The jury in the George Zimmerman trial have probably ruled out second-degree murder as an option of conviction, according to CNN.
The reason for this assessment is this: jurors in the murder trial of George Zimmerman have asked Judge Debra Nelson for clarification on the charge of manslaughter Saturday evening as they deliberate into the second day whether the neighborhood watch volunteer acted in self defense when he fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
The jurors sent the judge a note asking for clarification on the manslaughter charge, the less-serious charge Zimmerman faces, after deliberating for about eight hours Saturday. The question read simply: “May we please have clarification for the instruction on manslaughter?”
As jurors awaited an answer, Nelson talked to lawyers at the bench and then said court would recess for a half hour. When attorneys returned, prosecutor Richard Mantei said that after conducting research, he would suggest asking the jurors to elaborate. Defense attorney Mark O’Mara agreed.
“Let’s get clarification on their confusion,” O’Mara said.
The judge then sent a note back to the jury that read: “The court can’t engage in general discussion but may be able to address a specific question regarding clarification of the instructions regarding manslaughter. If you have a specific question, please submit it.”
This development is seen as a possibility that the jury has ruled out murder in Zimmerman’s fate.
The jury reportedly had a working dinner, during which they were allowed to continue deliberating.
While this was happening, a couple of dozen people gathered outside the Seminole County, Fla. courthouse awaiting a verdict, with supporters of the Martin family assembling in greater numbers than Zimmerman supporters.
One man held a sign that read, “We love you George.”
One woman laid in the grass in a hoodie, her arms spread, in a re-creation of Trayvon Martin’s death.
