Sanford police report: Cops initially wanted Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder

[Baitball Blogger]

On the day Sanford police turned over the Trayvon Martin shooting investigation to prosecutors, they changed their final report at least four times over five hours and downgraded the charge they recommended from second-degree murder to manslaughter, newly-released records confirmed.

In the first version on March 13, lead Investigator Chris Serino and his bosses recommended that George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who killed Trayvon, be charged with murder. But they changed that about four hours later, according to paperwork made public Tuesday by defense attorney Mark O'Mara.

The Orlando Sentinel reported those changes Dec. 12 when Special Prosecutor Angela Corey made public a list of evidence that she had just released to O'Mara. It included only a few sentences but made clear there was an initial draft plus four revisions.

O'Mara on Tuesday released each version. Corey's office is expected to release them in the next few days.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-serino-changes-20130108,0,77957.story

[Angry Dragon]

1. why is he allowed to try this case before the trial??

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Not sure what you mean.

My question is, why did they change the charge so many times?

I hope they release Norm Wolfinger's phone records to see if he was involved in those decisions. Because, it would be consistent with my observations of how leaders in public agencies reach consensus with community leaders in the private sector before doing anything.

[Angry Dragon]

4. Trying the case in the press

add: mis-read the post so it is the prosecutor that is releasing the information

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Oh, it's Florida.

I prefer to see the information in the press, because, the option is to keep it on the low down where the good ole boys can resolve everything through a series of phone calls.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. There is no gag order so the prosecutor could release what they like

[Auntie Bush]

6. I believe the charges changed...dropped in severity...as George's father got involved.

Zimmerman's father is a retired Virginia Supreme Court Magistrate. He knows the ropes and I'm sure he got involved.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. But who was he talking to?

If it was Norm Wolfinger we will understand why racketeering was allowed to go on in the county without him doing a thing about it.