ZIMMERMAN TRIAL LIVE LINK

[tmckay2]

This trial is a sham. They are now allowing the jury to decide what level of crime he is guilty of, rather than the original accusation of second degree murder. Apparently the judge is allowing the jury to adjust the level of guilt to something that will satisfy the hoards and masses of those who will not be happy with Zimmerman getting off of the 2nd degree murder charge.

Thats not uncommon. If you are originally charged with murder they can find you guilty of a lesser charge like manslaughter.

[Ronin13]

Manslauter has been on the table along with murder 2 from the start..

Sounds like aggravated assault is on the menu as well. The state wants a conviction of something, even if it's not murder.

If he's acquitted, and there are riots, I may have to actually watch TV for the first time in years...

I'm not a lawyer, nor did I ever play one on TV, but I thought the state only filed charges of Murder 2 on this guy. I thought they could only convict of the charges filed, not drum up some lesser charge half way through the case. Doesn't he have a right to defend against charges of murder 3, manslaughter, assault, etc.? Or am I completely mistaken on this?

[RblDiver]

There will be riots no matter what

I'm inclined to agree with you, either "HE WAS ACQUITTED LET'S GO GET THEM EVIL CRACKAS!" or "HE IS GUILTY LET'S GO CELEBRATE AGAINST THEM EVIL CRACKAS!"

[RblDiver]

I'm not a lawyer, nor did I ever play one on TV, but I thought the state only filed charges of Murder 2 on this guy. I thought they could only convict of the charges filed, not drum up some lesser charge half way through the case. Doesn't he have a right to defend against charges of murder 3, manslaughter, assault, etc.? Or am I completely mistaken on this?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/11...mmerman-trial/

"After convincing the judge presiding over George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial to allow jurors to consider manslaughter, prosecutors sent the neighborhood watch volunteer’s defense lawyer into a rage by asking the judge to also include felony murder -- based on child abuse -- in the jury instructions."

"Judge Debra Nelson did not rule on the prosecution's request that juror's be able to consider the felony murder charge based on child abuse. Under felony murder statutes, a defendant can be charged with murder if he or she causes someone's death while committing a felony, in this case, according to the prosecution, child abuse."

(In other news, I'm actually slightly impressed with Fox; when I copied and pasted those two snippets, it automatically added a line saying "Read more at foxnewsblahblah". I edited it out, but still, having that sort of thing automatically embedded is an interesting and somewhat unusual feature)

[Ronin13]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/11...mmerman-trial/

"After convincing the judge presiding over George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial to allow jurors to consider manslaughter, prosecutors sent the neighborhood watch volunteer’s defense lawyer into a rage by asking the judge to also include felony murder -- based on child abuse -- in the jury instructions."

"Judge Debra Nelson did not rule on the prosecution's request that juror's be able to consider the felony murder charge based on child abuse. Under felony murder statutes, a defendant can be charged with murder if he or she causes someone's death while committing a felony, in this case, according to the prosecution, child abuse."

(In other news, I'm actually slightly impressed with Fox; when I copied and pasted those two snippets, it automatically added a line saying "Read more at foxnewsblahblah". I edited it out, but still, having that sort of thing automatically embedded is an interesting and somewhat unusual feature)

But that doesn't answer my question though... I thought they need to drum up the charges (and possible secondary/lesser charges) prior to going to trial so that the defense can prepare to defend on that case. I didn't think you could bring in lesser charges after the trial had already begun.

[RblDiver]

But that doesn't answer my question though... I thought they need to drum up the charges (and possible secondary/lesser charges) prior to going to trial so that the defense can prepare to defend on that case. I didn't think you could bring in lesser charges after the trial had already begun.

I guess you can (at least in Florida), though indeed it sounds very, very dumb (like trying to do the double-jeopardy).

[sniper7]

Sounds like BS to me. I can see if you plead down to a lesser charge to get your sentence cut down or something like that if you know you are guilty, but this is BS by the prosecution and the judge. this is becoming more and more of an "appease the people/media" than a murder trial by a jury of GZ's peers.

[Bailey Guns]

Many times a judge will instruct a jury that they can find a defendant guilty of lesser included charges. For example, from DUI to DWAI. But the elements of the offense still need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. As someone else pointed out, the defense contends manslaughter is not an appropriate charge because Z acted knowingly and intentionally when he shot TM. If that's not an element of the offense in manslaughter it shouldn't be instructed as a lesser included offense.

Then again, I'm not an attorney and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. So I could be completely wrong on that.

This whole thing is a politically motivated goat-fuck that goes way higher than the DA's office in Florida.

Zimmerman will either be acquitted or, if he's found guilty of something, I think the defense has numerous grounds on which to appeal...not the least of which is the behavior of the judge.

[RMAC757]

i got picked on by crips and bloods . not a wrestler in the bunch but a lot of very dangerous kids with weapons

I didn't mean anything personal Alx...I was just rolling with it pics and all.

[alxone]

I didn't mean anything personal Alx...I was just rolling with it pics and all.

i didnt take it personal at all
my funny bone is kinda out of whack today .........no wait , what i really meant to say was