George Zimmerman, who shot the unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin while on neighborhood watch in Sanford, Florida, has been found not guilty. The six-woman jury deliberated for more than 16 hours, and, late Saturday night, acquitted Zimmerman both of second-degree murder and of manslaughter.
After the verdict was read, Judge Debra S. Nelson, of Seminole County Court, told Mr. Zimmerman, that he was free to go. “You have no further business with the court,” she said.
Trayvon Martin’s parents were not in the courtroom when the verdict was read.
Earlier on Slate’s Crime blog, Justin Peters explained why Zimmerman would probably walk.
