Geraldo: Zimmerman "thought he was being a hero. His crime, if it is a crime, is manslaughter."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

George Zimmerman Should Face Manslaughter, Not Murder

By Geraldo Rivera

Published April 12, 2012



Unless Ms. Corey has a lot more information than we do, and given the cascade of leaks in this case I doubt that she does, however you read the conflicting accounts of this tragic encounter, Zimmerman was not acting with the “depraved indifference” to Trayvon Martin’s life required to support a charge of Murder 2.

Rather, Zimmerman was reckless, overzealous and grossly negligent. He should have held back once warned off by the 911 operator. He should not have tried to be a Super Auxiliary Cop. He should not have drawn his weapon. He should not have fired it, killing an unarmed kid.

But in his defense, Zimmerman thought he was being a responsible citizen, even a hero, protecting his beleaguered community from the latest incident in a sorry epidemic of burglary. He didn’t set out to become the poster boy for racial profiling. This was a perfect storm of random circumstances leading to an awful tragedy. His crime, if it is a crime, is manslaughter.

By charging Zimmerman with murder, the special prosecutor has insured that he will garner sympathy and support from a substantial segment of the country, including the enormously powerful gun lobby.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/04/12/geraldo-rivera-george-zimmerman-should-face-manslaughter-not-murder/

[Fawke Em]

1. I'm willing to guess, Geraldo "The Hoodie Did It" Rivera, that Corey

has A LOT more information than we do.

Just off the top of my head, I imagine she has the autopsy report, a ballistics report and forensics collected from the crime scene. And that's just the stuff every murder investigation garners. I'm also willing to bet she has better witness statements and possibly even some surveillance footage (you can't tell me there weren't cameras in a gated community).

After the hoodie comment, you'd think Geraldo would keep his big trap shut.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. Geraldo is helpless when it comes to putting down this specific crack pipe

He's GOT to inject himself into this story. It's his "Al Capone's Vault" of 2012.

[Hepburn]

2. I find that he was acting with “depraved indifference” based on two factors:

1. Following the Trayvon when told specifically not to do so; and

2. The racial slur.

JMHO

[Coach38053]

16. ???

What racial slur are you talking about?

[uppityperson]

26. "f*ing c*s"

First word is obvious. Second word is a slur of the shortened raccoon.

[russspeakeasy]

3. I am such a cynic. I think he is being "overcharged" so as to insure

a not guilty verdict.

[Hepburn]

5. General Rule: Prosecutors overcharge.

The criminal justice system can move cases through the system because most are plea bargained. Thus, the DAs and PAs overcharge in the hopes that a defendant will plead out to a lesser included charge. Nothing new here.

Edit: For typo.

[russspeakeasy]

11. Good point. Thanks.

[HooptieWagon]

20. No.

Prosecutors charge based on what evidence they have that a reasonable jury would likely convict on. If they grossly overcharge, then they are guilty of prosecutorial misconduct, and could face removal from office and disbarrment.

[Hepburn]

27. Your post made me LOL

I practiced law for a very long time -- now retired.

I have NEVER seen a DA or PA get into trouble for overcharging cases.

They all do it all the time. There are one or two exceptions, but not many.

[frazzled]

6. Yeah? Well, Charles Manson thought he was doing something great, too

The delusions of the killer are not part of a defense. What George Zimmerman "thought" he was doing is irrelevant. It's what he did that matters.

[brewens]

7. If some psycho thinks it's being a hero trying to kill a politician, we'd also

take that into consideration? We definately have quite a few that would probably try it if they had much encouragement.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. Yep. This guy was trying to be a hero to Jodie Foster, Maybe we should cut him some slack.

Right, Geraldo?

[ecstatic]

9. If it is a crime?!

Like seriously, all the Z defenders and sympathizers are driving me nuts! The dialog surrounding this tragedy is such a clear example of the racism problem in this country!

[peace13]

10. 911 told the dude to stand down.

He disregarded their advice and now he is somehow a big hero. If he stalked this young man and disregarded the advice of 911 he has committed murder! We are truly a broken society!

[piratefish08]

12. Geraldo's crime, if it is a crime, is impersonating a Journalist.

[wandy]

13. Oh great! Just what we need.....

Every whack job under the sun, oiling up their cross bow, strapping on their quiver; and goining out looking to be a hero.

"that one looks Jewish and that ones a Coon.
Who let all this riffraff into the room.
Theirs one smoking a joint and another with spots.
If I had my way I'd have all of them shot!"

Roger Waters

[vaberella]

14. Geraldo...you're not the prosecutor. Thank the Gods. n/T

[geardaddy]

15. Go put more of your ass fat in your forehead Gerald.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

18. Why is he still talking?

[Initech]

19. Says the guy who nearly committed treason in Iraq

[tabatha]

21. Being a hero then rules out SYG.

[99Forever]

22. First off...

.. I'll require someone to explain to me why I should give a fat rat's a$$ what that little jerk thinks or says. They should have sealed his dumb butt in Al Capone's "secret vault" permanently.

[SomethingFishy]

23. Geraldo actually knows this for a fact..

He's got the secret "Zimmerman" tapes he found in Al Capones vault.



Go away Geraldo. Time for a jury to sort this out.

[bowens43]

24. He sould have been charged with 1st degree murder.....

he was carrying a gun, looking for trouble. That is premeditation.

[Blue_Tires]

25. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if it was Zimmerman himself doing the burglaries

and he was hoping to find a patsy to pin it on, making himself the hero detective of the whole story...