[Hugin]

I thought the opportunity for the case to be dismissed was at the hearing they just had. Is there still a possibility that the judge could dismiss the case before it goes to trial?

That's what I heard on one of the talking head shows. I believe what just happened related to whether there should be bail. The original statement of charges really never dealt with the self-defense issue at all. Corey claims she will present evidence that it wasn't self defense, and the judge went ahead and let it proceed. But as I understand it she will have to present the rest of her evidence before the trial starts, and the judge could simply rule there is a prepondernece of evidence that is was self-defense. That would be the same as a not guilty verdict. It would prevent charges from being brought against Zimmerman in criminal or civil court (not Federal court though).

[TigersEye]

I sure hope that's how it will go. I know there are a number of pre-trial proceedings but I'm not sure how many or what they're all about. Her charging affidavit was supposed to provide evidence of probable cause. It didn't do any such thing by any stretch of the imagination. It even included some imaginings like Zimmerman's thought processes at the time. "Racially profiled Trayvon."

AFFIDAVIT OF PROBABLE CAUSE - SECOND DEGREE MURDER

Mark Levin livid over evidence not submitted with Zimmerman affidavit...

[Aunt Polgara]

>>But as I understand it she will have to present the rest of her evidence before the trial starts, and the judge could simply rule there is a preponderance of evidence that is was self-defense. That would be the same as a not guilty verdict. It would prevent charges from being brought against Zimmerman in criminal or civil court (not Federal court though).<<

Pretty much correct. Zimmerman can call for a hearing on his self-defense claim before the trial. If he's successful (and he only needs a preponderance of the evidence to prevail), he is immune under FL law from charges or from civil actions.