I trust that everyone had a safe and satisfying celebration of the birthday of the greatest nation on earth yesterday, and that no fireworks were left unexpended (if any were left unexpended, deduct 10% from “man-card”–and for Pete’s sake, don’t tell anybody).
Today we will again be covering the Zimmerman Trial live, all day, with streaming video. Continuing commentary will be posted in the Twitter feed of selected contributors below the first video feed, and breaking news will be added at the bottom of this post.
During the lunch recess, or immediately thereafter, we will post a mid-day update. We’ll then follow up with the usual detailed end-of-day wrap up, including video and embedded Tweets, at the usual time in the evening.
ALERT! Court started at 8:40AM, early than expected. Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sabryna Fulton, is currently on the stand. It is anticipated that the State will finish with the last of its witnesses today and rest its case. At that point I expect the defense will submit a motion for a directed verdict, Judge Nelson will deny the motion, and the defense will begin to present its case.
Yesterday I posted up a general review of the trial to date, with some prognostication of how things may role out in the coming days. To take a look at that, click here:
Zimmerman Trial Review– How We Got Here, And Where We’re Going
For all of our prior coverage on day-to-day events in court, as covered here at Legal Insurrection, click here:
ARCHIVE: Zimmerman Trial LIVE coverage all day, every day
For all of our prior coverage on issues specific to the Law of Self Defense as covered at my own blog, click here:
Law of Self Defense Blog: Zimmerman Trial
(NOTE: If you do wander over to the LOSD blog, be sure to come back to Legal Insurrection to comment, as nearly all my time is spent here for the duration of the trial.)
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Friday, July 5 Commentary
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Andrew F. Branca is an MA lawyer and author of the seminal book “The Law of Self Defense,” now available in its just released 2nd Edition, which shows you how to successfully fight the 20-to-life legal battle everyone faces after defending themselves. July 5, 2013 is the LAST DAY to take advantage of the 30% pre-order discount, only $35, plus free shipping. To do so simply visit the Law of Self Defense blog.
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Comments
MOM to the judge:
“Even though you’re not following my first track I’m going to my second track” or something to that effect.
Expression of judge’s face is priceless.
That’s not exactly what he said. What he said was that, under the law, he doesn’t get a second bite at the apple, so he has to present all of his arguments to the judge before she rules so that she has a smorgasbord to choose from rather than a single argument that she might shoot down.
I don’t see any way this judge can do anything but direct an acquittal. If she doesn’t, it will clearly be overturned on appeal.
Question for the lawyers. If she rules against them, can they go directly to appeal before beginning their defense?
A writ of mandamus here in Texas. They call it different things in different places.
It is an interlocutory appeal (made during the pendency of a trial before a final judgement).
I don’t know if one is procedurally possible here.
Thanks. That’s why I added “something to that effect.” Appreciate the clarification.
Any of us lawyer types know the standard of review for a directed acquittal in Florida?
That is the cutting edge here.
I havent’t researched it, but I assume since its essentially asking the court to make a factual determination it’s an abuse of discretion standard. As an appellate judge once once explained it, “it’s not an abuse of discretion if a retarded monkey would agree.”
I believe the correct procedure, if its available, is a petition for writ of certiorari. However, the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure very strictly define what is allowed in terms of appealing final orders and non-final (interlocutory) orders.
To be honest, I don’t think this is immediately appealable as one of the enumerated interlocutory orders, and I’d be somewhat surprised if it was reviewable by petition for cert.
This is an example of what a defense lawyer must do to attempt to overcome extreme bias by the presiding judge. A very thorough decimation of the prosecution case. She has nowhere to hide if she renders a political judgement. This has been a political trial from start to presumed finish.
Was Benjamin Crump ever called to testify?
The judge was giving defense all kinds of grief on Wednesday about not having deposed him yet.
(Is it wrong that it warmed the cockles of my dark, evil heart when I realized that the defense has managed to keep the instigator of this whole farce holed up in a hotel room for over a month?)
Crump is in the court room today.
Crump will look really good in orange.
So he’s not a witness? Been deposed?
Is he allowed to talk about the case yet? IANAL, so I don’t recall if a possible witness is allowed leeway if he/she isn’t “under oath”.
Is he allowed to “read up” on the case so far?
I wonder if he (Crump) realizes how badly this case is going for the prosecution.
This was Self Defense, nothing else.
George Zimmerman was extremely reluctant to use his firearm.
GZ postponed doing so until Trayvon Martin threatened his life and reached for his gun.
GZ tried and tried IN VAIN to get people to help him restrain TM.
No ill will, spite or malice.
Isn’t this a long wrap up?
Is the judge chewing gum?
O’Mara has to be very thorough to make sure he gets everything in the record.
Should O’Mara address the ‘depraved mind’ issue?
MOM seems to be trying to avoid Murder 2, but if self-defense doesn’t pass muster with the judge he doesn’t seem to be arguing against a lesser charge such as manslaughter.
I asked this yesterday…I think…
If a directed acquittal is granted on murder II, does it procedurally sweep in all less-included causes, too?
No response from anyone who knew.
A judgement of acquittal would be equivalent of a not guilty verdict on all charges. He could not be charged again for an offense that arose out of the “transaction” that happened that rainy night between himself and the deceased. I have never seen a judge give a judgment of acquittal at the end of the State’s case. It may have happened somewhere, sometime, but it never happened in my experience. There is a greater chance to get a directed verdict at the end of ALL the evidence. The standard is different at that time.
Thanks! I sort of figured that. Glad the ol’ instincts still work.
Question: Zimmerman was charged with 2nd Degree Murder. Was charged with the lesser crimes of Manslaughter also? If not, how can the state change the charge after the trial has started? I know they can offer a plea bargain, but Zimmerman isn’t pleading to anything.
Once you charge a suspect, and he prepares his defense for a crime, an the state on the spur of the moment change the charge?
I believe that Manslaughter is a lesser included offense and does not have to be separately charged. A crime is a lesser included offense if all the elements of the lesser crime are included in the greater crime.
It’s a lesser included charge, but judge would have to instruct jury re this . Given her attitude, I’m not even sure that she will.
It’s not up to Nelson’s discretion, manslaughter IS statutorily a lesser included offense of murder.
#zimmermantrial : EXCLUSIVE: If State can’t get MURDER 2, can they still get MANSLAUGHTER? Yes . . . and no. See: http://is.gd/4PZJEm
–Andrew, @LawSelfDefense
Wow. Looking at some of these florida appeal court precedents, they’re VERY scanty on helpful analysis on this stuff. These cases are like a page or two long. Not much for anyone to rely on.
They don’t want anyone confused by the facts. 😉
According to the prosecutors, shooting somebody in the heart in self defense is evidence of ill will!!!!
Is this guy stupid?
Or does he think the rest of the world is, making him indeed stupid.
Well, you know people of Florida.
If you ever find yourself in fear for your life, make sure you don’t shoot your aggressor through the heart.
OK?
Be very careful.
OK?
just say you tried to shoot them in the foot and missed.
Straight through the heart! In cold blood!
State wrap up now. MOM is far more eloquent. State guy is annoyingly histrionic.
He likes to curse.
This guy’s voice has the same effect on me as the POS. Hit the mute button.
Wow, she is not even listening to MOM…. how rude.
Grab him? Where’s the evidence of that?
Jeantel: TM said “Get off me!” during the phone call.
wait until Jeantel is recalled. You cannot hear anything when a phone is dead.
“Get off” is a slang for let’s ‘get down and dirty’ ‘Bring it.’
Given the gender of the participants, that was highly ambiguous….
“They are not even pretending that this defendant did not “kill Trayvon Martin.”
DUH!!!!!!
both attorneys are practicing their jury summations
Listening to this prosecutor makes me sick at my stomach. These guys have shown NOTHING that shows George Zimmerman’s state of mind.
His basic argument is that if you want be in law enforcement then you have ill will toward unknown people.
Pathetic.
Well GZ shot him through the heart.
He should have only fired a warning shot and creased his scalp like John Travolta did to the other guy in “Get Shorty.”
The kill shot is evidence of malicious intent, finishing off the innocent young boy, due to being a frustrated failure as an LEO.
The other guy was Dennis Farina.
He did. He just missed…
I would like to know how you do NOT shoot a guy center mass when he is right on top of you at point blank range.
While everyone else tweeting is referring to O’Mara, Andrew keeps saying West. Mistaken identity?
BDLR is basically babbling now.
No GZ said I’ll just meet them at my truck b/c I can’t find a street address and TM is gone.
Couldn’t see address b/c it was dark and raining.
It’s going to be up to MOM and West to refute each and every one of Mantei’s statement of their case here.
BDLR may have made a tactical error by saying the shooting itself is the evidence of malice though. Maybe FL requires some OTHER evidence not JUST the fact of the killing itself?
I don’t think that’s BDLR. It’s the other guy – Mantei?
Noted. I’m tired.
Me too. Had to turn the sound off.
At this point, it is a matter stubbornness and personal pride for the prosecutors. They know they have no case.
As a Florida taxpayer I DEMAND that this farce is over.
Where is there any evidence that GZ was lying? Only RJ’s testimony contradicts him and every other witness was either unsure about what happened or backs up GZ’s statements. RJ testimony is the only evidence against GZ. Would someone really convict on her testimony.
“If the cracker’s head was split, you must acquit.”
Thats Crazy Ass Cracker to you!
I prefer Ritz crackers, thanks.
Mantei’s entire paradigm is dependent on exaggeration and imagination.
So if these prosecutors live in markham woods can they name every street in their neighborhood ? Can they name any of the streets in their neighborhood other than the immediate streets they live on?
I still don’t know the names of the feeder streets to my street and I’ve been here 5 years.
That pretty much makes you a cold blooded killer!
Would be hysterical if the defense called the prosecution to stand to quiz them over their own street names.
I’ve decided that Mantei reminds me of Droopy Dog.
Augie Doggy?
Doggy Daddy?
Huckleberry Hound?
And what about that cartoon dog who would float up in the air when he got a dog treat?
No, not any of those others. Especially not Huckleberry Hound. He was a completely different character.
Mantei’s appearance is almost a dead ringer for Droopy Dog.
Reminds me of a Grisham character, maybe Oscar from The Litigators.
Even with the sound off I can’t stand the sight of that smug sneering face.
There were no instructions from the police. A dispatcher is not a LEO! Wow he continually lies about the facts.
Mantei better tighten up his game when it gets to the jury. They are on thin ice already credibility-wise after the Bao disaster.
This guy is stupid. I heard better hyperbolic nonsense over at Dem Underground.
That’s where he hangs out.
I guess the prosecution can lie all they want during this argument.
I hate to be a cynic but this kind of argument is S.O.P. for a vast number of prosecutors.
They “spin” faster than Superman at a square dance. It’s just that it’s not exposed very often like it is here.
Same deal with witnesses like Bao, and Rao. The only thing “new” here is that it’s a big deal news story.
Three kinds of people have a limited ability to lie in court. Judge, lawyers, and police. (Been in court and heard it done.)
Mantei: GZ is the only one with MMA training. Does that open the door to introduce TZ’s references to MMA with Jentel in their cell phone conversation?
except that GZ did not have MMA training!!
Sounded like a boys voice? TM could have had a voice as deep as Barry White. There is no evidence of TM’s voice.
To hear Trayvon Martin’s voice, Google this if you can stomach a little biased reporting in order to hear it, and if ABC didn’t fabricate it. I think it’s from the bum fight video:
ABC News – Trayvon Martin Case: Voice Recording
Evidence of martin’s voice does in fact exist. It is deeper than Zimmerman’s voice.
It also has a very different cadence. George has a voice with a distinctive cadence. Listen to how he speaks and you will see what I mean.
I am a total stranger, yet I could tell that the voice calling for help is in fact George. It is the cadence that comes through in the cries that identifies George.
The state’s argument for second degree murder could be made against every police officer that has ever had to shoot a perp in the line of duty.
1. The shooting itself is sufficient evidence to find a depraved mind.
2. The defendant had access to information about self defense so he could have constructed a lie.
When it’s a police shoot they generally try to make sure all contrary witnesses are dead.
OK I apologize for that one, I’m getting punchy.
wow. I wonder if Mantai speaks to his mother with that lying mouth.
The state’s argument that Martin “had the right to defend himself too” makes no sense. The right to defend himself from what, exactly? From being watched? From being followed, at a distance? If Martin truly believed that the person following him was a threat, why not just get his ass back home? He had plenty of time to do that, but he chose not to.
There’s not one scintilla of evidence that Zimmerman ever threatened Martin in any way before Martin punched Zimmerman in the face. So what was Martin “defending himself” from when he punched Zimmerman? Martin’s hurt feelings at being watched/followed by Zimmerman?
What Florida law gave Martin the right to commit assault and battery on Zimmerman because Zimmerman looked at him funny?
You forget, Zimmerman was a creepy ass-cracker. Clearly, Martin had the right to give a good beat down to a creepy ass-cracker, right?
Prosecution openly lying and using arguments that they have failed to prove makes me really scared.
I hope some kind of Court of Appeal can strike all of this down and hopefully ban these guys from ever coming near a courthouse, unless it is as defendants.
Otherwise, as a citizen, I feel like the state can do as it pleases to punish or incarcerate me. And by ME I mean any of us.
Flat iron to the prosecutor’s head? Dropped on head at birth? Or just plain old flat head with no modicum of a brain? I think this prosecutor suffers from far more than ineptitude
No, it is not ineptitude.
It is outright malicious lack of ethics or decency.
How does Surezo/Jenkins case help the State???
I’ve hear the Prosecutor make 2-3 claims that are outright lies from the evidence presented in the case. That cannot be accidental.
BDLR’s bitch sounds better when after I hit mute button.
TM had a right to self defense b/c GZ’s screams could have harmed TM’s eardrums.
LOL. Your self-defense argument makes more sense than the state’s argument.
Wonder if she’ll rule on the spot & tell the defense to start now………
She will reserve her ruling until Monday and break for the weekend.
On Monday she will deny the motion.
Over the weekend, Judge Nelson will look at how the case is being viewed in the media. This will be an input into her decision but will still be a denial of the motion.
Shameful, but that’s probably what’s going to happen, judging by her obvious bias.
To top it off, the judge looks like a constipated bullfrog.
No particular relevance to the case, but I’m just sayin’.
There was another judge from Seminole county who got into a lot of trouble years ago based on decisions made in cases – anyone from that area remember the specifics? Thinking 70’s 80’s
MOM needs a cough drop.
The very best indication of mindset and proof of George Zimmerman’s story is this:
Serino: “We now have a video of the fight.”
Zimmerman: “Thank God. I hope they got it all.”
That plus the conversation with the female police officer, when Zimmerman said, “It’s always wrong to kill another person.”
What are the chances that Nelson comes back and says,
“I have bent over backwards for the state to make every effort possible to make their case, and the state has failed miserably to prove their case.
Motion to Acquit is granted.”
Look at her face. She already made her decision, and it has nothing to do with evidence or the law or justice. Her decision is 100% political.
As was so inelegantly stated in ‘Wayne’s World’…..”yeah , and monkeys might fly out of my butt”……
my response is based upon the fact that there is no chance that a bullfrog would make such a decision.
Has this woman been threatened by the BGI?
I was really surprised at the stoicism on display from Sybrina Fulton. She appeared very angry, and defensive rther than devastated.
Yeah, she wasn’t very sympathetic. I think she was afraid to put on her grifter game out of fear of MOM.
she is only the biological mother with $$$$ in her eyes.
It is all front where she is concerned.
“Are you kidding?
Is that really the state’s case?”
——- ——–
That’s what I’ve been wondering for these two weeks.
I wonder if these prosecutors who are talking about George Zimmerman and self defense with such disdain understand that they might now have a target on their backs. Which of their neighbors is likely to look out for them or their property knowing that if they get into any kind of an altercation their belief is that they are guilty of racism and whatever the worst case accusation is? Think criminals might not understand that as well? I’m not advocating anything, but I know IF I lived in their neighborhood I wouldn’t stick my neck out to look out for them in any way.
It’s not just that they are charging him, it’s their utter contempt for the truth and for the right of someone to defend themselves. If they don’t think someone should be able to defend themselves, who is going to put themselves in a position to help them if they might need to defend themselves.
Wow! I’m stunned. Totally perfunctory and completely biased.
If I would not have taken your liberal recommendation to not fax Judge Nelson to encourage her to drop the case, we’d be done now.
OK motion denied. No surprise really.
Let’s hope the jury sanely decides to go home for the weekend.
The judge should really be the one to decide that though. Wimpy IMO.
Like I said, no hesitation.
She denied the motion. I hope that cost her to lose her whole career.
Exiliado | July 5, 2013 at 4:15 pm
At this point, it is a matter stubbornness and personal pride for the prosecutors. They know they have no case.
As a Florida taxpayer I DEMAND that this farce is over.
NOT QUITE YET…
Motion to acquit:
D E N I E D
How many have been granted in the last 25 years?
Hmmmm…????
Wow. Not 5 minutes, & here we go again!
She did not listen to a word MOM said. Her mind was already made up. This is BS. She should be debarred.
get over it
I just love how much time she gave to consider before she denied the motion.
According to her she carefully considered all of the cases presented. She’s a world class speed reader.
Why are JOA’s typically denied?
It’s a very low hurdle to avoid a JOA. They always like to throw it to the jury because then if there’s an acquittal by the jury the judge won’t take any heat for dismissing it.
George’s mom is very brown!
First defense witness.
How long until some media talking head claims that she must have spent time in a tanning booth to look browner for trial?
She’s 1/4 Black, and she also has American Indian ancestry, so no surprise.
Shhhhhh…that’s not part of the MSM narrative.
Gladys is Peruvian-Indian and her grandfather is Afro-Peruvian.
I laughed at the jury just now. “Do you want to go home or hear the first witness?” They practically yelled, “We want to hear it!” That’s how I’d feel too.
I am glad that the defense is going to get GZ’s mother to testify before the weekend. She will be the last witness that the jury hears from.
And she has a spanish accent.
Love the way that ‘ Mr De la RIOnda ‘ rolled off her tongue…
Yeah, her pronunciation of BDLR made me smile.
She better be careful, by the state’s theory if Mrs. Zimmerman had never given birth to George none of this would have happened. It’s her fault as well as George’s.
Heh.
Actually, it is her fault. If she had named her son Jorge instead of George he never would have been charged.
Judge Nelson is “dummer dan a box a roks”.
Oh, and I want to put in one last complaint about having to watch the commentary feed today. Shut up! Every pause in the courtroom is not an opportunity to expound. I’m surprised they didn’t jump in a couple times while MOM was sipping water.
Oh boy. Listening to the tape again.
So the day starts with TM’s mom saying she recognizes her son’s voice on a tape and ends with the GZ’s mom saying the same thing.
Brilliant.
Oh snap…..Gz’s mom ‘ raised him all those years’. Unlike TM’s. She should be much more credible witness re scream.
BDLR has no shame.
This now becomes a black vs. Hispanic trial.
LSM tried their best to dance around this inconvenient fact by labeling GZ a “White Hispanic” but now the truth comes out.
This is stunning, IMHO.
The racebaiters better back off.
His mom isn’t just Hispanic; she had a Black grandfather.
I’ve read about that.
Black is a race (Negroid), while Hispanic is an ethnicity. Liberals have done their best to confound the two.
I’m guessing the multiracial GZ is roughly 50.0% Caucasoid, 37.5% Mongoloid, and 12.5% Negroid. What we are seeing is State-sponsored racism directed at someone who carries genes of all three major human races; in other words, anti-humane.
Catch the evil eye TM’s mom shot GZ’s mom as the latter left the courtroom?
Yes, she did.
OMG!
GZ’s uncle!
Another Hispanic witness. A dark guy. Works in the Orange County Sheriff’s office.
26 years in the army.
A retired Command Seargant Major!
If trademark’s dialect was anything like jeantel’s, there is no way that voice on the tape is his.
Let this be a lesson for you out there, if you speak more than one language, call for help in more than one language. Imagine if Zimmerman had a “ayudar” in that. I doubt trademart could speak more than one language, unless yu counted ebonics.
Riiiigggghhhttt. Right in the middle of getting your ass beat you’re going to think – oh wait – let me scream in Spanish just in case someone might understand that.
Zimmerman’s uncle is making a clear point that he has good memory, not like Dr. Bao.
BDLR on cross of GZ’s mom: have you ever heard your son screaming for help before?
All day I’ve been wondering why the defense didn’t ask TM’s mom the same question.
Because MOM was certain Sybrina would say she had heard him scream like that?
Wait until the defense calls Traydaddy as a witless.
I’d probably follow it up with a ‘and now long ago was that, and what were the circumstances’. I’m pretty sure you could catch her in the lie if you pressed her on it. She’s probably about as good of a liar as Diamond Dee Dee.
Command Sergeant Major in the Army is no joke. This man was not just some random soldier.
The kick a’s and take names.
Oh. That one has to hurt the prosecution. He knew it was George screaming without even knowing the context of the tape. Ouch!
George is tearing up at listening to his uncle testify.
GZ’s uncle is a great defense witness. Let’s see BDLR or Mantei try to tangle with this guy.
“I am here as a witness of what I heard.”
Uncle is pretty convincing.
Just another creepy ass cracker.
George’s uncle is damned near albino… Uncle Cracka!
Amazing witness. Talks about working at the computer and hearing the scream on TV and knowing right away it was GZ’s voice even though he wasn’t watching the news, just listening.
His wife said the news was a story about the TM killing.
Says to his wife, “That is George.” Says GZ’s voice is unique and as a family member he knew right away it was his nephew. Says it hit his heart.
Talk about expressive and eloquent.
I would be extremely happy if this is the last witness that the jury hears from before the weekend.
I am betting that the judge will make the defense put on at least one more witness today so that this is not the last witness that the jury hears from before the weekend.
talk about BS
yes you do talk bs all the time.
yes, yes, yes, George’s voice is unique.
You have to listen to the NEN call, and note the cadence in his voice.
Then listen to the other tape with the screams for help. I am not an expert in audio. However, I noticed that the person screaming has the same cadence as George.
You just have to listen very carefully to those tapes.
Zimmerman’s family knew from the start it was George’s voice. Trademark’s family didn’t decided until hearing it several times (and probably after Crump told them how profitable it would be for their case).
No, he’s here to tell the truth.
Deputy Mesa is the anti-Jentel.
BDLR keeps emphasizing he’s a deputy sheriff LOL. The Command Seargeant Major will take BDLR apart right now.
I now officially believe De La Rionda is a douchebag.
He wants another b*tch slapping? LOL
Because of the “bragging abt qualifications” remark? Yeah that was low..
So BDLR is going to keep all the family holed up for the duration… ?
That’s 2X Douschebaggery
I dunno – I LOVE the element of surprise…
Wanna bet BDLR had no clue that Deputy Mesa was George’s uncle?
BDLR is rattled. Calls GZ the uncles’s son. Witness corrects him and says GZ is his nephew.
BDLR doesn’t know how to respond.
“My ethics of professionalism”
“I would never compromise myself”
Well he’s sure not qualified to be a FL prosecutor or ME.
Says he takes his oath of office to the law and to the state of Florida VERY seriously.
MOM says “you wouldn’t color your testimony to favor your nephew?”
Uncles is vehement that he would never betray his oaths.
The uncle is a POWERFUL witness.
The contrast with Bao, Rao, Mao and Tsao is stark.
powerful? Do you really think a family member is going to testify against him? That’s like expecting Trayvon’s brother to say it was zimmerman’s voice. Think objectively, not emotionally.
Hesperus,
You may not believe this, but some people would not lie for their children. Truth means more to them. It may be because they believe in the rule of law or that they fear God.
It does our children NO good to lie for them.
Better to let them face the consequences of their choices and actions.
Moreover, Command Sargeant Major Mesa had likely to exact punishment daily on young recruits whom he liked because he wanted the best outcome for them and had to maintain justice, discipline and order in the ranks.
They had to know he meant what he said and said what he meant.
To put it another way, Sgt. Major Mesa is a hard-ass smart-ass, lazy-ass cracker in the very best sense of the word.
Bet ‘Georgie’ didn’t go over to Uncle Mesa’s house and mouth off to him or fail to obey orders! Ever.
From just reading the summary perhaps it is equivalent, butthe jurors get to watch each of the witnesses on the stand, they’ll notice the confidence that GZs uncle puts behind his testimony in comparison to TMs brother squirming and dodging when asked why he wasn’t sure about the voice ID the first time he heard it. Now couple that with the fact that the state has to prove it WAS TM on the tape, while the defense only has to show it might have been GZ, and can you really say that this was not effective testimony with a straight face. If you can I’d recommend you apply as an understudy for Robert Gibbs,
So, with virtually zero basis for doing so, you are now going to call the man a liar? Why? Because what he says doesn’t comport with your view of the case?
Just curious, did you also have this tone about Sybrina Fulton’s testimony?
Well, we have evidence of good genes.
Mesa says to BDLR “You must have misunderstood what I said.”
BDLR can’t sit down fast enough.
He needs an inflatable donut since uncle just gave him a good hard spanking.
Emerods.
(Deuteronomy 28, I Samuel 5&6)
Do you think he had credibility with the jury? Huh? BDLR had to HATE hearing that, and there wasn’t much he could do about it.
Well, Dr. Nakasone finally has a challenger in the “Most Dignified Witness” contest.
Channel 9 calls today’s testimony “Dueling Moms.”
There is no way that any jury could find that Martin was the one yelling help.
I missed who he was. Was he a police officer because when I finally got on, the video was acting up and couldn’t hear?
thanks
George Zimmerman’z uncle. Retired Command Sgt Major from the army and a current deputy sheriff for Orange County.
He had a commanding presence.
I wish there were more citizens like him.
Oh, just heard from Fox he, George’s uncle, was Deputy Sheriff.
hope they can bring in some other defense witnesses other than a parade of family members. What do they expect? It’s the same as what you’d expect martin’s family to say.
But the point is the Zimmerman family members are at LEAST as credible on whose voice is on the tape as are the Martin family members.
That’s equipoise = reasonable doubt on that particular issue.
Do you think a jury would have a reasonable doubt as to whose voice is on that tape screaming for help?
Let’s say next week the defense puts up a medical expert to tear apart Bao and Rao. The jury doesn’t really have to decide who is right and wrong, they just have to decide they have a reasonable doubt about it. (I think they should have reasonable doubt about Bao and Rao’s testimony already.)
This is such an obvious reasonable doubt case.
Is there any really strong evidence of malice by GZ? No. Maybe it’s an inference you can draw if you look at the facts a certain way but it’s not beyond a reasonable doubt.
Is it beyond a reasonable doubt that GZ was unjustified in shooting for fear of his life? There’s enough evidence already showing he was getting his head beaten into the concrete–his injuries, the abrasions to Tm’s knuckles, position of the body…
How is this beyond a reasonable doubt on either murder or manslaughter? I just don’t see it. At all.
The difference so far is that the defense has presented dignified, honorable witnesses, not a bunch of hoodlums and amnesia patients like Jeantel and dr. Bao.
You will get your hope.
And it is not the same. On Martin’s side we had people who were unsure, who were questioned improperly and who changed their stories. On Zimmerman’s side we had a person who knew it was George before he even knew there was a case or saw anything… by voice alone.
So yeah, most times you would assign equal credibility to grieving relatives but the prosecution doesn’t can’t even break even here.
Just as a matter of trial practice, Zimmerman’s uncle is the kind of witness a trial lawyer dreams of having. At least a triple for the defense if not a home run in ending with him before the weekend.
Definitely gives the defense huge momentum coming into next week.