With this ruling, I think it is in order for the defense to ask the court to dismiss the case for lack of evidence. Zimmerman would still be liable to prosecution should sufficient evidence ever be produced. But, really, it is not in the state’s interest or the Martin family’s interest to proceed to a trial and, thus protect Zimmerman from ever being tried again (b/c of double jeopardy), when the prosecution’s case is reduced to one person killed another person and when it is clear that there was a fight and there is no way to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman either started the fight (and, so, would be guilty of something, perhaps assault) or didn’t fear for his life (and, so, was not acting in self defense when he killed Trayvon).
This prosecution has little to do with what is in order from a legal standpoint. It has a lot to do political creatures fearfully pandering to the black grievance industry.
The real villains in this case aren’t in that courtroom or dead and buried.
Al Sharpton, Natalie Jackson, Ben Crump and the other purveyors of racial animosity did what they do. It’s a safe bet they got an assist from Eric Holder and the Community Relations Service, and they certainly got a public endorsement from “If I had a son” Obama.
All it took from that point was the green light from Pam Bondi and Rick Scott, both Republicans, and the prosecutorial fix was in. Angela Corey, Republican, was selected to do the dirty deed.
Oh, there are others, like the folks at the Orlando Sentinel who saw the money to be had in maintaining and stoking a false controversy. Throw in NBC and their creative tape editing, too.
What about the enlightened folks that passed young Mr. Martin through the juvenile justice system without an arrest record because it was a considered more important to keep the arrest of black youths statistically low than to enforce the rules as written?
Mr. Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin because he was in fear for his life. Our society chose to prosecute Mr. Zimmerman because we are more afraid of threats of mob violence and of being called racists than we are angry at the idea of unjust prosecutions. The rule of law is a trifle compared to our collective cowardice.
Once the jury is sworn, any dismissal of the case would be with prejudice. They could not try him again.
According to one of the legal analysts, once the jury is sworn in (this one has been), jeopardy is now attached and any result where Zimmerman goes free would be final.