Zimmerman Charged With 2nd Degree Murder
George Zimmerman has been transported to the Seminole County jail after being charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Cameras captured a man, believed to be Zimmerman, wearing a plaid shirt and covering his face with a jacket being led into the jail. He was booked, and his photo was made public, the first look the public had of Zimmerman as he looks today.
Earlier in the day, special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges in a news conference.
georgezimmermanjail Zimmerman Charged With 2nd Degree Murder
A man, believed to be George Zimmerman, was led into jail after being charged with second degree murder. (CBS4)
“It is the search for justice for Trayvon that has brought us to this moment,” state attorney Corey said.
Corey also had a message for those who have been rushing to judgment on the case.
“You cannot know what it’s like to launch this type of investigation and come to this conclusion,” State Attorney Angela Corey said during the press conference.
“We don’t prosecute by public pressure or petition. We prosecute cases on the relevant facts of each case and on the laws of the state of Florida.”
Multiple reports said that Zimmerman is being held in Orange County.
Corey said Mr. Zimmerman’s lawyer can petition for a bond hearing.
The state attorney said that the decision didn’t take a long time, despite it more than 40 days since the original crime was committed.
“It didn’t take long,” Corey said. “Remember, the prosecutor’s burden is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. We have numerous homicides where immediate arrests are not made. We have to have a reasonable certainty for conviction before we file charges.”
Under Florida law, second degree murder is the unlawful killing of a person when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind, regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual. The maximum sentence for the crime is life in prison.
Corey said the decision to charge Zimmerman was made last week. She said Seminole County officials have worked with her office to set up the courts for coming hearings.
Cameras captured a man, believed to be Zimmerman, wearing a plaid shirt and covering his face with a jacket being led into the jail. He was booked, and his photo was made public, the first look the public had of Zimmerman as he looks today.
Earlier in the day, special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges in a news conference.
georgezimmermanjail Zimmerman Charged With 2nd Degree Murder
A man, believed to be George Zimmerman, was led into jail after being charged with second degree murder. (CBS4)
“It is the search for justice for Trayvon that has brought us to this moment,” state attorney Corey said.
Corey also had a message for those who have been rushing to judgment on the case.
“You cannot know what it’s like to launch this type of investigation and come to this conclusion,” State Attorney Angela Corey said during the press conference.
“We don’t prosecute by public pressure or petition. We prosecute cases on the relevant facts of each case and on the laws of the state of Florida.”
Multiple reports said that Zimmerman is being held in Orange County.
Corey said Mr. Zimmerman’s lawyer can petition for a bond hearing.
The state attorney said that the decision didn’t take a long time, despite it more than 40 days since the original crime was committed.
“It didn’t take long,” Corey said. “Remember, the prosecutor’s burden is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. We have numerous homicides where immediate arrests are not made. We have to have a reasonable certainty for conviction before we file charges.”
Under Florida law, second degree murder is the unlawful killing of a person when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind, regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual. The maximum sentence for the crime is life in prison.
Corey said the decision to charge Zimmerman was made last week. She said Seminole County officials have worked with her office to set up the courts for coming hearings.
