The news broke earlier today that George Zimmerman will be charged for the killing of Trayvon Martin. The charge is second-degree murder. Something important to remember about this case: Trayvon Martin was killed 46 days ago. This only became a bit of a story less than a month ago. If not for the public outcry over the shoddy investigation of this crime, Zimmerman would never have faced a jury.
Another important thing to remember about this case: a charge is a long way from a conviction, and there’s a good chance Zimmerman could be acquitted, based on what little public evidence is available.
Part of the problem with this case has to do with the Stand Your Ground law on the books in Florida.
Ta-Nehisi Coates (who has done wonderful work on this story for weeks now) focuses on the shoddy job police initially did on the investigation.
Charles Pierce reports that US Attorney General Eric Holder has the US Justice Department looking into potential civil rights violations. Pierce also predicts the “precis of poo that will be flung in response.”
2 responses
Will it still be considered “justice” (should a trial ensue) and Zimmerman is found not guilty?
It will mean that the system did the bare minimum it was supposed to do, which is more than would have happened before the protests began. Call me crazy, but I think anytime one person shoots and kills another, the police and the DA’s office should do a full and proper investigation as opposed to simply taking the shooter’s word that it was self-defense.
I’m perfectly willing to accept a not guilty verdict. In fact, at this point, I’m half-expecting one given the way this case has been handled and the ridiculousness of Florida’s stand your ground law–a law which anyone could have predicted would lead to a circumstance just like this one. I lived in Florida when it passed, and my scenario involved two people in traffic, but I could see something like this coming back then.
Click here to subscribe today and leave your comment.