reuters:

DEVELOPING:

U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker upon his arrival at Bagram Air Base in Kabul, Afghanistan May 1, 2012. [REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque]

READ MORE: Obama lands in Afghanistan on OBL death anniversary

shortformblog:

thedailywhat:

Breaking News of the Day: Zimmerman Takes the Stand at Bond Hearing: The family of George Zimmerman, charged with second-degree murder in the February 26 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, asked a Florida judge this morning to grant bail while he awaits trial. Family members — testifying by phone because they say they have been threatened — argued that Zimmerman is neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community.

“He is absolutely not a violent person,” said his wife, Shellie Zimmerman.

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara would prefer that Zimmerman be allowed to leave the area, if he is granted bond, because of concerns about his safety. “Normally, the conditions are that you stay local. I think that is going to be difficult,” he said. “I think nobody would deny the fact that if George Zimmerman were walking down the street today, he would be at risk. That is a reality.”

George Zimmerman took the stand to make a statement.

“I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was, I thought he was a little bit younger than I am and I did not know if he was armed or not.”

[lat]

That Zimmerman statement hits a raw nerve. Let’s hope that as this trial commences, a much broader picture comes out. In related news, ABC News acquired a witness photo, allegedly of ZImmerman minutes after the shooting, that shows blood on the back of his head. However, the prosecutor in the case says they were aware of the photo but it did not affect the decision to charge Zimmerman with second-degree murder.

reuters:

No grand jury investigation in Trayvon Martin shooting

The special prosecutor in the investigation of the shooting death of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin has ruled out using a grand jury to investigate the case, meaning her office alone will decide whether to charge shooter George Zimmerman.

The case has captured national attention, largely because of race. Martin was black and Zimmerman, who has not been charged, is white and Hispanic. The state attorney who was previously investigating the shooting, Norm Wolfinger, had said the case would go to a grand jury on April 10, but Wolfinger removed himself from the case on March 22 and was replaced by Angela Corey.

“State Attorney Angela Corey has decided not to use a grand jury in the Trayvon Martin shooting death investigation,” her office said in a statement.

READ MORE: Prosecutor rules out grand jury in Trayvon Martin case

I sincerely hope that the fervor surrounding this case doesn’t die down with this announcement.  Causes in this country tend to run sprints, not marathons, which is why so many of them are lost in the end.  

But, besides that not calling a grand jury in this case is a mistake, unless they’re just going to straight out charge him.  There’s too many questionable things about this case that need a grand jury to hear and decide whether or not there is enough evidence to try the case.  Unless they feel they have enough evidence to go ahead and charge him without one (I kind of feel there is), this is a huge, HUGE mistake.