Yes it is the time when the parties start talking about jury instructions. It is not the time when new charges are brought.
The prosecuting attorney had all the time he needed to decide what he wanted to charge Zimmerman with, PRIOR TO THE TRIAL starting.
Now he wants to change it. I don’t see that as reasonable.
Zimmerman should have known the charges up front. He should have been able to launch a defense knowing full well what those charges would be.
No that the trial is nearly over, new charges, new options are being devised.
Sorry, I could be wrong as can be, but I do not see that as reasoned.
Was he charged with Second Degree murder, or was he charged with manslaughter? It makes a difference. He should have been able to defend against manslaughter during the trial, if that’s what he was going to ultimately face.
He wasn’t given that opportunity.
Manslaughter is a lesser included offense to Murder, under Florida law. That means that every element of Manslaughter is also an element (or is within an element) of second-degree murder. It also means that jury instructions are the proper time to introduce it. That’s just how things work in Florida (and most other states), and as a Florida attorney, Zimmerman’s lawyers knew that and I’m sure they prepared their defense with that in mind.
If you want to go for the brass ring of murder 2, you can't at the last minute go for the booby prize of manslaughter.
The prosecution never brought this up, so how should the defense "prepare"?
I'm so curious of how things will go down if the jury comes back with manslaughter.
Will GZ have to rot in jail until someone pays the $$$ to get him an appeal?
I wish I was rich.
I'd pay anything to see that GZ stays out of jail until this abortion of a "trial" is thrown out.
With prejudice.
The "judge" is so incompetent, that I don't see how Z wouldn't win.
Plus if I were a plaintiff's attorney, I'd be SALIVATING at bringing lawsuits against ALL media outlets that prejudiced the jury.