Bigdaddyjug wrote:
BrownDuck wrote:
This, I think, but I also think that it's possible that the underlying motive for the prosecution was to charge him with a serious enough crime such that the lack of evidence would make for a relatively controversy free acquittal. Placate the masses with the dog and pony show while posing no real risk to the defendant.
I considered this possibility as well, but I would hope that the special prosecutor takes her oath of office seriously enough that she wouldn't stage what amounts to a mock trial just to pander to the public.
It's hard to say really. I'm holding out the possibility that there is some evidence we're unaware of which makes a case against Zimmerman's self defense claim. At the very least, she isn't making the same mistake that Nifong made. She's leaving her own facts scanty (the affidavit was as minimal as it could be), and allowing the public to do the spreading of unproven/untrue stuff. That avoids the potential of disbarment and lawsuit against her (maybe) if things go badly for her, but I'm still of the opinion that if she doesn't have that evidence, she should not have brought trial. Better to make that case to the public from day one than allow them to continue to believe in something that isn't going to happen, only to dash those hopes later.
While I'd love to think that there's some way to get a controversy free acquittal, a part of me believes that's just pure wishful thinking. History shows us that the longer these things go on, the stronger the emotions get and the more angry people become when they don't ultimately get their way.
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I also agree that Zimmerman should not be allowed to own a gun or participate in neighborhood watch anymore, but how do you abrogate hsi 2nd Amendment rights without him being a convicted felon?
You can't. If he's found not guilty, he's not guilty. We can't have a legal system that punishes people who are found not guilty anyway because we think they should be.
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I could totally see this ending with a plea deal where Zimmerman pleads to the most minor felony they can apply to the case and in exchange he gets a sentence that is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Something like a year of probation and community service. Although the danger in that is that it may be obvious enough that the talking heads screaming for Zimmerman's lynching realize they are being pandered to.
Yeah. I don't think that will work. And frankly, I don't see it happening (or even being possible). Charges that are brought aren't just arbitrary in order to make a deal. I don't see any way to plea what is clearly at least manslaughter (he deliberately pulled that trigger and shot someone), down to anything that Zimmerman would be willing to take. His best shot is exactly what he's doing: Self defense. And unless there's that unknown evidence floating around out there, he's got an incredibly strong case. There is every possibility that this will not even get to a jury (judge could grant motion to dismiss right off the bat).