Zimmerman Special Prosecutor Says She Hopes To Make Prosecution Decision Without Grand Jury

Mar 30, 2012
Orlando Sentinel:

The special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case said she hopes to make a decision without a grand jury about whether to arrest the man who killed the unarmed black 17-year-old in Sanford, according to a Florida newspaper.

Angela Corey, the state attorney in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, took over the case Thursday when Gov. Rick Scott named her special prosecutor following growing protests and complaints by civil rights leaders that local authorities had botched the investigation.

“I always lean towards moving forward without needing the grand jury in a case like this,” the Miami Herald quoted her as saying. “I foresee us being able to make a decision and move on it on our own.”

Efforts by the Orlando Sentinel to reach her Wednesday were not successful. A spokeswoman in her office would not confirm the quote and said Corey was concentrating on the investigation and would be unavailable indefinitely.

When asked Monday by the Sentinel if she planned to take the case to a grand jury, Corey said, “We don’t know.”

A Seminole County grand jury had been scheduled to hear the case April 10.

Trayvon was walking through a gated community Feb. 26 when a Neighborhood Watch volunteer, 28-year-old George Zimmerman, began following him and called a police dispatcher, describing Trayvon as suspicious.

A few minutes later the two got into a fight that several neighbors reported hearing, and Zimmerman shot the Miami Gardens 17-year-old once in the chest.

Sanford police say he told them he acted in self-defense, saying he had stopped following the teenager and was on his way back to his SUV when Trayvon approached him from the rear. They exchanged words, the teenager punched him in the nose, causing Zimmerman to hit the ground, then began hammering his head into a sidewalk.

Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and back of his head when police arrived, according to an incident report.

Trayvon’s family has demanded Zimmerman’s arrest, and their campaign has been joined by national civil rights leaders, including theRev. Jesse Jackson, as well as members of Congress. Thousands of supporters have turned out at rallies across the country.

Posted by Pat Dollard