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| Reports: George Zimmerman to face murder charges in Trayvon Martin case – live updates | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 5.43pm: The Associated Press is citing an unnamed official as saying that George Zimmerman will face second-degree murder charges in the killing of Trayvon Martin. The AP reports: | |
| The official with knowledge of the case says that the charge against George Zimmerman will be announced at a news conference at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The official says he's in custody in Florida but wouldn't say where. | |
| The charge is a first-degree felony and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. | |
| 5.34pm: Two big pieces of news now from AP: | |
| George Zimmerman is in custody. He will face second-degree murder charges. | |
| BREAKING: Official tells AP: Trayvon Martin's killer to be charged with 2nd-degree murder; is in custody. -RAS | |
| — The Associated Press (@AP) April 11, 2012 | |
| 5.26pm: Speculation is rife as to the nature of the charges Zimmerman will face. Here's savvy lawyer Doug Mataconis: | |
| I'll predict that Zimmerman gets charged with Aggravated Manslaughter. Aggravated because Martin was a minor. Potential sentence 25 to life | |
| — Doug Mataconis (@dmataconis) April 11, 2012 | |
| 5.24pm: Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has just called federal involvement in the Trayvon Martin case "very dangerous." | |
| Gingrich appeared on CNN for an interview with Wolf Blitzer, who asked the candidate about Attorney General Eric Holder's investigation of the Martin killing. | |
| "I think it's very dangerous," Gingrich said. "I don't know that they have any more information than you have or I have... You would hope that the attorney general of the United States would be in favor of the system of justice, and you'd hope that the president, who's a Harvard Law grad, would be in favor of the system of justice... I'm inclined to rely on [special prosecutor Corey's] judgment." | |
| Earlier in the interview, Gingrich cautioned against jumping to conclusions in the case. | |
| "We don't have access to the evidence," Gingrich told Blitzer. "We don't have access to the witnesses. And I think it's always dangerous to jump to conclusions." | |
| 5.11pm: While it remains unclear whether Florida prosecutors know the location of George Zimmerman, he has been leaving electronic footprints. Robert Mackey of the New York Times spots recent changes to the fundraising web site Zimmerman set up, therealgeorgezimmerman.com: | 5.11pm: While it remains unclear whether Florida prosecutors know the location of George Zimmerman, he has been leaving electronic footprints. Robert Mackey of the New York Times spots recent changes to the fundraising web site Zimmerman set up, therealgeorgezimmerman.com: |
| Although the gunman remains in hiding, two edits made to the Web site in the past 24 hours appear to indicate that he is aware of at least some of the response it has generated. An image of graffiti scrawled on the wall of a black cultural center at Ohio State University last week, reading "Long Live Zimmerman," is no longer featured on a page dedicated to his supporters. | Although the gunman remains in hiding, two edits made to the Web site in the past 24 hours appear to indicate that he is aware of at least some of the response it has generated. An image of graffiti scrawled on the wall of a black cultural center at Ohio State University last week, reading "Long Live Zimmerman," is no longer featured on a page dedicated to his supporters. |
| The site's home page now includes an update, apparently added at 1:30 p.m. E.D.T. on Tuesday, which reads: | The site's home page now includes an update, apparently added at 1:30 p.m. E.D.T. on Tuesday, which reads: |
| I am attempting to respond to each and everyone of my supporters personally. The support has been overwhelming in volume and strength. I thank you all and ask that you permit me the time to respond to each one of you personally. Once again thank you. — Sincerely, George Zimmerman | I am attempting to respond to each and everyone of my supporters personally. The support has been overwhelming in volume and strength. I thank you all and ask that you permit me the time to respond to each one of you personally. Once again thank you. — Sincerely, George Zimmerman |
| 4.59pm: The parents of Trayvon Martin today said the arrest of George Zimmerman would start the process of healing in their son's death. | 4.59pm: The parents of Trayvon Martin today said the arrest of George Zimmerman would start the process of healing in their son's death. |
| "If we stop today, all this that we've done would just be for nothing. So it would be very important that we get an arrest," said Tracy Martin, Trayvon's father. | "If we stop today, all this that we've done would just be for nothing. So it would be very important that we get an arrest," said Tracy Martin, Trayvon's father. |
| (h/t: AP) | (h/t: AP) |
| 4.52pm: A San Francisco businessman is seeking to trademark the phrase "I Believe You Zimmerman," according to The Smoking Gun. | 4.52pm: A San Francisco businessman is seeking to trademark the phrase "I Believe You Zimmerman," according to The Smoking Gun. |
| According to United States Patent and Trademark Office records, Lawrence Sekara paid $1100 to apply for the mark for use in four separate classes. | According to United States Patent and Trademark Office records, Lawrence Sekara paid $1100 to apply for the mark for use in four separate classes. |
| The 49-year-old Sekara wants to place "I Believe You Zimmerman" on a wide variety of merchandise, including beer mugs, bumper stickers, leggings, footwear, "Button-front aloha shirts," and other assorted apparel. | The 49-year-old Sekara wants to place "I Believe You Zimmerman" on a wide variety of merchandise, including beer mugs, bumper stickers, leggings, footwear, "Button-front aloha shirts," and other assorted apparel. |
| (h/t: Matt Gutman) | (h/t: Matt Gutman) |
| 4.45pm: Fox News host Sean Hannity has acknowledged talking to someone he believes was George Zimmerman, the Associated Press reports. | 4.45pm: Fox News host Sean Hannity has acknowledged talking to someone he believes was George Zimmerman, the Associated Press reports. |
| Zimmerman's former lawyers said their client had spoken with Hannity, and that Zimmerman told the Fox host details he withheld from his counsel. | Zimmerman's former lawyers said their client had spoken with Hannity, and that Zimmerman told the Fox host details he withheld from his counsel. |
| Hannity said Zimmerman contacted him on Monday. "He reached out to me, we spoke on the phone about his case and I agreed not to report on the contents of that conversation," Hannity told AP. | Hannity said Zimmerman contacted him on Monday. "He reached out to me, we spoke on the phone about his case and I agreed not to report on the contents of that conversation," Hannity told AP. |
| 4.32pm: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg today announced a new initiative to repeal so-called "Shoot First" laws – aka "Stand Your Ground" laws – that give shooters broad protection in gun violence cases in Florida and elsewhere. | 4.32pm: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg today announced a new initiative to repeal so-called "Shoot First" laws – aka "Stand Your Ground" laws – that give shooters broad protection in gun violence cases in Florida and elsewhere. |
| Florida is one of 25 states to have passed such laws since the National Rifle Association launched a national campaign in 2005 to ease prosecutions in gun crimes. Bloomberg took to Twitter today to tie his campaign to the Trayvon Martin case. | Florida is one of 25 states to have passed such laws since the National Rifle Association launched a national campaign in 2005 to ease prosecutions in gun crimes. Bloomberg took to Twitter today to tie his campaign to the Trayvon Martin case. |
| Shoot First laws have nothing to do w/ the 2nd Amendment. They invite vigilante justice w/ disastrous results: bit.ly/HBqjoh #Trayvon | Shoot First laws have nothing to do w/ the 2nd Amendment. They invite vigilante justice w/ disastrous results: bit.ly/HBqjoh #Trayvon |
| — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) April 11, 2012 | — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) April 11, 2012 |
| The Bloomberg initiative is being carried out with a coalition of African-American leaders against gun violence. The groups released a statement quoting the mayor: | The Bloomberg initiative is being carried out with a coalition of African-American leaders against gun violence. The groups released a statement quoting the mayor: |
| It's now clear: the NRA's 'shoot first' laws that have passed in 25 states have undermined the integrity of the justice system, and done serious harm to public safety. They have sown confusion in police departments about when to make arrests, made it more difficult for prosecutors to bring charges in cases of deadly violence and, most importantly, they have been responsible for a major increase in so-called 'justifiable homicides.' These laws have not made our country safer; they have made us less safe and it's why we're launching a nationwide campaign to reform or repeal shoot first laws. The NRA's leaders weren't interested in public safety. They were interested in promoting a culture where people take the law into their own hands with a gun and face no consequences for it. | It's now clear: the NRA's 'shoot first' laws that have passed in 25 states have undermined the integrity of the justice system, and done serious harm to public safety. They have sown confusion in police departments about when to make arrests, made it more difficult for prosecutors to bring charges in cases of deadly violence and, most importantly, they have been responsible for a major increase in so-called 'justifiable homicides.' These laws have not made our country safer; they have made us less safe and it's why we're launching a nationwide campaign to reform or repeal shoot first laws. The NRA's leaders weren't interested in public safety. They were interested in promoting a culture where people take the law into their own hands with a gun and face no consequences for it. |
| 4.24pm: Attorney General Eric Holder, who has been overseeing a separate federal investigation into the killing of Trayvon Martin, said today that the government has a "very high bar" to bringing charges in the case. | 4.24pm: Attorney General Eric Holder, who has been overseeing a separate federal investigation into the killing of Trayvon Martin, said today that the government has a "very high bar" to bringing charges in the case. |
| It is possible for federal charges to be added to the Florida state charges expected to be announced against shooter George Zimmerman this evening. | It is possible for federal charges to be added to the Florida state charges expected to be announced against shooter George Zimmerman this evening. |
| "We have a very ... high bar that we have to meet in order to bring federal charges in this case so we are continuing in that regard," Holder said at a news conference. The FBI has conducted forensic tests at the killing scene "to try to build that case," he said. | "We have a very ... high bar that we have to meet in order to bring federal charges in this case so we are continuing in that regard," Holder said at a news conference. The FBI has conducted forensic tests at the killing scene "to try to build that case," he said. |
| 4.09pm: Further pictures of the preparations outside Seminole County Jail for the possible intake of suspect George Zimmerman. | 4.09pm: Further pictures of the preparations outside Seminole County Jail for the possible intake of suspect George Zimmerman. |
| The John E. Polk Correctional Facility is located in Sanford, Florida. | The John E. Polk Correctional Facility is located in Sanford, Florida. |
| 4.01pm: What charge or charges will George Zimmerman face in the death of Trayvon Martin? Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey plans to bring a single charge, according to the Miami Herald, which quotes "a source briefed on the case" as saying that Zimmerman would face "a single charge, something less than a first-degree felony." | 4.01pm: What charge or charges will George Zimmerman face in the death of Trayvon Martin? Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey plans to bring a single charge, according to the Miami Herald, which quotes "a source briefed on the case" as saying that Zimmerman would face "a single charge, something less than a first-degree felony." |
| The Sanford Police Department did not file charges against Zimmerman at the time of the Feb. 26 shooting. Corey declined to convene a grand jury in the case, signalling that she would make a decision about the charges herself. | The Sanford Police Department did not file charges against Zimmerman at the time of the Feb. 26 shooting. Corey declined to convene a grand jury in the case, signalling that she would make a decision about the charges herself. |
| A manslaughter conviction in the case could bring a 30-year prison term. Other possible charges include second-degree murder or aggravated assault with a gun. Influencing Corey's decision is Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which awards broad protections to defendants who argue self defense. | A manslaughter conviction in the case could bring a 30-year prison term. Other possible charges include second-degree murder or aggravated assault with a gun. Influencing Corey's decision is Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which awards broad protections to defendants who argue self defense. |
| 3.45pm: Where is George Zimmerman? There are conflicting reports on whether Florida authorities know the location of the man who is about to become an official suspect. | 3.45pm: Where is George Zimmerman? There are conflicting reports on whether Florida authorities know the location of the man who is about to become an official suspect. |
| The Associated Press quotes "a person with knowledge of the case" as saying that law enforcement knows where Zimmerman is. But an hour ago, Matt Gutman of ABC News said Zimmerman's location was still unknown. | The Associated Press quotes "a person with knowledge of the case" as saying that law enforcement knows where Zimmerman is. But an hour ago, Matt Gutman of ABC News said Zimmerman's location was still unknown. |
| @ABC confirms thru law enforcement sources Zimmerman will be formally charged today. Investigators still dont know his location. | @ABC confirms thru law enforcement sources Zimmerman will be formally charged today. Investigators still dont know his location. |
| — Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) April 11, 2012 | — Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) April 11, 2012 |
| We don't know yet whether George Zimmerman will be arrested in connection with the charges to be announced at 6pm. One potential clue was visible outside the Seminole County Jail, where an officer erected barriers and crime scene tape around the entrance of the intake building. | We don't know yet whether George Zimmerman will be arrested in connection with the charges to be announced at 6pm. One potential clue was visible outside the Seminole County Jail, where an officer erected barriers and crime scene tape around the entrance of the intake building. |
| 3.15pm: A special prosecutor is due to announce charges against George Zimmerman, the self-declared neighborhood watch captain who shot dead an unarmed Florida teenager, Trayvon Martin. A press conference has been scheduled for 6pm ET in Jacksonville, Florida. This is Tom McCarthy in New York with live blog coverage of this unfolding story. | 3.15pm: A special prosecutor is due to announce charges against George Zimmerman, the self-declared neighborhood watch captain who shot dead an unarmed Florida teenager, Trayvon Martin. A press conference has been scheduled for 6pm ET in Jacksonville, Florida. This is Tom McCarthy in New York with live blog coverage of this unfolding story. |
| The charges come a day after Zimmerman's erstwhile lawyers called a news conference to announce they had lost contact with their client and were standing down as his lawyers. They said Zimmerman had not informed them of his plans to start a fundraising web site. | The charges come a day after Zimmerman's erstwhile lawyers called a news conference to announce they had lost contact with their client and were standing down as his lawyers. They said Zimmerman had not informed them of his plans to start a fundraising web site. |
| The family of Trayvon Martin have also announced a press conference for 5.15pm ET. | The family of Trayvon Martin have also announced a press conference for 5.15pm ET. |
| Here's the latest from our reporter in Miami, Richard Luscombe: | Here's the latest from our reporter in Miami, Richard Luscombe: |
| Angela Corey, the special prosecutor who has been investigating the February 26 incident in which the neighbourhood watch captain shot the unarmed teenager, has called a press conference for 6pm, at which she is expected to announce the decision. | Angela Corey, the special prosecutor who has been investigating the February 26 incident in which the neighbourhood watch captain shot the unarmed teenager, has called a press conference for 6pm, at which she is expected to announce the decision. |
| It is not yet clear what charge Zimmerman, 28, will face, but first-degree murder was removed as an option on Monday when Corey decided against calling a grand jury to look at the evidence. | It is not yet clear what charge Zimmerman, 28, will face, but first-degree murder was removed as an option on Monday when Corey decided against calling a grand jury to look at the evidence. |
| A statement released by Corey's office this afternoon made no mention of any charges and said only that she was "prepared to release new information regarding the Trayvon Martin shooting death investigation." | A statement released by Corey's office this afternoon made no mention of any charges and said only that she was "prepared to release new information regarding the Trayvon Martin shooting death investigation." |
| But an anonymous law enforcement source close to the investigation told multiple media sources that Zimmerman would be arrested and charged. | But an anonymous law enforcement source close to the investigation told multiple media sources that Zimmerman would be arrested and charged. |
| A local radio station in Sanford said that sheriff's deputies had begun erecting barricades at the Seminole County jail, where new inmates are booked. | A local radio station in Sanford said that sheriff's deputies had begun erecting barricades at the Seminole County jail, where new inmates are booked. |