Yet another Trayvon Martin question....grand jury

[MikeG]

The special prosecutor said the other day that they would not be bringing the case to a grand jury.

The analysis then said it would be a direct complaint.

I thought a direct complaint instead of a grand jury indictment would be used only if the delay of a grand jury would cause harm to the public (i.e. the guy had to be let out until Grand Jury indicted him).

Is that not true? Can a Florida prosecutor fore go a grand jury even though substantial time has passed and create a direct complain without getting indictment from GJ?

[Citicop]

I know they can do so in Missouri.

I don't know anything about Florida law, but I presume that the Special Prosecutor does.

[cntryboy0531]

Only time a GJ has to sat is for a 1st Degree Murder case. Everything else the State can file on, even after substantial time has elapsed.

[MikeG]

I know they can do so in Missouri.

I don't know anything about Florida law, but I presume that the Special Prosecutor does.

I didn't hear anything about the special prosecutor discussing whether they could/would make a direct complaint. It was the news people speculating. I wanted to know if she was telegraphing that no charges were coming by saying no grand jury or if it's common practice/possible in Florida to forego Grand Juries.

[retdetsgt]

In Oregon, someone can be charged for a felony by either grand jury or the prosecutor can have a judge do it through a preliminary hearing. We haven't done PM's in years though because it gives the defense just another opportunity to question witnesses where they don't in a GJ.

[marinepilot]

if it's common practice/possible in Florida to forego Grand Juries.

Only time a GJ has to sat is for a 1st Degree Murder case. Everything else the State can file on, even after substantial time has elapsed.

Yep, I've never heard of a Grand Jury being sat for anything other than a 1st Degree Murder case.

[retdetsgt]

Yep, I've never heard of a Grand Jury being sat for anything other than a 1st Degree Murder case.

We do it on all felonies and have for the past 30 years or so. It's a good OT maker!

[marinepilot]

We do it on all felonies and have for the past 30 years or so. It's a good OT maker!

Nice!! OT doesn't do much for me because we only receive comp time and not $$ for it, so I am kinda glad there are more times I don't have to go to court!!

[1depd]

Well that's a surprise (NOT), Zimmerman is being charged. I saw this coming when the special prosecutor said she wouldn't be using a grand jury.

[pafindr]

Well that's a surprise, Zimmerman is being charged.....NOT. I saw this coming when the special prosecutor said she wouldn't be using a grand jury.

Where did you hear that he isn't being charged?

He is being charged for 2nd degree murder.
Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder in Trayvon Martin shooting | The Lookout - Yahoo! News

[Cat_Doc]

Where did you hear that he isn't being charged?

He is being charged for 2nd degree murder.
Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder in Trayvon Martin shooting | The Lookout - Yahoo! News

This may be the best way for this to roll out. At least now evidence will be evaluated outside of the media. Zimmerman, in my humble opinion, would be best served requesting the trier of fact as a judge as opposed to a jury.

[1depd]

Where did you hear that he isn't being charged?

He is being charged for 2nd degree murder.
Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder in Trayvon Martin shooting | The Lookout - Yahoo! News

Ya, after I clicked post, I reread it. It did not read like I had intended, so I went back and edited it. It was very obvious he was going to be charged. If not local, it was going to be federal.


Catdoc--I agree it is better to have all of the fact evaluated in court and not by the media, who often can't get simple facts correct or write a decent report without any spin.

[ET109]

I sense that there are going to be a lot of motions. First, the lawyer issue. I mentioned on another thread that the first lawyer that was speaking for him (apparently) had no idea what he was talking about with regards to the 'stand your ground' law, and it turns out I was right... probably because the guy never met with Zimmerman and is a DUI lawyer. Now both of them quit, and it seems that Sean Hannity has a better idea of where Zimmerman is than they do.

There should be a serious question brought up of whether he can even receive a fair trail. I guess a bench trial is best, but I think its ridiculous that he probably can't find an unbiased jury. Can't blame the state, though, I think the police and prosecution generally acted responsibly and weren't trying to try this in the media.

[retdetsgt]

There should be a serious question brought up of whether he can even receive a fair trail. I guess a bench trial is best, but I think its ridiculous that he probably can't find an unbiased jury. Can't blame the state, though, I think the police and prosecution generally acted responsibly and weren't trying to try this in the media.

Holder is going to make his own media circus out of it though.

[Norm357]

Zimmerman is screwed no matter what. He should just eat his gun now.

Also, I really wish someone would bring charges against Eric Holder for not bringing charges up against the black panthers for kidnap for hire and attempt to have a person killed. I hate that racist prick.