Will Zimmerman cop a plea?

[There Is No Spoon]

At the Daily Beast, Mansfield Frazier explains Why George Zimmerman Should Cop a Plea:

Quote:If Zimmerman rolls the dice and loses, he’ll face years of ... solitude since he won’t be allowed in the general population of any prison he’s sent to for years. Just his presence on the prison yard could cause rioting as black convicts sought to take him out and skinheads aimed to protect him as one of their own, or at least their enemy’s enemy...

Sure, the media would just love for the case to go on forever—it’s a ratings bonanza. But when Zimmerman’s offered a deal whereby he can plead to a lower manslaughter charge and be out sometime well within this decade, go on to write a book and make millions while becoming a NRA hero, expect him to take it.

I won't be surprised. Many legal observers have noted that the second-degree murder charge looks strikingly aggressive -- a big hill for the prosecution to climb -- and more like an opening gambit than a sincere expression of the charge they believe would actually stick. (See here for the kinds of crimes that have recently been associated with second-degree murder in Florida)

Such gambits are unethical -- and I'm sure you're all shocked, shocked at the suggestion -- but can result in resolutions acceptable to both sides. Unless Zimmerman is confident not just of his innocence but also that he'll win an acquittal based on the evidence, he might well plead to a lesser charge and a comparatively modest sentence. If, that is, he can be sure that the feds won't then come after him on civil rights charges.

... http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_col.../plea.html

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I'm leaning "take a plea" at this time...

[jaxx]

I would like to see a trial with all the evidence brought out. But if Zimmerman can get off with manslaughter I'm betting he'll take it too.

[Treestar]

The quoted cases don't convince me that second degree murder isn't possible here.

[There Is No Spoon]

(04-16-2012 09:09 AM)Treestar Wrote:  The quoted cases don't convince me that second degree murder isn't possible here.

More incentive for Zimmerman to cop to a lesser manslaughter charge.

[suzie]

All the reporters who talk about Zimmerman being the only witness seem to overlook the fact that he has to take the stand to relate his version of the events.

When he does, his past history of girlfriends and baseball bats, acting as a security guard and throwing a woman around when he snapped, and giving a version of his arrest on his application to be a police volunteer that is totally at odds with the officer's account--all comes in.

[KonaKane]

Isn't he already hiding behind "shaken baby syndrome"? I can't wait until his attorney shows him the Dan White Twinkie defense.

[sandnsea]

I think second degree murder is the correct charge, based on the shooting happening directly after the confrontation. Zimmerman is also not remotely the only witness. There is at least one other 911 call, with a date and time. There is Trayvon's girlfriend who heard everything, on a cell phone with a date and time. There is Zimmerman's call, with a date and time. We don't know if there are any other witnesses because we don't know everything about the case.

He's going to have to do some time. I wouldn't want a manslaughter or murder charge following me around. I don't think the Zimmerman family will want that either. I don't know what kind of modest slap they could give him that would satisfy the Zimmerman father and not bring in the feds.

[Blue_Roses]

I can't see Zimmerman taking a plea. Everything he's done up to this point has been stupid and irrational--with the one exception being-- he seems to have a decent lawyer now.

Zimmerman seems to think he's justified or either he's in deep, deep denial.

[KonaKane]

To be honest, I think in Zimmerman's quiet, private moments he knows he fucked up, big time. He is really freaked the hell out about it. But, facing some serious charges as well as becoming the official Bad Guy in this on the public front, he is going to pursue anything and everything that will get him off as lightly as possible AND protect him once he is out.

He is the very picture of duplicity, if you ask me.