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One year since shooting death of Trayvon Martin

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    Reaction from Judge Alex Ferrer

  • Duration 5:22
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Today marks the one year point since the death of Florida teenager trade on Martin.

His shooting touched off a national firestorm over guns self defense.

And race.

Martin you may remember was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

And -- government claims the shooting was in self defense attorneys for Martin's family have accused him of following trade bonds simply because -- -- on was black.

And shooting him in cold blood.

We're told Zimmerman is now living somewhere in Seminole County Florida he is scheduled to go to trial on June 10.

And look at how his appearance has changed in the past year.

On the left that Zimmerman at April of last year on the right.

Photo from his latest court appearance we are told he's gained hundred pounds nearly a hundred pounds.

Trade on Martin was only seventeen when he died he would have celebrated his eighteenth birthday this month on February 5.

Joining me now for some perspective -- Alex for our host of judge Alex judge great to see you again.

And usually it's amazing -- it asserts it's it's remarkable what the stress of being a criminal defendant.

Will duty on the that the physical changing in -- Inman is is rather dramatic.

Yeah that combined with his inability to really go anywhere he's one of the most vulnerable individuals after all the rioting and all the threats last year so he probably spends a lot of time eating and sitting at home that's not particularly good for your health or your waistline and.

Now it it we heard just last week that the -- Stanley attorney filed paperwork.

That would -- the ground work for a potential civil suit against George governments are now mr.

Zimmerman has to fight these criminal charges which are obviously his number one problem.

And potentially a civil suit brought by the family this thing is gonna go on for years is it not even even if government manages to win this criminal trial.

You know I I think it is gonna go on for years at the end of the tunnel is not really much in -- for civil suit that I can see because Zimmerman doesn't really have any assets.

Unless they're planning on going after the community.

-- homeowner's association or something for inadequate security but frankly they don't usually have much money either.

So I'm not really sure with the goal of it is other than if if they were trying to get him to answer questions.

For the civil action that can be used against the criminal case it's it's too late for that that's -- -- a -- -- -- criminal case say it anyway.

The case is proceeding now in two different fronts on eight role.

22 Zimmerman is expected to ask for immunity altogether based on the stand your ground -- down in Florida.

If he doesn't get it if he doesn't win that sort of mini trial.

Then he goes to the real trial.

On June 10.

And second degree murder how do you see at this point a year into it now judge how do you see -- now.

It's a tough case for the state no matter how you slice -- second degree murder Florida's not premeditated it requires it.

An imminent an act that's imminently dangerous to another stemming from evil intent ill will -- hatred the prosecution really hasn't shown us anything other than.

I think Zimmerman muttered under his -- the a word at some point when he was following them.

That alone wouldn't do it so they have they have a tough call on the second degree murder.

The the standard ground ball the hearing is -- Mara is trying to move it closer to be trial and -- -- -- had.

The defense attorney I think that's because he doesn't really anticipated to judge is gonna grant it and he doesn't want to show his cards that far in advance of the -- -- strategically.

It benefits him to have a closer.

But the bottom line is one way or another it's still a tough case for the state but we haven't seen his statement they've withheld that -- not discoverable in Florida -- -- -- not release of bullets discoverable by the defense.

So we don't know I'm sure they will be highlighting inconsistencies that he's made in this statement released.

We saw a lot of statements read by George -- he give us that long videotaped statement to the police and then.

It was a written statement and -- inconsistencies between the two and that's what's gonna happen at trial you know that that the prosecutor that's going to happen and and compared those to compare he says in the stand.

And in your judgment let's say he didn't does not get immunity at the initial thing in April any -- have to go before a jury.

How much will all of the media coverage and you know right now Zimmerman got a civil -- of his own pending against NBC news for.

What he claimed was.

A false and obviously was misleading edit that -- -- he was commenting on Traber Trayvon Martin's race that I remember that we city's black.

Yeah but but they cut out the part where the -- one operator had said you on what color is the and -- elect -- black.

Anyway he's also -- but that party in -- of the bloodstream of the potential jury pool how much is that a fact they did the verdict in this case.

A lot I mean that's why the judges have discretion in deciding whether or not to transfer venue to get it out of -- hot spot like.

Sanford but the reality is that that was covered all over the world not just the country.

So like you know and OJ Simpson trial or Casey Anthony draw you can move venue but.

There's only so much you can do are more concerned about the jurors being afraid for their own safety if they.

If they won't.

Ball wrote vote one way or the other and unfortunately.

There was enough hatred and venom spewed on both sides that it could definitely affected.

Now judge thank you so much for -- -- good to see again.

Likewise follow for you.

Got to Florida they reviewed the stand your ground -- recently and concluded there was no reason make any changes to it so it will stand.

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