George Zimmerman afraid of being killed in jail: lawyer

NY Post ^ | 4/16/12 | DOUGLAS MONTERO

[Nachum]

SANFORD, Fla. -- George Zimmerman is afraid of being killed while in jail facing charges of murdering Trayvon Martin, his lawyer said today.

[hinckley buzzard]

Recall the Rodney King police trial. The police who were involved stood criminal trial and were acquitted down the line. The Fedgov stepped in, filed charges of "depriving King of his civil rights," got a federal grand jury indictment, a kangaroo jury to convict them, and they were put away for years--may still be behind bars for all I know.

Zimmerman is screwed, one way or the other. Sad but inevitable.

[lightman]

You completely misunderstood: I meant “Jailbait” to apply to the very, very, very youthful-looking Judge in the picture, not the defendant.

[Ken H]

My goodness..I've never even been to law school and I know that that's wrong.Can you tell me what happened to the cops involved in the *original* Rodney King matter after they were acquitted of all charges by a California state jury?

Yes. I believe they were charged with violation of civil rights under color of authority.

And BTW...we wouldn't be talking *just* about hate crimes...think "violation of civil rights".

So show me the statute.

[CottShop]

[[Isn’t that the white supremacist who stalked and murdered that toddler?]]

no no- it was trhe white supremacist serial killker who was high on crack, heroine, and meth who snatched the toddler out of his mother’s arms in order to kill him in cold blood

[Jonty30]

Then you are quite correct. I can see a few career criminals commit petty crimes just to be sentenced by her.

[CottShop]

[[I have doubts he is going to be killed. At the PRESENT he is too valuable for political reasons]]

you are assuming that hte seething ravenous rabid left are smart enough to keep him alkive for political purposes- especially the left that are in prison and and hwo afre chomping at hte bit to take out htis white hispanic

I’ve said it fro mthe beginning- ‘How hte hell is hem ore safe in a prison full of racists who will be herll bent on destroying the object of their fears’?

[longtermmemmory]

it is fine to know the law, but a judge can spin a case. (just look at kagan acting as a second lawyer during the government’s turn before the USSC oral arguments on healthcare)

I am curious to see what happens during the recusal.

[Ken H]

Zimmerman is screwed, one way or the other. Sad but inevitable.

No, it's not inevitable at all.

As for federal charges, they would have to establish he was acting under color of authority, which makes this case different from the Rodney King case. I'm not a lawyer, but that's my understanding.

[TigersEye]

He probably needs to cut down on the Ripple.

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

Zimm shouldn’t even be in jail. This is a travesty, along with Angela Corey. She is a coward who did nothing but kick the can down the road. Zimm won’t get a fair trial and REGARDLESS the outcome the blacks with trash and burn Florida anyway. If Zimm ‘loses’, the blacks will go out and riot like they do when their basketball teams win.

[Defiant]

Looks like it was a drive-by trolling.

[Ken H]

After petitioners, Los Angeles police officers, were acquitted on state charges of assault and excessive use of force in the beating of a suspect during an arrest, they were convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 242 of violating the victim's constitutional rights under color of law.

-- Koon v. United States (94-1664), 518 U.S. 81 (1996)

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/94-1664.ZS.html

[TigersEye]

It appears to post some cowardly screed about once or twice a month. It’s the safe way to troll. lol

[peeps36]

Zimmerman better watch out for the black moslums who are probably affiliated with the panthers. He needs to always watch his back and remember that they can eventually get to him no matter where he is inside the prison.

[Jonty30]

Where do you suggest he be, on the street where he would have no protection whatsoever?

[Jay Santos CP]

Guilty or innocent of 2nd degree murder, Zimmerman has been chosen as a sacrifice to black America. A little less obvious than dragging him up to the top of a volcano, but the same result for him in the end.

The churning black underclass and those in the political class that feed on their energy must be fed.

[berdie]

I think he is in jail..not prison. Of course there are “post trial” convicted people waiting to be moved to prison...but most are more than likely “pre-trial” not guilty until convicted folks.

As sad as it is..he is safer in solitary than he would be with the general population.

The article says there is a bail hearing set that might allow him to bond out.

But what then? He is in serious danger, no matter where he is.

[Ken H]

The police in the Rodney King case were convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 242, violating the victim's constitutional rights under color of law.

What federal statute would apply to Zimmerman if he has not first been convicted in a FL court?

[Ken H]

It looks to me like Zimmerman opens himself up to federal hate crime charges if he plea bargains to a lesser offense. And the lesser the penalty, the more the doj will be pressured to step in.

If I'm in his shoes, I go all out for innocence and let the chips fall.

[TigersEye]

I don’t see how that happens at all. But I don’t think he should plea bargain. The case is pathetically weak and would be even for manslaughter. IMO he should fight it on simple grounds of self defense.