Zimmerman should have been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter.
Zimmerman should have been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter. The prosecutor failed, because he or she took too big a bite of the apple.
Clearly Zimmerman lacked intent to kill, but it could be argued that he showed recklessness and lack of care in his behavior the evening Trayvon was killed. I believe these facts could have been argued by the prosecution, but instead they went for the Second Degree Murder charge. Even the Manslaughter charge offered by the judge was overstepping, as again, it requires intent. Had Zimmerman emptied his gun into Trayvon, or even fired more than once, then intent might have been provable. But having fired only one shot, I personally doubt he ever had any intent to kill, and I believe it was foolish for the Florida DA to have pursued it.
So had the jury been given the proper choice of Involuntary Manslaughter, vs a death which occurred in the course of self defense, then the outcome would have been far less certain. I believe the jury had no choice but to kind Zimmerman Not Guilty given their choices.
Clearly Zimmerman lacked intent to kill, but it could be argued that he showed recklessness and lack of care in his behavior the evening Trayvon was killed. I believe these facts could have been argued by the prosecution, but instead they went for the Second Degree Murder charge. Even the Manslaughter charge offered by the judge was overstepping, as again, it requires intent. Had Zimmerman emptied his gun into Trayvon, or even fired more than once, then intent might have been provable. But having fired only one shot, I personally doubt he ever had any intent to kill, and I believe it was foolish for the Florida DA to have pursued it.
So had the jury been given the proper choice of Involuntary Manslaughter, vs a death which occurred in the course of self defense, then the outcome would have been far less certain. I believe the jury had no choice but to kind Zimmerman Not Guilty given their choices.
They had to 'shop' for a DA that would try this case, and ignore the Grand Jury that would have said "no way".
My guess is that the prosecution threw the case purposely, simply because they did not, in their heart of hearts, believe in it. They were willing (read: obligated), however, to stage a show trial to satisfy the Sharptons, and the Jacksons...and to say that they tried to convict. This was all for the public consumption, and meant to sate their appetite for "justice".
But you can't keep a good race baiter down, so we get to see Obama stir the pot up just before the national protests were to begin....
All of the shenanigans you mention were building a perfect case for an appeal by the defense. Just in case that wasn't enough, the judge actually asked Zimmerman if he intended to testify, while the trial was still ongoing: every legal talking head said that this was so wrong, that this verdict would not be the final say, if it went against Zimmerman....
Every witness for the prosecution ended up helping the defense. They could not have been that stupid, but they could have been that cunning!
Maybe the prosecution team will write a book someday, and answer all of this. That is if they live long enough.... ;-)
They would claim "higher calling"...you, and I, would claim "steady paycheck"! ;-)
Or...using a cell phone while driving?
Give it a rest. already!
George Zimmerman should have been brought before a Grand Jury within a week of the shooting, in all his bruised and battered glory, on a charge of Involuntary Manslaughter. I am confident that the Grand Jury would likely have found there to be insufficient evidence to move forward with a trial. However, and correct me if I'm wrong, at that point jeopardy would have attached, and once the Grand Jury found the evidence lacking to justify a trial, he would have been free and clear.
Even if they had decided there was enough evidence to move forward to trial, I still think Zimmerman would have been found innocent do to his fear for his life, and that he acted in self defense.
I think the cops and local DA handled this a little too casually to begin with, thus allowing for the controversy later on.
I don't agree with this, and I live in Florida.
They weren't steering this runaway judicial ship...the WH and Holder were at the helm.
The true story will surface someday, and Obama's DNA will be all over it.
This was a planned lynching, and Sharpton was donating the rope.