A+-+258+Conduct+of+law+enforcement

= Martin family’s attorney seeks Justice Dept. investigation into police actions after shooting =

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/martin-familys-attorney-seeks-justice-dept-investigation-into-police-actions-after-shooting/2012/04/02/gIQAnD2prS_story.html

This article is from earlier in April and is a little date, but does a decent job explaining the original investigation by the Sanford Police Department. It discusses that originally a Sanford detective wanted to charge Zimmerman with manslaughter. However, experts believe that these individuals were overruled from the top. This is where Florida's stand your ground played a role in Zimmerman's release. Eventually the current Sanford Police Chief, Bill Lee, was asked for a resignation as the City Commissioner felt as though they should have charged Zimmerman. = = =POLS 258: The conduct of law enforcement in the Trayvon Martin investigation= = Martin family’s attorney seeks Justice Dept. investigation into police actions after shooting = = http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/martin-familys-attorney-seeks-justice-dept-investigation-into-police-actions-after-shooting/2012/04/02/gIQAnD2prS_story.html =

This article is outlining the request of Trayvon's parents to investigate the validity of the actions of the Sanford police department. It seems the lead officer on the case suggested that an arrest is warranted and was then shot down by the "higher ups".

= Martin funeral director: No signs of fight on body = http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57406725/martin-funeral-director-no-signs-of-fight-on-body

The funeral director who prepared Trayvon's body for burial remarks that there were no signs of bruising and such on the body. This supports the theory that there was no scuffly between the two. In this article we can also read that the arresting officers did not believe that this was a case of self-defense, and thought that it needed to proven as such. **Trayvon Martin killing: witness says he saw Zimmerman walk away uninjured** Account contradicts allegation from Zimmerman's father that Trayvon Martin left his son with injuries including a broken nose http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/30/trayvon-martin-witness-zimmerman-uninjured?newsfeed=true

This article outlines an eye witness statement of Zimmerman's claims of a broken nose and an altercation happening on concrete as false. It seems the police involved in this investigation took Zimmerman's statements at face value and could not even be bothered to check into the truth of his self defense claim

=Federal officials detail Trayvon Martin investigation=

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-trayvon-federal-20120329,0,7398798.story

A member from the Justice Department and Special Agent from the FBI Tampa Field House have begun their investigation into the Trayvon Martin investigation. The FBI's investigation is specifically focused on the death of Trayvon and more directed toward any violations of civil rights, there is no investigation by the FBI into the Sanford Police Department. The Justice Department's investigation into the case includes providing resources to both local and state law enforcement officials. Their investigation also includes looking into the circumstances surrounding Trayvon's death, which includes how it plays in civil rights matters. In order for federal officials to prove a violation of civil rights they must do so through proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a person acted intentionally and with a specific intent to do something that the law forbids.

=FBI questions people in Trayvon Martin case, begins 'parallel investigation'=

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/02/10983757-fbi-questions-people-in-trayvon-martin-case-begins-parallel-investigation

After mentioning that the FBI would launch an investigation, they finally began Monday by questioning particular individuals. As previously mentioned the FBI's role is to seek whether or not Trayvon's civil rights were violated. FBI Agents are looking into Zimmerman's background to see if the events of the Martin Case were racially motivated.

=MSNBC Video Regarding FBI Investigation=

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/jansing-and-co/46940114#46940114

A video explaining by MSNBC regarding the investigation being conducted by the FBI and Federal Authorities = Screams on 911 call not Zimmerman’s, forensic expert says = http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/screams-on-911-call-not-zimmermans-forensic-expert-says/2012/04/01/gIQAGHNupS_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines

Forensic science has found that it was not Zimmerman who called for help as he claimed. Another point agains the police for taking Zimmerman's statement as true without further investigation.

=**APRIL 09, 2012**= Update on the charging. THis wont go before a grand jury for some reason, so perhaps they intend to arrest him outright once they build a case

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/09/us/florida-teen-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

The special prosecutor assigned to oversee the investigation, Angela Corey, announced Monday that she would not present a case against the 28-year-old Zimmerman to a grand jury. But her office added in a written statement, "The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case." Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Martin's family, said they hope to see charges against Zimmerman as soon as possible. "We were anticipating that there would be no grand jury, because the family has always been hopeful that there would just simply be an arrest," Crump said. "We believed, from day one, that they had enough evidence to arrest the killer of Trayvon Martin and now, as the evidence has continued to unfold, we think there has been a plethora of evidence to simply effect probable cause to do an arrest -- not for a conviction, but for an arrest." He told CNN that the victim's mother, Sybrina Fulton, "said that she's prayerful" Zimmerman will be arrested. "We want a very public trial so the evidence can come out and show people that the justice system works for everybody," Crump added. The Justice Department said the grand jury decision does not affect any federal role. "The department's parallel investigation remains ongoing," Justice spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said. "We hope this decision signals the special prosecutor's intention to live up to her reputation as a passionate, justice-focused attorney and bring charges against Zimmerman herself," said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. "The future of this case now rests solely with her and we have faith that she will do her best to secure justice for Trayvon Martin."

The rest of the Article is about his fundraising and scams that have cropped up in case your interested. -ZT

=Prosecutor to make announcement soon in Martin case= http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/11/justice/florida-teen-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

There's a whole lot going on in this article. The prosecutor is going to be releasing more information, apparently Zimmerman is leaving his attorneys in the dark, and the Black Panthers have offered a $10,000 reward for his capture. Now he hasn't been charged so he isn't on the run, but this doesn't look good. -ZT

=Zimmerman Charged with 2nd Degree murder= Saw it on the news when I got home from Court Observation. Here the article from NY times. The prosecution made it very clear that they were not bowing to social pressures and they were treating the case with great care. According to the article it is Unclear if he has hired new counsel. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/us/zimmerman-to-be-charged-in-trayvon-martin-shooting.html -ZT

=Grand jury canceled in Trayvon Martin case=

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-09/trayvon-martin-grand-jury/54135360/1

A decision was made that was made in the case not to use a grand jury to decide whether or not charges would be filed. Instead, an appointed special prosecutor, State Attorney Angela Corey, will be left with the decision to file charges. Corey says that she does not mind taking on the backlash and controversy surrounding the case. She also said that the fact that the case will not be seen before the grand jury will not play a factor in her decision. She also felt that once she was assigned the case a grand jury would not be used.

=**It seems that the police chief is going to keep his job as the city rejected his resignation.**=

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-sanford-police-20120423,0,3190674.story -ZT