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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Ron Allen reports on the latest in the Trayvon Martin case, if the current judge on the case will remove herself due to a conflict of interest, Zimmerman's upcoming bond hearing and what the outcome of his arraignment could be.
Given the immense pressure to arrest and try George Zimmerman for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, defense attorneys who have worked on other high-profile cases say it will be tough for him to get a fair trial.
The public outcry against Zimmerman, 28, has been intense: More than two million people signed a petition calling for his prosecution; civil rights leaders descended on Sanford, the Florida city where unarmed teen Martin was killed; and almost-daily rallies were held demanding Zimmerman’s arrest.
“There’s no way in the world I think this case could be heard in Sanford. The emotional state there is just too volatile … I don’t think it’s an issue having to deal with media coverage as much as it is local community pressure,” said Jose Baez, the attorney who last year successfully defended Casey Anthony in Orlando, a 30-minute drive from Sanford.
Now that the legal process has begun, Zimmerman will get an opportunity to present his side of the story. But given the intense media spotlight on the case, defense attorneys say it may be hard to find a jury of his peers in this close-knit community who don’t already have an opinion about his guilt or innocence. And even if the trial is moved or jurors are brought in from elsewhere, that may not shield them from public pressure, the attorneys said.
In the trial of Casey Anthony, who was acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, jurors had to be brought in from outside Orlando to hear the case. But even though the jury was sequestered during the trial, jurors were left ostracized and some “went into hiding” when their identities were revealed after rendering their decision, Baez said.
“How can a juror feel free to vote their conscience and to place a fair vote when they know, okay, I may be safe in here because I’m sequestered, but once I go out there and once my name is made public, people are going to harass me?” he said.
If jurors face this kind of outcry after delivering “unpopular decisions,” he said, “it may create a chilling effect where jurors are afraid to vote not guilty because of fear for public backlash. Who wants a bunch of media trucks parked outside their house asking them and harassing them as to why they made their decision?”
Zimmerman expected to take the stand in Trayvon Martin murder case
'All that's at stake'
Jeff Deen, a criminal defense lawyer and a former prosecutor who works and lives in the Sanford area, echoed Baez’ comments. He said it would be close to impossible for a jury to be selected in the city where “everybody’s six degrees from somebody.”
“There is some worry about, you know, how this is going to affect the community if you vote guilty or not guilty,” he said. “Is somebody that lives here going to be comfortable acquitting him when they know … all that’s at stake locally?”
AP Photo
Bernhard Goetz, escorted by detectives, leaves New York Police headquarters, Jan. 3, 1984, after his return from Concord, N.H., where he turned himself in and admitted to shooting four youths on a New York subway train in December.
Barry Slotnick, the New York lawyer who has taken on many high-profile defendants, including Bernhard Goetz -- a white man accused of shooting four black teens in 1984 in a case that divided the city -- said he thought Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder in Martin’s death, could get a fair trial but would need a skilled attorney to weed out jurors who may have already decided his guilt.
“In trying Bernie Goetz, one of the newspapers in New York City had a headline, ‘How to get on the Goetz jury,’” he recalled, noting it outlined what they needed to do to accomplish that. “These were not people who were in favor of Bernie Goetz or anything else of that sort, but we survived it.”
Slotnick said Goetz was tried in the city and was acquitted of all charges except for possession of an illegal gun. Slotnick also recalled trying another racially-charged case in which two members of a white Jewish community allegedly beat up a black youth in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights.
He won his clients an acquittal, though he said a juror had struggled with the pressure from her community not to acquit.
“I was in Brooklyn. It was tough, and I knew that if I got any people from the Crown Heights’ area, their decision would be dictated by their race,” he said.
It remains to be seen whether race will be a factor introduced at trial, though the killing of Martin, a black youth, by Zimmerman, who is Hispanic and white, has generated a national debate about race relations.
Slotnick said a potential area of concern in selecting a jury could be African-Americans jurors who have children.
“The president of the United States related to the fact that could have been one of his kids and, you know, is that the way black Americans think? And if it is – I understand it -- but it shouldn’t interfere with the criminal justice system,” he said.
Zimmerman's new attorney: Who is Mark O'Mara?
In the end, Zimmerman may never stand trial. A judge could rule that his actions are covered under the controversial “Stand Your Ground” law, under which a citizen doesn’t have to retreat before using deadly force against an attacker. In such cases where that defense has worked, defendants are given immunity from prosecution -- effectively dismissing the case.
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Leave a Comment:
It's florida...no one gets a fair trial. I'm sure Zimmerman's trial will be as fair as Trayvon's would have been in the state of FL, IYKWIM. Also, who cares? If there's one unfair trial in the world that doesn't cause me any outrage whatsoever, it's this one. That's the way the cookie crumbles, mr. Z.
Tough?
Try impossible thanks to Al, Jesse, NBC et al.
Poor wittle Zimmie, wah, wah, wah.....
Just execute the guy, so we can move on to the next piece of news....
Good news all you peace loving liberals.
ALEC has caved!
To all you legal scholars answer one question..With the evidence that s available it is irrefutably clear Trayvon had ample opportunity to get to his fathers house. Instead he decided to either confront Zimmerman or wait for Zimmerman. Which leads us to the question, WHY ???
That is not the behavior of a frightened LITTLE BOY !!!!!!!
ZIMMERMAN WILL GO FREE
WRONG!
Where are you getting this information? There is NO evidence suggesting Trayvon confronted GZ? NONE!
Please link me your info...
The fact that he stopped long enough to get into a confrontation with Zimmerman. However Martin had no obligation to flee. He had as much right to stand his ground as Zimmerman.
Hey Al,
I don't think he will go free. The news media has bashed him an awful lot for that to happen.
The blatant implausibility of the scenario you offer suggests that it was skewed with malicious intent. What do you gain by a Zimmerman acquittal?
I'm sorry. I forgot my American history for a moment. You want a return to the "n*gg*r keep on running" laws. SYG should serve that ends well enough.
So are you stating since Trayvon didn't get to his destination in time, he deserved to die?
Remind me never to be late for work again!
That George Zimmerman looks scary to me. Attention Hollywood - Movie Time. "The Wannabe Executioner"
Al
C'mon man! Don't you know Trayvon tried to run but the 250 lb 35 year old Z- man chased him down in short order and capped him?!
PS Jo-an is an idiot.......
rightasrain,
I will take that as a compliment!
Jo-an
It was!
Thanks!
:)
jo-an:
Was martin shot in the back while trying to get away?
No, he was on his knees, crying for his life, and was shot in his chest!
You better sign up to be a witness. Because the only eye witness they have, (John), tells it differently.
Embellishment = lying
We shall see, we shall see....
Tumbleweed they have six other witnesses on the police report. One women says it was Zimmerman on top of Tryavon. This women also gave her account the night of the killing. She and her lawyer have now been interviewed by Angelia Corey. She and her lawyer appeared on CNN and she says the Sanford Police tried to convince her it was Zimmerman crying out for help, but insists it was Trayvon. She says she knows it was Zimmerman on top because the person on top got up and walked around after the shooting. Her statement is consistent with the mother of the three-teen year old.
Rhama,
Please don't confuse the GZ supporters, it upsets them!
They choose to believe, there is ONE witness, and ONLY ONE, named John, he knows all, saw all, they have a lot riding on this belief!
LOL Jo-An, I noticed that.
Rhama - I think you are mistaken but if you can provide a link that shows a witness saw GZ on top of TM, I would be very interested in seeing it.
I think what you are referring to is an ear witness who was too pathetic to look outside when she heard cries for help. You can hear her on the 911 call. She tell some guy in the house to stay away from the windows. Apparently she was holding his balls because he didn't go outside to assist when he heard cries for help either. This lady has been running around to any camera she can find and claiming she knows it was TM yelling (she would have no way of knowing). It's too late for her to be a hero (or even a decent person).
These losers could have saved a life that night if they would have just got involved. If I heard someone crying for help outside my house, without hesitation, I would be running to their aid.
everyone-5471391,
I guess you will just have to sit back and wait for the trial, won't you? GZ will be tried before a jury of his peers, unlike Trayvon....
Rhama,
Proof POSITIVE! LOL...
Jo-An-4354969
LIFE isn't fair, trials are only slightly better.
everyone I know about John, I also know about the ear witnesses, I was talking about a woman and her lawyer who appeared on CNN. She has given her account to Angela Corey as she did the Sanford Police's lead police investigator the night of the killing of Trayvon Martin, this women like John did not show her face but gave he statement on CNN. She also give her account to Angela Corey. There are six witnesses some are ear witnesses but this women said she saw what happened. There is also a women who said she come out after the shooting and Zimmerman was straddled over Trayvon, she said when she called out Zimmerman told her to call the police. As I said there are six witnesses not just John. Now it's up to the jury who they will believe.
JO-An, proof positive, big time. LOL
The female eyewitness's account is still up on Anderson Cooper 360.
Rhama - I'm not trying to be difficult but I want to know the facts. Is this the eye witness interview you are referring to? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYf2xTvJpzU
If it is, this eye witness did not see who was on top during the struggle.
If there is yet another eye witness, please provide a link.
everyone-547131 This woman's account is on Anderson Coopers 360. I just went there a few min, ago. I put in Account of a female eyewitness to the Trayvon Martin Shooting and CNN's Anderson Cooper came right up CNN says her account is credible. Newsvine does not let me link. Now if you don't want to believe her, thats up to you.
everyone-5471391,
This is what "your" link says:
Published on Mar 30, 2012 by ThatsTheTruthRoot
New Witness in the Trayvon Martin case speaks to CNN's Anderson Cooper on AC360. He says both men were on the ground and he watched them struggle as the gun went off. The witness also says he thinks the shooter, George Zimmerman, was on top of Trayvon and that Zimmerman didn't appear hurt.
Everyone-5471391
I went to your link and that is the witness, she did say Zimmerman was on top, she also said she knows this because the person on top got up and walked around after the shooting. It's in print maybe you sould look again. Like I said there are six witnessess. We have to wait to see who the jury believes.
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/29/trayvon-martin-witness-breaks-silence/
Here's the one Rhama, was talking about, I believe they are the same person.
This person, didn't see how it started, but says "after the larger man got off," there was a dead boy on the ground. And the hispanic man did not look hurt, but was rubbing his forehead and looked worried. He was "looking when the shot went off".
Listen....
Yes - but she said several times she didn't know for sure who was on top. She was presuming it was GZ because he was the one she saw later. She said the larger man was on top, the larger was TM.
Well, her testimony is not as clear as what you are making it out to be. I think the only thing she really adds to the TM camp is that the sidewalk was further then described by GZ. I don't know, maybe to GZ, the grass felt like a hard surface when his head hit it.
OR....
Maybe GZ is a lying coward, that is going away for a long, long time...
Let's see what a jury thinks!
Thanks JO-An!
:)
The witness states she cannot state for sure who was on top at the end of the struggle and did not see George stand up only that when she looked back he was standing and presumed who was on top when the pops happened.
Forensics will answer some key questions on that.
She saw George from profile so could not see his face only that he was rubbing his forehead. Medical records and EMS reports will sort out any injuries.
It is a different view. Also the first I had heard there was another witness who SAW the struggle.
It astounds me that so many people ( with the exception of big g bake) have nothing better to do than bicker over something that they only know about from media for hours and days on end. Big G-bake is correct in saying not everyone weather black or white, spanish or asian is either good or bad. Having been born and raised in south miami area i know the influences of gangs and other groups. And I moved out of it. The courts will decide what will happen and who is innocent or quilty. But what ever the result LIVE WITH IT
Unfortunately once you get Al Sharpeton involved in a case like this race becomes an issue. I spoke to my father about this situation and he told me 10 black people in Massachusetts had been shot and killed that same day, yet it wasn't getting this type of publicity because the men that had done the shooting were Black themselves. Race in this country will always be an issue until certain people realize that we, the present white people in America arent the ones that sold them into slavery, You can always see on this type of issue where the hate is and who it is coming from. Al Sharpeton causes more race problems in this country than any member of color that I have seen in my entire life. This case is ridiculous now and he has made it this way along with HLN the most biased news agency in the world in my view. The case will be tried on tv through substandard exhibitionism and sensationalism by the media. I understand and feel for the parents loss but also feel for Mr. Zimmerman because his chances have been thrown out the window for a fair trial. If cases like these come up only the bare minimum of information should be let out in the news media until the case has actually been through the justice system because now it seems he's guilty until proven innocent. Mr. Sharpeton you should just mind your own business and stop trying to get on tv you have made me think the way I think about you because of the way you act. Whenever I see you on tv all i can think that is running through your mind is get the white devil. I believe that you hate all whites and have set your people back in this world and on a daily basis ruin the good word of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Shame on you and the contamination you create in todays society.
I for one would like to be the first to cast the first stone..I know he is guilty..just look into his eyes..I bet he pulled the wings off of butterflies when he was 8 and tortured little kittens when he was a teen..and now..look..he has no soul..pure evil..I feel sorry for whoever bore him
It's really a shame to talk so bad about the dead kid.
LOLLI POP you know you need to take a long slow walk to China.
The jury will convick him because he has already been tried by the media and the blacks and this is if you kill a black you'er condemed but if a black kills us uts (O.K.)
Ah yes. The anonymity of the net. The truly evil can be as insulting, demeaning, condescending and deceitful as they wish and claim that its everybody else with no consequences whatever.
That's for sure!
To: just saying it like i see it
I have never claimed to have been there anymore than the rest of you. However, just like the rest of us, had one of your loved ones was killed and no one was even charged, you would want justice. So SPARE me all of the bullch&t of trying to justify GZ's actions when the fact of the matter is had it been your child, you would want justice served. Now tell me you wouldn't! I dare you.
ColorBlind2011
I would want retribution. Not sure that would qualify as justice.
The Seventh Law of Nature:
In revenges (that is, the doings of evils for evils done), men should look not to the greatness of the evil past, but should look forward to the greatness of the good yet to follow.
Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan (1651)
Seeking justice and seeking revenge are two different issues. Trayvon Martin's parents have stated from day 1 that they do not want an eye for an eye. They want justice.
ColorBlind2011
I stand by my statement. If a loved one was killed in this manner I would want retribution.. call it revenge sure... Just being honest. I might be satisfied with life without parole plus 30 years. It would be healthy for the person in prison.
Trayvons parents started with we want him charged then it was we want him charged and arrested now it is we want him convicted. When he was arrested they stated they felt it was an accident.. someone said something to them and they retracted accident because that would give George an out and changed it to chance encounter. Their actions are still speaking louder than words.
To: trust_verify
Retribution or justice! The bottom line is you would want answers. You would want something done just like any other parent. If GZ can't get a fair trial then we could thank the law officials of his county.
ColorBlind2011
I'm being honest... The answer is George shot Trayvon.. or in my case Someone shot my loved one. I have ONE loved one who I would give the shooter a chance to explain only because that one person might have done something to invite being shot.
That said. I'm on the outside looking in and feel the law is on Georges side and the parents are being less than honest with THEMSELVES. Bottom line call it what it is.
From what I have read the SPD did their job. the DA may or may not have made the correct decision on SYG. The first state AG may or may not have as well. The ones we have to thank are the media who made this about Georges race. Part of that blame I place on the "reverends" as Al is employed by the media. Had they attacked the SPD they may or may not have been on the mark but again SPD wanted to file charges. Again everyone needs to quit with the hype, it sells papers, it doesn't contribute to anything except division. Point the blame where it needs pointed AFTER we figure what the blame is. I will be surprised if this makes it to trial before Nov 2.
I love the fact that we, as Americans, can discuss issues such as this freely and without fear of federal interference. I hate the fact that racial bias from both sides is also freely represented. Please stick to arguing facts and leave the ignorant rhetoric to the Taliban. God bless the USA.
Does a person have the right to ask you a question at anytime when you are outside? Yes . A security guard asks you what are you doing here in a community. Do you have the right to attack that security guard? If you do attack the security guard what will happen to you? Does the security guard have the right to defend himself? If Zimmerman attacked Martin physically then I would say Zimmerman was wrong. Otherwise Martin was wrong to attack Zimmerman for asking him a question.
Did Zimmerman ask a question?
Justice????????????
A criminal is dead.
The victim is in jail.
How do you figure THAT?
What "evidence" do you have that Trayvon was a "criminal"?
OR that GZ was a "victim"?
Jo-An
A criminal is dead.
The victim is in jail.
You can't reason with racists,it is a mental disorder. They do not care what the facts will turn out to be, they just know somehow that it went down like that. They pray that it went down like that. I do not know how it happened but I do know that a gun and distrust of a black kid in a hoodie created the genisus of this sad storey. How it ended will come out in the trail which never would have happened if people did not demand justice and the truth.
I have this belief in life that goes: "what goes around comes around" and I think that when people wish for something bad to be true or hate just because of ones color, they wind up attacting hate and distrust back on themselves with their very evil and hate coming back to them. Bad begets bad and the racists should be careful what they wish for. If their hate groups succeed in doing harm to minorities, the minorities will defend themselves and fight back. In the end the whole civil society is destroyed because the fool who decided that someone was inferior to his ilk did not have a right to exist so now no one can exist. It is evil and wrong.
Jennifer-2446215,
Thanks, you are correct! You can't reason with racists!
More importantly, what goes around DOES come around! I feel some inexplicable pull to get these people to see how absurd their comments are....
I just can't wrap my head around their thought process....
I thought we had moved past this bigotry!
Like I said, I believe it is a mental disorder that infects the mind and soul.
True!
:-)
So let me get this straight if you think that GZ was justified in the shooting you are a racist?
I just don't see any evidence to support GZ's claim, but if you could give me some, we can 'decide"....
At this time there is no evidence for a trial. Politically motivated for election in Nov. NBCed, make news to report on.
A dead body is evidence. If George wants to remain free until the Trial - all he has to do is post bail. That's how thing are done when a person is killed at the hands if another.
George has every right to bail. A bail which is sufficient to insure he will be available when trial is convened. Trayvon didn't just slip and fall down a set of stairs. This definitely was not an accidental killing.
Name the crime which George reported to the Police... the Crime which predicated this whole issue?