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Jane Velez-Mitchell
George Zimmerman Charged with Second Degree Murder
Aired April 11, 2012 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST: I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell coming to you live from Los Angeles with major breaking news. After 45 days, it has finally happened. Tonight, as we speak, George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin is behind bars on a charge of second-degree murder. He turned himself in and is in custody in an undisclosed location in Florida as we speak.
If convicted, Zimmerman could get life in prison. Did the special prosecutor throw the book at George Zimmerman? Reaction from the dead teen`s family next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL (voice-over): Tonight, breaking news in the Trayvon Martin case. George Zimmerman is charged in the unarmed teen`s death. What charges is he now facing?
Plus, I`ll talk exclusively to a young journalist who says he has been in communication with someone claiming to be George Zimmerman. We`ve got all of the news as it`s breaking right now and we`re taking your calls for the full hour.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will George Zimmerman face charges?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No justice, no peace!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No justice, no peace!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No justice, no peace!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For the last 4 days it has been a nightmare, but I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that justice will be served.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are many that get emotional. There are many that get it wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They don`t know where the killer of Trayvon Martin is at. He is unaccounted for.
HAL UHRIG, FORMER ATTORNEY FOR GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: This has been a terribly corrosive process. George Zimmerman, in our opinion, is not doing well, emotionally. Probably suffering from posttraumatic stress syndrome.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We completely believe in the court system and we believe that they`re going to do their job.
REV. AL SHARPTON, NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK: We are not in the business of revenge. We`re in the business of justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Huge breaking news tonight. The special prosecutor investigating the Trayvon Martin shooting throws the book at the shooter, George Zimmerman.
Special prosecutor Angela Corey made her long-awaited decision public today, and she announced that George Zimmerman is now charged with second- degree murder, punishable by 30 years in prison, in some cases life in prison. Zimmerman is in custody right now as we speak after turning himself in voluntarily.
Let`s listen to this major announcement that happened just minutes ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA COREY, SPECIAL PROSECUTOR: Today we filed an information charging George Zimmerman with murder in the second degree. A capias has been issued for his arrest. With the filing of that information and the information of the capias, he will have the right to appear in front of a magistrate in Seminole County within 24 hours of his arrest and thus, formal prosecution will begin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Everyone`s on pins and needles. Here is video of Trayvon Martin`s parents watching that announcement from Washington, D.C., just moments ago and reaction from Trayvon`s mother.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SYBRINA FULTON, TRAYVON`S MOTHER: First of all, I want to say thank God. We simply wanted an arrest. We wanted nothing more, nothing less. We just wanted an arrest, and we got it, and I say thank you. Thank you, lord. Thank you, Jesus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Reporters special prosecutor Angela Corey about Zimmerman`s present location, and here`s all she would say about that. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COREY: I will confirm that Mr. Zimmerman is indeed in custody.
I will not tell you where. That`s for his safety as well as everyone else`s safety.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
We are told George Zimmerman will soon be meeting with his brand-new attorney, Mark O`Mara, who is a criminal defense attorney from the Orlando area.
I`m going to tell you that he`s going to be holding a news conference, we`re told, in a few minutes and we`re going to try to bring it to you live on the show. This is his new attorney. We`re also going to tell you all about this attorney`s background in just a moment.
Now Zimmerman has not been formally booked, we understand. So there`s no mug shot. We`re checking every couple of seconds. As soon as that mug shot comes in, we will bring it to you.
Now, for you folks watching at home, are you surprised by the second- degree murder charge? We`re going to go into exactly what it means and what they`re going to have to prove.
Give me a call: 1-877-JVM-SAYS, 1-877-586-7297.
Straight out to CNN`s George Howell. You are there on the scene. First of all, we all want the facts, but I want to get a sense of what it was like to be there for this momentous decision. All of us were watching around the country on pins and needles, wondering what was going on happen. Put us in that room and give us a sense of what went down.
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, minutes before this happened, just a few minutes before 6 p.m., this was a very calculated, very methodical plan that Angela Corey had in place.
She allowed the press in 30 minutes beforehand. Right at 6 p.m. she came in. The first thing that she did, she was -- she addressed the family. She said also that she prayed with the family the first time she met the family, so you can tell that this is a case that she paid very close attention to and had contact with Trayvon Martin`s family.
And as far as the facts of this point, Jane, we know that a bond hearing will happen here within the next 24 hours, and that is when we could see George Zimmerman again. We know that he is arrested on a warrant but not officially charged at this point until an arraignment happens, but again, as you can imagine, Jane, this is the news that Trayvon Martin`s family has been waiting for, again for 44 days.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: So emotional and yet what I thought was fascinating about the special prosecutor is that she revealed very little except the key point, that she`s charging him with a second-degree murder, that he`s in custody in an undisclosed location.
But there was one moment where she did become slightly emotional when she described how she met with Trayvon`s parents. Absolutely fascinating describing how she prayed with them. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COREY: The first thing we did was pray with them and we opened our meeting in prayer. We specifically talked about if criminal charges do not come out of this, what can we help you do to make sure your son`s death is not in vain?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I want to go out to Frank Taaffe. You were George Zimmerman`s neighbor. You are one of his lone defenders. There are people who are applauding. We`re going to go to the Reverend Al Sharpton in just a second and play his statement just moments ago, saying, "Hey, it was because everybody marched in protest and we mobilized that this happened."
What is your reaction to the charge that was revealed, second-degree murder?
FRANK TAAFFE, FRIEND OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: Well, Jane, first I was stunned, but we`re not shaken. This is -- this is going to be like a football game. There`s going to be four quarters, OK? They teed the ball up. They kicked it off to us and we elected to receive. And we`re going to find the end zone of innocence for George Zimmerman.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I want to ask you, I know you have phrases that you use, but I`ll just ask you emotionally. You say you were shocked. Can you give us just more of a sense, if you do feel it was unjust, why?
TAAFFE: Jane, I was stunned but not shaken. I was prepared for either scenario. And in the event that it went this way, which to my chagrin it did, but to the other team, no. Go ahead and post your victory right now, but in the end we`ll see what happens. Justice will prevail, accordingly said.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. I want to go to Mark Nejame. Do we have Mark Nejame with us?
OK. Mark Nejame, you`re there. Criminal defense attorney, HLN legal analyst out of Orlando. You talked with this new attorney, Mark O`Mara, who I understand is holding a news conference. And believe it or not, we`re racing to get cameras there and to turn it around for you or bring it live within moments.
Tell us about this new attorney and do you think he is the best person for this job?
MARK NEJAME, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: I think he`s a fantastic person, and a fantastic lawyer. I think that by watching Ms. Corey today, she was poised. She was professional. And I think that both -- both sides, as stated in the defense have what they have for everybody, and that is excellent counsel.
Mark O`Mara is board-certified in criminal defense in Florida, and I think he`s the only lawyer in the state of Florida who`s certified in both criminal defense and domestic. So he`s very smart. I`ve had cases with Mark. I know him. He`s got terrific ethics. He`s a strong, committed defense lawyer, but one with ethics and does things the right way. And I think from watching Ms. Corey...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You know, we`re going to jump in -- we`re going to jump in because Mark O`Mara is speaking live. He is the new attorney for George Zimmerman. Let`s listen.
MARK O`MARA, DEFENSE LAWYER FOR GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: She knows the evidence much better than I do right now. She`s professional. She`s doing her job as a prosecutor. She`s made a decision, and now we`ll see what the next step brings. I think anyone who would be charged with second-degree murder would be scared, so, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
O`MARA: He`s in police custody and they are doing what they can to get him to Seminole County.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did he call you?
O`MARA: We voluntarily surrendered him to law enforcement with the realization that the charges were going to come, and he did that, again, voluntarily, and we are trying to work out the best way to keep this as calm as we can.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did you become -- how did you become his attorney?
O`MARA: The family contacted me. I think there were referrals from other lawyers, and I talked to Mr. Zimmerman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
O`MARA: I believe it was FDLE. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you ever had a "stand your ground" case?
O`MARA: Thirty years of practice. The "stand your ground" statute is since 2005. The idea of having self-defense cases, yes, I`ve done several cases and a bunch of murder cases in self-defense, and in many of them it`s a part of the defense possibly, so, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell us what you know about the facts and how will you make the case that this was justified?
O`MARA: I don`t know yet. I have no idea. Commenting on the evidence is not really appropriate anyway, but it`s easier for me to say I`m not going to comment on it because I know nothing more than you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did Zimmerman say to you?
O`MARA: He`s concerned about getting a fair trial and a fair presentation. It`s obviously been a lot of information flowing. I think a lot of it`s been both premature and maybe inappropriate. I don`t think a case like this should be tried here, and it`s not going to be.
I don`t think the prosecutor`s going to try it before cameras, and I`m very glad to hear that, but there`s a lot of information, and of course, there`s a lot of groundswell of emotions on all sides of the issue. The statute of whether or not it`s appropriate. Trayvon Martin`s untimely death, Mr. Zimmerman, so there`s a lot of issues and there`s a lot of emotions that we need to calm this down. It needs to be tried in a courtroom which is the only place where it`s supposed to be tried, and that`s what I`m going to help try to get done.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After what happened with the last attorneys, what made you want to take this case?
O`MARA: It`s what I do. I mean, I`ve done it for a long, long time. I think I`m pretty good at it, and I hope to be good at it, and Mr. Zimmerman needs a very good and focused defense so we`re going to build him one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
O`MARA: I`m sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is that why he stopped talking to his former attorneys?
O`MARA: I didn`t talk to him about how that occurred or what happened with that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
O`MARA: It would definitely have been after.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After that?
O`MARA: Absolutely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did he mention that to you?
O`MARA: We didn`t talk about that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you tell us...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
O`MARA: I`m hoping that law enforcement is going to do what they can to assist me in keeping him safe. I`m hoping that the community will calm down.
We now have a process in place. It`s a very good process, the best in the world, and it works pretty well. We have to let it work. We have to understand and have faith in the justice system. Nobody, after all, wanted Trayvon Martin to be prejudged as he was walking down that street. I ask not to prejudge George Zimmerman and please do not prejudge the criminal justice system. It`s going to work. We just need to let it work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you aware that your life is going to change?
O`MARA: I understand the undertaking. It`s going to be challenging, and I`ve handled other high-profile cases of sorts. I`ll deal with it. I hope to have the support team with me. And I hope that I`ll be given the time to do it, and we won`t have to have many of these.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you contacted his Web site?
O`MARA: I`m sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you contacted his from his Web site?
O`MARA: Absolutely not. I did not contact him at all which would be unethical to contact a lawyer or client. Haven`t even seen the Web site, to be honest with us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where was he before today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really don`t know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mark, what are the conditions of bond you`re hoping the judge grants? Given the sensitivity in the community are you going to see if he can be let out?
O`MARA: My hope is that the judge will grant a bond, and that will be a bond that the family can make. They are not a family of means, so that`s going to be difficult to begin with and that normally the conditions are that you stay local. I think that may be difficult. I think that nobody would deny the fact that, if George Zimmerman were walking down the risk today that he would be at risk, and that`s just the reality.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHARPTON: Had there not been pressure there would not have been a second look, and I think that that credit should go to the nameless, faceless people -- black, white, Latino and Asian -- all over this country that put hoods on and said take another look at this, and that look has led to where we are tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Reaction to the news that George Zimmerman is in custody in an undisclosed location facing a charge of second-degree murder in the killing of Trayvon Martin.
Now he`s got a new attorney who is holding a news conference, and we`ve been monitoring that news conference. As we continue to monitor that, he`s answering questions. We`re going to go to Frank Taaffe, George Zimmerman`s friend and confidant.
You know, yesterday we had two lawyers who said, "Oh, George Zimmerman went AWOL," but it appears he may have just hired a better attorney, Frank.
TAAFFE: I agree. Mr. O`Mara is a preeminent attorney in the Orlando area. He has an impeccable record, and I believe we have the No. 1 quarterback in the draft.
So one thing I had a problem with was today in that conference, I only wish Ms. Corey could have tempered her elated delivery of her findings. She seemed to have a kind of a smirk when she was delivering the findings on her charge, and I found -- I took offense to it, really.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Frank Taaffe, that is your opinion.
On the other side of the break we are going to get the other side of the story from a major star who`s monitoring this case.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: A huge day in the Trayvon Martin case. He is in custody as we speak at an undisclosed location in Florida. He`s facing a charge of second-degree murder, which could result in life in prison, and he`s got a brand-new lawyer who`s holding a news conference as we speak.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COREY: Those of us in law enforcement are committed to justice for every race, every gender, every person of any persuasion whatsoever. They are our victims. We know one category as prosecutors, and that`s a "V." It`s not a "B." It`s not a "W." It`s not an "H." It`s a "V" for victim.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And that is special prosecutor Angela Corey announcing that she is charging George Zimmerman, the shooter of Trayvon Martin, with second-degree murder. We`re going to talk about exactly what that means with a panel of experts in a moment.
But first, a reaction to the big news of that charge from a woman I`m very honored to have with me tonight. Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam from - - you know her from Tyler Perry`s "House of Payne" and, of course, Keshia is probably best recognized for her role starring as Rudy on "The Cosby Show." Keshia, take it away. Your reaction?
KESHIA KNIGHT PULLIAM, ACTRESS: You know, thank you again for having me on the show, but ultimately, this is all people were asking for, is for him to have his day in court.
At the end of the day, a child is dead because of Zimmerman, and you know, it is his right to, you know, be judged by his peers, by a jury of his peers and that`s all anyone was asking for.
You know, at this point it`s about the evidence of the case standing. That`s all it`s about, you know?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`ve got to say this, Keisha, this has been a night of tremendous breaking news. As you speak, I get word in my ear that George Zimmerman is being transported. He is en route to the Seminole County Jail as we speak. And we are going to bring you an aerial shot right now. And somewhere down there -- and I guess they`re going to get closer as they spot the car -- there is undoubtedly a motorcade of some sort, because I`ve covered these things before. They`re not going have a lone car going. They`re going to have an entire motorcade, given the security, given the fact that there`s a bounty on George Zimmerman`s head and given that a police car was shot out yesterday.
Zimmerman, George Zimmerman, en route to the Seminole County Jail as we speak. And I think one of the big questions that I have for Marcia Clark, former prosecutor, author of "Guilt by Association," how is this going to play out, Marcia? You remember all the drama from the O.J. Simpson case with the slow speed chases, et cetera, where you see this ginormous motorcade. We`ve got security concerns. Tell us what is going on here.
MARCIA CLARK, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well, they`re going to have to be very careful about how they house him in custody, because this is somebody who is in grave danger, and he can`t just be thrown into the general population.
I heard someone earlier in the day come on and say that he`s going to be processed in the normal way, just like everyone else. They better not. This guy is definitely going to be a security risk. They`re going to have to give him really tight security and, I would think, put him in some kind of a high-power setting so that he can be guarded, because otherwise, he won`t make it to trial.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, Joe Episcopo, criminal defense attorney, you`re in Tampa, you`re in Florida, and you know what the mood is there in Florida. What do you make of him being transported as we speak?
We just heard a little while ago he`s in an undisclosed location. What`s the process here? When`s his first appearance? When are we going to see his mug shot? When are we going to see any kind of a court appearance?
JOE EPISCOPO, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We don`t know that, and you know, the question again is the security. But at the same time, you know, he`s entitled to a reasonable bond, unless they can show that he`s a flight risk or a danger to society. So he`s got to have a bond hearing. And he`s got to be given a reasonable bond under the Constitution. Then he`ll have to be concerned for his security, because then he`d be on his own. That`s more dangerous.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Look for a motorcade! We`re going to cover this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Breaking news right now in a case that really has gripped the entire nation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This fight wouldn`t be an easy fight and that we had to fight for all of the Trayvons that are out there.
ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES: That`s what I urge people to do, to allow the legal process to run its course.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s 44 days later. George Zimmerman is still walking free. It`s 44 days later my son is in a mausoleum.
CROWD: We`re marching for Trayvon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My son is in a Sanford body bag while George Zimmerman went home to go to sleep in his own bed.
CROWD: No justice, no peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HLN HOST: Major breaking news tonight. George Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder and in custody for killing Trayvon Martin. As we speak, his lawyer is talking to the media and has a message for the public.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK O`MARA, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN`S ATTORNEY: I`m hoping that the community will calm down. We now have a process in place. It is a very good process, the best in the world and it works pretty well. We have to let it work. We have to understand and have faith in the justice system. Nobody after all wanted Trayvon Martin to be pre-judged as he was walking down the street. I ask not to prejudge George Zimmerman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: He`s going to be charged with second-degree murder. To prove that, you have to prove there was unlawful killing of Trayvon by an act imminently dangerous to another and demonstrating a depraved mind without regard for human life.
Richard Kuritz, former special prosecutor, how are they going to prove that George Zimmerman had a depraved mind?
RICHARD KURITZ, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, obviously, we don`t know all of the facts of the case, but obviously what everybody`s been saying all along was that there was some sort of racial slur that was mumbled. There was something additional with it. That it somehow or another was vindictive due to race. We don`t know exactly what they have and we don`t know exactly what all the interviews were.
The key here is that there was no intent to commit the crime. They do not have to prove that he intended to commit a murder, just that he did an act or series of acts that were dangerous and from a depraved mind.
And one of the key instructions there that I think most people will key in on -- it has to be done from ill will, hatred or spite. And all I`ve been hearing about the media for the first 45 days was that this was a man who was out there and he was hating black people. I don`t know. I hope that`s not the facts of the evidence in the case but based on what we said early on, that`s all the state has to prove to establish this.
They don`t have to prove the intent to kill -- just the intent to commit a series of acts that caused the death.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Beth Karas, briefly, penalties for second degree.
BETH KARAS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Second-degree murder is punishable by up to life in prison. They do not have parole in the state of Florida, but because he doesn`t have a prior criminal record at least that we`re aware of he will probably score around 22 years and he will do 85 percent of it.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Unbelievable.
This is a very, very, very serious charge. And the special prosecutor said that the keys are going to be the facts, the forensics and the witnesses. There was a woman watching from a window the night Trayvon Martin was shot. Let`s listen to exactly what she said she saw and heard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN HOST: Where were you looking at the moment the gun fired?
UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS: I was looking at the two men on the ground, and heard the gun shot.
BANFIELD: Could you tell who was on the top, who was on the bottom?
UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS: I know it was very dark, but I really would have to say that I thought it was the larger person that was on top.
BANFIELD: And when the gun --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I want to go now to our very special guest, the attorney for that unnamed woman whose voice and face we masked, Derek Brett. You know quite a bit about this case. I know you`re not going to disclose anything inappropriate. But you`ve been quoted as saying a haphazard investigation even by the special prosecutor`s office. What do you mean by that?
DEREK BRETT, ATTORNEY FOR WITNESS: The Sanford police conducted a negligible investigation, at least as it pertains to my client. There was a very brief period during which the Sanford police met with my client. My client on three separate occasions attempted to meet -- attempted to contact the Sanford Police Department. Two of those times were to the lead investigator who we know is Chris Sereno.
Following that there was a lapse and she was never contacted back again, and then just last week, approximately a week from today she was contacted by two investigators with Miss Corey`s office. At my office we held a half-hour session with approximately 15 minutes of it being of substance.
There was no -- there was no recreation of everything that went on in the past. There was no -- there did not seem to be any probing questions of my client which we would normally anticipate in any police investigation.
Now, that`s not meant to second guess what Miss Corey`s done so far. We don`t know what she or her investigators have done or haven`t done. But I could say that it raised eyebrows in my office. It raised eyebrows with my client that there weren`t more questions pertaining to this.
Plus, my client, both with Sanford police and ultimately with the state attorney`s office was trying to bring about -- was trying to bring out additional facts for which she was never able to address them. I think she got those out with the state attorney`s office investigators, but again, this was a very, very brief session.
And when we`re talking about police investigators, we`re talking on the same level really when we`re talking homicide investigators of complex litigators such as Mark O`Mara. There are questions that are asked and they`re asked repeatedly. They`re asked probingly. They`re asked with as much complexity and comprehensiveness as possible and that didn`t happen.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Derek, I get the sense that you`re not giving the special prosecutor high marks. By the way, more breaking news just in -- we`re hearing that the bond hearing -- a hearing where George Zimmerman`s attorney is going to ask, hey let`s get some bail here so we can leave. We don`t know if it`s going to be successful or not. That`s going to be tomorrow.
Listen to Mark O`Mara George Zimmerman`s new attorney speaking moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`MARA: If we get a bond then, it`s great. If not, we`ll set another bond hearing. He will be arraigned at some point which will happen over the next couple or three weeks, probably. Generally speaking, we waive formal arraignment. It`s a formalistic process and we don`t need to deal with that. And then we get set for some court hearings and the discovery process which is going to be very intense in a case like --.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: So this is going to be a major day tomorrow. We`re all over it here on this show. We`re going to get, I think, a much better look, Pat Brown, criminal profiler at a George Zimmerman who his previous attorneys kind of described as a little off the wall. Maybe he`s not so crazy because he hired a very good attorney, perhaps one of the best in that area and now we`re going to have a bond hearing tomorrow. Wow.
PAT BROWN, CRIMINAL PROFILER: Well, you know, I think he has a good attorney. I really liked how that attorney presented himself in a very calm manner and that is what we need because we need to be looking only at the evidence and getting the emotions out.
Now before, we said that all that mattered was George Zimmerman got his day in court. That`s all that was really important. He should have his day his court.
No, he shouldn`t if there is no evidence to put him in the court. We can`t just take everybody who shoots a gun and kills somebody and say, oh, we have to charge him with a homicide and throw him in court. If it`s obviously self-defense, obviously justifiable, no -- there is not evidence for probable cause and to arrest the guy and charge him. No.
So I`m hoping at this point there is that evidence which is why the prosecutor has gone forward and hope they`re not just jumping the gun --
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. But you heard -- you just heard from an attorney for one of the witnesses who says that they thought they did a very cursory interview of that witness.
Keisha Knight Pulliam, you`ve been monitoring this. Does that shock you because special prosecutor Angela Corey has gotten rave reviews from all sides up until that comment right there?
KEISHA KNIGHT PULLIAM, ACTRESS: Yes, you know, everyone is entitled to an opinion of how the interview process went and everyone is going to have one. However, at the end of the day to me it sounds like everyone is trying their best to do their job, you know. From George Zimmerman`s attorney and Angela Corey and it`s up to us to trust that we put these people in the position to do her job.
You know, at the end of the day the evidence has to speak for itself -- period, point-blank.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. We have a caller out there, and it`s I believe John in New Jersey or Joe, New Jersey. John, your question or thought -- John.
JOHN, NEW JERSEY (via telephone): Hi, Jane, love you and your network and Nancy.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hi. Thank you.
JOHN: Two broad questions. First of all, do a lie detector test or truth serum. And second of all, what happens if he is found not guilty. What`s going to happen? Is there going to be major riots?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Great -- well, let`s not predict anything like that.
Mark Nejame, what about this lie detector?
MARK NEJAME, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I`ve been on the record of having real issues with lie detectors. You know, they`re not as admissible in any court in the United States for a reason. They`ve not been deemed to be scientifically reliable where their admissibility is permitted other than by stipulation of both parties ahead of time.
So, you know, I`m not -- I know some spectacular polygraph examiners and they`ve usually been right, but you know, they`re not admissible in court. If you have an innocent person and if they have a false-positive reading and they fail then there`s hell to be with them. And if they`re not guilty -- I`m sorry, if they are guilty and they pass then you`ve let a guilty person off based on something that`s not scientifically reliable.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And again, we just heard --
(CROSSTALK)
NEJAME: They`re good tools to help -- they`re good tools to help but to be this positive, no.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: -- George Zimmerman is in transit. We`ll see it in a moment on the other side.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: It`s about getting back to basics and even the salt is different. Look at this. Pink Himalayan sea salt, coarse, granulated crystal. Look at how beautiful this is. We sometimes forget that what we`re eating, it`s really an art form. And when you`re here at the co-op you get to experience food as sort of an artistic experience, an adventure in health. It`s not just a chore to go shopping.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SYBRINA FULTON, MOTHER OF TRAYVON MARTIN: For the last 44 days it has been a nightmare and this is coming from a mother`s perspective. I have been up and down as if I was on a roller coaster, but I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that justice will be served.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. That is the mother of Trayvon Martin reacting to this extraordinary news. George Zimmerman, the man who shot her son dead; that guy you`re looking at right there charged with second- degree murder.
And we`ve got video right now of a helicopter cam somewhere over the Seminole County, Florida area as we speak. George Zimmerman is being transported to the Seminole County jail and our camera is blinking around because they`re looking for him. They`re looking for that vehicle. I would have assumed there would be a motorcade, but who knows? Maybe they`re going to play against our expectations and put him in an unmarked car and take him and whisk him in.
I want to go to Marcia Clark. One of the things we`ve been talking about is -- wow, second-degree murder. Is there a possibility of a plea bargain? Is that something that is likely?
MARCIA CLARK, FORMER PROSECUTOR: It seems very unlikely to me. I have to say from what I heard of this defense attorney, he looks good. He looked professional. This seems like someone who is very seasoned. So far so good as far as George Zimmerman is concerned. He`s got a good lawyer.
It`s unlikely to be a plea bargain case. It is so high profile and the only thing that might be a point of meeting in the middle would be a manslaughter. I don`t think that the prosecution is going to settle for that in this case. And I doubt that the defense will offer it. So I would expect this case to go to trial based on what we know at this point.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Joe Episcopo criminal defense attorney out of Tampa - - bail. There`s going to be a bond hearing tomorrow, we understand. Do you think that George Zimmerman is going to get bail? If so, what would you say -- how much?
JOE EPISCOPO, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: He`s entitled to a bail. He`s entitled to a reasonable bail. I imagine it would be like maybe $50,000.
But getting back to the idea that there`s going to be a plea bargain. There`s not going to be a plea bargain, in fact, I think that the special prosecutor did not want to take a chance with a grand jury. What if the grand jury didn`t indict? Mr. Zimmerman could have testified at the grand jury. So I think she got rid of that to make sure information was filed and that there`s guaranteed to be a trial.
And he`s got a solid self-defense argument. I`m basing that on what his father said in that interview. I assume he told his father the truth. And based upon that account, he`s got self-defense. He`ll have to testify to get that through because there`s really no witness. But I don`t think forensics are going to make much difference in this.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Joe --.
EPISCOPO: And certainly a polygraph isn`t going to help. He shot him.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`m still reeling from you said -- did you say $50,000 bail? Are you kidding me?
EPISCOPO: I think that`s a reasonable bond. You know you can`t make the bond so high that he can`t have bond. That`s unreasonable, the constitution says reasonable bond.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, my gosh. Ok. I`ll bet you 20 right now it`s going to be higher than that.
Richard Kuritz, former special prosecutor, even the special prosecutor Angela Corey said there`s been an overwhelming amount of publicity. And so everybody was talking about a change of venue. But when the entire world is watching this case, where can you change the venue to?
KURITZ: That`s going to absolutely be a magic question because everybody in the world has heard about this case. We`ve heard about this case more, in my opinion to Marcia Clark -- more than O.J. Simpson. We`ve heard about it more than Casey Anthony. It`s clearly been everywhere.
What`s going to have to happen is what somebody else had said earlier. The community needs to calm down and let everybody take a deep breath and let the facts come out and let the investigation unfold. Everybody take their time and take a deep breath. Let`s see what happen. Let the judicial system work itself out and good things will happen.
I do agree, I believe there will be a trial. I disagree a bond of $50,000 is very, very optimistic. I know what the statute says about it being reasonable but with this charge it`s absolutely totally unlikely. I`m going to guess maybe $250,000 would be more of an estimate for me on a second degree murder but it`s clearly not going to be $50,000.
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. I`m not betting you because I think you`re more likely right.
Let`s show you video of the front door of the Seminole County Jail, if we can. Will George Zimmerman walk through these doors any moment now? Stay right there. We`re all over it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: George Zimmerman en route to the Seminole County Jail. He could be walking through the door any minute now.
He has a bond hearing tomorrow at which point we should be able to see him and see what he looks like. We`ve only seen a couple of photographs of this guy at the center of this enormous storm. He is now being charged with --
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA COREY, SPECIAL PROSECUTOR: Today we filed an information charging George Zimmerman with murder in the second degree. A capias has been issued for his arrest. With the filing of that information and the issuance of the capias, he will have a right to appear in front of a magistrate in Seminole County within 24 hours of his arrest and, thus, formal prosecution will begin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That is the special prosecutor Angela Corey announcing a charge of second-degree murder. Now you are looking at the outside of the Seminole County Jail. And we are waiting any minute now. That`s not George Zimmerman. That`s one thing we can tell you for sure. That`s another person who -- let`s hope we don`t see her face. We have no idea what she`s doing there. She might have just jaywalked for all we know.
But we are expecting George Zimmerman to arrive at this jail any moment now, and he is en route, we are told. So we`ve got a helicopter overhead and we`ll bring it to you the second that we see it.
Meantime, I want to go out to Wesley Lowery. You are a political contributor with Luke21.com. The way I see this, this drama, it`s a tragedy, Act One -- and I don`t mean -- this is a Shakespearean tragedy. But Act One was the tragedy that occurred February 26th. Act Two is this, ok, the arrest. Act Three is going to be the trial. Big picture, what are your thoughts as a political analyst?
WESLEY LOWERY, POLITICAL ANALYST: Definitely I think it`s extremely important to keep in mind that we`ve got to let the legal process play out here. You know, in speaking with the Martin family attorneys earlier this week, they were very confident that this arrest and charges were going to be pressed in a timely manner.
Now we`ve seen that that has happened. But one thing again I would stress as a journalist and also analyst and members of the community, it`s really important that we let the legal process play out. We do have due process here in the United States for a reason and that is what`s happening here.
You know, Zimmerman has turned himself in. And now we`re going to have a trial. We`re going to see what plays out here.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think you make a very good point. Keisha Knight Pulliam, actress, "Tyler Perry`s House of Pain" and famous as "Rudi" on the "Cosby Show", do you think all the protests -- and it`s a free country, that`s what makes our country great. We don`t like something we can get out there and march and demonstrate.
But do you think now that an arrest has been effected, that that should die down? What are your thoughts?
PULLIAM: I believe that, you know, the protest was necessary to get to this point. However, we have to depolarize the situation. It`s becoming such, you know, opposite ends of the spectrum, fighting against one another. At the end of the day all we want is justice.
All people, you know, at the end of the day, Trayvon Martin has -- his mother has lost a son. George Zimmerman`s family is going through all their own. So he has turned himself in. He stood to face these charges. Now let`s support the legal system and allow it to work. That`s all we can do.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Mark Nejame -- thank you so much, well put.
Mark Nejame, criminal defense attorney, you`re an HLN legal analyst. Give us -- paint a picture of the next few days. What`s going to happen right now and tomorrow?
NEJAME: Well, he will be processed like anybody else. But he won`t be kept like everybody else. He`ll be kept in -- he being Mr. Zimmerman, will be kept in isolation for his safety and for security overall at the jail. Tomorrow morning, it could be 1:30 tomorrow afternoon but likely some time tomorrow morning, there will be what`s called a first appearance. First appearance he`s entitled to under Florida law, within 24 hours of his arrest, court will review and he`ll have a bond. Right now there`s a no bond. He`ll have a bond hearing, excuse me.
Mr. O`Mara will go ahead -- go in there, request the bond to be set. The court will either put it off for a bond hearing or they`ll have it tomorrow. But it will likely be put off.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: More on the other side.
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VELEZ-MITCHELL: Final thoughts? Marcia Clark, take it away.
CLARK: Yes. I couldn`t hear your question, Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: What do you think? No problem. Give us a sense of where you think this is headed.
CLARK: Oh, I think it`s headed to trial. It will be interesting to see whether or not bail is set at an amount that he can make or not. We`ll see. I`m not so sure he is safer out of custody than in custody. I couldn`t count that one. He`s got a lot of danger lurking around him no matter where he is. But if he`s in prison, obviously, he`s easier to find.
And then I think we`re going to see a trial and it`s going to be a public one because Florida is a Sunshine State. So there`s going to be probably cameras in the courtroom.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Last word, Joe Episcopo -- 10 seconds.
EPISCOPO: I think he`ll be found not guilty because of self-defense. And then we`ll see if people consider that to be justice -- a six-person jury saying not guilty. Is that justice?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: We`re out of time.
END
