Prosecutor rules out grand jury in Trayvon Martin case

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - The special prosecutor investigating the shooting death of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin has ruled out using a grand jury in the case, meaning her office alone will decide whether to charge shooter George Zimmerman with a crime.

The case has captured national attention, largely because of race. Martin, 17, was black and Zimmerman, 28, who has not been charged, is white and Hispanic.

Police in the town of Sanford declined to arrest Zimmerman after the shooting, saying they found no evidence to contradict his account that he acted in self-defense.

The state attorney previously investigating the shooting, Norm Wolfinger, had said the case would go to a grand jury on April 10. That grand jury would have decided whether to charge Zimmerman but Wolfinger removed himself from the case on March 22.

Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Angela Corey, a seasoned state attorney in Jacksonville, to take over the case.

"State Attorney Angela Corey has decided not to use a grand jury in the Trayvon Martin shooting death investigation," her office said in a statement. "At this time, the investigation continues and there will be no further comment from this office."

Lawyers for both sides in the case said the decision did not come as a surprise.

"We are not surprised by this announcement and, in fact, are hopeful that a decision will be reached very soon to arrest George Zimmerman and give Trayvon Martin's family the simple justice they have been seeking all along," Benjamin Crump, a Martin family attorney, said in a statement.

"The family has been patient throughout this process and asks that those who support them do the same during this very important investigation."

SHARPTON TO KEEP PRESSING

One of the lawyers representing the Zimmerman family, Hal Uhrig, told CNN he was not surprised, by Corey's decision. "Courageous move on her part," he said.

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton also issued a statement saying the decision "vindicates the position that we have taken all along - that is you do not need a grand jury to make an arrest of George Zimmerman on probable cause."

He said civil rights leaders planned to "keep the pressure on" until an arrest is made in the case.

Corey's decision appeared to confirm her reputation as a tough-minded prosecutor who does not shy away from deciding how to handle difficult cases.

"It's very bold on her part," said David Weinstein, a former Florida state and federal prosecutor now in private practice in Miami. "She has no qualms about whatever decision she is going to make. She is not going to let it be passed off on somebody else."

Unlike some states, Florida law gives prosecutors the option of allowing charges to be decided by a grand jury except in cases involving a possible death penalty.

The shooting has generated protests around the country demanding Zimmerman's arrest and criticizing the police investigation.

Relatives and supporters of Zimmerman say he was attacked by Martin and feared for his life when he fired his 9mm handgun, which he was licensed to carry.

Amid withering criticism of the investigation, Wolfinger removed himself from the case and was replaced by Corey. Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee stepped aside that same day.

The latest protest took place on Monday outside the Sanford Police Department, forcing police to temporarily close the station to the public, suspend some services such as finger-printing, and move routine business to the city clerk's office.

(Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta in New York, David Adams and Kevin Gray in Miami; Editing by Bill Trott)

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