Do you think Zimmerman will be convicted of murder?

My understanding of the situation agrees
with liberal Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz, Esq.

Hay: I got an idea!
Let 's see what happens!





David

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predator

This word does not by any stretch of the imagination apply to Zimmerman, who was clearly in defense mode. His mission was defense of the neighborhood.

(AP) SANFORD, Fla. - By questioning a state investigator on the witness stand during a routine bail hearing, George Zimmerman's defense attorney showed some of the weaknesses in prosecutors' claims that the neighborhood watch volunteer committed second-degree murder, legal experts say.


A judge ruled Friday that Zimmerman can be released on $150,000 bail while he awaits trial on murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a Feb. 26 confrontation in a Sanford, Fla. gated community. Zimmerman apologized to Martin's parents, who were in the courtroom for the bail hearing, in a surprise appearance on the witness stand. Zimmerman is pleading not guilty and claims self-defense.

"I am sorry for the loss of your son," said Zimmerman, marking the first time he has spoken in public about the confrontation with the unarmed black teen. "I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not."


The apology came after Zimmerman's defense attorney, Mark O'Mara, questioned an investigator for the special prosecutor - sentence by sentence - about a probable cause affidavit the investigator signed outlining certain facts in the case.

.(AP) SANFORD, Fla. - By questioning a state investigator on the witness stand during a routine bail hearing, George Zimmerman's defense attorney showed some of the weaknesses in prosecutors' claims that the neighborhood watch volunteer committed second-degree murder, legal experts say.

A judge ruled Friday that Zimmerman can be released on $150,000 bail while he awaits trial on murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a Feb. 26 confrontation in a Sanford, Fla. gated community. Zimmerman apologized to Martin's parents, who were in the courtroom for the bail hearing, in a surprise appearance on the witness stand. Zimmerman is pleading not guilty and claims self-defense.


"I am sorry for the loss of your son," said Zimmerman, marking the first time he has spoken in public about the confrontation with the unarmed black teen. "I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not."


The apology came after Zimmerman's defense attorney, Mark O'Mara, questioned an investigator for the special prosecutor - sentence by sentence - about a probable cause affidavit the investigator signed outlining certain facts in the case.


George Zimmerman's release could be imminent
Judge grants $150K bail for George Zimmerman
Zimmerman to Martin's parents: "I am sorry"


Investigator Dale Gilbreath testified that he does not know whether Martin or Zimmerman threw the first punch and that there is no evidence to disprove Zimmerman's contention he was walking back to his vehicle when confronted by Martin. The affidavit says "Zimmerman confronted Martin and a struggle ensued."


But Gilbreath also said Zimmerman's claim that Martin was slamming his head against the sidewalk just before he shot the teenager was "not consistent with the evidence we found." He gave no details.


Legal observers said the questioning of Gilbreath was strategically smart for O'Mara since the investigator's statements can be used at a later date to either contradict other testimony or be used to decide how to question other witnesses.

"I thought it was a really great thing to do," said Tom Mesereau, a Los Angeles attorney whose clients have included singer Michael Jackson and actor Robert Blake. "He used the hearing to get information that can only help his defense. What was supposed to be strictly a hearing for bail, he used it as a discovery device, and was able to nail the investigator into making very, very pointed statements about the investigation and about what evidence they have."


The questioning exposed some of the weaknesses in the state's case, said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. Attorney in Miami who is now in private practice.

I get the impression that Zimmy is too headstrong of a client for a lawyer.
I don 't approve of his "apology"; he approached too close to the border
of accepting responsibility. He shud be resolute, insisting on his defense
at the time. Clients like that can be frustrating.





David

Have there ever been a case in Florida where a judge at a bond hearing had dismissed a case?

So the courts had not rule about anything except to grant bail and this case did not go even before a grant jury.

The only thing we know is that a politically appointed prosecutor had file charges against the findings/judgments of the first investigators.

Kind of makes you think that maybe Zimmerman isn't the kind to let impulsive thoughts go by, when you combine that with his temper problem you have a ticking time bomb for a client.

What angry impulse led him to get out of his truck and follow the Victim?

Joe(Why you soandso!)Nation

LOL how many angry people are there in the US or to put it another way how many crime watch voluntaries are there in the US?

Footnote when I was a US census taker one of those angry people checked me out but strangely I did not knock him down and try to pound his head into the sidewalk.

I have? When was I babbling about how George was guilty of anything and everything? Which items did I "present" that proved wrong?

That is a fact. But there is also the fact that a warrant was issued for arrest and bond hearing was held based on the charge of second degree murder. That would be strong evidence that there is some evidence that leads to the charged crime.

I think 2nd degree murder is an overcharge as well. As to the grand jury being suddenly ended, sometimes a grand jury is used to compel testimony from reluctant witnesses or to gather evidence by issuing subpoenas or search warrants. It could be the new prosecutor saw the evidence different from the previous one or it could be new evidence came to light eliminating the need for a grand jury. Once again, we don't have all the facts but you seem to see a conspiracy without those facts. Interesting, don't you think?

What a GREAT IDEA. Let's see how long before you make a comment about how innocent Zimmerman is? I'll bet you won't last a day.

Are you saying the GOP is out to get a Hispanic?

The prosecutor has specifically stated the charge is not the result of political or public pressure but is based on the facts.
http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/04/23/prosecutor-trayvon-martin-case-known-toughness

I don't get it; trying to prove innocence or guilty through news reports.

Maybe some of you can arrive at such decisions from reading newspaper articles, but decisions about guilty or innocence are determined by the jury.

Do you "get" showing abuse of government power through news reports?

That's a whole other issue about "our" government - of the people.

And were you a fourteen year old kid being followed in the rain by someone you had no clue was a crime watch volunteer?

Joe(I wonder if Zimmerman would have fired "a warning shot" if the kid had tried to run)Nation

Oh, and by the way, I was a volunteer probation officer while in Texas. Nobody volunteered for that job because they were angry, they volunteered to assist the police.
Are you saying the Crime Watch Volunteers of this day and age are driven more by anger now then their duty to their community??

Joe(that would say a lot)Nation

did he check you out with a gun?

Good question.

Joe(~)Nation

He DID fire "a warning shot" and (we are told) the kid ran somewhere.

That question is a little ambiguous, counseller.
The angry person might be "with a" Bible;
mean does not that he tried to convince u of his beliefs.





David

GOP? well our Governor is a member of that party however I do not think that too many politicians of either party would have the balls to allow the justice system to function with this level of media driven outrage.

Oh the media did not dwell on Zimmerman being Hispanic but instead white and we all know that whites are killers as a whole looking for an excuse to hang black men from trees.

Too bad that this view of whites even in the south is 60 years or so out of date.



Bullshit and the Zimmerman lawyer make the prosecutor look very bad at the bond hearing.