Trayvon Martin case will not go to grand jury

The special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case announced Monday that a grand jury will not hear the evidence against George Zimmerman. The panel will not decide whether to issue an indictment.

Special Prosecutor Declines Grand Jury in Zimmerman Case

Grand Jury Removed From the Process

Angela Corey said skipping the grand jury should not influence the case’s final outcome. The grand jury had been scheduled to meet Tuesday. Corey will now decide whether Zimmerman will be indicted. He has not been charged because of Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law.

Two Options Remain

Corey can either file charges or drop the case entirely.

She was appointed more than a month after Martin, 17, was shot and killed by Zimmerman, 28, a self‑appointed neighborhood watch captain.

Zimmerman’s Account of the Shooting

Zimmerman told police that Martin attacked him before the Feb. 26 shooting. He said Martin broke his nose and slammed his head into the concrete.

“At this time, the investigation continues and there will be no further comment from this office,” Corey’s office said in a statement.

Reactions From Zimmerman’s Team

A Zimmerman attorney told CNN he was “not surprised.” He added that he did not know what Corey would decide. He also called her move “courageous.”

Martin Family Remains Hopeful

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Martin family, said they remain hopeful charges will be filed in the Trayvon Martin case.

“We want to believe this is a positive sign,” Crump told USA Today. He said the family hopes the prosecutor has enough information to arrest Zimmerman. He added that they are trying to stay patient and trust the system.

Corey Previously Signaled This Move

Corey hinted weeks earlier that she might bypass the grand jury. “I always lean towards moving forward without needing the grand jury in a case like this,” she told the Miami Herald on March 29. “I foresee us being able to make a decision and move it on our own.”

Florida State Attorney Norm Wolfinger had announced only nine days earlier that a grand jury would review the case.

How Grand Juries Typically Function

Grand juries are often used in high‑profile cases to decide whether charges are possible. They operate in secret to protect the fairness of any future trial.

According to the Associated Press, Florida law requires grand juries for first‑degree murder cases, but not for lesser charges.