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USA Today: Grand jury canceled in Trayvon Martin case
A decision not to use a grand jury by the Florida special prosecutor investigating the
Trayvon Martin shooting says little about whether charges will be filed, legal experts say.
Instead, State Attorney Angela Corey's actions show a prosecutor who doesn't mind taking on the pressure of the controversial case and the potential backlash, now that the decision on any charges rests solely with her, lawyers say.
"It speaks to the fact that she wants to do this investigation thoroughly and not be on someone else's timeline," said Randy Reep, a Jacksonville-based criminal defense attorney. "It would be folly to make a determination of the quality of the case based on her not taking it to the grand jury."
Trayvon, 17, was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, 28, on Feb. 26 as he walked home from a convenience store. Police did not arrest Zimmerman, who said he shot the youth in self-defense.
The decision not to use a grand jury should not be considered a factor in Corey's final determination of the case, her office said in a statement Monday morning.
Corey was appointed special prosecutor on March 22 by Gov. Rick Scott. State Attorney Norm Wolfinger, who handled the case before it was given to Corey, scheduled the grand jury, which was set to convene today.
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