New discussion thread for Martin case (Zimmerman charged)

[Blue_Tires]

SANFORD, Fla. — George Zimmerman, a former neighborhood watch volunteer arrested on murder charges in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday afternoon.

Mr. Zimmerman, 28, was charged by a special prosecutor on Wednesday evening with second-degree murder. He is likely to appear with a new lawyer, Mark M. O’Mara, a well-known criminal lawyer, but it is not clear if a judge will set bail, or if Mr. Zimmerman will formally enter a plea.

Mr. O’Mara said in a brief interview on Wednesday night that when the time comes his client would plead not guilty.

Mr. O’Mara also said he hoped that the judge would take up a bond motion at Thursday’s hearing — which is expected to be brief — but that he expected that the issue of bail might have to wait for a more extensive hearing in the near future


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/us/george-zimmerman-to-appear-in-court.html

[MADem]

1. I wonder if, after all this "not guilty" talk, he'll end up copping a plea? nt

[JDPriestly]

2. It would not surprise me.

He might be better off if the evidence is not presented to the public. Trayvon's parents, on the other hand, would probably like to see the evidence presented publicly because it is likely to clarify what happened and clear the reputation and memory of their son.

So, Zimmerman might well plea a lesser charge. The prosecutor has given him room for that. But Zimmerman is not ready for it yet.

And, if Zimmerman and his lawyer think that it looks like the evidence might be favorable for their side, they might choose to risk a trial and an acquittal. If Zimmerman pleads, the shadow of guilt will always hang over him. He will have a felony record. If he is acquitted, the court record might free him from that huge disadvantage in life.

Either way, Trayvon Martin has no life, no future, no hopes, no friends -- nothing. And he was so young.

And Zimmerman's life is scarred forever.

Had Zimmerman not had a gun, would he have been so bold as to either follow Trayvon or as he apparently claims try to find an address? I don't think so. Had Zimmerman not had a gun, he would have waited for the police. Trayvon would be alive today, and Zimmerman would be living his life without drama or shame.

Guns should not be carried by anyone in urban areas.

If anyone who was not a police or judicial officer carried a gun within the city limits of Los Angeles, then anyone who had a gun could be removed from the streets. That would be an easy way to identify criminals -- those carrying guns on the streets of Los Angeles.

(Please note the item on DU today about two Chinese students at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles killed in a shooting. We don't need guns on the streets of Sanford, Florida or LA, California. I don't want guns on the streets of LA. I have nothing against them in rural areas if people in rural areas want them around.)

[MADem]

3. If licensing authorities understood that Zimmerman had anger issues, as evidenced by past behavior,

maybe he wouldn't have gotten that gun in the first place.

Those two Chinese kids were the victims of a bad carjacking. I don't think gun laws would have stopped that--I doubt the weapon that killed them was licensed to the user. It was most likely stolen.

[JDPriestly]

4. Stolen from someone who bought it legally.

I say that as one from whose house a gun was stolen many years ago.

[MADem]

5. Quite possibly.

Or maybe it was a hot weapon, passed around and involved in more than one crime.

Or maybe it got stolen from a gun shop/dealer.

[Blue_Tires]

6. possibly...

but the prosecutor only has so much leeway in what to offer...It will be a political firestorm if they let him get off too lightly