Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyB06
I disagree. How did "overcharging" (by this, I'm presuming you mean murder 2) prevent jurors from convicting on the lesser included charge of manslaughter?
I thought, as did many others, manslaughter was clearly proven. Given that it was a lesser included charge, it was certainly there for the jurors to consider.
|
Manslaughter is a matter of intent, negligence, and justifiability. Even if manslaughter could be proven, manslaughter potentially carries a heavy sentence in Florida. That is why the defense and judge wanted the jury to know that manslaughter is not doing Zimmerman a favor. Manslaughter is not the lesser penalized charge in Florida that it is in some other states.
One explanation of manslaughter with a firearm:
http://www.richardhornsby.com/crimes...html#Penalties