In February 2012, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. That is not in dispute. The question is whether it was second-degree murder or manslaughter, or if he acted in self-defense. After the killing, people angry with the shooting took to the streets to protest the lack of an arrest. After Zimmerman was arrested, throngs of both his supporters and opponents have been riveted by the case.
Now, the jury is deliberating the fate of George Zimmerman.
George Zimmerman’s lawyers made one last attempt Friday to convince a jury the neighborhood watch volunteer shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense, saying the prosecution’s case for murder is built on “could’ve beens” and “maybes.”
The jury was expected to begin deliberations as early as Friday afternoon after receiving dueling portraits of Zimmerman: a wannabe cop who took the law into his own hands or a well-meaning volunteer who feared for his life in a struggle with the unarmed teenager who was slamming his head into concrete.
Attorney Mark O’Mara told jurors the burden was on prosecutors, and said they hadn’t proven Zimmerman’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“If it hasn’t been proven, it’s just not there,” O’Mara said. “You can’t fill in the gaps. You can’t connect the dots. You’re not allowed to.”
Prosecutor John Guy followed with a rebuttal, accusing Zimmerman of telling “so many lies.” He said Martin’s last feeling was fear as Zimmerman followed him in a neighborhood on a rainy night Feb. 26, 2012.
“Isn’t that every child’s worst nightmare, to be followed on the way home in the dark by a stranger,” Guy said. “Isn’t that every child’s worst fear?”
One juror, a young woman, appeared to wipe away a tear as Guy said nothing would ever bring back Martin.
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