George Zimmerman charged with second degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin

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After weeks of tension and protests, Florida state prosecutor Angela Corey has charged George Zimmerman with second degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Zimmerman is in custody, after turning himself in, and is currently being held without bond. Special prosecutor Angela Corey didn’t say where he was being held.

George Zimmerman Charged with second degree murder

The second degree murder charge was announced shortly after 6 p.m. at a press conference televised live.

Corey said the decision to file the murder charge came after “an intensive investigation” and “the search for justice.”

“We did not come to this decision lightly,” she said. “We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition.”

17-year-old Trayvon Martin killed

It has been 45 days since Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman while walking to his father’s girlfriend’s home from a convenience store.

Since news of the shooting went viral, Zimmerman went into hiding after numerous protests calling for his arrest. Yesterday, Zimmerman’s former attorneys withdrew from the case saying they lost contact with their client. The neighborhood watch captain dropped his former lawyers, and hired a new one.

Murder in the second degree, under Florida law, refers to a killing carried out without premeditation but with “a depraved mind regardless of human life.” If convicted, Zimmerman faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. His attorney, Mark O’Mara, said Zimmerman will plead not guilty to the charge.

An arrest had been delayed because of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground law”, which gives people wide latitude to claim self-defense in a killing and other altercations.

Voices, what do you think about George Zimmerman’s charge?