In Florida, 2nd degree murder, the charge against Zimmerman, has a maximum penalty of life in prison

[Tx4obama]

ThinkProgress ‏ @thinkprogress

In Florida, 2nd degree murder, the charge against Zimmerman, has a maximum penalty of life in prison.

https://twitter.com/thinkprogress/status/190197830298779649

[Major Hogwash]

1. It seems that it would have been impossible to have charged him with 1st degree murder.

But, that's what I think was warranted, given the facts that they have leaked already.

I wonder if Sean Insanity feels special now!!!

[trof]

4. IIRC, 1st Degree means 'premeditated'. Planned in advance.

My gut says that this wasn't the case.
2nd degree sounds about right.

[anti-alec]

7. there as plenty of premediation

The cut off call to Trayvon's girlfriend.
Disregarding a dispatcher's order to stay.
Three witnesses heard screaming

I think it has premediation, and I hope that the scumbag is also ordered to spend the rest of his natural life in a 4x4 cell with no mattresses.

[Daniel537]

2. And it actually means life since there is no parole in Florida. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Civil rights by Feds

They may tack hate crimes to it.

In penalty phase, assuming he is convicted, adds to it.

[trof]

5. Earlier I saw something about any charges being elevated to "agravated" because Trayvon was a minor.

According to FL law.
But that might have been lesser charges like manslaughter.

[gopiscrap]

6. He'll never do life

I personally think that he will plead to manslaughter-get a small negotiated sentance. Then the shit will fly again, the Feds will charge civil rights violation (and the Feds don't play fair) and he'll get another 5 years, plus 3 years probation tacked on..this whole thing will probably run to about 15-20 years by the time it fully runs it's course and he walks out of the Federal halfway house and is discharged from probabtion.