Zimmerman Jury Allowed to Consider Lesser Charge of Manslaughter

[Content Note: Violence; racism.]

This is important trial news [note: video begins to play automatically at link]:

The judge in the Trayvon Martin murder case agreed Thursday to instruct jurors to consider the lesser charge of manslaughter when they begin deliberations.

George Zimmerman had been charged only with second-degree murder. Judge Debra Nelson did not immediately rule on a prosecution request that a third-degree murder count would be added.

Zimmerman's attorneys had objected to adding any lesser charges, and Judge Debra Nelson held a hearing on the issue Thursday morning. The jury still has the option of convicting Zimmerman, 29, of the second-degree murder charge that prosecutors sought when the trial began.

...Second-degree murder in Florida carries a possible life sentence. If convicted of manslaughter, Zimmerman could get up to 30 years.

So, basically, the prosecution decided not to roll the dice with a single charge, because if the jury decided the prosecution hadn't proved second-degree murder, they would be forced to acquit Zimmerman. Adding the manslaughter charge as an alternative means that the jury can find the prosecution didn't prove second-degree murder and acquit on that charge, but still convict Zimmerman of manslaughter. They can also, of course, find Zimmerman not guilty of all charges, but adding this lesser charge increases the chances of a conviction.

Jury deliberations will begin tomorrow. Fingers crossed.