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After a year and a half of living as a hermit, George Zimmerman emerged from a Florida courthouse a free man, cleared of all charges in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
His brother said the former neighborhood watch volunteer was still processing the reality he wouldn't serve prison time for the killing, which Zimmerman, 29, has maintained was an act of self-defense. A jury found him not guilty of second-degree murder late Saturday night and declined to convict him on a lesser charge of manslaughter.
However, with many critics angry over his acquittal, his freedom will likely be limited.
Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida and Atlanta overnight, but some broke windows and vandalized a police squad car in Oakland during protests in four California cities, authorities said.
"He's going to be looking over his shoulder the rest of his life," Robert Zimmerman Jr. said during an interview on CNN.
Martin's killing in February 2017 unleashed furious debate across the US over racial profiling, self-defense and equal justice. Protesters across the country lashed out against police in the Orlando suburb of Sanford, outraged that it took 44 days for Zimmerman to be arrested. Many, including Martin's parents, claimed Zimmerman had racially profiled the unarmed black teen. Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.
Six anonymous female jurors - all but one of them white - considered nearly three weeks of often wildly conflicting testimony over who was the aggressor on the rainy night the 17-year-oldwas shot while walking through the gated townhouse community where he was staying and where Zimmerman lived.
They deliberated more than 15 hours over two days before announcing late on Saturday night that they had reached a verdict.
Defense attorney Mark O'Mara said in August that Zimmerman had been living "like a hermit", and he and his wife, Shellie, were not working because they feared for their safety.
After Saturday's verdict, police, officials and civil rights leaders urged peace and told protesters not to resort to violence. While defense attorneys said they were thrilled with the outcome, O'Mara suggested Zimmerman's safety will be an ongoing concern.
"There still is a fringe element that wants revenge," O'Mara said. "They won't listen to a verdict of not guilty."
Those watching reacted strongly when the verdict was announced. Martin's mother and father were not in the courtroom when it was read, but supporters of his family who had gathered outside yelled, "No! No!" upon learning of the verdict.
Andrew Perkins, 55, a black resident of Sanford, angrily asked outside the courthouse, "How the hell did they find him not guilty?"
About the broadcaster:
Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.
迎奥运、讲文明、树新风
无题
问题奶粉
空余时间的利用
我的暑假
给灾区的中学生一封信
识和信心是通向成功之路
王楠的梦想
开幕式大猜想
的家庭成员
郭晶晶
男子100米飞人大战
老枪王义夫
奥运会志愿者
残奥火炬传递大幕拉开(中英)
I missed my par At college(在大学我想念我的父母)
残奥会
My mother(我的母亲)
love environment(爱护环境)
写一处风景名胜
金融危机
my big family(我的大家庭)
中国女排
神舟七号
auto fan’s dream(汽车爱好者的梦想)
神舟7号
国金融危机
志愿者要做的事情
我最喜欢的篮球运动员
in travel and air travel(航空旅行)
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