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Justice Dept. not expected to charge Zimmerman

To prove the shooting was an actual hate crime, prosecutors must not only provide evidence that Zimmerman pursued Martin because of his race but also that he shot the teen intentionally.

By Aileen Graef
George Zimmerman listens as the verdict is announced that the jury finds him not guilty on day twenty-five of his trial in the Seminole circuit court Sanford, Florida, July 13, 2013. The jury deliberated for sixteen hours aver two days. UPI/Joe Burbank/Pool
George Zimmerman listens as the verdict is announced that the jury finds him not guilty on day twenty-five of his trial in the Seminole circuit court Sanford, Florida, July 13, 2013. The jury deliberated for sixteen hours aver two days. UPI/Joe Burbank/Pool | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- George Zimmerman is not expected to be charged by the Justice Department for the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin, despite the racial implications.

The two-year-old investigation is currently open but is likely to be closed as there is insufficient evidence to bring federal charges, three law enforcement officials told the Washington Post.

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George Zimmerman was acquitted after shooting 17-year-old African-American Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. after making the case it was self-defense. Activists groups pressed the Justice Department to bring federal charges against Zimmerman as it is widely thought the shooting was racially motivated.

"These are very difficult cases to make," said one law enforcement official. "There is a high burden. We have to prove that a person was doing this with the intent of depriving someone of his civil rights."

To prove the shooting was an actual hate crime, prosecutors must not only provide evidence that Zimmerman pursued Martin because of his race but also that he shot the teen intentionally.

Mark O'Mara, who represented Zimmerman, said they cannot make the case because the 40 witness statements they collected showed Zimmerman acted contrarily in his daily life.

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The statements "suggested that George acted in very non-racist ways. He took a black girl to the prom. His best buddy was a black guy. He mentored two black kids. He sought justice for a black homeless man beaten up by a white cop's son," O'Mara told the Post. "To those who have seen civil rights investigations and civil rights violations, it looked as though the Department of Justice was just placating pressure that existed by suggesting there was an ongoing investigation."

Benjamin Crump, the Martin family's lawyer, said they will not comment on the case until they are officially notified about its status by the Justice Department.

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