Having read the actual affidavit myself I am in complete agreement with Professor Dershowitz. Additionally, I am now convinced more than ever that Angela Corey made a STRATEGIC POLITICAL DECISION. Period.
(Via Mediaite) Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball where fill-in host Michel Smerconish asked him his opinions of the arrest warrant issued and carried out for alleged Trayvon Martin murderer, George Zimmerman. Dershowitz called the affidavit justifying Zimmerman’s arrest “not only thin, it’s irresponsible.” He went on to criticize the decision to charge Zimmerman for second degree murder by special prosecutor Angela Cory as being politically motivated.
“You’ve seen the affidavit of probable cause. What do you make of it,” Smerconish asked. “It won’t suffice,” Dershowitz replied without hesitation.
[To read the entire affidavit CLICK HERE ]
“Most affidavits of probable cause are very thin. This is so thin that it won’t make it past a judge on a second degree murder charge,” Dershowitz said. “There’s simply nothing in there that would justify second degree murder.”
Dershowitz said that the elements that would constitute that crime are non-existent in the affidavit. “It’s not only thin, it’s irresponsible,” said Dershowitz.
Dershowitz went on to strongly criticize Cory’s decision to move forward with the case against Zimmerman. “I think what you have here is an elected public official who made a campaign speech last night for reelection when she gave her presentation and overcharged. This case will not – if the evidence is no stronger than what appears in the probable cause affidavit – this case will result in an acquittal.”
Smerconish identified the total lack of any mention of the supposed fight that occurred between Martin and Zimmerman prior to Martin being shot. He said he was disappointed that he did not see any mention of that conflict that led to Martin’s murder.
“But it’s worse than that,” said Dershowitz. “It’s irresponsible and unethical in not including material that favors the defendant.”
“This affidavit does not even make it to probable cause,” Dershowitz concluded. “everything in the affidavit is completely consistent with a defense of self-defense. Everything.” (Watch Video)
It was also immoral and a miscarriage of real justice….!!!
I totally agree Carmen. It is a true miscarriage of real justice to have this young man charged with murder, when that thug punched him in the nose and then pummelled his head into the ground.
Zimmerman better not cave and plea bargain. His attorney should not even be offering that. The man is an emotional basket case, not thinking straight, and has a DAMN GOOD SELF DEFENSE case. I am sure Corey’s office is leaning on him hard, and if so, she deserves to be unemployed.
Does she really think blacks in Jax are going to vote for a R, even if she panders shamelessly to them? Puh-leeze.
I agree with Dershowitz. He has a brilliant Legal mind, even if he is a Dem.
i hope to God that George doesn’t plea. He needs to fight until he wins. Otherwise, a plea will make him look guilty. Anything less than a not guilty verdict or the judge dismissing the case won’t allow George to start to get his life back.
Me too!!! He has a good defense, especially against 2nd degree murder which requires intent.
The new attorney sounds like one who will not plea bargain. I would be hoping that he will request that this is treated as self-defense and immunity. Otherwise he is a lawyer not worth his salt.
It is understandable that George is a mess right now, but a plea bargain is not the right way out of this mess…. not when Angela Corey is such a racist pig.
I would have to agree with Dershowitz this is politically motivated…
Trayvon Martin, himself, may have been in violation of an “oddball” Florida law which accords protections to those individuals engaged in neighborhood watch activities. The existence of such a law carries with it the possibility that Martin, whether or not he was otherwise innocent of any criminal intent, violated Florida law by aggressively challenging Zimmerman’s inquiries.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/03/will_florida_prosecute_holders_people.html
“Florida has an oddball law which may play a role as the facts of the Trayvon Martin case become clearer. Florida Code 843.20 is a criminal provision titled “Harassment of participant of neighborhood crime watch program.” It makes it a misdemeanor to threaten or intimidate a member of a neighborhood crime watch program “while such member is engaged in. . . an organized neighborhood crime watch program activity.”
http://pjmedia.com/jchristianadams/2012/03/26/how-many-crimes-did-the-new-black-panthers-commit-in-florida/?singlepage=true
and then there is this
Why Nothing Sticks to George Zimmerman
http://www.wagist.com/2012/dan-linehan/why-nothing-sticks-to-george-zimmerman
I think that was written by the parent’s attorneys.
Doesn’t she realize she’s going to have a little problem with Zimmerman’s Dad saying it’s Zimmerman screaming help along with didn’t Trayvon’s Dad say at first it wasn’t his son screaming for help?
Yes! Didn’t it seem awfully biased? And it contains some errors as well:
- Martin did not run “home” after Zimmerman spotted him, Martin ran to the back entrance of the complex which is not on the path to the apartment Martin was staying in
- Zimmerman did not confront Martin just before the physical fight occurred. Zimmerman stated that Martin confronted him, there are no disputes to that account, and Martin’s girlfriend stated that Martin spoke to Zimmerman first
- Martin’s parents claim that the voice calling for help is Martin’s … but Zimmernan’s father claims that the voice is Zimmerman’s, and notice that the document does not indicate this
There are more errors, I’m sure you all can spot them. Sloppy sloppy sloppy, and biased as hell.
Yeah Treyvons dad said it wasn’t Treyvon. Zimmermans dad said it was Zimmerman screaming so did the witness John and in the police report from the night it happen Zimmerman himself says it was him screaming.
Oh, did Trayvon’s father initially say that it wasn’t Trayvon yelling for help? Because I thought that the parents had always insisted that it was. But George’s father said it was George yelling. Listening to George’s 911 call, he’s got a mid-range voice, not deep. The person who yelled has that same voice. I’d love to hear Trayvon’s voice, wouldn’t it be interesting if Trayvon had a Barry White voice? Or high-pitched Michael Jackson voice?
I believe that TM’s father did say initially that it wasn’t Trayvon yelling. It would be interesting to hear Trayvon’s voice. The reason that we haven’t is why I thought that the “voice experts” were full of you know what.
By far best article I have read here on the TreeHouse Blog… Keep up the great work you guys do…
I see no way he can get a fair trial. Imagine jury selection in the face of these damning statistics: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/12/us-usa-florida-shooting-poll-idUSBRE83B1BB20120412 Either way the verdict goes, the racial make-up of the jury will be questioned. How about change of venue? To where? Again, the race card will get played.
If Zimmerman is found guilty, his lawyer has plenty of grist to use, considering 91% of all blacks pretty much think he’s guilty. If it’s a hung jury, what next?
I’m just wondering if the murder-2 was charged, so the jury could have an “out” in a lesser manslaughter conviction.
Regarding venue there are options, but the prosecutor would NOT want to get beyond the gates of either Orlando, Jacksonville, or Miami. Once outside of those general boundaries THE ENTIRE BALLGAME CHANGES. Florida is generally “conservative” when you get outside of the urban areas. Orlando, Jacksonville (city) and Miami (proper) are more liberally leaning, with Orlando perhaps arguably leading the way. Tampa/St. Pete is kinda down the middle.
peeps please take a look at Andrew Bolt’s blog and then chime in… he has up a story of very ugly comments made by Mike Tyson against George Zimmerman… and I do mean extremely violent and ugly comments.
There are Australians who do not have a clue…. some of the imbeciles continue to ignore the fact that what was present by the ABC was false… a cover up and they continue with the false meme that George Zimmerman was not injured… they also continue with a claim that suggests that somehow Trayvon Martin was gunned down… which of course is not the case.
That’s why the leberal media does what it does. They know most people are ignorant and will believe the first thing they hear instead of doing a little reserch. It’s worth it to them to put out false information on the front page today and then retract it a week later on the last page. Responsible reporting is dead.
*Liberal*
Andrew is one of the few responsible reporters left in Australia.
Same here Aussie. Even good friends of mine who are conservative still make comments like ‘well, maybe he shouldn’t have followed Martin’ when there is not one shred of evidence he did. I call it’s called the primacy effect—the tendency of some people to only believe the first thing they hear. Maybe it’s genetic. And it’s what the evil scum Martins and their attorneys counted on when they rushed the media with bullshit info. I know I’ll keep setting whoever straight any chance I get. Since GZ couldn’t tell his side others must do it for him. I wonder if there’s a way we can contribute to his jail account to make sure he can get things he needs?
The underinformed are apparently unaware that Martin took off running toward the back entrance of the community. If that doesn’t look shady, I don’t know what does! I’m not surprised at all that Zimmerman followed, to make sure that Martin left the property. When Zimmerman lost Martin he went back to his car to wait for the police to arrive. Doesn’t sound like the actions of someone with “intent to murder” to me.
You probably can contribute to his jail account, and in fact I was thinking of doing that very thing! Western Union might work, I’m going to investigate to see if they handle the jail that Zimmerman is in.
You can send money orders to the jail. You need to indicate the inmate’s name and booking number. George’s booking number is 201200004452. Full info is here: http://webbond.seminolesheriff.org/JailInmateFq.aspx
Aw crap! “Funds may only be deposited to an inmate’s account by a person registered on the inmate’s approved visitor list.” Well, donate to his web site then. If the web site is down, I’ve got the PayPal info because I donated. I can look it up.
Aussie, Last week when Tyson was interviewed his comment was “I was not there and really do not know what happened.”.He was badgered in the interview and continued making the same statement several times.He also confirmed that that the legal system should do it’s job.Predicated on the interview one was left with the opinion that Tysons to his credit was being honest and forthright and from that he had gained many peoples respect.Thus, a week later he is judge, jury and hangman without any real change in the case. Perhaps his phylosophy has not changed and his cause to arms is that he has been propelled (pay day) back in the media spotlight..Alternatively, it could also be that he was admonished by the black community for not condeming Mr.Zimmerman.
You have to love it when a Constitutional law proffesor can put the Zimmerman case in it’s simplest context for everyone to understand while admonishing the district attorney’s office at the same time.
Here’s some tidbits for Ms. Corey to remind her of what can happen to a prosecutor who is blinded by politics: Mike Nifong–former Durham DA who pushed a bogus case to make political points with a perpetually favored minority during an election cycle. Was later disbarred, served a 24 jail sentence, and declared bankruptcy for his actions. Let the games begin.
Obviously, I think this SP is a coward and bowed to political intimidation, but could she have done such a poor job with the affidavit so as to pass the buck knowing that the judge could/should throw it out? This is not going to end well.
This is apparently a left-leaning blogger who does a good job eviserating the lies the “official media” begun pushing from the very beginning of this case:
http://dailyhowler.blogspot.com/2012/04/childhoods-end-times-bungles-again.html?m=1
Not that Mark O’Mara needs help, but I hope Alan Dershowitz offers his assistance.
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