After nearly 12 hours of deliberation Saturday, the jury in the George Zimmerman trial caused a media stir by approaching the judge and asking for clarification on the lesser manslaughter charge. Many interpreted that as a sign that a conviction on the second-degree murder charge was off the table.
Jury wants clarification regarding manslaughter
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) July 13, 2013
'May we please have clarification on the instruction regarding manslaughter?" – #ZimmermanTrial jury question @MiamiHerald
— Evan Benn (@EvanBenn) July 13, 2013
Teams of attorneys trying to agree on definition of manslaughter to give to jury. #Fox35 #Zimmerman #ZimmermanonFOX
— Sonni Abatta (@SonniAbatta) July 13, 2013
Manslaughter requires reckless disregard for human life…penalty could be up to 30 years in prison. #fox35 #ZimmermanTrial
— ERIN DREW KENT (@ERINDREWKENT) July 13, 2013
Penalty for manslaughter in this case could be up to 30 years because victim was a minor.
— bob kealing (@Bob_Kealing) July 13, 2013
Jurors want clarification on definition of manslaughter. That should make defense nervous. #zimmermantrial
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) July 13, 2013
What manslaughter requires: State disprove self-defense. Then two elements: #TrayvonMartin dead, due to intentional act by #GeorgeZimmerman.
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) July 13, 2013
3 proofs required for manslaughter: #TrayvonMartin is dead; death due to intentional act by #Zimmerman; act wasn't self-defense. #GZtrial
— Corey Dade (@CoreyDade) July 13, 2013
A couple of perspectives on the jury question from legal experts: 1) this could mean that 2nd-degree murder is off the table. #VerdictWatch
— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) July 13, 2013
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And 2) could mean jurors dont believe it was self-defense.Wouldn't need 2 consider manslaughter if they believed self-defense. #VerdictWatch
— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) July 13, 2013
The court then went into recess for 30 minutes.
It seems the judge might be researching whether to give the jurors additional instructions. They already have info with them. #Zimmermanon9
— Kathi Belich (@KathiBelich) July 13, 2013
Jury instructions: Jurors cannot convict on manslaughter in this case if #TrayvonMartin's death justified, excusable, negligent or accident.
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) July 13, 2013
Our legal analysts say during this recess at #GeorgeZimmerman, attorneys are probably scrambling for case law on manslaughter
— Amanda Dukes (@AmandaDukesWESH) July 13, 2013
I actually think that the jury asking about the manslaughter instructions is a good sign for the defense.
— RBe (@RBPundit) July 13, 2013
Only problem being that they seem to not get that self-defense would negate manslaughter. But we’ll see, I guess.
— RBe (@RBPundit) July 13, 2013
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