After slightly more than 16 hours of deliberation a jury of six women has decided that George Zimmerman is not guilty of second-degree murder and not guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of 17-ytear-old Trayvon Martin, according to The New York Times.
Throughout the three weeks of the trial the prosecution attempted to make the case that Zimmerman had pursued Martin and instigated the altercation that ended with Martin dead, in the end the six woman jury determined that they believed that Zimmerman was in fear for his life when he shot Martin, according to The New York Times.
As the verdict was read Zimmerman cracked a small smile while his wife, Shellie, and several of his friends who were in the courtroom openly wept. Zimmerman's parents kissed and embraced upon learning that their son had been acquitted. Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of Trayvon Martin, were not in the courtroom when the verdict was read, reports the New York Times.
As the verdict was announced there were close to 100 demonstrators waiting outside of the Seminole County courthouse. As the hours passed the crowd got ever larger. Sheriff's deputies were eyeballing the crowd and making sure that they did not get out of hand.
The case gathered national attention because of the racial component and because Zimmerman was not charged with a crime for 44 days. The Martin family along with various civil rights leaders called for Zimmerman to be charged, arguing that if the tables had been turned and a black man had shot a white teenager that authorities never would have accepted the self-defense angle, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Shortly after the shooting President Barack Obama addressed the incident.
"Obviously, this is a tragedy," President Obama said. "I can only imagine what these parents are going through, and when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids, and I think every parent in America should be able to understand while it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this, and that everybody pulls together - federal, state and local - to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened. If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."
This case also brought to attention Florida's self-defense laws. In Florida a person is allowed to use lethal force any time they feel they are at danger of great bodily harm, even if they are able to retreat from the danger, according to The New York Times.
The prosecution's case rested upon convincing the jury that Zimmerman was an out of control vigilante, a man hell bent on protecting the neighborhood that the law no longer mattered to him. In the end when the jury looked at Zimmerman they saw a man who cared about the welfare of his neighborhood, reports the Los Angeles Times.
While the parents of Martin were not in the courtroom for the verdict Martin's father, Tracy, expressed his thoughts on Twitter after the announcement.
"God blessed me & Sybrina with Tray and even in his death I know my baby proud of the FIGHT we along with all of you put up for him GOD BLESS," Tracy Martin wrote shortly after the verdict was announced. Shortly thereafter he also tweeted, "Even though I am broken hearted my faith is unshattered I WILL ALWAYS LOVE MY BABY TRAY."
Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, sent out a message thanking God, according to CNN.
"Lord during my darkest hour I lean on you. You are all that I have. At the end of the day, GOD Is still in control. Thank you for your prayers and support. I will love you forever Trayvon!!! In the name of Jesus!!!"
