Trayvon Martin
Read more about the killing in our section Trayvon Martin Watch.
ast night the U.S. Justice Department announced plans to investigate Trayvon Martin’s Killing, issuing a cautious statement that highlights the hurdle Martin’s case must meet to merit prosecution.
According to the Miami Herald, the statement — which isn’t published on the department’s website — says: “With all federal civil rights crimes, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person acted intentionally and with the specific intent to do something which the law forbids – the highest level of intent in criminal law. Negligence, recklessness, mistakes and accidents are not prosecutable under the federal criminal civil rights laws.”
“The department will conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation,” the statement also says, according to the Miami Herald. “The department also is providing assistance to and cooperating with the state officials in their investigation into the incident. ”
Also, intervening in the investigation will be the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which the Miami Herald reports has been asked by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to offer “appropriate resources” in the case.
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