By Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner, The Orlando Sentinel –
SANFORD, Fla. — Critics who for weeks have demanded that George Zimmerman be arrested for killing Trayvon Martin waited another day Monday, and the special prosecutor in the case announced she will not take the case to a grand jury.
Lawyers trying to interpret that move differed on what it means, but one point is now unequivocal: Prosecutor Angela Corey will not charge Zimmerman with first-degree murder. That requires an indictment by a grand jury.
Before turning the case over to prosecutors, Sanford police classified the case as a possible manslaughter.
In a written statement, Corey’s office stressed that the decision not to call a grand jury “should not be considered a factor” in whether Zimmerman will be prosecuted in Martin’s death.
Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said Martin’s parents were not surprised by the announcement and remain “hopeful that a decision will be reached very soon to arrest George Zimmerman and give Trayvon Martin’s family the simple justice they have been seeking all along.”
For weeks, Crump and Martin’s father have called for an immediate arrest, but in a prepared statement Monday, Crump asked for patience.
“The family has been patient throughout this process and asks that those who support them do the same during this very important investigation,” Crump said.
Zimmerman shot Martin on Feb. 26, telling police he acted in self-defense. He had called police, identifying Martin as suspicious, then got out of his sport-utility vehicle and followed him on foot.
Several witnesses called 911, reporting a fight between the two. One of those calls captured cries for help and a gunshot. Zimmerman told police that Martin knocked him down with one punch, then began slamming his head into a sidewalk.
Critics say the cries came from Martin and that Zimmerman should have been arrested that night.
Grand juries are often seen as a way to avoid “political fallout,” said Charles Rose, Stetson University College of Law professor and director of Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy. If people don’t like what the grand jury decides, it is to blame — not the elected state attorney. Corey is the elected state attorney for Duval, Clay and Nassau counties.
“By not sending it to the grand jury, she’s doing the hard, right thing,” Rose said. “This is what senior prosecutors are paid to do.”
Richard Hornsby, an Orlando criminal-defense attorney said, “This is exactly the type of case that a grand jury should consider.”
They are common in high-profile cases, Hornsby said, and particularly useful in those that generate a great deal of public debate. They lend the legal process more credibility by taking the decision out of the hands of one person, he said.
Hal Uhrig, an attorney for Zimmerman, told CNN in a written statement that he did not know what Corey’s decision would be but said the fact that she is making it without a grand jury is a “courageous move on her part.” Neither Uhrig nor Zimmerman’s attorney Craig Sonner would comment Monday.
Corey was appointed special prosecutor by Gov. Rick Scott two and a half weeks ago. In Orlando at Evans High School on Monday, Scott repeated what he’s said before: He’s confident she’ll “make a good decision.”
“What everybody wants is … justice,” Scott said, both for Martin and Zimmerman.
Game over 2nd degree murder charges files.
Many people here have ignored the evidence made public so far. He says nose broken, video shows no such thing. He says head banged on concrete, police video shows no such damage to head. Kid walking down a street going to a relatives house in the gated community.
Police Chief steps aside. His lawyer quits the day before he is charged.
I am not at all surprised with the charge of Second Degree murder. Now let the jury decide.
Maybe the prosecutor is asking herself this: A. If Trayvon Martin had not interferred with George Zimmerman’s life..A1. would Trayvon Martin still been alive and unharmed. A2. Would George Zimmerman still be with his family and have a job. A3. As of now there has been no crime charged however, George Zimmerman was forced to fire his pistol to defend himselfand if Trayvon Martin had not attacked George Zimmerman Trayvon Martin would still be alive. B. If Trayvon Martin had not been trespassing and committing a criminal act he would still be alive today.
As you see there is no evidence at this time to support either case. Leave it alone until the prosecuter finishes her investigation and clears George Zimmerman.
Peter was that the REAL 911 tape or NBC’s edited version?
Peter-I heard the tapes and I have also heard that Martin attacked George and hit his head against the ground while trying to take his gun away. In my mind that makes it self defense. Leave the racism out of it. George is 1/2 Mexican which makes him a Hispanic so this time you left wing liberals can’t blame the white’s. Maybe it was his white half that pulled the trigger and his Mexican half that was defending himself. You are not judge and jury and have no right saying the crap you are saying without knowing all of the facts. So, again, shut up and let the law do its work.
Peter you are missing the whole Zimmerman loosing sight of Trevor and was returning to his vehicle. At that point Trevor attacked Zimmerman, slamming his head against the ground, breaking his nose. Clearly this is a crimminal act; at that point Zimmerman shot him.
What’s you authority? Biased news sources who have published old, unflattering photos of Zimmerman, while using a 5 year old picture of Trevor? Zimmerman has given his statement as to what happened. Do you have anything to counter his version of what happened? What Zimmerman sounds like on a phone call is evidence of his “wanting to shoot a black kid”, I just don’t hear it. And again; Zimmerman lost sight of Trevor. With me still? Trevor ( the black kid right) hunted down Zimmerman and began to beat him; after all Trevor just “wanted to beat up a white man”.