ORLANDO, Fla. — A grand
jury will not look into the Trayvon Martin case, a special prosecutor
said Monday, leaving the decision of whether to charge the teen's
shooter in her hands alone and eliminating the possibility of a
first-degree murder charge.
That prosecutor, Angela Corey, said
her decision had no bearing on whether she would file charges against
George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who has said he shot
the unarmed black teen in self-defense. Corey could still decide to
charge him with a serious felony such as manslaughter which can carry a
lengthy prison sentence if he is convicted.A grand jury had been set to meet Tuesday in Sanford, about 20 miles northeast of Orlando.
Corey has long had a reputation for not using grand juries if it wasn't necessary. In Florida, only first-degree murder cases require the use of grand juries.
Corey's decision means she doesn't have to rely on potentially unpredictable jurors, said David Hill, an Orlando criminal defense attorney.
"Let's give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she knows there isn't enough for first-degree murder but she wants to maintain control and charge him with something else," Hill said. "What does she need a grand jury for? She cuts out the unpredictability of the grand jury. She goes where she feels she has more evidence."
I believe this is encouraging news, I think deep down we know a jury wouldn't convict GZ of first degree murder so why take the chance and end up like a "walking away Casey murderer Anthony"? Stayed tuned tonight for this breaking news, should start to get very interesting!
UPDATE: I guess you all know by now the breaking news on the Trayvon murder. Special prosecutor Angela Corey had a press conference yesterday, I was very impressed with her and have total confidence George Zimmerman will be convicted of 2nd degree murder or the lesser sentence of manslaughter. This news for the Martin family is mind easing but nothing the state does to the murderer will bring back their beloved son Trayvon...bitter sweet justice...