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Charges expected in Zimmerman case

Charges expected in Zimmerman case

No big surprise here.

Via ABC News:

A decision on whether to charge Florida neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman with the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin has been made, sources told ABC News.

The decision by Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey is expected to be announced at a 6 p.m. news conference in Jacksonville, Fla.

I’ll update, probably with a new post, after the press conference.

It will be interesting if substantial new information is released.  Until I hear more about what the prosecutor has, I’ll not speculate.

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Comments

I am not surprised, although that does not make this decision right. Let’s see what the charges are. If Zimmerman’s story keeps holding up what does that mean?

    Frank Scarn in reply to EBL. | April 11, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    Looking and feeling more and more like Wolfe’s 1987 Bonfires of the Vanities.

    Getting uglier and uglier. The mob has taken over.

Professor, thank you for continuing to act like the adult in the room.

JackRussellTerrierist | April 11, 2012 at 2:50 pm

Another lamb to the black narrative’s slaughter. Unless the charge is spitting on the sidewalk or there’s some startling, important evidence we’re unaware of, I tentatively conclude this woman is indeed a coward who has caved to political pressure or ambition. She wouldn’t be the first prosecutor who did either or both.

Charging him after opting out of a grand jury…

..hours after Holder made his remarks about the case…

Gives the appearance that her decision to charge may, in part, be based on public outcry, and/or political aspirations.

    JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Browndog. | April 11, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    Indeed. Maybe Corey’s reputation as a “tough” prosecutor is only a one-way street. In this case, it would take more spine not to prosecute than it would to prosecute….unless there is some startling, big piece of irrefutable evidence against Zimmerman. If Corey doesn’t have the goods, then she caved. It’s simple.

      Turn your statement around, unless your prejudices won’t let you.

      Maybe Corey’s reputation as a “tough” prosecutor is WHOLLY deserved. In this case, it would take more spine to MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, AND HER EXPERIENCE AS A CAREFUL PROSECUTOR, INDEPENDENT OF PRESSURES FROM ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

      That seems like the only rational starting point. If you care about being rational.

    ThomasD in reply to Browndog. | April 11, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    Manslaughter.

    She is going to assert that the gunshot was a disproportionate response to Martin’s assault.

    Basically letting a jury decide whether slamming someone’s head into pavement rises to the level of ‘grievous bodily harm.’

“Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” seems like a high hurdle based on the information generally available so far.

Unless, you mean beyond a reasonable doubt of fearing for your life if you’re a juror.

    If they do arrest Zimmerman, they’ll probably need to hold him in solitary confinement. Otherwise, there’s a chance he wouldn’t live until the trial. Good work, Al. And Barack. And NBC. And CNN…

The dreary parabola begins. Months of sensationalized trial leading to acquital leading to outrage and riots.

Fascinating the nobody here has even had the notion of a plea bargain enter their fevered lil’ heads.

COULD it be that Zimmerman feels himself guilty?

Hmmm….

    Browndog in reply to Ragspierre. | April 11, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    One of the initial news reports stated that Zimmerman was distraught over Martin’s death.

    Yea, I suppose unless you’re a cold-blooded killer, most people would feel “guilty” over the death of another human being at their hand.

    Or, are we talking about something else?

    Or he knows that people like you and Sharpton will encourage the lynch mob until it catches one of his family. He’d be protecting them just like he did as a neighborhood watchman.

      Ragspierre in reply to SDN. | April 11, 2012 at 3:56 pm

      You may note that I’m not lynching the prosecutor, any more than I lynched Zimmerman.

      But I am not the idiot you are.

      I suspend judgments until I have something…you know…real.

      Proceed with your happy little pitch-fork dance. I’ll just be here, thinking.

    JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Ragspierre. | April 11, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    Yes, rags, it has entered probably everybody’s “l’il” head here that a plea bargain may be afoot. It’s probably not a coinkidink that Zimmerman’s lawyers quit on the eve of this announcement. And I’m sure that everybody here who has followed this case is aware that Zimmerman was very distraught over the shooting of Martin.

    Take solace that you are not alone. :rolleyes

      Where do I find your post reflecting any of that, dear, before I mentioned it.

      (chuckles at her rolling eyes)

        JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Ragspierre. | April 11, 2012 at 4:17 pm

        Mr. Ego, why don’t you go busy yourself with something productive, like inventing a “Thoughtometer”, a device that can apprehend at what moment in time any given thought entered the minds of people you’ve never met, people living hundreds, perhaps thousands, of miles away. What a great boon to science that would be. Then you could get all the attention you need, your name in lights, everything your l’il heart desires.

        Either that or put the cap back on the bottle and logoff until you sober up. You’re making an ass of yourself again.

          I can read, dear.

          So can others. No divination needed.

          Put up your post where you mentioned anything you PRETEND to have had on your “mind”.

          I simply challenge you, and you get nasty.

          As anyone who can read can see. Also.

Midwest Rhino | April 11, 2012 at 3:44 pm

considering the minute or so Zimmerman (or whoever) was screaming in close proximity to a few residences … surely there are several witnesses. And there is forensic evidence we can’t know yet.

A trial ending right before the election might fire up Obama’s base. Then Angela Corey replaces Holder in the next Obama regime?

But I’m just being cynical. It does seem bad that there is a political influence on the person making the decision.

Speaking of an adult in a room full of newsies, it looks like this:

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2012/04/rip-mike-wallace.html#comments

One could speculate that nothing’s changed.

I am interested in the current story, and I am thankful for both the heads-up and the Professor’s restraint.

Midwest Rhino | April 11, 2012 at 3:49 pm

Is it known if this is the real GM site?

http://therealgeorgezimmerman.com/

Right now I don’t see how George would receive an unbiased jury of his peers to hear his case. Maybe a change in venue would help but the MSM has so inundated the airwaves with race card madness I don’t see how. Both Trayvon and George deserve equal justice.

theduchessofkitty | April 11, 2012 at 4:10 pm

Zimmerman would have a much better outcome if he leaves the country – permanently.

Guilty or innocent, he will NEVER be safe here. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. The Sharpton mobs and the Black Panthers will be after him wherever he goes – until they kill him.

Again, it is not safe for him to stay in this country. Start over your life in another country. Get a nice job, make your family comfortable there. But never even think about returning here. It’s about survival from now on.

I hope he brushes up on his Spanish. He’s going to need it.

Raquel Pinkbullet | April 11, 2012 at 4:15 pm

Politically motivated prosecution.
Under Florida law no wrongful death suit can be filed if the defendant isn’t charged with anything in the death. Doesn’t have to be convicted, just charged. This is just a go-ahead for a big payday for the Martins, after they sue the homeowner’s association and the condo managers and Kel-Tec and the manufacturers of Skittles and Arizona Ice Tea, and God for making their son an asshole.

God might settle out of court; he doesn’t have any lawyers on the premises.

    JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Raquel Pinkbullet. | April 11, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    Excellent post.

    SmokeVanThorn in reply to Raquel Pinkbullet. | April 11, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    In Florida, a defendant can be liable for negligently causing a wrongful death. What is the basis of your contention that a wrongful death claim cannot be pursued in this case unless a criminal charge has been filed?

      Raquel Pinkbullet in reply to SmokeVanThorn. | April 11, 2012 at 5:09 pm

      From what I have followed the evidence that the Martin kid was not exactly an angel is plenty. His twitter postings, his school record, him being caught with BURGLARY tools, and women’s jewelry in his backpack weeks before the incident. I hope his family is prepared for a public airing of how their son acted. Its not going to be pretty.
      Another thing that really bothers me is the fact that this Special Prosecutor Corey didn’t seek the Grand Jury because she wants the credit for making a political prosecution. Why not let a grand jury decide?
      And let’s not forget the outright corruption of the DOJ and Eric Holder in “praising Al Sharpton” for his advocacy in this case, and keeping mum about the NBP putting a bounty on Zimmerman. And don’t even get me started on the corruption of the MSM in this case.

        JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Raquel Pinkbullet. | April 11, 2012 at 5:19 pm

        none of that matters. Don’t you kow he’s a just a poor little black boy gunned down while eating his skittles?

        Martin’s record doesn’t matter to these monsters. Martin is a member of the protected class like some sort of beloved pet, and must be defended and avenged. It’s enough that he is black and Zimmerman is not. That’s it.

        Ragspierre in reply to Raquel Pinkbullet. | April 11, 2012 at 5:27 pm

        “I hope his family is prepared for a public airing of how their son acted.”

        If you mean at trial, that would never happen.

        What you have accepted on blind faith COULD be apocryphal BS, and IS irrelevant to any element of the either side’s case.

This is a good read, and something to think about ahead of the press conference:

Why Nothing Sticks to George Zimmerman

http://www.wagist.com/2012/dan-linehan/why-nothing-sticks-to-george-zimmerman

    JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Browndog. | April 11, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    Well, I’m not sure.

    Something not discussed in the piece is the unknown factor of Trayvon’s girlfriend. As of at least last week, she had been shielded from talking to the police at all, as in – never had/has given her statement. The only statement the police have/had been able to get from her was a recorded telephone statement to Crumb, the Martins’ lawyer. Whatever she said was filtered through Crumb first. She apparently never tried to assert a statement to the police and has refused to speak to them. Apparently she is also represented by Crumb. So, Crumb is the fox in charge of that particular hen house.

    Now, what I wonder is if she has now been allowed to make a statement to police and it is on that that their case stands. Since Trayvon is dead, she is free to make any allegation she wants to. Since the martins were getting info from the investigation, it would not be difficult for Crumb to tailor the GF’s statements to fit the provable evidence and still incriminate Zimmerman so she and the Martins can get a fat payday.

This thread is SO interesting.

Someone reading it would conclude that…

1. most of you have no faith in our legal system

2. you were up against an unbeatable force that was victimizing you

3. people are really not capable of honorable public service

4. people are not actually capable of self-government

5. identity group politics is something you TOTALLY buy into, and INSIST on using yourselves

Provided the above, I wonder why many of you give a rat’s ass about who we elect to any office? You are all doomed to victimhood, after all…

Why do you stay in the U.S.?

    nomadic100 in reply to Ragspierre. | April 11, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    Yours is a bridge too far. By the way, I thought you promised you were “just going to think.”

    Raquel Pinkbullet in reply to Ragspierre. | April 11, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    First off, you’re full of sh!t. From what I have followed the evidence that the Martin kid was not exactly an angel is plenty. His twitter postings, his school record, him being caught with BURGLARY tools, and women’s jewelry in his backpack weeks before the incident. I hope his family is prepared for a public airing of how their son acted. Its not going to be pretty.
    Another thing that really bothers me is the fact that this Special Prosecutor Corey didn’t seek the Grand Jury because she wants the credit for making a political prosecution. Why not let a grand jury decide?
    And let’s not forget the outright corruption of the DOJ and Eric Holder in “praising Al Sharpton” for his advocacy in this case, and keeping mum about the NBP putting a bounty on Zimmerman. And don’t even get me started on the corruption of the MSM in this case.

Raquel Pinkbullet | April 11, 2012 at 4:45 pm

Anyone else find it unusual and unprofessional for a lawyer to squeal on his former client?

    Ragspierre in reply to Raquel Pinkbullet. | April 11, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    Highly. Going before the press AT ALL is not generally a good idea.

    Even in court, you just generally announce that you have had to withdraw from a representation, without going into much (if any) exposition.

    JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Raquel Pinkbullet. | April 11, 2012 at 5:27 pm

    Yes, I have. In fact, I’ve wondered it enough so that I now wonder how the relationship between Zimmerman and his attorneys came into being. Who recommended these guys to Zimmerman (if anyone)?

    Also, were they defense lawyers or PR lawyers? The Martins have 5 PR lawyers, BTW.

If Spec. Prosecutor Corey charges Zimmerman, then under Florida law, the next step will be a pre-trial hearing before a judge (charged via information rather than by a grand jury). Capital murder is out because Florida Law requires grand jury indictment for that specific charge.

From my understanding of the Florida laws in question, immunity from civil suits and criminal action is not eliminated until a judge rules that probable cause exists for an arrest at the pre-trial hearing. Then presumably, if a judge so rules, a trial or plea bargain will commence. Otherwise, a judge could dismiss the charges and this would still bar civil suits. Not sure about further criminal action as that would depend on how the judge dismissed the case.

    Browndog in reply to bg. | April 11, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    All I know is if that couldn’t prove Casey Anthony killed her daughter, this prosecutor better have some sort of bombshell to prove Zimmerman did not act in self-defense.

Before the villagers pick up their torches and set to burn what may be an innocent man in the name of preserving public employee pensions, allow me to say that this is the only website I now refer to for accurate information in what may become the the manifestation of Charlie Manson’s wet dream.

Make of that what you will. I’ll be in the back with the rest of the boys awaiting Garbo’s drink run.

9thDistrictNeighbor | April 11, 2012 at 5:01 pm

“Can’t we all just get along? For the kids and old people?”

A 1970s novel had the thesis that every conspiracy theory was true—and, iirc, everybody in the world but the hero was in a conspiracy.

I have come to realize that every LI commenter except Ragspierre and me is a troll.

And Rags, I’m not too sure about thee. 😉

Raquel Pinkbullet | April 11, 2012 at 5:23 pm

Is there a minor league for race hustlers or is this shit going to die out when the Revs Sharpton and Jackson pass on?

    Ragspierre in reply to Raquel Pinkbullet. | April 11, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    Jackson has children…in and out of wed-lock. Like Kennedys, they may just naturally carry on the family empire.

      WarEagle82 in reply to Ragspierre. | April 11, 2012 at 10:24 pm

      Jackson visited the White House to provide “marital counseling” to President “BJ” Clinton after the Lewinsky affair.

      Interestingly enough, Jackson was accompanied to this “marital counseling” at the White House with his then-pregnant mistress.

      You cannot make this stuff up…

    JackRussellTerrierist in reply to Raquel Pinkbullet. | April 11, 2012 at 5:33 pm

    I would look to the Lord of the Rings orc-hatching process for an answer…..or the Congressional Black Caucus.

    Sharpton and Jackson are racialist entrepreneurs. Some people look a little askance at entrepreneurs even if they acknowledge their achievements.

    Like other successful enterprises with less than immaculate origins, the diversity racket has gone mainstream, building bases in corporate HR departments, NGOs, and academia.

    The next step in the plan? Iirc Holder claims we have only begun to benefit from, i.e. impose, “diversity”. I’ve seen it described as a “compelling government interest”.

I just had an email from FoxBusiness, that said Zimmerman may be charged with second degree murder.

9thDistrictNeighbor | April 11, 2012 at 5:47 pm

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Midwest Rhino | April 11, 2012 at 5:53 pm

NBC affiliate here says 2nd degree murder will be the charge

I have just two words for Mz. Corey: “Mike Nifong.”

Think about it if you can, Mz. Corey…