BREAKING: STATE ATTY WILL NOT USE GRAND JURY IN TRAYVON MARTIN CASE.--now with link...

[one_voice]

Just heard on MSNBC

edited to add:

Prosecutor: No grand jury for Travyon Martin case

A special prosecutor has decided not to use a grand jury in the Trayvon Martin case.

State Attorney Angela Corey’s decision is not to be considered a factor in whether charges are eventually brought against George Zimmerman, Corey's office said in a statement.

The grand jury, which was previously scheduled by the prosecutor, was set to convene on Tuesday.

Martin, a 17-year-old from Miami Gardens, was shot to death by Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, at a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/09/11100828-prosecutor-no-grand-jury-for-travyon-martin-case?lite

[ingac70]

1. It was suppose to convene tomorrow....

????

[K Gardner]

7. Here's what I got from the announcement... typing as they talked..

There will be no grand jury convened in the Trayvon Martin case. Ms. Corey was appointed on March 22 and says investigation will continue and she will make no further comments on the Martin case as evidence is collected. The grand jury was set to convene this week.

The Office of the Sanford Police Dept is CLOSED today due to protests.

[LiberalFighter]

29. The police dept is closed?

It appears to be another instance of police mismanagement.

[coalition_unwilling]

39. Brings to mind 'Alice's Restaurant' and the dump that

was closed on Thanksgiving.

On a less serious note, all self-respecting bank robbers within commuting distance of Sanford should probably take note. Sort of their equivalent to a one-day sale

[Fawke Em]

40. I don't think they mean the police aren't patrolling, but

rather the business office is closed.

[K Gardner]

49. Exactly. n/t

[MoonRiver]

2. WTH does this mean??

Is she planning to drop the case?

[pinboy3niner]

4. No decision yet on prosecuting Zimmerman

This means that she will decide whether or not to prosecute based on her investigation, without impaneling a grand jury.

[one_voice]

6. No she's not...

at least not yet anyway.

This gives her more time to gather and go through all the information.

[Daniel537]

3. I think she'll be filing charges against Zimmerman.

I doubt she'd just dismiss the case without even convening a grand jury. Then again, stranger things have happened.

[HooptieWagon]

35. I suspect so.

If she wasnt going to prosecute, I think she would use the grand jury as cover. That she doesnt need the grand jury idicates he has enough evidence to prosecute, but needs time for further investigation, and a stronger case. At least, I hope thats the case.

[Quixote1818]

36. Bingo! nt

[Justice wanted]

5. I don't like this! I hope I'm not reading too much into this but is this a sign that Zimmerman is

going to walk free?

[K Gardner]

9. I don't think that at all. I think she will charge him. I just think she doesn't

feel she needs a grand jury to do so.

[Justice wanted]

31. I do hope you are right I just want you to know why I'm getting that nervous feeling. You add

this news in WITH the news last night that The National Guard has been placed on Stand By in case of uprising.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002534693

Kepte deleted the message but it stated that National Guard was on Stand By because of the Trayvon Martin case. It also said Sanford PD was looking for additional help from other PDs and fire departments.

[Tarheel_Dem]

42. Kpete, on reflection, decided to delete that o.p. because the info came from a "gossip" blogger.

The blogger in question usually comments on all things hip hop/urban. The info was irresponsible, and poorly sourced. It was incitement, and not helpful in the least. So perhaps you might edit your own post as we don't want to further disseminate misinformation.

[Justice wanted]

44. Thank you. Just wish Kpete edited his O.P. to explained that. THanks again for explaining.

[Tarheel_Dem]

51. I agree an explanation would have been preferable, but a review of the entire thread.....

makes it clear that the source was far from reliable.

[Justice wanted]

52. THanks.

[TorchTheWitch]

17. I don't think so

Everything that's been said about this woman gives me encouragement as well as what's been said about the investigation so far. I think she's been very thorough and has had her people (FBI and another group I can't think of the name of off the top of my head) talk to a lot of folks that had been ignored before. I think this means that she intends to bring charges. She had said previously that she may not go the grand jury route if she found evidence to suggest she didn't need to. I don't really like the idea of a grand jury since I don't trust the locals one single iota. I also think she's under a LOT of pressure to get this one right.

[Justice wanted]

32. I'll keep my fingers cross and hope you are right.

[Whisp]

46. can I ask something?

what would it have meant if the Grand Jury Was held?
I'm not sure I know the difference between the two. Is GJ a pre-court sort of thing for a jury to decide whether to proceed with a regular trial?

I guess I could go on Wiki or somewhere but find that DU peeps can give good answers in a fraction of the time of searching.

[arthritisR_US]

47. Good question, I googled but got really

confused by what I read.

[K Gardner]

50. The Grand Jury is a secret bunch of people who get secret information from

select "witnesses" and then give an opinion, without explanation.

I think she did the right thing here. She'll base her opinion on evidence still being collected.

[Whisp]

55. thanks and I agree.

It would be devastating to have anything in this case secret - there is enough of that already provided by the Police.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. What? Did they give a reason? nt

[K Gardner]

10. They did not. Only issued a very brief statement and said there would be no further comment.

I'm sure speculation will be fierce on the afternoon talk shows.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

18. I sense that this situation is just going to get worse. nt

[Solomon]

12. The original grand jury date was set by first prosecuter.

When he recused himself, that date was off.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. Interesting, but now they're saying no grand jury at all? nt

[freshwest]

21. Thanks, didn't know that.

[aikoaiko]

11. She may be waiting for more evidence or she may go with a charge that doesn't require a GJ.

[no_hypocrisy]

13. Not necessasrily a discouraging choice.

Suppose a grand jury was impanelled and didn't chose to indict Zimmerman? Then what?

[Fawke Em]

14. I think they're waiting on autopsy reports and/or

bloodwork.

It takes time to get those back.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. My read they have enough evidence

Where they do not need to empannel, I hope I am reading this right, means probable charges.

[got root]

22. That's my take, too. Arrest is coming soon.

At least I hope so.

[joshcryer]

58. I saw that as well, it will be a 2nd or 3rd degree charge though.

Probably manslaughter.

[nadinbrzezinski]

59. Anybody expecting first was dreaming.

We get second I will be shocked, third or the original manslaughter will not surprise me.

[coalition_unwilling]

16. Same on CNN. Just a banner announcing no grand jury, BUT

NO FURTHER DETAILS. Really shoddy journalism, imho.

[Fawke Em]

20. It's hard to get further information if no

one associated with the case is commenting.

That's actually GOOD journalism: reporting the facts you know before speculating WHY.

[coalition_unwilling]

25. I disagree. In a case of this scope and sensitivity, reporting

no grand jury without explaining that charges can still be brought borders on inciting a riot.

Even if you disagree with my assessment, CNN and MSNBC merely have loud banner headlines that don't link to anything whatsoever. So readers are entitled to go 'WTF????'

[Fawke Em]

26. They are just getting out Corey's decision.

I'm sure it will be reported soon what the options are.

People who are closely following this story will read the expanded follow up. People who aren't following this story very closely won't care one way or the other.

Rightwing racists will get everything wrong, anyway. They do that even when all the facts are out.

[one_voice]

24. I'm waiting for the full statement so I can post..

It's not much more than the headline. They said (her office) they didn't have any further comment at this time.

[pinboy3niner]

27. CNN site has just posted a brief story

Special prosecutor will not use grand jury in Trayvon Martin investigation

April 9th, 2012
11:46 AM ET

State Attorney Angela Corey, appointed as a special prosecutor in the February shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, has decided against sending the case to a grand jury, her office said Monday.

"The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case," Corey's office said in a statement.

...


The decision about whether or not to charge George Zimmerman in the case now rests with prosecutors.

"At this time, the investigation continues and there will be no further comment from this office," in the statement.

...


http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/09/special-prosecutor-will-not-use-grand-jury-in-trayvon-martin-investigation/?hpt=hp_t2

[coalition_unwilling]

28. OK, so the general public is now entitled to ask and have answered

"Why are you (Corey) not sending the case to a grand jury?"

[Fawke Em]

23. Jonathan Capehart weighs in on Twitter:

Jonathan Capehart ‏ @CapehartJ

Decision not to go to Grand Jury with Zimmerman is a GOOD sign for #TrayvonMartin. His fam atty did NOT want a grand jury of sanford peers.

[savalez]

43. Especially after the lie fest

that was perpetrated on the city by the defense lawyer.

[Junkdrawer]

30. Doubt we'll get a decision before the Republican Convention....

Too many people have too many dogs in the fight and ANY decision will cause a level of unrest that would be hard to tamp down before the Tampa Convention.

Over the weekend, I saw a CNN report that compared this case to the New Orleans Katrina Bridge incident convictions (5 years in the making) and prepping people for a similar time frame.

[coalition_unwilling]

34. That SOB Zimmerman is walking around a free man while, meanwhile, an

unarmed 17-year-old black pedestrian youth lies dead at his hands. Now how difficult and time consuming can that really be? Unless your principal interest is in running time off the clock and hoping people forget and move on.

[Junkdrawer]

37. You bet. Demands for justice for Trayvon were matched by RW calls to exonerate Zimmerman....

add to the mix the obvious purjury by high level Republicans and a Republican Presidential convention. Justice is now too inconvienient.

[Quixote1818]

33. Corey had said a week ago she likely would make a decision on her own, so this is no surprise

nt

[librechik]

38. the impression I got from news reports was that she needed more time for investigation

before presenting her case. But I hope the optimists here who think she'll just bring charges are right.

[blitzburgh55]

41. Sources to WFTV: George Zimmerman could be arrested this week

SANFORD, Fla. — Two sources told WFTV on Monday that gunman George Zimmerman could be arrested this week, and that a Grand Jury will not meet on Tuesday.
Zimmerman has been in hiding because of threats, after he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. He claims he shot Martin in self-defense.
State Attorney Angela Corey said she will not use a Grand Jury to decide whether Zimmerman will be charged for killing Martin.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/lawyers-gunman-george-zimmerman-say-hell-speak-out/nMTkN/

[DevonRex]

45. This could be a good thing.

If she is honest, that is. And if she puts all the facts out there so we can see them for ourselves. And if WE can be honest, too.

The folks in Florida have pretty much all lined up on one side or the other. That means the Grand Jury will have as well. If the prosecutor follows the evidence and the law, that may be the best shot Trayvon has for justice.

All that's left is for her to put the information out there once she makes her decision and for us to actually look through it and make our judgment based on it and not emotion, even though this has been the must gut-wrenching case in a long, long time and even though that nutjob should never, ever have been carrying a gun and should never, ever have gotten out of his motherfucking car in the first place.

Damn. That right there is IT, isn't it?

[got root]

56. I don't thing they need to present all the evidence to the public before making an arrest

Though this case may dictate that more be released before the trial.

That's the main thing folks are looking for, a trial.

[librechik]

48. the major news here is that Corey is nor going for a murder charge

murder needs the grand jury. She is famous for not using grand juries.
it doesn't mean she won't bring charges of some kind.

AP:....That prosecutor, Angela Corey, said her decision had no bearing on whether she would file charges against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who has said he shot the unarmed black teen in self-defense. Corey could still decide to charge him with a serious felony such as manslaughter which can carry a lengthy prison sentence if he is convicted.
A grand jury had been set to meet Tuesday in Sanford, about 20 miles northeast of Orlando.
Corey has long had a reputation for not using grand juries if it wasn't necessary. In Florida, only first-degree murder cases require the use of grand juries.
Corey's decision means she doesn't have to rely on potentially unpredictable jurors, said David Hill, an Orlando criminal defense attorney.
"Let's give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she knows there isn't enough for first-degree murder but she wants to maintain control and charge him with something else," Hill said. "What does she need a grand jury for? She cuts out the unpredictability of the grand jury. She goes where she feels she has more evidence."....

[got root]

57. only first-degree murder cases require the use of grand juries

Could still be going for a murder charge, though.

[cr8tvlde]

53. Don't think they stood a chance of first-degree

and after reading this thread...and all the knowledge herein...can't see how he could possibly "walk". One article I read inferred that the interview with the girlfriend and cell phone records, changed the course of the investigation. Also, 6 (white?) witnesses were listed on the police report.

Manslaughter charges, laced with the fact he truly is a nut job, possible paranoid schizophrenic, would be my guess. Kind of like the crazy aunt in the attic, what do you do with them? I'm sure most thought of him as harmless..."there goes George again" (sigh).

And not having a job after "flipping out and throwing a woman", he probably watched Crime TV all day long and kept the Homeowner's Association from having to raise monthly dues to hire a security force.

I have a hard time not feeling sympathy for his mother, wife or ex-wife and kids ... Dad, not so much.

But, he has to be locked up from now on and I pray for the Martins that they will have justice and a chunk of money as damages. And as per another thread, that Homeowner's Association and potentially the individual properties of the members of the Board, may be part of the financial justice.

[DevonRex]

54. He could still face 2nd degree murder.

As soon as he's charged the clock starts ticking. This way she can take her time with the investigation, get everything in order, let everybody cool down, including the trial jury pool, and file charges when appropriate.