Papantonio: Grand Jury Investigation Not Necessary For Zimmerman Prosecution

[GoLeft TV]

Mike Papantonio and Ed Schultz discuss the decision to not launch a grand jury investigation into the murder of Trayvon Martin.

“Self-defense deaths in Florida have increased dramatically since 'stand your ground' became law in 2005”
http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2012/mar/26/christopher-l-smith/sen-chris-smith-claimed-deaths-due-self-defense-fl/

[spin]

1. From your link ...

Our ruling

Smith said that since "stand your ground" passed in 2005, deaths due to self-defense have jumped over 250 percent. When we calculated the average for five years before the law passed and five years after it passed, we found an increase of 200 percent. That’s short of Smith’s claim, though the numbers largerly support the idea that self-defense deaths have increased since 2005. As for whether "stand your ground" is the reason self-defense deaths are up, experts either disagree or say it’s difficult to determine without examining the specifics of each case.

We rate this statement Half True.
http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2012/mar/26/christopher-l-smith/sen-chris-smith-claimed-deaths-due-self-defense-fl/

In 2010 there were a total of 40 cases that were ruled to be "Justifiable homicide by civilian", in 2009 there were 45 such rulings and in 2008 a total of 41.

Considering that over 800,000 Floridians have Concealed Weapons Permits and that many of these incidents involved a person who broke into an occupied home, I really don't feel that Florida has turned into the "Wild West" since the passage of the law as some have suggested.

Many legal experts feel that Zimmerman could not use the Florida "Stand Your Ground" law as a defense. Despite what the media would lead you to believe, the basic concept of the law does not permit a person to pursue, confront,and shoot a person who is unarmed or has no significant physical advantage and claim he was standing his ground.

Should the wording of the law be reconsidered in order to remove any ambiguities or confusion that might allow the authorities to not prosecute in questionable cases?

Yes!

[leveymg]

2. Am I correct that the capital murder charges are now off the table?

And, the state's attorney has now reduced the prosecution's option to manslaughter or even some lesser charge?

[freshwest]

3. Where was that? I missed it.

[leveymg]

4. ABC - and I'm surprised nobody here has picked up on this yet.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/special-prosecutor-trayvon-martin-death-grand-jury-investigating-16101696

News for Florida Grand Jury Zimmerman no death ...

1.
Trayvon Martin Death Won't Go to Fla. Grand Jury
ABC News? - 4 hours ago
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 ...

1.

[freshwest]

5. Thanks for the link, you're the first to mention it. Important quote there:

By 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."

As far as the Zimmermann family quote... No comment.