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| George Zimmerman arrives in the courtroom for his trial at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, in Sanford, Fla., Friday, July 12, 2013. Zimmerman is charged in the 2012 shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. |
SANFORD, Fla.
(AP) -- After deliberating for almost eight hours Saturday, jurors
deciding whether George Zimmerman committed a crime when he fatally shot
Trayvon Martin stopped their work to ask the judge a question about
manslaughter.
"May we please have
clarification on the instructions regarding manslaughter," Judge Debra
Nelson read from the jurors' note before a courtroom that had rapidly
filled up with lawyers, reporters and members of the families of Martin
and Zimmerman.
As jurors awaited an answer, the judge talked to lawyers at her bench and then said court would recess for a half hour.
Zimmerman,
29, is charged with second-degree murder but jurors also have the
options of finding him guilty of manslaughter or not guilty. He has
pleaded not guilty, claiming he shot the 17-year-old Martin in
self-defense.
To win a manslaughter
conviction, prosecutors must show only that Zimmerman killed without
lawful justification. To win a second-degree murder conviction,
prosecutors must convince jurors Zimmerman acted with ill will, hatred
or spite toward Martin.
Zimmerman faces a
maximum prison sentence of life for second-degree murder and 30 years if
convicted of manslaughter, due to extra sentencing guidelines for
committing a crime with a gun.
The jury of six
women started deliberating Friday afternoon. At the time they asked
their question about manslaughter Saturday, they had been deliberating
for a total of 11 1/2 hours over two days. On Friday, they made their
first question: a request for a list of all the evidence.
.Jurors wee being sequestered, and their identities are kept anonymous - they are identified only by number.
As
jurors deliberated for a second day, there was little understanding
between two camps assembled to support Martin and Zimmerman outside the
Seminole County Courthouse.
"He deserves some
respect and appreciation," Casey David Kole Sr., 66, shouted about the
former neighborhood watch leader. "It's a tragedy."
Patricia Dalton, 60, yelled back: "It's a tragedy that could have been avoided!"
Dalton,
like most of the 100 or so people at the suburban Orlando courthouse,
says she's there in support of the family of Trayvon Martin, the
17-year-old black teen from Miami who Zimmerman fatally shot last year.
The
supporters stayed peaceful for most of the day until in the afternoon
when sheriff's deputies had to separate a Zimmerman supporter from a
pro-Martin demonstrator after a heated exchange. There was no physical
contact made and no one was arrested.
The
atmosphere quickly cooled down. Two Orlando sisters, dressed in colorful
African-print clothing and walking on stilts, sang "Lean on Me" with
the crowd as a man strummed a banjo and people waved signs.
"We're just here for peace and love," said stilt walker Bambi Loketo.
Prosecutors
and Trayvon Martin's family say Zimmerman profiled Martin because of
the teen's race. Those allegations, and a 44-day delay before police
arrested Zimmerman, sparked nationwide protests involving leading
national civil rights leaders and spurred emotional debates about gun
control, self-defense laws, race, and equal justice under the law.
In
Saturday's strong Florida sun, some people at the courthouse wore
hoodies, as Martin had when he died. One woman lay in the grass, her
arms spread, in a re-creation of Martin's death. Those in the smaller
pro-Zimmerman camp held small signs, saying things like "We love you
George" and "George got hit you must acquit."
Joseph
Uy of Longwood was among an even smaller group: the few who said they
had no opinion on whether Zimmerman was guilty. He said he came because
he was "just curious."
"I'm neutral," he said, while cradling his three tiny Chihuahuas in his arms.
By mid-afternoon, people rallied in the heat and chanted slogans as a looming thundercloud threatened a downpour.
"Justice for Trayvon," some shouted. Others yelled, "Convict George Zimmerman."
Police and civic leaders have pleaded for calm in Sanford and across the country after the verdict.
"There
is no party in this case who wants to see any violence," Seminole
County Sheriff Don Eslinger said.
"We have an expectation upon this
announcement that our community will continue to act peacefully."
In
New York on Saturday, the Rev. Al Sharpton said that no matter the
verdict, any demonstrations that follow it must be peaceful.
"We do not want to smear Trayvon Martin's name with violence," the civil rights leader said. "He is a victim of violence."
The
Rev. Jesse Jackson had a similar message. He tweeted that people should
"avoid violence because it only leads to more tragedies."
Benjamin
Crump, an attorney for Martin's family, said the parents are emotional
but doing as well as expected as they await a verdict.
"(Jurors)
staying out longer and considering the evidence and testimony is a good
thing for us arriving at a just verdict," Crump said.
On
Saturday morning, Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, shared on Twitter
what she called her favorite Bible verse: "Trust in the LORD with all
your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
