they still get to let an innocent man go free. It's all about saving face and preventing a bunch of property damage by blacks.
That was was my thinking as well but I think there's one fly in that ointment.
If/when Zimmerman is acquitted then riots will ensue. They are really only postponing the inevitable, and possibly going to make it worse, if this is their plan. See the 1992 L.A. Riots.
April 12th, 2012, 15:56
American Patriot
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
Some folks on TV FNC this morning stated they were "over charging" him.
Should have gone with manslaughter... but even that might have been wrong.
They STILL have to PROVE he didn't something wrong and given the witnesses, I don't think they can do that.
April 12th, 2012, 16:19
Malsua
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
Quote:
"All we've asked for is an arrest, nothing more, nothing less... and we got it. Thank Jesus...."
"All we're asking for is a conviction" ...and we won't riot.
"All we're asking for is a long jail sentence" ...and we won't riot.
"All we're asking for is a needle in his arm" ...and we won't riot.
It's called moving the goal posts once the goal has been met.
April 12th, 2012, 16:22
American Patriot
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
yeah, lol, I know.
April 12th, 2012, 17:54
vector7
Re: Trayvon Martin Shooting
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malsua
So Zimmerman has been charged with murder 2.
I think that's perfect. I think it's a strategy by the prosecutor.
They know Zimmerman is not guilty under stand your ground but the blacks will riot if Zimmerman is not charged.
As far as the prosecutor's office goes, this is their only route out of the woods. Zimmerman will go to trial and he will go free. The prosecution can say repeatedly "We're following the law" and they still get to let an innocent man go free. It's all about saving face and preventing a bunch of property damage by blacks.
Exactly!
Never let a crisis go to waist, even if it has to be manufactured.
This is to proliferate racism in a complex strategy to divide America before an election.
It takes Obama's record off the headlines
It gets minorities suited and booted for this election
Demonizes Conservatives, Tea Party and NRA
Those who try to confront Obama's record makes them look racist