George Zimmerman was found not guilty of charges second degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin.
The fact that Zimmerman fired the bullet that killed Martin was never in question, but the verdict means the six-person jury had reasonable doubt that the shooting amounted to a criminal act.
The verdict caps a case that has inflamed passions for well over a year, much of it focused on race and gun rights.
The six-person jury — all women — had three choices: to find Zimmerman guilty of second-degree murder; to find him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter; or to find him not guilty.
The jurors deliberated for 16½ hours total, including 13 on Saturday alone, before delivering their verdict.
The prosecutors were very diplomatic in their post-verdict press conference. Let's see if the American public, at large, will be as understanding of a verdict that has caught many off guard.
"It was a little bit David and Goliath, but we won." ~ Mark O'Mara comparing his defense team to David.
— BlackVoices (@blackvoices) July 14, 2013
What are your thoughts? @BarackObama We're allowed to disregard 911 operators, pursue and kill ppl now? But send lauryn hill to jail 4 TAXES
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) July 14, 2013
Plaxico Burress did 2 years for shooting himself. George Zimmerman kills a minor… #NotGuilty Again. Welcome to American justice.
