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Sanford cops a problem for prosecutors in Zimmerman case, experts say
The Orlando Sentinel ^ | November 30, 2012 | By Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel

Posted on 11/30/2012 4:47:45 PM PST by Uncle Chip

It was a strange development in a case that has seen more than its share: Chris Serino, the lead Sanford police investigator in the Trayvon Martin shooting, hired famed Casey Anthony defense attorney Jose Baez to represent him at his upcoming deposition in the case.

It's unclear what prompted Serino to hire a private attorney — eschewing available representation by the city of Sanford, his employer. But one issue likely to come up is his double-talk on whether there was enough evidence to support George Zimmerman's arrest as controversy surrounding the case spiraled out of control last spring.

Serino wrote in a sworn affidavit that there was probable cause to arrest Zimmerman. But he later told the Federal Bureau of Investigation he was pressured to author that document and didn't believe the evidence was sufficient for the manslaughter charge he recommended.

................

And Serino isn't the only Sanford officer whose testimony could prove troublesome for prosecutors in the second-degree murder case against Zimmerman: High-ranking fellow officers largely agreed in March that there was not sufficient evidence to arrest Zimmerman.

Zimmerman's legal team has since listed several of them, including former Sanford police Chief Bill Lee Jr. and Serino's supervisors, as witnesses the defense plans to call at trial.

.............

On March 12, Lee said at a press conference that his agency could not arrest Zimmerman because investigators had failed to establish probable cause.

Four days later, Lee and several officers, including Serino, went over details of their investigation in an exclusive interview with the Sentinel, and again insisted they didn't have enough evidence to disprove Zimmerman's self-defense claim.

"We did not have enough for an arrest warrant," Serino said at that time.

(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: trayvonmartin; zimmerman
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The Orlando Sentinel doing the State's bidding here pressuring Serino to stand by his affidavit in the upcoming depositions. The OS however seems to conveniently forget that it wasn't Serino's affidavit that brought the charges against Zimmerman but Angela Corey's. She's the one on the hook.
1 posted on 11/30/2012 4:47:54 PM PST by Uncle Chip
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To: Uncle Chip
I'm no lawyer but the only reason *I* can see for a cop who's scheduled to testify in a criminal case hiring a criminal defense lawyer is that he/she anticipates possible criminal prosecution.
2 posted on 11/30/2012 4:54:31 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Benghazi: What Did Baraq Know And When Did He Know It?)
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To: Uncle Chip

A farrrrrrr left wing rag nicknamed the Slantinrl
For good reason !
Owned by the Obama run thug town tribune !
The dem rag that Axelrod used to work for !


3 posted on 11/30/2012 4:54:30 PM PST by ncalburt (Axelrod Psych OPS has gone to 24/7 non stop - "The election is over " status until Nov)
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To: Uncle Chip
In the end, when the truth comes out, there are going to be a lot of people looking foolish. There will be others facing charges of trying to frame Zimmerman. Ms. Corey is destined for a Mike Nyfong moment of her own. I hope the Zimmerman family goes after all these a**holes in civil suits.
4 posted on 11/30/2012 4:59:05 PM PST by MasterGunner01
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To: Uncle Chip
That "lynching" argument apparently only works if somebody has the right skin color.

People may recall that Zimmerman was described in initial news stories as a "white hispanic".

The real problem here is that none of us can rely upon our various governments to conduct a factual and reasonable investigation, indictment, trial or sentencing once the race card is played; which in this case, was immediately.

5 posted on 11/30/2012 5:15:44 PM PST by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: Uncle Chip
That "lynching" argument apparently only works if somebody has the right skin color.

People may recall that Zimmerman was described in initial news stories as a "white hispanic".

The real problem here is that none of us can rely upon our various governments to conduct a factual and reasonable investigation, indictment, trial or sentencing once the race card is played; which in this case, was immediately.

6 posted on 11/30/2012 5:19:05 PM PST by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Even the cops now don’t want to talk to themselves....


7 posted on 11/30/2012 5:19:48 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: elkfersupper

People may recall that Zimmerman was described in initial news stories as a “white hispanic”.

I believe he started out white and “evolved”.


8 posted on 11/30/2012 5:25:32 PM PST by ha maker (Sanity for lurkers)
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To: Gay State Conservative

It is not uncommon for a witness under subpoena to give testimony in a criminal case or before a grand jury to hire counsel for advice, to avoid any potential land mines. The idea is to avoid any potential charges, not necessarily that they anticipate them.


9 posted on 11/30/2012 5:32:26 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: elkfersupper
People may recall that Zimmerman was described in initial news stories as a "white hispanic".

More like:

White Hispanic

10 posted on 11/30/2012 5:32:28 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Here comes bama claus here comes bama claus left down bama claus lane!)
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To: Uncle Chip
This cop is anticipating that he will get the Scooter Libby treatment.

Angela Corey likely committed perjury and withheld exculpatory evidence that he can testify to.

To save Corey, the cop must be discredited.

The tactic will be multiple separate sworn testimonies compared for the accidental contradiction, and bingo, cop prosecuted for perjury and evidence denied to Zimmerman's defense.

This is known as a process crime which occurs during the investigation of an act that is declared to be not a crime by that investigation.

The good guys and the cop go to prison and the criminal is lauded as a hero by the judge, prosecutor, media, and Marxist DemoRats.

The cop's lawyer will prevent this prosecutorial trick.

See my tagline.

11 posted on 11/30/2012 5:53:22 PM PST by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it, and the Constitution and law mean what WE say.)
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To: freedumb2003
“White Hispanic?”....lol....is Clarence Thomas or Herman Cain “Black Whites” or “White Blacks”...Which comes 1st..the chicken or the egg???
12 posted on 11/30/2012 5:56:43 PM PST by M-cubed
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To: Uncle Chip

This whole thing was a farce from beginning to end.

A teen drug dealer and user killed when he attacked a man for watching him.

There was no evidence against Zimmerman, but Jesse Jackass and Al Sharptongue got involved/
They stirred the natives and frightened the Police Department into making charges when there weren’t any. Add to that, a States Attorney looking to nifong the guy and it was off to the races.

When this trial is over and Zimmerman found not guilty , I hope we see law suits agains Jesse and Al who will of course never pay, the attorney general, and the Chief of Police.


13 posted on 11/30/2012 6:19:51 PM PST by Venturer
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To: Uncle Chip

The only real question is: how many minutes will it take for the riots to start when he is aquitted...


14 posted on 11/30/2012 6:28:35 PM PST by Popman
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To: Uncle Chip; All

Since Baez is a criminal defense attorney...Serino and some Sanford cops may be seeing perjury and civil rights charges down the line

Note that it was black Sanford police officers who started pushing for a prosecution of Zimmerman....as they met w some of the Black KKK Racist lawyers working with, and on behalf, of the Martin family.

With the Martin’s not allowing Trayvon’s cell phone to be searched and accessed....and cops now lawyering up....its time for that Jack Booted Nazi Angela Corey to drop charges....and put pressure on Governor Scott and AG Bondi to get this case dropped. They better make a choice quick on whether they want to continue to follow the Black Ku Klux Klan Racists...or follow the law

Zimmerman is going to rock our federal, state, and local governemnts with civil rights $$$ after this is all over....looks like my tax bills are going up


15 posted on 11/30/2012 6:31:01 PM PST by SeminoleCounty
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To: Popman
The only real question is: how many minutes will it take for the riots to start when he is aquitted...

Enough time to move the safety to "off".

16 posted on 11/30/2012 6:33:13 PM PST by cayuga (The next Crusade will be a war of annihilation.)
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To: Venturer

Remember, it’s Florida. They killed Terry Schivo. They could find an innocent man guilty.


17 posted on 11/30/2012 6:33:58 PM PST by ladyjane (For the first time in my life I am not proud of my country.)
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To: M-cubed

The term “Hispanic” refers to a linguistic group. It means Spanish speaking. Nothing more. It has nothing to do with race.


18 posted on 11/30/2012 6:35:18 PM PST by Chuckster (The longer I live the less I care about what you think.)
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Woo hoo!! Less than $1.2k to go!! We can definitely do this.
120 Donations @ $10.00 each or
60 DONATIONS @ $20.00 EACH PUTS THIS BABY TO BED!!!!

19 posted on 11/30/2012 6:35:37 PM PST by RedMDer (Please support Toys for Tots this CHRISTmas season.)
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To: Chuckster
"It has nothing to do with race."

Whaat?????!!!!

Next, I suppose you'll be telling me that White South Africans who have immigrated to the US, America are not African-Americans.

Tosh...

20 posted on 11/30/2012 6:42:19 PM PST by Paladin2
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