Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: DOJ placing hold on all Zimmerman trial evidence, including HIS GUN! [View all]premium
(3,731 posts)42. The Martin family lawyer disagrees.
"It's not about racial profiling," said lawyer Daryl Parks about the murder trial of George Zimmerman. "We never claimed this was about race."
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2013/07/02/quotcrackingquot_the_racial_code_in_zimmerman_trial_310842.html
Then there's this.
(Reuters) - FBI interviews with dozens of friends, coworkers and neighbors of George Zimmerman found no evidence that the accused murderer of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was a racist, according to new documents released on Thursday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/12/us-usa-florida-shooting-idUSBRE86B1AD20120712
And then there's this.
Civil rights case vs. Zimmerman won't be simple
The department says its reviewing evidence to determine whether criminal civil rights charges are warranted, but legal experts see major barriers to a federal prosecution including the burden of proving that Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch leader, was motivated by racial animosity and say Justice officials would likely be saddled with some of the same challenges that complicated the unsuccessful state case.
The Justice Department would face significant challenges in bringing a federal civil rights case against Mr. Zimmerman, said Alan Vinegrad, the former U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York. There are several factual and legal hurdles that federal prosecutors would have to overcome: They'd have to show not only that the attack was unjustified, but that Mr. Zimmerman attacked Mr. Martin because of his race and because he was using a public facility, the street.
In this case, federal prosecutors pursuing a civil rights case would need to establish, among other things, that Zimmerman was motivated by racial animosity, even though race was barely mentioned at the state trial.
Lauren Resnick, a former federal prosecutor in New York who secured a conviction in the killing of an Orthodox Jew during the 1991 Crown Heights riots in Brooklyn, said the Justice Department could conceivably proceed under a theory that Zimmerman interfered with Martins right to walk down a public street based on his race. But even that is difficult since the conflict occurred in a gated community, which may not fit the legal definition of a public facility. Prosecutors would also probably need to prove that trailing Martin on the street constituted interference, she said.
Samuel Bagenstos, a former No. 2 official in the Justice Departments civil rights division, said: This is an administration that hasnt shied away from bringing hate crimes cases that are solid prosecutions based on the facts and the law, but from what I've seen this would be a very difficult case to prosecute federally because the government would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that George Zimmerman acted because of Trayvon Martins race. If youre trying to prove racial motivation, you are usually looking for multiple statements related to why he is engaging in this act of violence. I think its a difficult case to prove.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/2013/07/15/civil-rights-case-zimmerman-won-simple/u4NNXk5VRdpQMPZIB5R23M/story-1.html
Given all this, I highly doubt that any Federal charges will be forthcoming.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
161 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
DOJ placing hold on all Zimmerman trial evidence, including HIS GUN! [View all]
AllINeedIsCoffee
Jul 2013
OP
Not legally, he was prohibited from having a gun as part of his bail conditions imposed...
Spazito
Jul 2013
#17
I know, I limited my comment to Florida lack of limitations because the topic was Zimmerman...
Spazito
Jul 2013
#71
I know I have, on occasion, while searching for something, inadvertently clicked on a link...
Spazito
Jul 2013
#89
The issue wasn't about access, it was about Zimmerman being about to purchase a gun...
Spazito
Jul 2013
#148
Trayvon's family is "in this" for the long haul. They aren't going away. They've made this their
MADem
Jul 2013
#151
The fact that they're holding the evidence suggests that they are looking at all the angles.
MADem
Jul 2013
#157
With many lawyers and legal groups involved, most of whom probably saw miscarriage of justice...
Voice for Peace
Jul 2013
#102
From what I understand the state is admitting they didn't pursue race as a factor
Sheepshank
Jul 2013
#78
I think Nancy Grace (uncensored) may have the key to proof of GZ's motivations?
mzmolly
Jul 2013
#41
Article at that same site - Zimmerman said African Americans should apologize to him?
Voice for Peace
Jul 2013
#107
Gundamentalists. . .love guns so much they refuse to accept the other 26 amendments.
Nanjing to Seoul
Jul 2013
#121
I think that if they listened very carefully to the 911 call, they would have another smoking gun
lonestarnot
Jul 2013
#113
I heard the word coon uttered by zimmerman. if they listened carefully, why was nothing made of it?
lonestarnot
Jul 2013
#117
There should be a law against straining to see racist threats in internet posts...
Pelican
Jul 2013
#134
Holder is a joke and this is just posturing. Zimmerman was found not guilty.
1-Old-Man
Jul 2013
#160