07-12-2013, 03:49 PM
(07-12-2013, 03:04 PM)BlueTiki Wrote: Self-defense law and SYG are NOT synonymous.
It surprised me last year when O'Mara made some public statements indicating that he wasn't going for SYG, but standard self defense.
His explanations as to why were never really clear to me. After reviewing the differences, I wasn't so surprised:
-He wanted to shift the burden of proof from the defense to the prosecution?
-He didn't want Zimmerman to be subject to cross-examination?
-He felt that a jury was a better bet than a judge and didn't want to show his cards to the state in the event that he failed getting SYG immunity and had to go to trial anyway?
-Maybe all of the above
Earlier this year when he confirmed that Zimmerman wouldn't be seeking SYG immunity from prosecution and waived the SYG immunity hearing, O'Mara successfully argued a motion to Judge Nelson that the SYG law doesn't technically prevent him from merging a SYG hearing with the murder trial; the defense had that option available.
I think O'Mara would have used that option had he felt the state's case was stronger during its case-in-chief.
If George gets convicted, he and his attorneys may have some big regrets in not choosing the SYG route. Gamble.
JMO and to the best of my understanding.