Trayvon Martin shooting: no grand jury for Zimmerman

[X Factor 1,112]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/trayvon-martin-shooting-no-grand-jury-zimmerman-161400993.html

Trayvon Martin shooting: no grand jury for Zimmerman

Florida state attorney Angela Corey, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, said on Monday that the case will not go to a grand jury.

The decision does not rule out the possibility that George Zimmerman, Martin's shooter, could be arrested.

The grand jury had been set to meet Tuesday in Sanford, Fla., where the Feb. 26 shooting occurred.

"From the moment she was assigned, Ms. Corey noted she may not need a grand jury," a statement from Corey's office read. "The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case. At this time, the investigation continues and there will be no further comment from this office."

According to the Associated Press, Corey has "a reputation for not presenting cases before grand juries if it wasn't required." (Only first-degree murder cases require the use of grand juries in Florida, the AP noted.)

[Related: Homeowners' association could be sued]

The lawyer for Martin's family, Ben Crump, said in a statement that he was hopeful the announcement by the special prosecutor would be followed by the announcement of Zimmerman's arrest.

"We had hoped she had enough evidence without the need to convene a grand jury," Crump said. "The family is trying to have patience and faith through all of this. We know we want that day to come. We want a very public trial so the evidence can come out and show people that the justice system works for everybody."

According to Orlando's WFTV, Zimmerman could be arrested as early as this week.

Meanwhile, Hal Uhrig, Zimmerman's attorney, called Corey's decision not to involve a grand jury "courageous on her part."

Earlier Monday, lawyers for the neighborhood watchman said that if Zimmerman is not charged, he would speak out. Zimmerman has not spoken to the media since the shooting.

[Danno 1,228]

Good chance Zimmerman is gonna walk.

Lets lay up odds on the reaction.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

NOT calling a grand jury is not an indication he will be arrested. Quite the opposite. You can indict a ham sandwich and that is not an exaggeration. In a Grand Jury indictment ONLY the prosecution presents evidence and the decision is ONLY if there is enough evidence for probable cause to believe the defendant can be prosecuted.

It goes like this...she is investigating. As long as Zimmerman is not arrested no "clock" starts regarding a trial. There is no statute of limitations and Zimmerman could be arrested for this 25 years from now.

Given the blown up hype over this I think she just "investigates it" for a good long time...15 years or so ought to do just fine. Maybe less. Then quietly announces, or doesn't announce, that no charges will be filed and the case is closed. Even then, NOT bringing charges and NOT being "no billed" by a Grand Jury means Zimmerman could still be prosecuted in the future if something comes forward. The woman has kept her options open this way.

[X Factor 1,112]

As usual, the comments are much more interesting than the article

[SMR 368]

NOT calling a grand jury is not an indication he will be arrested. Quite the opposite. You can indict a ham sandwich and that is not an exaggeration. In a Grand Jury indictment ONLY the prosecution presents evidence and the decision is ONLY if there is enough evidence for probable cause to believe the defendant can be prosecuted.

It goes like this...she is investigating. As long as Zimmerman is not arrested no "clock" starts regarding a trial. There is no statute of limitations and Zimmerman could be arrested for this 25 years from now.

Given the blown up hype over this I think she just "investigates it" for a good long time...15 years or so ought to do just fine. Maybe less. Then quietly announces, or doesn't announce, that no charges will be filed and the case is closed. Even then, NOT bringing charges and NOT being "no billed" by a Grand Jury means Zimmerman could still be prosecuted in the future if something comes forward. The woman has kept her options open this way.

As the article says, a grand jury is only needed to indict him for first degree murder. I'm not a lawyer and haven't seen the evidence, but of all the possible outcomes, I think an indictment more serious than manslaughter is very unlikely. To prove first degree murder you would essentially have to allege that he went out planning to kill Martin. While that may be the case, there are so many other good explanations that proving that beyond a reasonable doubt would be next to impossible. The prosecutor said from the beginning that a grand jury was unlikely, probably because she realized that first degree murder wouldn't be a charge that the evidence would support.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

As the article says, a grand jury is only needed to indict him for first degree murder. I'm not a lawyer and haven't seen the evidence, but of all the possible outcomes, I think an indictment more serious than manslaughter is very unlikely. To prove first degree murder you would essentially have to allege that he went out planning to kill Martin. While that may be the case, there are so many other good explanations that proving that beyond a reasonable doubt would be next to impossible. The prosecutor said from the beginning that a grand jury was unlikely, probably because she realized that first degree murder wouldn't be a charge that the evidence would support.

But she COULD use a grand jury to fade the heat of him being "no billed" and if he is "no billed" that's it. Over and done. If she does this herself, she essentially has forever to makle a decision or not make a decision. Taken to a grand jury there WILL be a decision and it may not be to everyone's liking.

Zimmerman has now disappeared and his lawyers quit. Quit what? If he is not to be charged what did they quit? My guess is that they got him the word to "get out of town". At some point, or maybe never, they will announce that their will be no charges. He would have been arrested by now. If they are not going to charge him they do not have to "announce" anything, and if pressured can always say "we are still investigating"

[Dan and Judy 614]

reminds of "Taxi Driver"