Can he get a fair trial or is this the rule of mob justice? It is also reported that Zimmerman is already in custody. One prediction via Twitter: 1) Acquittal. 2) Riot. What say you?

George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

“You cannot know what it’s like to launch this type of investigation and come to this conclusion,” State Attorney Angela Corey said during the press conference.

State Attorney Corey said both of Martin’s parents have been notified of the charges and arrest of Zimmerman.

Under Florida law, second degree murder is the unlawful killing of a person when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind, regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual. The maximum sentence for the crime is life in prison.

Governor Rick Scott asked for calm before and after Corey’s announcement Wednesday.

“We are fortunate in our state that most Floridians and local civic leaders are law-abiding, responsible citizens who all want justice to prevail,” Scott said in a statement. “No matter what State Attorney Corey determines following her investigation of the Trayvon Martin tragedy, I trust in the goodness of all Florida citizens to allow our justice system to reach an appropriate conclusion in this case.”

Zimmerman has reportedly hired Mark O’Mara, a well-known Orlando attorney for his defense, according to multiple media reports. O’Mara had served as legal analyst for Orlando CBS affiliate WKMG.

Reaction to press conference via Twitchy

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14 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. cactuswren says:

    Either way, I’m afraid the outcome will be a travisty of justice. Acquital/riot or possible life in prison for what could very well be a man defending himself and is innocent. I do feel, though, that the only way forward was for a trial and let the evidence speak for itself. Biggest question is: will he get a fair trial with an impartial jury? – Not likely. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that there will be no peace for any involved in the horrible incident.

  2. cactuswren says:

    One other curious question. The special prosecuter said that she had come to the decision to charge Zimmerman with 2nd degree murder a week ago. Why wait so long to make this announcement?

  3. I was in a hospital waiting room yesterday where they had ABC news on the big screen TV, bla bla bla. A story about this case came up and they’re still using that photo of Martin as a 12 year old as the backdrop. Good show, ABC. Makes me wonder why I haven’t watched you in 20 years.

  4. Karan says:

    Yeah the 12 year old picture of him is getting on my last nerve, too.

  5. BronzeStarNamVet says:

    Gerry Spence or Geoffrey Fieger would have been my choice for a defense attorney.

  6. Juanita says:

    2nd degree murder seems excessive; I expected manslaughter at most or self-defense if Trayvon threw the first blow. I believe in right to carry, and stand your ground in theory, but how different life would be for two families if George had not been carrying that fateful night, but just reported a suspicious teen instead.

  7. ShArKy666 says:

    i HOPE that this lousy angela corey lady is VOTED OUT the next election cycle

  8. Maynard says:

    Hard to imagine a trial that could be regarded as fair when the president has proclaimed the dead man to be his son in spirit. Aside from the prejudices they’ll inevitably have, the jurors will also be aware that their decision would trigger riots and perhaps deaths if they vote “wrong”. Not to mention that they might personally be murdered if their names ever got out.

  9. rosebud2186 says:

    I was listening in the car when this was announced. What’s up with the 10 minutes of introductions prior to the charges? Do we really need to know the investigator’s names? Should we? Are they & their families now in danger? How does this bring justice to the Martin family? It smacked of the OJ trials. Circus Circus…… I’m exhausted.

  10. TX Soldier254 says:

    I am pretty pissed right now.

    “No Justice No Peace” (Maxine Waters circa 1992)

    “Move to the next level if Zimmerman isn’t arrested.” (Al Sharpton circa 2012)

    “For your partnership, your friendship, and your tireless efforts to speak out for the voiceless, to stand up for the powerless, and to shine a light on the problems we must solve, and the promises we must fulfill.” (Eric Holder circa 2012)

    “Justice Department Peace Makers have been in Florida for 3 weeks now.” (Eric Holder circa 2012)

    It seems like Obama and Holder are setting up an old fashion 1930’s Kangaroo Court Trail, of course starting with the “Special Prosecutor”, up to the President of the United States.

    It’s interesting that Angela Corey/Eric Holder did not want a Grand Juries evidentiary findings first, and then if needed recommend to the Prosecutors Office a probable cause affidavit, instead it was taken out of their hands I am sure at the behest and blessing of Eric Holder.

    PS: Don’t trust Wikipedia in looking up Angela Cory, it’s been tampered with.
    [This page was last modified on 11 April 2012 at 23:36.]

    The Black families (yes Daddy with Girlfriend, Momma with what ever) wanted Zimmerman arrested so our AG Holder obliged. Now Zimmerman sits in a Solitary Confinement Cell.

    Angela Corey wants to “Seek Justice for Trayvon Martin”. That is not her Job. Her Job is to Seek the Unbiased Facts/Truth for the State of Florida not Trayvon Martin.

    For those that have a Concealed Carry Permits this could be a “Water –Shed” case. If someone forcibly tries to take your legally carried weapon do you have a right to stop that threat? This will be a ‘Chicago Land 2nd Amendment Case’, not a “Stand Your Ground” case, I guarantee it!

    Kind of amazing, the Fort Hood Islamist Jihad Killer, Hasan, charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder have yet to be tried. All occurred on Obama’s Watch.

    Yes TAMs, I am pissed.

  11. Patricia says:

    No doubt that Eric Holder had a hand in pushing this. He made a statement as recently as Wednesday morning that his Department of Justice will take action in the case of Trayvon Martin if there is evidence that a civil rights crime had been committed. I have faith that justice will prevail in this case once all the facts are presented. A change of venue will probably be required and hopefully George Zimmerman will have adequate representation. No doubt, there will be high caliber attorneys knocking each other over to be part of the “show”. The racist meme is out there everywhere you turn because Obama knows that is his only hope of re-election. Won’t work this time DB – we know we are not racists like you and your minions!

  12. AniMel says:

    I predict that Zimmerman will be acquitted. There is more to this story than the police or the prosecutors have let on; there always is, and the press ALWAYS screws it up. I cannot tell you how many of the stories about crimes calls that I’ve gone on have been badly mangled by the local press (particularly one about a black city councilman who accused a white cop of racism at a fire scene a couple of years ago…the press only told one side of the story and ignored it when the cop’s name was cleared). The press always reports invented claims by non-witnesses and twists the facts of the real witnesses; then, when the truth comes out, they refuse to acknowledge it because it’s not going to get ratings.

    Zimmerman will be acquitted and there will be riots in multiple cities. This will end up being the Rodney King verdict on steroids. Just like the King incident, the public is spreading misinformation based on emotional reactions to a story that they’re not bothering to ask real questions about. They’re happier calling us all racists because it vindicates their victimhood.

  13. larrygeary says:

    Now that George Zimmerman is in the hands of our “justice” system, his life is effectively over.

    He was indicted by a political prosecutor who has already colluded with the Martins and told them she wants to get “justice for Trayvon”. The lynch mob atmosphere ginned up by the Obama regime and professional black race pimps assures that he cannot get a fair trial, and will probably get an “OJ” jury of vengeful blacks and disingenuous white liberals. If by some miracle he is found not guilty, the racist Eric Holder will bring down his “justice” on Zimmerman and charge him with “civil rights violations”, a BS provision that assures the government gets its politically correct verdict, facts be damned. (Somehow our politicized judiciary has determined that this is not double jeopardy.) With that guaranteed conviction in hand, the Martin family will sue Zimmerman for 10X his net worth, bankrupting him and his family.

    Blacks commit more violent crime than all other groups combined. (Particularly young black males. The reason for their 40% unemployment rate is that no sane person wants them anywhere around, even if they weren’t unemployable due to low intelligence, nonexistent work ethic and zero marketable skills.) Most blacks who are murdered are killed by other blacks. Blacks rape around 36,000 white women every year, while the number of whites raping blacks is too small to measure. Blacks kill blacks, and blacks kill whites, browns and Asians with impunity, and no one in the black community raises an eyebrow. But if ONE black thug gets what he deserves at the hands of a non-black, especially a cop, OMG it’s GENOCIDE!

    People are getting increasingly sick of these displays of hypocrisy, but with the full force of a corrupt Federal government behind it, there is nothing we can do. We no longer live in a free country under the Constitution or the rule of law.

    George should have run for his life to a country without an extradition treaty with the US. He will get no justice here.

    • AniMel says:

      To be fair, it is standard for a prosecutor to advocate for the victims in a case. All state and county attorney’s offices have victim’s advocates because, in reality, prosecutors are really only in it for the win (like any other lawyer), but the prosecuting attorney is supposed to be an advocate for a victim just as a defense attorney is supposed to advocate for his client.

      Double jeopardy only applies (technically speaking) to the same crime. Since – again, technically – charging someone with depriving another of their civil rights is not the same as murder, the feds can get away with it. They’d have to be able to prove, however, that Zimmerman’s intent was based on Martin’s race, and if Obama is ousted in November (as we’re all hoping he is) it’s nigh impossible that Holder’s DOJ will have enough time to get to Zimmerman.

      You are right, though.

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