Posted on 04/11/2012 11:06:13 AM PDT by doug from upland
Editor's note: Alan Dershowitz is the Felix Frankfurter professor of law at Harvard Law School.
(CNN) -- On the basis of the evidence currently in the public record, one likely outcome of the case against George Zimmerman is a mixed one: There may be sufficient evidence for a reasonable prosecutor to indict him for manslaughter, but there may also be doubt sufficient for a reasonable jury to acquit him.
Any such predictions should be accepted with an abundance of caution, however, because the evidence known to the special prosecutor, but not to the public, may paint a different picture. It may be stronger or weaker.
Media reports suggest that police found Zimmerman with grass stains on the back of his shirt, bloody bruises on the back of his head and other indicia that may support his contention that Trayvon Martin was banging his head against the ground when Zimmerman shot him.
We don't know what Martin's body or clothing show, other than the fatal bullet wound. If there are no comparable bruises or grass stains and if the bullet wound and powder residue establish that the gun was fired at very close range, this too might support a claim of self-defense.
Then there is a recorded cry for help, which, if it turns out to be the voice of Martin, would undercut the defense -- if the voice analysis passes scientific muster and is deemed admissible into evidence.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
We have a FReeper making the rounds on these GZ threads that swears he/she prayed a bug into Zimmerman’s head that will cause him to involuntarily give himself up and confess to cold-blooded Murder of a poor helpless teenager.
True stuff, I’m not making this one up.
We have a FReeper making the rounds on these GZ threads that swears he/she prayed a bug into Zimmerman’s head that will cause him to involuntarily give himself up and confess to cold-blooded Murder of a poor helpless teenager.
Is his/her name Rooivalk by any chance? He/she is a member in good standing of the Martin/Zimmerman Fever Swamp Club.
In the end, was it not prudent to wait before charging Zimmerman because of the “clock” that is used in Florida. My understanding is that, in a felony case, the clock starts upon a charge and it lasts 175 days. This case is over 6 weeks old. If you are a prosecutor, wouldn’t you prefer more time for discovery to prove your case?
And even if the dispatcher had given a clear and unambiguous "order" to Zim (which he did not), it is my understanding that Zim was under no legal obligation to follow such an "order."
You must follow a policeman's order if you yourself are being stopped while under suspicion of committing some legal infraction. However the police cannot otherwise "order" you do to anything. That's my understanding.
My speculation is that multiple political forces in Florida have already told her to make sure there is a trial, which is one of the reasons she didn't risk a grand jury. They are kicking the can down the road.
My prediction is a hung jury/mistrial followed by DOJ filing civil rights violation charges (regardless of Obama or Romney winning the election).
Felix Frankfurter?
Is that like he is a hot dog and a cool cat all in one?
Yeah. Thanks for that so we could get a courtesy ping in. I couldn't remember the name (until I started getting peppered with posts on another thread right after this post I made to DFU).
I heard that a first degree murder charge couldn't be brought without a grand jury. Second degree murder or manslaughter could be brought.
Maybe a change of venue to the Tampa Bay area, acquittal to concur with the Romney nomination. I swear they wanna relive Chicago '68.
Perhaps they can find an impartial jury in Bora Bora.
Right.....
That is a FReeper I never want to meet.
Can’t blame you. We’re keeping the troll busy on another thread.
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