No one is claiming Zimmerman is innocent. The question is what to charge him with at this point. Because of how the laws are written in Florida, one can be held, but not for long, without a charge. After a rush of arrests of innocent people because of Florida's strict gun crime laws, the stand your ground law came out to counter them. That 1-2 balance has largely been effective for several years now, with very few variations. If you pull a gun in a crime, you get 10 years minimum, 20 if you fire it, kill someone and you get life, if not the chair. But if you do it in self-defense, it's on the burden for police to prove you were committing a crime.
But this has been well into uncharted territory. Most Floridians agree Zimmerman is at least guilty of manslaughter. The fact that he caused the confrontation, and Florida legislators have repeatedly stated stand your ground doesn't free Zimmerman of any liability of manslaughter as Martin was walking away, is what he will be charged with at a minimum. The question is if they can prove murder, which is not easily done in Florida. That's why prosecutors were not quick to charge him, and many people in Florida believe a 3rd law is needed to clarify liabilities in such cases. That would define it better for prosecutors, as the current Common Law is rather limited to go on.
Now with the bypassing of the grand jury, first degree murder is out. The lawyers of the family weren't expecting him to be charged with such either. No one remotely thinks this was first degree murder, not even the family. Otherwise Zimmerman would have never called the police before the incident, let alone of his past dealings with the police. Martin's family has been extremely patient, and continually asking people not to do things in Martin's name. That has been most impressive, especially with the media hoopla.
The out-of-area prosecutor will reveal within the next few days if it will be manslaughter, murder or possibly both. It's likely going to be both, probably a lesser murder charge, if they have enough eye-witnesses that proved Zimmerman was not in danger (and the one hovering over Martin). The question will be if Martin's family would agree to a plea by Zimmerman to manslaughter, as I'm sure the prosecutor will not allow one without the approval of Martin's family, if the evidence for murder is rather weak. It really all depends on the case the prosecutor has for murder charges.
However, innocent or guilty, the lawsuits are not over. Expect a civil lawsuit against the homeowners association, because there is clear, written documentation that Zimmerman was the official watch captain. The homeowners association had designated him a contact to call after police, as he had been helpful with past crimes. Understand Zimmerman only made about 11% of the calls to the Sanford police, but his were the most effective. That's why Zimmerman was trusted and, correspondingly, with the written documentation by the association, which can be held liable for wrongful deaths under Florida law.
This is a perfect example of why one should always heed the advise of law enforcement. Zimmerman actually did at first. But then he decided to tell the dispatcher to have the officer meet him. That's when everything gets blurry. From Martin's standpoint, he's wondering what a guy is doing following him, and who knows how he may or may have not reacted., and perfectly and understandably so from his viewpoint. From Zimmerman's standpoint, he thought Martin was yet another person staking out houses for yet another, planned robbery. Seminole County has been undergoing massive unemployment, enough that it has been featured on the national news over the last few years, and that's why the Neighborhood Watch was formed last fall.
Zimmerman is definitely liable for manslaughter, he caused the confrontation. Most members in the local NRA chapters completely agree, and absolutely hold distain for Zimmerman, who they think was irresponsible. Many agree that neighborhood watch volunteers should not arm themselves for the same reasons of liability. They are not to confront, but if someone does because they are being watched by a neighorhood watchman or woman, it's best not to have any weapons at all, and flee. They are instructed to report, not confront, as they do not have the experience of other authorities. I understand the frustration with some of the residents, with the increase in crimes. Zimmerman did the right thing, at first. Then he f'd up, bad, and now a young man is dead. I don't know many -- actually, none, no -- Floridians, and none of the gun owners in Florida I know too, who believe Zimmerman is innocent here at all.
Stand your ground in Florida does not protect you if you instigate a confrontation. There is quite enough evidence to show that if Zimmerman would have not approached Martin, Martin would be alive today. That's manslaughter, even if not intentional. Now if it became intentional at some point, which the evidence would need to show, it would be murder. However, this thing has been so tainted by the media, I hope the system is impartial.
I mean, even some of the witnesses have shown confusion. Because Zimmerman was not 250lbs., and Martin had over 4 inches on him. Martin and Zimmerman were much closer in weight. Martin looks nothing like his common picture in the media, and he was at least as much over 150lbs. than what the media says he is well under it. Martin could look like the larger adult from some viewpoints, and even some witnesses -- who were at a distance, at night, in-the-rain (and it rains heavy in Florida, a light Florida rain is like a moderate to heavy up north) -- would probably need to identify the men by clothing, not the size.
