Zimmerman jurors to be sequestered up to a month

[alp227]

Source: USA Today

The jurors and alternates selected to hear the trial of the man accused of killing Trayvon Martin will sequestered, a judge ruled Thursday afternoon.

Judge Debra Nelson announced during the jury selection that the jurors will be sequestered for George Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial, which is expected to last two to four weeks.

During the first four days of jury selection, lawyers had been asking potential jurors whether being sequestered would be a hardship on them. Most said they could serve on the jury but cited family, work and school responsibilities as concerns.

Zimmerman is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder. He claims he shot Trayvon Martin, 17, in self-defense.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/13/zimmerman-jury-sequester-month/2419993/

[grok]

1. It's a pity they won't be protected after a trial

i can easily see them still subject to payback by their peers that disagree with their verdict.

[Captain Stern]

3. I feel for them

They're going to catch hell regardless of which verdict they reach.

[iandhr]

4. For this reason...

... I think it has been decided the jurors identities will be kept secret.

[grok]

7. Not after the trial

They really are fair game for the media. the media will be free to do what they want with them afterwards. they know what they look like unlike us.nothing to keep them from stopping them on the street and asking for a statement. and so on.

Of course, the jurors probably don't know that. which is all to the good for the trial to be fair..

[Kablooie]

9. The judge should hand them Anonymous Guy Fawkes masks to wear home after the trial.

[Generic Other]

2. He and his family are slick

They will stoop to anything. I feel sorry for the Martin family and wish them strength.

[2Design]

5. waste of money and time for a murderer who is twisting justice

stalking and killing

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

6. Are you advocating dispensing with the trial?

It's an important murder case and IMO should be handled with all due caution and diligence by the state. It would be bad for all parties if they mess it up.

[JDPriestly]

10. Yes. I personally agree that Zimmerman stalked and killed Martin,

but it is very hard to prove 2nd degree murder.

If Zimmerman's own story or stories about what happened contain contradictions or inconsistencies then he has a serious problem. Also his personality is going to cause him problems. But it is not easy to get a conviction for 2nd degree murder, so he could get off.

It would be pretty easy to convict him for manslaughter I think.

On the other hand, a good prosecutor may persuade the jury that Zimmerman was stalking Martin.

So, I think that the verdict could go either way.
And I hope that the trial is fair and the jury is unbiased.

[GreenStormCloud]

8. Amazing how many so-called progressives are ready to dismiss with a trial by jury.

Just go straight to the verdict and sentence?

The only way YOUR right to a fair trial can be protected is the protect Z's right to a fair trial.

[JDPriestly]

11. Right. It is such a fundamental right -- for everyone.

It is actually not at all easy to convict a person of murder when there are no witnesses and the evidence is uncertain. I think that Zimmerman is guilty, but you have to prove it beyond reasonable doubt, and that can be very difficult.

I urge people to be cautious. If an error is to be made, it should be made to find a person innocent even if they are guilty. It is better not to convict a guilty person that to convict an innocent person. Convicting someone who is innocent is as bad as the original crime.