Even If Zimmerman Is Found Not Guilty Of Murder And Manslaughter, He Could Still Serve 25 Years

[Tx4obama]

Even If George Zimmerman Is Found Not Guilty Of Murder And Manslaughter, He Could Still Serve 25 Years

To many people, there is no middle ground: George Zimmerman will either be convicted of Second Degree Murder or he will be found Not Guilty.

But the reality is much more complex, because the jury will have a number of Lesser Included Offenses to choose from.

And because of these numerous options, it is not uncommon for a jury to exercise what is known as their “pardon” or “nullification” power and return a compromise verdict that they believe is just under the circumstances. ...

-snip-

See full article with long list here: http://www.mediaite.com/online/even-if-george-zimmerman-is-found-not-guilty-of-murder-and-manslaughter-he-could-still-serve-25-years/

[NoOneMan]

1. Good.

But he will still walk. Maybe he will pick up garbage on the weekend. I think this one is in the bag. Sorry folks.


But I don't have a glass ball ultimately

[GreenStormCloud]

6. If Z gets totally aquitted he will then be rich.

He has lawsuits pending against NBC for the doctored tape and against CNN for releasing his social security number. Both will likely settle for big bucks.

[northoftheborder]

2. The prosecution in this case has been ineffective, if not incompetent.

[avaistheone1]

12. How so?

[Blue Bike]

3. if the jury believes the self-defense claim, why would they convict of assault or battery?

?

[Tx4obama]

4. One of the lesser charges has to do only with 'the use of a gun'

They said on CNN that Florida is one of only a few states that has that type of 'gun' law.

They said that it was signed by Jeb Bush.

That's all I know, other than what's on the link.

[GreenStormCloud]

5. Using a gun to commit a crime gets years added to the sentence. N/T

[Tx4obama]

7. But that's not how they explained it on CNN. They said that ...

... just by 'using a gun' he can be sentenced to so many years - nothing to do with adding it on to anything.

I wish I had a video clip.

[GreenStormCloud]

8. There has to be an underlying crime.

He can't be charged with having a gun. Gun ownership is very legal in FL, and in most states. And he had a CCW so he could carry it almost anywhere. He had to have commited some crime with the gun.

[Tx4obama]

9. I found a clip - link below

If you 'show a gun' you can get 10 years.

20 years for firing it, etc.

Here: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/crime/2013/07/10/ac-banfield-zimmerman-lesser-charge.cnn.html

p.s. This isn't the same segment I saw on CNN a bit ago on the repeat, she was there talking with Anderson Cooper - but it's got some of the same info in it.

[NickB79]

13. Those are nullified in a self-defense situation

And Zimmerman has made just such a claim.

If the jury believes he was forced to remove his gun from concealment and fire it in self-defense as he claims, those laws are over-ridden by the laws governing the use of a firearm in self-defense.

If not, then EVERY instance of a gun being fired in self-defense would land the person in prison, even if the shooting was 100% justified (ie a woman backed into a corner shooting her rapist).

[rollin74]

11. the "10-20-life" law (Florida statute 775.087) reclassifies and enhances minimum sentencing

for certain felonies

you can read the statute here:
http://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2011/775.087

from the video link you provided in post#9:

at 1:30 of the clip "WITH CERTAIN CRIMES in the state of Florida, if you use a gun, you'll face enhanced time in prison or mandatory minimum sentences"

[1monster]

14. Just by "using a gun" TO COMMIT A CRIME... CNN obviously left of the qualifier.

That qualifier would be "using a gun in the commission of a crime."

For example: The defendant is convicted of robbery. That charge has its own penalties.

If, during the robbery, the defendant showed a gun, he can get 10 years added on to the sentence.

If he fired the gun during the robbery, he can get 20 years on to the sentence.

If someone was seriously injured or died during the robbery (and not necessarilary by his hand, but say, police tried to take out the gunman and accidentally killed or seriously or killed an innocent), then he can get 25 years (or more) added on to the sentence.

[ChiciB1]

15. I Live In Florida & I Think There Is

also something added about killing a "minor" with a gun. I think the 10-20-Life Statute has something like that in it. I read it last week sometime, and read other statutes to so I might not have this completely correct.

But I do recall reading something about killing a minor as opposed to an adult.

Just sayin'

[Shrek]

16. This is mentioned in the jury instructions

The use of a gun is relevant, but only as it relates to a conviction on some other charge.

If the verdict is "not guilty" then it's meaningless.