Butthurt Prosecutors Making the Rounds

Via Mediaite.

In an interview with ABC, Bernie de la Rionda suggests when a defendant doesn't take the stand there is something wrong with the defendant and that he must be a coward. This is absurd, and the presumption of innocence in this country is part of the bedrock of the criminal justice system. It's outrageous that a prosecutor would do that. And think about it: have you ever seen a prosecutor suggest such a thing? It never happens.

Angela Corey says, "Nobody just gets a gun out and shoots, even trained police officers. When they’re on the ground, with a suspect on top of them, they can’t get their guns out that quickly." I thought the evidence was that Zimmerman was being beaten for about 45 seconds prior to firing his weapon. One witness, for example, talked about Martin doing a "ground pound," repeatedly punching Zimmerman while straddling him. A cop wouldn't have been able to get his gun out in 45 seconds? Not only is that silly, it also makes it clear Corey rejects the jury's decision. In fact, yesterday she called Zimmerman a "murderer." (Video below the fold.) This is reckless and unintelligent, since we know that Zimmerman is not a murderer, and it appears to be an instance of defamation per se. The case is over, and there is no prosecutorial privilege. Most importantly, as in the case with de la Rionda, it's an attack on the fabric of our criminal justice system. It's terrible for a prosecutor to do this, and I have never seen anything like it. The proper response is to say "the jury has spoken" and maybe even "now we must move on," but it's clear Corey has no respect for the jury, despite her frequent statements to the contrary.

Prosecutor John Guy said he thinks there was a struggle and that Martin saw the gun "and was backing up." No evidence was presented in court that Martin backed up. Guy just makes this up from nothing. It's unconvincing, and it's disingenuous in that it contributes to the appearance the prosecutors are simply butthurt and that there is no ethical or moral limitation on what they will do or say when going after someone and/or trying to save their own skins. They will stop at nothing. And recall there was evidence presented in court Martin reached for the gun (Zimmerman's recorded statements). There was also evidence Martin had the opportunity to go for the gun (during the "ground pound").

I've never seen behavior like this. I expect it from civil lawyers, but not people with the backing of the state when someone's life and freedom are on the line. You give the other side all the exculpatory evidence; you try your best case, and if you lose you say "the jury has spoken." That's it. These prosecutors are something else.

Thomas Sowell from the sidebar link:

More important than the fate of George Zimmerman, however, is the fate of the American justice system and of the public’s faith in that system and in their country. People who have increasingly asked during the lawlessness of the Obama administration, “Is this still America?” may feel some measure of relief.

But the very fact that this case was brought in the first place, in the absence of serious evidence — which became ever more painfully obvious as the prosecution strained to try to come up with anything worthy of a murder trial — will be of limited encouragement as to how long this will remain America.

ABC interview:

Corey calls Zimmerman a murderer:

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posted by rdbrewer at 11:14 AM

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