Neighbourhood Watch Kills Unarmed Black Kid

[blas87]

Supposedly, the Black Panthers have put a bounty on his head.

I feel bad for both families involved, as this incident has raised so much hysteria on both sides of the argument, that innocent related people have had to do all but change their entire lives just to remain safe.

[Andara Bledin]

The Black Panthers put a bounty on his head nearly a month ago, I think.

The hysteria is definitely out of control. But this is the sort of thing that happens when an entire segment of the populace feels they don't have any recourse through normal channels.

The interesting thing is that the police actually recommended that they charge him, but the state's attourney failed to act on that recommendation, and apparently the chief failed to test Zimmerman for any intoxicating substances (to be honest, I don't believe he was on anything), "corrected" a witness and ammended a police report to be more favorable to Zimmerman.

The police chief claimed "no probably cause," which is bullshit. They have a dead man and the man who pulled the trigger, killing him. Whether the self defense claim holds up, absent any other reliable witnesses, is up to a jury to decide.

The worst part of all of this is that Zimmerman may never be convicted or even get a proper trial due to police misconduct if the chief's actions were more than just what is known.

^-.-^

[draggar]

My HOA has been going though something - even the police admit that the person is guilty but are afraid that the evidence we have won't convince a jury and are requiring us (the HOA) to do most of the legwork - at our expense (which we have no $$$). We've been meeting with an officer for over a year now and he still admits the person most likely did what we're accusing but gives the same old story.

I'm starting to think that there are some people in the police departments that are too afraid to bring someone to trial unless they have a 100% clear case (i.e. a guy they stopped on the street had 5 pounds of cocaine in their backpack) and are very reluctant to take someone to trial if there is some chance that the accused may be able to get away with their crime.

It's starting to look this way with Zimmerman - with an arrest there should be at least a hearing and he can confess (most likely for a reduced sentence) or take it to trial and the cities, counties, and states, don't want to take on the extra burden of a case that could go either way with the evidence.

I understand the CYOA policy but it seems to be going too far and with reduced budgets to police departments across the board (heck, what used to b a <5 minute response time for non-emergencies is now 30-45 minutes+ which is plenty of time for a non-emergency to become an emergency). I'm sure cutbacks also hit the detectives and their funding for attorneys bringing people to trial. It's quite sad we're getting to this.

[HEMI6point1]

Update: Charges are going to be filed.

Link: http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21007186589193/

Which begs the question: Are they doing this because they finally realized it's the right thing to do, or are they doing it to prevent a possible riot from happening?

[Andara Bledin]

I suspect that they are doing this because the special prosecutor put into place after the last guy (accused of mis-handling it and stepping aside due to public furor) has finally had a chance to go through all the information.

While she didn't convene a grand jury, that's not really a surprise, as it would only be required to indict for First Degree Murder, and as has been discussed, that has never been a valid charge for this case.

^-.-^

[Greenday]

Update: Charges are going to be filed.

Which begs the question: Are they doing this because they finally realized it's the right thing to do, or are they doing it to prevent a possible riot from happening?

Probably the latter. Bending to pressure put on them. They just are going to have a hard time proving guilt in any significant crime that'll put him away for a long time.

[ngc_7331]

New update:

Charges have been filed for second degree murder and he's currently in custody without bond in the Seminole County jail. I'm trying to find a link, I just finished watching the press conference.

Edited to add:
Found a link
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news...n_martin_zimme

[draggar]

He's been charged with 2nd degree murder.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/os-georg...0,863518.story

Edit: DOH! Didn't see the new page.

[Andara Bledin]

A quote from an article at NoLa.com:

Corey said the decision to bring charges was based on the facts and the law, declaring: "We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition."

I think I like her.

^-.-^

[HYHYBT]

He has not acted like an innocent man, nor like a remorseful one. And apparently he also isn't cooperating with his own lawyers, which should make a conviction easier. Unfortunately, that's true regardless of true guilt.

[draco664]

Probably the latter. Bending to pressure put on them. They just are going to have a hard time proving guilt in any significant crime that'll put him away for a long time.

If he's not talking with his lawyers and is out and about setting up websites and talking to people without lawyers present, he's setting himself up to be convicted easily. No two ways around it. There is a reason for the phrase "he who represents himself in court has an idiot for a lawyer".

And if the jury have the option of finding him guilty of a lesser offence, that will increase the chances of conviction too.

Zimmerman needs to shut up, sit with his lawyers, and do what they say. Or he may as well plead guilty.

[Andara Bledin]

There is a reason for the phrase "he who represents himself in court has an idiot for a lawyer".

It's "... fool for a client," actually. Means the same, either way.

And if the jury have the option of finding him guilty of a lesser offence, that will increase the chances of conviction too.

It doesn't appear that there is any charge other than Second Degree Murder at this time.

Zimmerman needs to shut up, sit with his lawyers, and do what they say. Or he may as well plead guilty.

Very true.

However, given that his opinion is that he's never done anything wrong and every fight he's been in was started by the other person, I'm not sure he's smart enough to not do something else monumentally stupid.

^-.-^

[Greenday]

A quote from an article at NoLa.com:



I think I like her.

^-.-^

If they were doing it because of public pressure and/or petition, do you honestly believe they'd say so?

[draco664]

It's "... fool for a client," actually. Means the same, either way.

Thanks! That's it. I couldn't quite remember it properly. But in my defense I will point out that plenty of lawyers have fools for clients. *No one* wants an idiot for a lawyer...

It doesn't appear that there is any charge other than Second Degree Murder at this time.

Some places allow for juries to find a defendant not guilty of the charge, but guilty of a lesser offence, even if they weren't charged with it. I don't know if Florida is one of them.

Very true.

However, given that his opinion is that he's never done anything wrong and every fight he's been in was started by the other person, I'm not sure he's smart enough to not do something else monumentally stupid.

^-.-^

I haven't confirmed it, but I read that his father is a (possibly retired?) judge. If so, then he really should be getting advice on listening to his lawyers.

[Rapscallion]

The question for me now, since the trial has been declared, is what's going to happen to the police department that tried to ignore this?

That institution needs a thorough investigation, one that roots all this bullshit out. The phrase used by some over here to describe some police departments was 'institutionall racist', but I don't think any of ours have ever had the same level of casual malice displayed in this case. They need to face the law as well.

Rapscallion