Zimmerman Charged With 2nd-Degree Murder

He's in custody over Trayvon Martin's shooting, faces life in prison
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 11, 2012 4:44 PM CDT
Updated Apr 11, 2012 5:18 PM CDT
AP: Zimmerman Charged With 2nd-Degree Murder
This combo made from file photos shows Trayvon Martin, left, and George Zimmerman.   (AP Photo)

The special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case came down hard on George Zimmerman today: He is charged with second-degree murder and faces life in prison if convicted, reports AP. Prosecutor Angela Corey said Zimmerman had turned himself into authorities and remains in custody. She did not say where he was, but he is due for a court appearance in Florida within 24 hours. "We did not come to this decision lightly," she said. Zimmerman will plead not guilty, says his new attorney, Mark O'Mara, according to MSNBC.

"I think he's troubled by the fact the state decided to charge him," says O'Mara, who took the case after Zimmerman's two previous attorneys publicly dropped him. "I would think anyone charged with second-degree murder would be scared." Martin's parents said they were relieved at the move, but his father added, "The question I would really like to ask him is, if he could look into Trayvon's eyes and see how innocent he was, would he have then pulled the trigger? Or would he have just let him go on home?" (More George Zimmerman stories.)

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