washington post - zimmerman will be charged this week

[Lemon Drop]

Chakravartin wrote:
[quote=Grace62]
[quote=Chakravartin]
[quote=Lemon Drop]
This is a no nonsense prosecutor with a tough reputation, she's not going to court with weak evidence. Especially in a case receiving this much publicity and scrutiny.

She's using an "information" instead of a "indictment."

She has no credible evidence for conviction. This is no more than a show for the public.

An information filing is the rough equivalent of saying "duh" to a judge instead of presenting facts for scrutiny by a grand jury. Murder is a strong enough charge and this case is so incendiary that almost any prosecutor would have gone for the indictment if the evidence supported the charges because that's how you cover your ass.
Bernie Madoff had an "information" instead of an indictment. All that means is that there was no grand jury involved. It means nothing in terms of the strength of her evidence. This SA frequently skips the GJ and she has an excellent record on getting convictions.
Madoff committed a nonviolent crime.

Murder is traditionally charged via indictment. Even in Florida.
Florida law does not require a grand jury unless the charge is 1st degree murder.
Check this prosecutor's record. She frequently charges murder with no gj, and she frequently wins.

[RgrF]

Not to mention that a Grand Jury might choose not to indict on a first degree murder charge. Where would that leave her? She's going for what she thinks she can get.

[Lux Interior]

Pam wrote:
[quote=$tevie]
[quote=Bill in NC]
Unless he's changed his story recently Zimmerman's claim is that he was hit first.

IIRC, no 3rd party has yet said they saw the start of the fight.

[quote=Pam]
No way did SYG mean you could instigate a confrontation and pull a weapon on an unarmed person.

I believe Pam is referring to the fact that Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and pursued Martin, thereby forcing (i.e. instigating) the confrontation.
Exactly. After being told by 911 not to pursue. I have no doubt that if Zimmerman was not carrying a gun that he would not have pursued Martin.
And if Martin had had a gun, he would have been standing his ground had he shot Zimmerman. All he would have to say is, "Zimmerman hit me first." And then he would walk, because dead men can't talk. And apparently, that is good enough for some people.

[Lemon Drop]

RgrF wrote:
Not to mention that a Grand Jury might choose not to indict on a first degree murder charge. Where would that leave her? She's going for what she thinks she can get.

I'm sure she was never considering asking for first degree. It's clear that this wasn't premeditated murder.

[haikuman]

The direction here is influenced by media that is distorted greatly by posters. It is a full on cattle routine
with little perspective. Guns and unstable individuals in possible crisis situations is the core issue.
People with guns in there hands will kill family, friends and neighbors.

Seeking to make this just racist a issue is flat out ignorant. In Florida they have made a mockery of law enforcement. Justice is about the system . Some people here need to get a grip and focus on the real issues. imnsho
Rudie