HolyCoast: Harvard Law Prof: Zimmerman Arrest Affidavit Will Result in Aquittal
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Friday, April 13, 2012

Harvard Law Prof: Zimmerman Arrest Affidavit Will Result in Aquittal

I'm no Harvard Law Professor, but I said basically the same thing earlier today (from Mediaite):
Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball where fill-in host Michel Smerconish asked him his opinions of the arrest warrant issued and carried out for alleged Trayvon Martin murderer, George Zimmerman. Dershowitz called the affidavit justifying Zimmerman’s arrest “not only thin, it’s irresponsible.” He went on to criticize the decision to charge Zimmerman for second degree murder by special prosecutor Angela Corey as being politically motivated.

“You’ve seen the affidavit of probable cause. What do you make of it,” Smerconish asked. “It won’t suffice,” Dershowitz replied without hesitation.

“Most affidavits of probable cause are very thin. This is so thin that it won’t make it past a judge on a second degree murder charge,” Dershowitz said. “There’s simply nothing in there that would justify second degree murder.”

Dershowitz said that the elements that would constitute that crime are non-existent in the affidavit. “It’s not only thin, it’s irresponsible,” said Dershowitz.

Dershowitz went on to strongly criticize Corey’s decision to move forward with the case against Zimmerman. “I think what you have here is an elected public official who made a campaign speech last night for reelection when she gave her presentation and overcharged. This case will not – if the evidence is no stronger than what appears in the probable cause affidavit – this case will result in an acquittal.
Or a hung jury, which I think is really the more likely result.

1 comment:

Nightingale said...

This case is soooo political, I can't imagine Zimmerman getting a fair trial anywhere in Florida. This should worry all of us.

Zimmerman has already been tried and convicted in the press; truly a sad time for jurisprudence.