When "Neighborhood Watch" Gets Out of Hand

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Riot

Yes, exactly. We'll see what she does. She may very well drop to manslaughter. But it doesn't appear she just pulled 2nd degree manslaughter out of her azz as a charge.

Did you listen to the interview with Dershowitz? He he seems to strongly believe that she, "pulled the 2nd degree charge out of her azz", and he explains why. You should listen to the interview. It's just a 4 minute interview.

Dershowitz may be very liberal but he doesn't always tow the company line. That is what I like about him.

http://realclearpolitics.com/video/2...unethical.html

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Did you listen to the interview with Dershowitz? He he seems to strongly believe that she, "pulled the 2nd degree charge out of her azz", and he explains why. You should listen to the interview. It's just a 4 minute interview.

Dershowitz may be very liberal but he doesn't always tow the company line. That is what I like about him.

If the prosecution can't prove the 2nd degree murder charges, then Zimmerman's attorneys have nothing to fear and should be very happy with the charges: he'll be readily and easily acquitted by a jury.

If they can prove it, Zimmerman's attorneys better start plea-bargaining, no?

The prosecutor doesn't have a reputation for losing many cases, or overstepping. If she had come back with zero charges, I would have been happy that it was looked at carefully, and it's done.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Riot

If the prosecution can't prove the 2nd degree murder charges, then Zimmerman's attorneys have nothing to fear and should be very happy with the charges: he'll be readily and easily acquitted by a jury.

If they can prove it, Zimmerman's attorneys better start plea-bargaining, no?

The prosecutor doesn't have a reputation for losing many cases, or overstepping. If she had come back with zero charges, I would have been happy that it was looked at carefully, and it's done.

There is probably a 50% chance that the judge will throw out the 2nd degree charge at the arraignment next month. The only reason that there is not a 95% chance is because of the public pressure that will be on the judge not to throw it out. If the judge does throw out the 2nd degree charge, there is still a good chance that the judge would allow the case to go forward on manslaughter charges.

If the judge does not throw out the 2nd degree charge and the case goes to trial, the jury will almost certainly be given a choice of charges. Zimmerman would almost certainly be found not guilty of 2nd degree murder but he could still be found guilty of manslaughter.

There is also the possibility of a plea deal before the case gets to trial.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

There is probably a 50% chance that the judge will throw out the 2nd degree charge at the arraignment next month. The only reason that there is not a 95% chance is because of the public pressure that will be on the judge not to throw it out. If the judge does throw out the 2nd degree charge, there is still a good chance that the judge would allow the case to go forward on manslaughter charges.

If the judge does not throw out the 2nd degree charge and the case goes to trial, the jury will almost certainly be given a choice of charges. Zimmerman would almost certainly be found not guilty of 2nd degree murder but he could still be found guilty of manslaughter.

There is also the possibility of a plea deal before the case gets to trial.

I think that, with the keeping the case sealed as they've done, they are trying to let the public simmer down and get out of it. Meanwhile they work out a plea, and the case never becomes the circus a public trial. Zimmerman's attorney now seems pretty sharp, compared to the two previous ringmasters.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Riot

If the prosecution can't prove the 2nd degree murder charges, then Zimmerman's attorneys have nothing to fear and should be very happy with the charges: he'll be readily and easily acquitted by a jury.

If they can prove it, Zimmerman's attorneys better start plea-bargaining, no?

The prosecutor doesn't have a reputation for losing many cases, or overstepping. If she had come back with zero charges, I would have been happy that it was looked at carefully, and it's done.

There is nothing I fear more than overcharged or false charges filed against a client. It is a trap. There is no slam dunk criminal case and people can (and often do) get convicted of crimes they are not guilty of. They only thing that can go wrong in defending a person in this situation is that a grave injustice can occur.

I am not impressed that she does not lose many cases. That is probably more of a sign of a person who wins at all costs as opposed to one who seeks justice.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Did you listen to the interview with Dershowitz? He he seems to strongly believe that she, "pulled the 2nd degree charge out of her azz", and he explains why. You should listen to the interview. It's just a 4 minute interview.

Dershowitz may be very liberal but he doesn't always tow the company line. That is what I like about him.

http://realclearpolitics.com/video/2...unethical.html

Dershowitz is one of the most respected criminal attorneys in the country. But Riot is an expert in everything, who cares what a distinguished person like Dershowitz thinks.