UPI en Español  |   UPI Asia  |   About UPI  |   My Account
Search:
Go

No grand jury in Trayvon Martin case

|
 
Sybrina Fulton (R) and Tracy Martin (C), parents of teenager Trayvon Martin who was killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, listen to family attorney Ben Crump at a Democratic forum called by the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC. The shooting has sparked a debate about Florida's Stand Your Ground self defense law, Zimmerman has not been arrested and many details remain unknown. UPI/Mike Theiler
Sybrina Fulton (R) and Tracy Martin (C), parents of teenager Trayvon Martin who was killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, listen to family attorney Ben Crump at a Democratic forum called by the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC. The shooting has sparked a debate about Florida's Stand Your Ground self defense law, Zimmerman has not been arrested and many details remain unknown. UPI/Mike Theiler 
License photo
Published: April 9, 2012 at 1:29 PM

SANFORD, Fla., April 9 (UPI) -- Evidence in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin case will not go before a grand jury, a Florida special prosecutor said.

The grand jury scheduled by a former prosecutor was supposed to start Tuesday but State Attorney Angela Corey's office confirmed Monday that no grand jury would be used in the case, The Miami Herald reported.

Gov. Rick Scott assigned Corey, the state attorney for Duval, Nassau and Clay counties, to take over the case from Seminole County State Attorney Norm Wolfinger March 22.

Martin, who was unarmed, was fatally shot Feb. 26 by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, 28, after Zimmerman called police to report a "suspicious" person in a gated community in Sanford, Fla.,

Zimmerman was not arrested because of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law that allows deadly force if a person feels his life is in danger.

Martin's Twitter account suggests he was a typical 17-year-old who liked girls and wanted to go to college, supporters of the slain Florida teen say.

His posts, which were hacked by white supremacists and posted on the Internet, also show he loved rap music and liked joking about street culture, The Miami Herald reported Monday.

The Miami Herald cross-referenced tweets from his account with people mentioned throughout and determined the posts were from Martin's Twitter account, which has since been taken down.

Critics have tried to use the posts to show Martin had a violent nature, but friends says the teen was not violent. Ricaysha Milton, 17, who knew Martin from Carol City High School said Martin would "rather walk away than fight.''

The Herald said the tweets were sometimes vulgar and he often quoted explicit song lyrics.

A screen shot of Martin's Gmail account was also posted on the Internet. It showed e-mails about upcoming SAT exams, scholarship opportunities and invitations to a college open house.

Some experts say Martin's social media posts should be used to determine if Zimmerman's conduct was reasonable, others say a young person's online persona may not offer a true picture of who he is, the newspaper said.

Topics: Rick Scott, George Zimmerman
Recommended Stories
© 2012 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
'Star Trek Into Darkness' screening NBC upfronts Met Ball 2013
'Great Gatsby' premieres in New York Spire raised on top of One WTC 2013: Celebrity break ups and divorces
Additional U.S. News Stories
1 of 15
138th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Mayland
View Caption
Race fans enjoy a shot in the infield during the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. Kentucky Derby winner Orb is looking for a Triple Crown possibility with a win today at Pimlico. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
fark
Jesus, it's not every day you see a naked man on a scooter, carrying a large cross
$600 million of American bettors' Powerball money now belongs to someone in Florida. New lottery...
High schooler expelled, charged with felony for lesbian relationship. Florida tag lives up to its...
Photoshop this hairy situation
Gate 14....gate 15.....gate 16....gate 17
Iowa has gone 358 days without a tornado. Tornadoes ready to put an end to the streak