Originally Posted By: Matter-eater Man
Why would you think he was essentially cleared?


From various news accounts at the time, including your own post from approximately 18 months ago:

 Originally Posted By: Matter-eater Man
....Chris Serino, the Sanford, Florida investigator, filed an affidavit on the night of crime saying he was unconvinced of Zimmerman’s account. However, the state attorney’s office Norman Wolfinger told Serino not to press charges against Zimmerman after he said there wasn’t enough evidence against him.

Police later accepted Zimmerman’s claim that he shot the 17-year-old Martin out of self-defense.


If the DA says there is insufficient evidence to prosecute and the police say they believe the defendant's claim of self defense, that amounts to being essentially cleared.