Provide advice on, the Killer by Trayvon denies the Client racist

SANFORD, Fla.-advising George Zimmerman-Florida man who shot dead teenager Trayvon Martin, he or she claims to be a lawyer was Self-defense--denied Friday that his client was a racist, but little to shed light on how what led to the deadly confrontation.

Trayvon, 17, was shot and killed Feb. 26, as he walked Sanford gated community, where he was staying with his father. Zimmerman claimed he acted in Self-defense, and has not been arrested or charged, leading to a widespread outcry and protests.

By Craig Sonner said he had not discussed with Zimmerman, who is hiding, but is not removed from the United States, danger information, but dismissed the possibility of racial slur, and African-American claims before Zimmerman came into contact with Martin 911 call.

"I think he said that the racial slur," Sonner said CNN, after admission, he had not heard the call. He said that Zimmerman and his wife had mentored African American children, it is backed up by his belief that the 28-year-old was not a racist.

He said he had informed the Zimmerman the new event, the investigation, which was launched by the protests, which began in Florida and spread as far as New York City, as a result of cooperation.

He welcomed the study and said, "Let's see the facts. The underlying problem is that some kind of scuffle took place. The ultimate issue is, "was it Self-defense?" "

In an interview with CNN, said later that the Sonner Zimmerman was in hiding after receiving death threats, adding that he had also received threats found Zimmerman's legal adviser within the hour.

Comments came as the Florida State Attorney Angela Corey-Rick Scott appointed .gov-Thursday may lead to a new investigation began to gather the evidence--in this case. The Grand Jury convened by the probe is scheduled for April 10 in the Shooting, but Corey's marketing told WFTV in the grand jury shall not be used in the case.

Lead prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda said, "We going to get to the truth, in one way or another.

"We are going to do three things. The first thing is to review all of the information that has already been done. The second thing is to determine what else needs to be done in our opinion. And then we take a decision. "

Jacksonville, Florida based on the local prosecutor Norm Wolfinger is replaced by Corey and WFTV said several sources had confirmed that the police had originally recommended the manslaughter charges against Zimmerman, but that did not make their opinions on Wolfinger.

De la Rionda does not confirm the argument by saying, "not going to confirm or deny anything."

Sanford Police Chief, Bill Lee, n was busy Thursday, said that he had become a "distraction".

Scott has also indicated to investigate how the incident, such as the death could be prevented in the future, Trayvon: n, even if the Justice Department Civil Rights Division will also examine the establishment of a task force to be set up in the transaction.

It has been the focus of criticism, including the Florida "Stand Your ground" law, which allows a person to use deadly force when threatened, without attempting to retreat.

Asked on Friday, the former Florida law .gov Jeb Bush said, "I think is always a good idea to check legislation."

"Limited to the best of my knowledge are based on this particular case seems to me that this law does not apply in this circumstance. Oman at the Earth's surface is the surface of the ground to stand in their own Stand, it is not to chase after someone who has turned their back. "

He added, "the Grand jury investigation, the Office of the police chief has stepped aside, the process of the Law Department in the investigation is the place for now and we can get the facts soon."

View the original article here

Lawyer Advising Trayvon's Killer Denies Client a Racist

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

SANFORD, Fla. – ?A lawyer advising George Zimmerman -- the Florida man who shot dead teenager Trayvon Martin in what he claims was self-defense -- denied Friday that his client was a racist, but shed little light on what led to the deadly confrontation.

Trayvon, 17, was shot and killed Feb. 26 as he walked in a Sanford gated community where he was staying with his father. Zimmerman claimed he acted in self-defense and has not been arrested or charged, leading to widespread outcry and protests.

Lawyer Craig Sonner said he had not discussed the details of the incident with Zimmerman -- who is in hiding, but has not left the U.S. -- but dismissed claims of a possible racial slur during a 911 call made before Zimmerman and the African-American Martin came into contact.

"I don't believe he did utter a racial slur," Sonner said on CNN, after admitting he had not heard the phone call in question. He said the fact that Zimmerman and his wife had mentored African-American children backed his belief that the 28-year-old was not a racist.

He said he had advised Zimmerman to cooperate with new investigations into the incident, which were launched in the wake of protests that began in Florida and have spread as far away as New York.

He welcomed those investigations and said, "Let's look at the facts. The ultimate issue is that some kind of scuffle took place. The ultimate issue is 'was it self-defense?'"

Sonner said in a subsequent CNN interview that Zimmerman was in hiding after receiving death threats, adding that he himself had also received threats within hours of being identified as Zimmerman's legal adviser.

His comments came as Florida State Attorney Angela Corey -- appointed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott to lead a new investigation -- began gathering evidence in the case. A grand jury is scheduled to convene to probe the shooting on April 10, but Corey's staffers told WFTV on Friday that a grand jury may not be used in the case.

Lead prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda said, "We're going to get to the truth, one way or another.

"We're going to do three things. First thing is review everything that's already been done. Second thing is determine what else needs to be done from our opinion. And then we'll make a decision."

Jacksonville-based Corey replaced local prosecutor Norm Wolfinger in the case and WFTV said several sources had confirmed that police had originally recommended manslaughter charges against Zimmerman, but that Wolfinger had not acted on their advice.

De la Rionda would not confirm the claim, saying, "I'm not going to confirm or deny anything."

Sanford's police chief, Bill Lee, stood aside Thursday, saying that he had become a "distraction" to the investigation.

Scott has also announced the creation of a task force to investigate how an incident like Trayvon's death could be prevented in the future, while the Justice Department's civil rights division also is investigating the incident.

The case has also brought a focus, and criticism, on Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which allows a person to use deadly force when threatened without attempting to retreat.

Asked about the law Friday, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said, "I think it's always good to review laws."

"In this particular case based on my limited knowledge, it appears to me that this law does not apply to this circumstance. Stand your ground means stand your ground, it doesn't mean chase after somebody who has turned their back."

He added, "With the grand jury investigation, the Justice Department investigation taking place, the fact that the police chief has stepped aside, the process is in place now and we will get the facts shortly."

View the original article here

Lawyer for sergeant accused in Afghan killings en route to Kansas to visit with client Monday

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
SEATTLE - With formal charges looming against his client within days, the lawyer for an Army sergeant suspected in the horrific nighttime slaughter of 16 Afghan villagers flew to Kansas and was preparing for his first face-to-face meeting with the 10-year veteran.

John Henry Browne of Seattle said he planned to meet Monday with Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, who is being held in an isolated cell at Fort Leavenworth's military prison.

Bales, 38, hasn't been charged in the March 11 shootings, which have endangered relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan and threaten to upend U.S. policy over the decade-old war. But formal charges are expected to be filed within a week and if the case goes to court the trial will be held in the United States, said a legal expert with the U.S. military familiar with the investigation.

That expert said charges were still being decided and that the location for any trial had not yet been determined. If the suspect is brought to trial, it is possible that Afghan witnesses and victims would be flown to the United States to participate, he said.

Military lawyers say once attorneys involved in the initial investigation of an alleged crime involving a service member have what they believe to be a solid understanding of what happened and are satisfied with the evidence collected, they draft charges and present them to a commander. That person then makes a judgment on whether there is probable cause to believe that an offence was committed and that the accused committed it.

That commander then "prefers" the charges to a convening authority, who typically is the commander of the brigade to which the accused is assigned but could be of higher rank.

Bales' defence team said in a statement late Saturday that "it is too early to determine what factors may have played into this incident and the defence team looks forward to reviewing the evidence, examining all of Sergeant Bales' medical and personnel records, and interviewing witnesses."

The lawyers' statement also said Bales' family was "stunned in the face of this tragedy, but they stand behind the man they know as a devoted husband, father and dedicated member of the armed services."

Military officials have said that Bales, after drinking on a southern Afghanistan base, crept away March 11 to two slumbering villages overnight, shooting his victims and setting many of them on fire. Nine of the 16 killed were children and 11 belonged to one family.

Court records and interviews in recent days have revealed that Bales had a string of commendations for good conduct after four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. But he also faced a number of troubles in recent years: a Florida investment job went sour, his Seattle-area home was condemned as he struggled to make payments on another, and he failed to get a recent promotion.

Legal troubles included charges that he assaulted a girlfriend and, in a hit-and run accident, ran bleeding in military clothes into the woods, court records show. He told police he fell asleep at the wheel and paid a fine to get the charges dismissed, the records show.

Rebecca Steed, spokeswoman at Fort Leavenworth, said Bales would be able to meet with Browne in what is described as a privileged visit. Along with medical visits, such meetings are generally more private than others conducted in the prison.

Browne, 65, has represented clients ranging from serial killer Ted Bundy to Colton Harris-Moore, known as the "Barefoot Bandit." He has said he has handled only three or four military cases. Bales will also have at least one military lawyer.

Tall and stylish, Browne has been a prominent figure in Washington state legal circles since the 1970s, known equally for his zeal in representing his clients and his flair before television cameras.

_____

Also contributing were Associated Press writers Manuel Valdes in Seattle, John Milburn in Topeka, Kan., and Deb Riechmann in Kabul, Afghanistan.

View the original article here