George Zimmerman will be hauled into court to face second-degree murder charges Thursday — arrested 45 days after he killed Trayvon Martin and walked free.
The charges against Zimmerman show prosecutors didn’t buy his claims of self-defense. Instead, they believe he intended to kill Trayvon.
The Florida cops’ refusal to arrest Zimmerman when he killed the unarmed black teenager on Feb. 26 sparked a national civil rights crusade and a series of rallies, marches and petitions.
“It is the search for justice for Trayvon that has brought us here,” special prosecutor Angela Corey told a packed news conference in Jacksonville, Fla.
“We did not come to this decision lightly. We do not prosecute by public pressure, nor by petition.”
Zimmerman surrendered at the state police office in Jacksonville. He will plead not guilty at his initial appearance Thursday, his lawyer said.
Prosecutors are charging Zimmerman with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life without parole.
Legal experts had expected the lesser charge of manslaughter — an unintentional killing — especially in light of police officials’ insistence that Zimmerman should face no punishment at all.
Lawyer Mark O’Mara, who was a media commentator on the case until Zimmerman suddenly hired him Wednesday, said his new client was likely in protective custody.
“I hope we can keep him safe,” O’Mara said. “I want him to get to his trial.”
“He’s frightened. We’re trying to work out the best way to keep this calm.”
Trayvon’s parents said they were glad Zimmerman would finally answer for killing their son.
“We simply wanted an arrest — and we got it. And I say thank you. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus,” said Trayvon’s mom, Sybrina Fulton.
“A heart has no color,” she told a gathering of civil rights activists. “It's not black. It’s not white. It’s just red. I want to say thank you, from my heart to your heart.”
The slain teen’s father, Tracy Martin, said, “This is just the beginning. We have a long way to go.”
Zimmerman was whisked to the Seminole County Jail at 8:24 p.m by a three-SUV caravan driven by state cops armed with assault rifles. He walked inside wearing a plaid shirt and jeans, a black raincoat covering his head.
Martin family lawyer Ben Crump said justice was back on track.
“From day one, there was enough evidence to arrest George Zimmerman for killing Trayvon Martin,” Crump said.
“Zimmerman will have his day in court, and Trayvon’s family will have their day in court. That’s all we’ve been asking for."
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| George Zimmerman (L) being brought to a Florida County Jail |
George Zimmerman will be hauled into court to face second-degree murder charges Thursday — arrested 45 days after he killed Trayvon Martin and walked free.
The charges against Zimmerman show prosecutors didn’t buy his claims of self-defense. Instead, they believe he intended to kill Trayvon.
The Florida cops’ refusal to arrest Zimmerman when he killed the unarmed black teenager on Feb. 26 sparked a national civil rights crusade and a series of rallies, marches and petitions.
“It is the search for justice for Trayvon that has brought us here,” special prosecutor Angela Corey told a packed news conference in Jacksonville, Fla.
“We did not come to this decision lightly. We do not prosecute by public pressure, nor by petition.”
Zimmerman surrendered at the state police office in Jacksonville. He will plead not guilty at his initial appearance Thursday, his lawyer said.
Prosecutors are charging Zimmerman with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life without parole.
Legal experts had expected the lesser charge of manslaughter — an unintentional killing — especially in light of police officials’ insistence that Zimmerman should face no punishment at all.
Lawyer Mark O’Mara, who was a media commentator on the case until Zimmerman suddenly hired him Wednesday, said his new client was likely in protective custody.
“I hope we can keep him safe,” O’Mara said. “I want him to get to his trial.”
“He’s frightened. We’re trying to work out the best way to keep this calm.”
Trayvon’s parents said they were glad Zimmerman would finally answer for killing their son.
“We simply wanted an arrest — and we got it. And I say thank you. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus,” said Trayvon’s mom, Sybrina Fulton.
“A heart has no color,” she told a gathering of civil rights activists. “It's not black. It’s not white. It’s just red. I want to say thank you, from my heart to your heart.”
The slain teen’s father, Tracy Martin, said, “This is just the beginning. We have a long way to go.”
Zimmerman was whisked to the Seminole County Jail at 8:24 p.m by a three-SUV caravan driven by state cops armed with assault rifles. He walked inside wearing a plaid shirt and jeans, a black raincoat covering his head.
Martin family lawyer Ben Crump said justice was back on track.
“From day one, there was enough evidence to arrest George Zimmerman for killing Trayvon Martin,” Crump said.
“Zimmerman will have his day in court, and Trayvon’s family will have their day in court. That’s all we’ve been asking for."
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