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Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman charged with murder
Second-degree murder means a killing that was not premeditated but resulted instead from an “imminently dangerous act” that showed a “depraved” lack of regard for human life.
Some legal experts had predicted the prosecutor would instead bring a charge of manslaughter, which carries up to 15 years behind bars. It is defined as a death that results from a reckless but not a depraved act.
Corey repeatedly declined to answer questions about details in the case.
“So much information got released on this case that never should have been released. We have to protect this prosecution and this investigation for Trayvon, for George Zimmerman,” she said.
Legal experts said Corey must have compelling evidence against Zimmerman if she chose to charge him with second-degree murder.
“That indicates they have evidence Zimmerman was chasing Trayvon because he was black,” said Florida defense attorney Richard Hornsby. “It’s difficult to think how one prosecutor didn’t charge him at all and another thought there was enough evidence to justify a second-degree charge. It’s a pretty drastic swing.”
Tensions have risen in recent days in Sanford, a town of 50,000 outside Orlando. Someone shot up an unoccupied police car Tuesday as it sat outside the neighborhood where Martin was killed. And a demonstration by college students closed the town’s police station Monday.
