After 46 days of tears, protests, and an outcry for justice around the world, the State of Florida has finally charged alleged shooter George Zimmerman with second-degree murder in the case of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Special Prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges and the arrest of Zimmerman on Wednesday afternoon, although his location is still being kept secret for his own safety.
He is reportedly being held without bond, but his lawyers do have the right to request a hearing to seek bail. Zimmerman’s new attorney has already suggested that his client will plead not guilty to the charge of murder.
Zimmerman will appear in a Seminole County courtroom on a date to be released later, but this ends weeks of agony and confusion for the family of Martin, who sought outside help to come in and look into the entire episode with Martin’s death, the non-arrest of the known suspect, and the mishandling of the investigation by the Sanford, Florida Police Department.
Corey removed the original grand jury plans from the equation and basically has assumed control of the case and the prosecution. The speculation was that Zimmerman might face a manslaughter charge at best, but Corey has stepped that up to a murder charge, which would suggest that there is much more evidence available to law enforcement than the public is aware of. Surely, the investigation of the investigation is still ongoing with more revealing details to come from that process as well.
