My prediction re Zimmerman still on pace

[Solomon]

I have said this consistently since the incident began. And I still see it coming.

"The gun went off accidentally." "I didn't mean to shoot him, but he grabbed the gun."
"It was an accident."

[HopeHoops]

1. "There was a plague - LOCUSTS! I SWEAR TO GOD IT WASN'T MY FAULT!"

- Jake (John Belushi) Blues.

[uponit7771]

2. If they can prove that he stalked TMarin then ZMans done....pursuing someone..

....in this case could be very well stalking in the context of following someone in your care then going on foot and chasing them.

If TMartin was a 12year old white girl and ZMan was still white people would call this stalking no doubt

[EOTE]

3. I don't see how that will mesh with the 911 call at all.

If it was Trayvon begging for his life, that scenario doesn't play out one bit.

If it was Zimmerman begging for his life (I don't believe that for one second, but still), then he would say that it was in defense.

I would think that 911 call would put that scenario to bed once and for all.

[On the Road]

4. I Think It Will be Hard to Get a Conviction for 2nd-Degree Murder

but I fail to see how it's not at least manslaughter.

I know someone who punched another man in a bar fight years ago. The other man fell, hit his head, and died. He went to jail for manslaughter. So even if the gun did go off accidentally, it should still be a conviction with jail time. I hope that happens, regardless of what the specific charge is.

I don't remember hearing if a jury will have any choices besides a murder conviction and exoneration. If not, i suspect the charges were deliberately chosen to make a "not guilty" verdict more likely. That would be a shame.

[Gothmog]

7. It is my understanding that manslaughter is a lesser included offense

I heard on a couple different shows that manslaughter is a lesser included offense and that the jury will be free to convict on that offense. Evidently, it is somewhat common to over-charge and then be happy with a conviction on the lesser charge

[randome]

9. That's a perfect example.

I agree, it will be manslaughter or he'll walk free but my guess is manslaughter.

[robinlynne]

5. Isn't it too late for that?

[notadmblnd]

6. From an intermedate range?

wouldn't he have had to have been shot point blank if Travon was in reach of the gun? I thought I read that the coroners report said he was shot at an intermediate range? If there is no difference between point blank and intermediate, why use the term?

[Cave_Johnson]

10. There is a difference...

ABC report I read earlier today said the "intermediate" shot came between 1" and 18""

Point blank is just that... touching the person with the weapon as you fire.

[Bonhomme Richard]

8. That is the worst thing he could possibly say other than he hates black people.

If he said it was an-accident then he is done. His only chance is to stick with the self defense tactic.

[Solomon]

11. A manslaughter conviction is the goal. That's a win for

Zimmerman. That's what the accident argument does for him. If he doesn't.do this he's going down for murder.

Manslaughter is the minimal he would get anyway contrary to folks who think he will walk. He will not.

His best bet is to go for accident setting up a break on his sentence. If he shoots for complete acquittal he's gonna get convicted of manslaughter as a minimum and gets less consideration for a lighter sentence. The risk of going down for murder is too great. I expect that he and his lawyer are praying for a manslaughter plea and I think that is eventually going to happen. But not because the prosecutor's case is weak as so many here try to claim; the prosecutions case is strong. It's because he has no chance of an acquittal.

It's never too late for the defendant to lie when its everybody but you that have been floating your "statements".

Just think of all the goodies he could get if somehow he could get the prosecution to let him plead to a negligent. homicide version of manslaughter. Lenghth of time; place where time served is subject to negotiation rather than being. imposed upon him by someone else. And as an added bonus; if he can sweet talk the feds into the deal by getting them to drop their case ....

I'm just saying as a former criminal defense attorney; you can roll the dice; or take what you can get.
It will be interesting to see what happens. I think he's gonna work out a plea; but only because the Martin's are such nice people. Thats the thing that bothers me most. They will show the kind of mercy towards Zimmerman that he wouldn't even think of showing to Trayvon; and even themselves.