Special prosecutor Angela Corey is about to announce what charges George Zimmerman will face for killing Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman is in custody, and the AP has reported he will be charged with second-degree murder.
See here for a livestream.
3:02 PM PT: Corey is introducing the team of investigators and others involved. "I can tell you we did not come to this decision lightly."
3:03 PM PT: "We do not prosecute by public pressure" but on the laws and the evidence.
3:04 PM PT: Defendant's rights will be protected as well as those of the victim. "We will continue to seek the truth throughout this case."
3:05 PM PT: It's second-degree murder. They don't seem to have him in custody as had been reported.
3:06 PM PT: Scratch that, Zimmerman is in custody.
3:08 PM PT: Zimmerman turned himself in and was arrested. Corey gets testy when asked why it took this long for charges.
3:10 PM PT: Currently there is no bond, though a bond hearing may be held in future. Returning to the investigation's timeline, "The only slight delay is the fact that the governor stepped in and appointed us."
3:11 PM PT: Corey is repeatedly insisting that the Sanford police department was doing the right thing before she took over.
3:13 PM PT: "We have to have a reasonable certainty of conviction before we file charges."
3:14 PM PT: "Those of us in law enforcement are committed to justice for every race ...We only know one category as prosecutors and that's a V ... for victim."
3:17 PM PT: These reporters have met their match when it comes to stonewalling. In Corey's telling, everything has been done right from the word go, everyone in law enforcement is without any bias, and she either does not know or cannot say anything else.
3:20 PM PT: "We will fight justice hard in this case." I'm assuming there was supposed to be a "for" in there.
3:22 PM PT: This is probably the most extensive civics lesson many viewers have ever had. Law student hearts everywhere must be swelling.
3:23 PM PT: "We have numerous homicides where immediate arrests are not made."
3:24 PM PT: I think that after meeting with Trayvon's parents ... the first thing we did was pray with them." Says prosecutors did not promise Trayvon's parents anything but have stayed in touch and will stay in touch.
3:39 PM PT (Kaili Joy Gray): The Martin family is now holding a press conference. The thread is here.