George Zimmerman Trial Goes To Jury
The George Zimmerman trial could soon come to close as the jury has already started deliberations.
According to NBC, the jury will decide from one of three options. George Zimmerman could be convicted of second-degree murder, he could be convicted of manslaughter, or they may find him not guilty.
In order to convict Zimmerman of second-degree murder, the six panel jury will have to decide that Zimmerman demonstrated a “depraved mind without regard for human life.”
Circuit Judge Debra Nelson told the jurors that they did not need to prove that Zimmerman had purposefully killed Martin in order to convict him of manslaughter.
Nelson said: “To convict of manslaughter by act, it is not necessary for the State to prove that George Zimmerman had an intent to cause death, only an intent to commit an act that was not merely negligent, justified, or excusable and which caused death.”
They may also issue a not guilty verdict if they decide that Zimmerman had truly acted in self-defense.
In his closing arguments, defense attorney Mark O’Mara told the jury not to make assumptions about the case. O’Mara asked the jury not to “fill in the holes” and to only use the facts presented in court to make their decision.
O’Mara said: “If you’re not careful, you will connect the dots when you’re not supposed to. You will fill in the blanks… Presumption. Assumption. You agreed not do to that. And don’t let them make you do that. We want you to use your common sense, but be careful with your common sense… My concern is that it may in fact work against my client.”
The prosecution also warned against presumptions, saying that Trayvon Martin is dead because Zimmerman presumed that he was a criminal.
Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda said: “A teenager is dead… He is dead through no fault of his own. He is dead because another man made assumptions. Because his assumptions were wrong, Trayvon Benjamin Martin will no longer walk on this Earth.”
Zimmerman faces life in prison if he is convicted of second-degree murder. If the jury agrees to the lesser charge of manslaughter, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
