By Sari Horwitz / Washington Post / April 11, 2012
Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey plans to announce as early as Wednesday 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.
There is additional concern that the delay in charging Zimmerman has allowed him to leave Florida and even perhaps the country. His lawyers claimed not to have contacted him in days.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
From what I heard on NPR yesterday, his attorneys have pretty much withdrawn themselves from his case unless he re-contacts them.
NBC News is reporting that Zimmerman is in custody.
NBC: Zimmerman in custody, charged with second-degree murder.
This is the outcome that we were looking for in the first place. The fact that initially authorities–including the chief of police and the state’s attorney–said that there would be no charges filed, citing the “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida as their rationale. That the special prosecutor assigned by Governor Rick Scott (shudder) concluded that 2nd degree murder charges were indeed warranted, it tells you something about the folks who conducted the initial investigation. Note that not only did the Sanford police chief step down, but the state’s attorney who initially handled the case stepped aside as well.
Don’t delude yourself into thinking this indicates Zimmerman’s actions actually were unlawful, (of course a jury will decide this) what you’ve just detailed and Angela Corey’s actions continue, appears to be the only thing they should be expected to do:
Passing the buck rather than face an ugly public outcry against whoever they feel stops their public lynching, facts and law be damned.
You and I will of course disagree on our interpretation of the events that night, I don’t pretend I could change your mind any more than you should pretend to change mine.
However consider if Angela Corey had decided not to file charges. Her office and her office alone takes the entire brunt of public ire over a perceived injustice, would she even make it home safely the first night?
By passing it along to a trial, if and when that ends in acquittal the press can crucify a number of people including the prosecution, the judge who presides, the 12 jurors seated, malign the defense as dishonest, even criticize itself for spoiling the chances of a fair trial.
Not just Angela Corey and only Angela Corey.
No the more you think about it charges being filed are not indication of guilt nor any of the other officials stepping aside indication of any impropriety on their part, but the actions of officials who recognize a suicidal action when they see one. It is unwise to obstruct an angry mob.
If Zimmerman’s actions were unlawful he’ll be convicted. Try and keep the corks on the champagne bottles before that actually happens, this is America.
Oh and LOL at being placed in the moderation regimen merely for dissenting opinion. No doubt that would be unlikely had previous posts been that of boorishly offensive content, and not irrefutably sound arguments. The prior, it’s practice everywhere to actually let them stand as they are self discrediting, despite warning that is what is not allowed. The latter, well thinking IS so darn much hard work, if it includes having your preconceived notions challenged it’s beyond laborious, and downright repulsive.
I’m still giggling that a former SD schools educator told me I was privy to a thesaurus he was not. I have K-11 and a GED. Maybe Northern California schools get ‘er done faster?
John, you make a lot of allegations and assertions in your very lengthy comment rants. And you keep making the same points on the same issues. For some reason, this case really rankled you. And you took it very personally. Why? You don’t think Black youth are killed all the time in this country without appropriate responses from the communities, law enforcement, and media? Even if you don’t, no one wants to take the time, energy to respond to every point you make in your rants on this issue. At times, it seems like you are in denial about the racism still in this country.
There was so much “hubbub” on this case in the media, in demonstrations, for exactly the reason that law enforcement in Sanford and Florida had not responded appropriately. Arresting Zimmerman and taking the case to trial – if it goes that far – is NOT passing the buck. Dear lord! Oh, btw, 99.9% of our criminal cases in this country don’t go to trial – they’re plea-bargained out.
Angela Cory didn’t decide to prosecute due to public pressure, but she did decide to review the case because of the pressure – and rightly so. As Trayvon’s mother said, now that there’s been an arrest, she can sleep better. Maybe the jury will acquit GZ – so be it.
Not all who commit crimes are arrested and go before a jury. Not all who go before a jury are guilty; not all who are found guilty are guilty. Look at all the people Texas, for instance, has put away, only to find problems with their convictions later.
Your comments were not placed into moderation only because of your “dissenting opinion” – it was because you didn’t let up – you continued to push and push your opinions – never bending, never changing, never showing evidence of a real debate. Like you said, lots of “boorishly offensive content, and not irrefutably sound arguments.” You, yourself, have admitted you love to argue, and argue. It’s your manner, not your content that bothers the staff, and that’s why everyone wanted you to “cool off”.
So, make your points, and be somewhat brief about it – quit coming back and back with the same ol’ arguments, and trying to force your debaters to flee by the amount of your argument, not by its substance.
One response, please sir.
Okay, to be brief, I don’t deny racism exists in this country. I don’t think it will be diminished by introducing it into this case, when it appears none existed and some media sources and public figures were creating it out of thin air.
Maybe I’m not absorbed by it because I was raised in an area where racism wasn’t cool so I’m not racist and don’t have any racist friends.
As for the length of my comments well they all start out intended to be about a paragraph long. I can only say I don’t expect anyone to address it all, but grasping onto any blatant falsehoods or fallacies should be easy with the quantity of material offered.
I am so relieved that this man is in jail. To me it never has been about whether or not he was guilty, just that he wasn’t arrested. Now, we can get to the story. I’m not religious, but I can’t help but say “Thank you, Jesus!”