Prosecutor denies interfering in Florida shooting case

SANFORD, Florida (Reuters) - A Florida prosecutor who removed himself from the investigation into the shooting death of black teenager Trayvon Martin denied on Monday that he quashed police intentions to charge the shooter with manslaughter.

State Attorney Norm Wolfinger asked the U.S. Justice Department civil rights division to disregard a letter it received from lawyers for Martin's family which referred to reports that Wolfinger interfered in the police investigation.

The letter contained "outright lies," Wolfinger said.

George Zimmerman, 28, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed 17-year-old Martin on February 26 in Sanford, Florida, claiming self defense. Police did not arrest Zimmerman, saying evidence had failed to contradict his story that he was attacked by Martin.

The racially charged case has prompted demonstrations around the United States demanding Zimmerman's arrest. The Justice Department has agreed to review the investigation by Florida state and local authorities.

ABC News reported last week that Sanford police detective Chris Serino, unconvinced by Zimmerman's story of self-defense, wanted to charge him with manslaughter, but was overruled by Wolfinger's office.

A separate report by news website TheGrio.com, unconfirmed by Reuters, said Wolfinger left his home the Sunday night of the shooting to meet with Sanford police in person.

Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for the Martin family, asked the Justice Department in a letter on Monday to investigate those reports. Though the letter reported the events without attribution, Crump told Reuters his information came from the media reports and he did not have independent verification.

Wolfinger had declined all comment since removing himself from the case on March 22, but fired back in a statement on Monday.

"I am outraged by the outright lies contained in the letter by Benjamin Crump," Wolfinger said. "I encourage the Justice Department to investigate and document that no such meeting or communication occurred."

Wolfinger said last month he removed himself from the case in the hope of "toning down the rhetoric."

That same day, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee also stepped aside, saying "my involvement in the matter is overshadowing the process." The city commission governing Sanford had passed a motion of "no confidence" against Lee the night before.

Florida Governor Rick Scott named a special prosecutor, Angela Corey, to replace Wolfinger on the shooting investigation. Corey has yet to say if she intends to charge Zimmerman, who remains free but in hiding.

Lynne Bumpus-Hooper, a spokesman for Wolfinger, said the state attorney never spoke with Lee on the night of the shooting. Instead Sanford police consulted that night with Kelly Jo Hines, the prosecutor on call, Bumpus-Hooper said. She declined to say what was discussed.

"Police officers can make an arrest at virtually any dadgum point they feel they have enough probable cause to make an arrest," Bumpus-Hooper said. "They do not need our permission and they do not seek our permission."

George Zimmerman, 28, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed 17-year-old Martin on February 26 in Sanford, Florida, claiming self defense. Police did not arrest Zimmerman, saying evidence had failed to contradict his story that he was attacked by Martin.

Hmm isn't that what I've been saying for about a week now?

Another sad thing about this whole incident is it appears we will never know the truth. CYA has officially begun.

So many questions.

Did the police have Martin's cell phone?

Why didn't Martin's dad notice all the police cars/commotion outside (or were they gone by the time he returned home)?

Is there a video of Martin in a 7-11 prior to the incident?

Was Zimmerman returning home or on his way to the store?

 

@#3
I am not sure how any of that is relevant.

Even if Martin was found with a screwdriver and wire cutters in his pocket, that doesn't justify Z shooting him ( unless he was inside of Zs house )
Florida might even include the curtilage area.

Bbbbbut,I thought Chris Serino was overruled..., you mean there wasn't a conversation between Sanford police Chief Bill Lee,and State Attorney Norm Wolfinger on the night of the shooting ?

How can this be ..it was reported in the MSM ...and in this Forum they did ......now I'm really confused.

J_Galt,

it certainly is relevant.

If Martin was out looking to commit a burglary, it gives credibility to the idea he attacked Zimmerman.

If Martin never went to a 7-11, it gives credence to to the idea he was up to no good.

Etc, etc, etc.

@#6

14,
In the eyes of the law, I disagree.

if you are saying burglary tools makes 1 more likely to attack someone else, then the same argument can be made for someone carrying a gun ( Zimmerman )

Also if he was " up to no good "
certainly that can be prima facie
evidence to allow Z to approach T, and maybe even hold him at gunpoint, but not shoot him ( unless in fear of his life )

J_Galt,

I'm not at all taking about what justifies Zimmerman shooting Martin.

That question is answered by self-defense statute.

I'm talking about what actually happened and what would help answer the scenario leading up to the shooting.

Common areas often exist in gated communities where there is a tenancy in common, ,while it is private property all the tenants in common collectively own the common areas...so it would be owned by the condo/townhouse association colectively ..GZ would be a member of that association since he lived there..

If this is true ( in Florida ) then wouldn't Zimmerman have been standing his ground on his own property..

That is why I mentioned the curtlidge area.

I do not know if there is case law, but if I pay homeowners association fees, the
" common area " maybe just as much my property as somebody else's, and therefore I have a right to defend it

Why is moneysrh not chiming in.

Isn't this perhaps his whole argument?

Sorry, moneysrh, cashin, depeche2 and Disco I know you wanted him to be guilty soo badly.

GOP morals and integrity 

Did you guys see any Tea Party people in the #Trayvon marches?

Wonder why everybody thinks the right wing has racial prejudice. 

Anyone in this country has the right to ask someone a question.

Anyone involved in a neighborhood watch program has the right to defend their neighborhood by asking questions.

The minute they don't have the right to question a strangers reasoning for being in the area we are all screwed.

No,now that you mention it ...I didn't see any Tea Party people or Canadians ..in the # Trayvon marches... I wonder why that is ..?

@#15

how would you know if somebody in the march was a tea party member?
would you expect them to be carrying tea party signs instead of Treyvon Martin signs?

@#16
Are you suggesting if you ARE NOT participating in a Treyvon martin march, that means you have right wing racial prejudice?

Surprise surprise surprise...corrupted white people coming out of the woodwork to throw the truth under rug

The person leaking this information is detective Chris Serino but he isn’t going to come out and say it.

I don’t want Zimmerman to be guilty, I know he’s guilty.

I don’t believe a single civilian has the right to tell me jack shit. Unless you are in law enforcement, get the fuck out of my face.
Bowlslit – you know I love ya, ya crazy right winger

ie armed wannabe cops patrolling neighbourhoods and trying to make arrests on 'suspicious' looking people. 

===================

Yes, because of course by calling 9-11 Zimmerman was trying to make an arrest.

Really. That's like what he was trying to do.

interesting take from a "progressive" who calls people white skinheads. And as far as your comment, that "if it was self defense that doesn't mean anything in the big picture"...um, well yes it does, that is the big picture.

Whew ,,I was captain of the school safty patrol ..so I'm in !

Uh-oh, more narrative fail:

“You will recall the incident of the beating of the black homeless man Sherman Ware on December 4, 2010 by the son of a Sanford police officer. The beating sparked outrage in the community but there were very few that stepped up to do anything about it. I would presume the inaction was because of the fact that he was homeless not because he was black. Do you know the individual who stepped up when no one else in the black community would? Do you know who spent tireless hours putting flyers on the cars of persons parked in the churches of the black community? Do you know who waited for the church-goers to get out of church so that he could hand them flyers in an attempt to organize the black community against this horrible miscarriage of justice? Do you know who helped organize the City Hall meeting on January 8, 2011 at Sanford City Hall?? That person was GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.”