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Zimmerman May Face Hate-Crime Charges

Which carry death penalty: WFTV

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 15, 2012 6:21 PM CDT

(Newser) – A local TV station in Orlando says FBI investigators are questioning witnesses to seek evidence for hate-crime charges against George Zimmerman. The killer of Trayvon Martin currently faces second-degree murder charges that could send him to prison for life. If the feds add hate-crime charges and get a conviction, Zimmerman would face the death penalty, reports WFTV.

“What the government would have to prove is that Mr. Zimmerman acted out of hatred toward African-Americans," says the station's legal analyst. "That's why he came into contact with him. That's why he shot and killed him." State prosecutors maintain that Zimmerman profiled and stalked Martin because he was black.

George Zimmerman makes a court appearance on April 20 in Sanford, Fla.
George Zimmerman makes a court appearance on April 20 in Sanford, Fla.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 112 comments
slammer
May 16, 2012 6:51 PM CDT
LIFE??????????? THERE IS NO DOUBT AT ALL ZIMMERMAN IS A STONE COLD KILLER WHO SHOULD BE DEAD BY NOW!
Deleted
May 16, 2012 6:38 AM CDT
How can you have a minority on minority hate crime?  And the way the country's demographics are headed, in 50 years or less, whites will be a minority.  How will the law work then?
tbooker
May 15, 2012 10:59 PM CDT
What a crock of chit this whole thing has become. Once that racist butthole Al Sharpton got involved it all turned into a black/white thing and Zimmerman isn't even white. People have this poor guy convicted and none of them knows what the hell happened. A young black kid is dead which is too bad but that is all anyone of you know about this yet most of you seem to have "Z" already convicted and on death row. With the amount of pretrial BS the media keeps putting out there how is anyone expected to get a fair trial. If it was you would you want things going down the way they are, I'm betting the answer to that is no. I'm almost hoping he's found not guilty just to see which of their own neighborhoods some of these racists clowns burn down first. Try waiting for the trial folks and then maybe you'll find out what happened instead of forming your opinions by something you read or see on some Nancy Grace like tv show.

 
death penalty • hate crime • Trayvon Martin • George Zimmerman

 
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