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Zimmerman Trial: Watch State’s Closing Argument LIVE

Zimmerman Trial: Watch State’s Closing Argument LIVE

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, below.

The State is scheduled to begin its closing argument at 1:30PM today, and the defense tomorrow morning. By tomorrow afternoon the jury should have been charged and begun their deliberations.

Judge Nelson, Florida v. Zimmerman

Judge Nelson, Florida v. Zimmerman

We covered this morning’s charging hearing here:

Zimmerman Trial Day 13: Live Video, Analysis of State’s Closing Argument

And posted up a general overview of the various jury instructions here:

Zimmerman Trial: The Jury Instructions

We also have brief summaries of the previous day’s events Zimmerman Defense Rests, Closing Statements Start Tomorrow along with links to more detailed posts below the second video feed at the bottom of this post.

In addition, last night Professor Jacobson posted an analysis of the racial politics driving the Zimmerman prosecution, here:

Racial politics supported by State power come down on George Zimmerman

Also, a quick note, in thanks to the Professor and all of you I’ve put in place a 10% discount/free shipping coupon for Legal Insurrection followers interested in “The Law of Self Defense, 2nd Edition”–use code LOSD2-LI at checkout.

Live Stream Video

WITH COMMENTARY FROM CHANNEL 9 IN SANFORD

[For live-stream video without commentary, see NBC live feed at bottom of this post.]

Twitter Feed:

(My tweets can be identified as coming from @lawselfdefense, or @lawselfdefense2 if I’m in Twitmo–follow both!.)



Live Stream Video Alternative

LIVE-STREAM WITHOUT COMMENTARY FROM NBC

Thursday, July 11 Commentary

During the lunch recess, or immediately thereafter, we will TRY to 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.
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.)


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. Take advantage of the 20% “Zimmerman trial” discount & free shipping (ends when the jury returns a verdict). NRA & IDPA members can also use checkout coupon LOSD2-NRA for an additional 10% off. To do so simply visit the Law of Self Defense blog. I have also instituted a similar coupon for Legal Insurrection followers LOSD2-LI(Coupons works ONLY at www.lawofselfdefense.com.) “The Law of Self Defense, 2nd Edition” is also available at Amazon.com.

Many thanks to Professor Jacobson for the invitation to guest-blog on the Zimmerman trial here on Legal Insurrection!

You can follow Andrew on Twitter on @LawSelfDefense (or @LawSelfDefense2 if I’m in Twitmo, follow both!) on Facebook, and at his blog, The Law of Self Defense.

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Comments


How badly will the State massage the truth in their closing statements? Watch out Stretch Armstong – you’ve got competition!

The state’s argument against the motion for a judgment of acquittal was a preview of their closing argument. Very heavy on inflammatory rhetoric and low on actual evidence presented.

A teenager is dead because Zimmerman made the wrong assumptions?

No, a teenager is dead because the teenager made the wrong assumptions. The teenager assumed that he could jump and beat up a stranger with no consequences to himself.

First lie! GZ said ‘Just tell her I shot someone.’ not ‘Just tell her I killed someone.’

Screw you, Bernie! You’re a reptile…

    Exiliado in reply to Fabi. | July 11, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    I have no doubt the defense is taking notes. BDLR is going to look like the arse he is in the eyes of the jury if MOM calls out his blatant lies.

    Astroserf in reply to Fabi. | July 11, 2013 at 3:08 pm

    Shame on you, Fabi. Are you trying to give reptiles a bad name?

The state just can’t stop mischaracterizing the evidence, can they? GZ didn’t say, “just tell her I killed someone.” He said, “just tell her I shot someone.” He didn’t even KNOW he had killed him until the next day.

    DriveBy in reply to phelps. | July 11, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    I don’t remember what exactly George said to the neighbor. What did he say, killed or shot?

      robbi in reply to DriveBy. | July 11, 2013 at 2:00 pm

      He said shot.

        MegK in reply to robbi. | July 11, 2013 at 4:30 pm

        He didn’t even know he was dead until later at the police station…he was shocked when Officer Singleton told him. Of course that was probably just more of his elaborate diabolical plot.

Love the recordings being played! GZ is very calm, with a mid-to-high pitched voice!

Bernie, the histrionics gotta go! These lady jurors are buying this crap!!

Bernie said watermelon! Finally!

I can’t decide who I like to listen to more:

BDLR or Barack Obama.

In my experience, white female jurors do NOT respond well to being shouted at.

His screaming and histrionics are really turning me off. But I’m biased.

Another lie! TM wasn’t gonna watch basketball! Chad wasn’t watching basketball – he was playing his Nintendo! Pants on fire, BdR!

GZ presumed something that can’t be proven to be correct, doesn’t mean TM wasn’t doing anything wrong – indeterminable!

Another lie – #3 at least! Serino didn’t say he would assume TM lived there! Said he would not have found TM suspicious!

    CENTFLAMIKE in reply to Fabi. | July 11, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    While Serino wouldn’t find him suspicious, GZ – as a resident of the neighborhood and a member of neighborhood watch – has MORE information than Serino to make that judgement. GZ knows most, if not all, residents, so he knows who would not be suspicious for looking in their own windows.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 1:56 pm

Summary of State’s fantasy – I mean closing:

Trayvon was an innocent choirboy just minding his own business and heading home with some thoughtfully purchased skittles for his brother. Then Trayvon noticed a menacing figure scouting him out and following him. This menace was GZ, a champion martial artist who was lying in wait to assault any black child with a hoodie.

Trayvon tried to escape, but when backed into the wall (or bushes in this case), he politely asked the depraved, racist White man why he was following. “Is there a problem?” Trayvon inquired.

Suddenly, GZ rammed his face into Trayvon’s fist, knocking Trayvon onto the ground and mounting him from above. After moving his hands downwards near Trayvon for a while, GZ switched sweatshirts with Trayvon. GZ then yanked up the sweatshirt that Trayvon was now wearing and held the gun to it. While the morbidly skinny Trayvon screamed for help for 40 seconds, GZ continued to taunt him and child abuse him until GZ finally pulled the trigger. Then, GZ moved the body into a different position for some unknown depraved reason.

GZ then proceeded to lay on the grass and hit his own head into the concrete, just before the police arrived.

Poor little Trayvon, whose only crime was buying Skittles and wearing a hoodie . . . and then sucker-punching a stranger hard enough to break his nose and knock him down, and then jumping on him, pinning him to the ground, and trying to beat him to death.

Poor little blameless angel.

BDLR seems to think he’s a TV lawyer… Oh wait… I am sorry.

(One more time!) My next door neighbor’s best friend’s cousin’s barber found this in the dumpster outside the SA’s office the other day. I can attest to its authenticity as the State’s draft closing argument:

Innocently walking home after receiving the Save the Manatees / Mother Theresa Astronaut Scholarship, young Trayvon Martin was merely trying to fulfill his dying brother’s last wish: delivering a pack of Skittles and an iced tea. During his return, he was racially profiled by a white-supremacist Jew named George Zimmerman, who sported a Nazi swastika tattoo on his forehead. Zimmerman, in his night-vision outfitted NRA Hummer (license plate: IH8N1GZ), stalked the cheerful academic, using his assault bazooka to intimidate this young child who was woefully unarmed and wearing a red Hollister t-shirt. After initially escaping the perverted ogle of the registered sex molester, the little boy felt he was in the clear and relayed that information to his childhood sweetheart and study hall partner, DeeDee, to whom he was speaking with on the phone.

But, with the loving safety of his Father’s arms in sight, the much stronger and heavier predator – ignoring the command of Trayvon’s surrogate father, President Obama, to ‘Stand down!’ – ensued the sweet child, pounding him mercilessly whilst cursing him loudly and employing the most dehumanizing of racial epithets, in blatant violation of the 4th grader’s civil rights. Zimmerman then pulled out his unregistered Uzi sub-machinegun and unloaded seventeen rounds of armor-piercing hollow-point bullets through his tiny heart, killing the baby-faced toddler in cold blood. The murdering drug-addled dog-beater then called his father, the Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice, who interceded and prevented any police response or involvement whatsoever. Trayvon’s lean, lifeless body was cruelly abandoned in a little bit drippin’ water…

BDLR: Little Trayvon was on his way home to write a hand written letter (in cursive) to the United Nations to express his desire for World Peace.

The jury does not know about the prosecution’s attempt to change the charges to murder 3, right?

The prosecution, in their opening statement, promised they were going to prove that George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin “because he wanted to.” Changing the charges is in itself an admission that they have no case. Did not have it at the beginning. Don’t have it now.

This is a travesty of justice right in the face of the whole world.

BDLR sounds unusually shrill. If I were a juror, I would not be particularly impressed by his performance or his creative storytelling thus far.

Stop it, Bernie! You’re ruining my trial experience!

BDLR: Trayvon never got to eat his skittles. Wasted a brand new bag, never to be eaten. Zimmerman doesn’t care about the starving children.

    BubbaLeroy in reply to Browndog. | July 11, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    Trayvon didn’t get to drink his purple lean. Poor Trayvon was only being hyper aggressive because he did not have access to his regular marijuana supplier after his mother threw him out of her house and bussed him off to sperm-daddy’s new girlfriend’s house. GZ should have known Trayvon was off his meds when Trayvon started beating him for no reason. It is therefore GZ’s fault.

Uncle Samuel | July 11, 2013 at 2:05 pm

Assumption, exaggeration, accusation of vigilantism, profiling… that is all the case prosecution have.

This is the Crump/Obama/Sharpton narrative.

I despise the way these people are trying to lynch an innocent man.

“Uh… everything that guy just said is bullshit… Thank you.” – My Cousin Vinny (1992)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104952/quotes?item=qt0404547

And we have to suffer through 2+1 hours of this horse sh*t?

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:07 pm

BDLR just claimed that GZ murdered TM so that TM couldn’t testify!

Is there a point to this? What is he saying happened? He hasn’t addressed the facts and given any theory as to what happened. He can’t.

That is why charges are never brought in these cases. It doesn’t mean Zimmerman was in the wrong or right (although I think he acted appropriately in every instance) it just means there is no indication he did anything wrong.

It is also odd how he can assert Trayvon was not a criminal when he knows about all of the evidence that says otherwise. Your morals have to be very flexible to play these games.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:08 pm

BDLR: “… shooting this man, er, uhm, this boy.”

Wow, this is really bad. Bernie just said that George picked his nose during the fight. Bernie sucks, his case sucks, but this is really bad. If this keeps up George won’t be convicted of anything, but watch out for a possible hung jury I guess.

Uh, oh! He studied the law – GZ has bullet points! (no pun intended, huh, BdlR?)

that power point presentation is pretty convincing!!

BDLR’s first portion of closing is weird. The jury was selected based on some indication that they were not heavily involved in following the case and could be impartial. In his initial comments he goes into a whole rendition about “He was wearing a hoodie – That was not a crime.” “He bought some Skittles – That was not a crime.” etc.

Hoodie – Skittles – Arizona – etc —This is all media and hype. Really had nothing to do with evidence of what transpired other than GZ mentioned hoodie in description.

If I was juror I would start to wonder what the big deal was and why he was going on about inconsequential crap.

    phelps in reply to Baker. | July 11, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    I think he knows he’s lost the jury, so now he’s just doing his closing for the camera. Keep an eye out for arguments packaged in short, 15-30 second blurbs. Those are for the news.

GZ said ‘f*cking punks’? First I’ve heard about that!

BDLR: Zimmerman knew the cops were on the way to save Trayvon from a creepy ass cracker, so he hurried up and put a big ‘ol slug right through the center of Trayvon’s heart with the efficiency only seen by well trained combat snipers.

I misspoke above. BDLR missed his calling in life. He would have made an excellent fire and brimstone preacher. The only thing missing here is a congregation shouting “halleluiah”, “righteous brother” and “praise the Lord” every time he pauses.
It will be quite the contrast with MOM usual quite, logical and reasonable style.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:12 pm

BDLR claimed that GZ should have told TM: “I just called the police on you. Do you mind waiting for them to arrive?”

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:13 pm

BDLR now says that GZ is a vigilante for calling the non-emergency police number.

I only hope that BLDR will try and top West’s knock knock joke by ending the state’s closing argument with The Aristocrats.

That would be the perfect end to this prosecution.

Hats off to those who are in the trenches listening to and reporting on this travesty so the rest of us don’t have to.

I will get my updates on the prosecution’s closing right here at LI.

ho hum. When will Bernie get to any of the facts in contention? When will he get past the ASSUMPTIONS he is making and talk about evidence of what happened.

LOL. “Rain washed away the blood on Trayvon’s hands, but not on Zimmerman’s face — defense can’t have it both ways.”

Here’s why that is, Bernie: Zimmerman was alive and still bleeding. Martin was dead, in the wet grass, his body being rolled over and moved about (by police, paramedics, and who knows who else), and then left in the wet grass for hours, and then transported to the ME’s office without anybody bothering to bag the hands for evidence.

    Observer in reply to Observer. | July 11, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Oh, I forgot the idiot ME also tried to fingerprint Martin at the scene. I’m sure picking up Martin’s dead hands and trying to fingerprint them didn’t rub off any of Zimmerman’s blood, right Bernie?

Ok. That’s enough.

I cut the video.

I don’t have the stomach to listen to so much bullshit.

I will wait and read Mr. Branca’s summary at the end.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:17 pm

BDLR: “Use your common sense, which you just know automatically without having to think about it. And your common sense is telling you that GZ is guilty.”

Phone records don’t “lie”? I thought they rounded the call times up or down?

BDLR: We have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman is innocent, therefor you must find him guilty.

In my experience people who raise their voices in order to make a point usually don’t have a point. They seem to think that pure volume makes their point. When people are in a discussion with me and they behave as BDLR is right now I automatically tune them out.

    phelps in reply to Harperman. | July 11, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    There’s an old saying in litigation: “When the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. When the law is on your side, pound on the law. And when you don’t have either, pound on the table.”

as I watch this judge go into recess and say that she’s going to try and make a decision it calls to mind the classic movie “The Miracle on 34th St.” The judge in that movie would go into his chambers and his political advisor (well played by William Frawley) would say “if you rule he’s not Santy Claus you better be prepared to lose the votes of all those parents out there, and all those storeowners.” I can see William in the back right now pronouncing to Judge Nelson “you better let that questionable state tactic slide otherwise you’re going to lose the black vote, and the votes of all those storeowners whose stores will get burned down in the rioting.”

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:21 pm

BDLR: “Jeantel can’t speak English clearly because she is Haitian or of Haitian descent.”

caseyanderson2112 | July 11, 2013 at 2:22 pm

I simply cannot watch this crooked lawyer lie for three straight hours. I just can’t stomach it. Thanks to everyone who can stomach it and are posting information about the lunacy on display.

I look forward to watching MOM tomorrow morning. Perhaps he will begin to restore my faith in the US Judicial system.

BdlR just slammed Rachel! Uneducated. Unsophisticted!

Yes there is a dispute if they were talking, BdlR! She admitted that other people used her phone! Liar!!

Uncle Samuel | July 11, 2013 at 2:22 pm

After Bernie loses his job, he can certainly go to writing fantasy tales.

    Uncle Samuel in reply to Uncle Samuel. | July 11, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    B movie plots.

    Baker in reply to Uncle Samuel. | July 11, 2013 at 2:41 pm

    If he loses his job makes you wonder who is next in the rotation job wise. Usually in the World Series you put your best starter on the mound the first day. Makes you wonder what follows behind him in the department if he is the best.

Laura Castellano | July 11, 2013 at 2:22 pm

Oh dear lord. “Please don’t discount what my star witness said, just because she was rude, insolent, and lying out her ass.”

Bernie came loaded for bear in his closing !

Bare feet, that is. His own. MoM is gonna tear him a new one tomorrow !

One concern – Judge Martin set defense closing for tomorrow – I hope BDLR isn’t smar enough to cut his short, and she doesn’t make MoM start this afternoon. I want him to have this evening to fine-tune his rectal BDLR probe.

No ‘sympathy lesser includedes’ – not ‘assault’ or child abuse’ – GREAT !!!!

caseyanderson2112 | July 11, 2013 at 2:23 pm

LAWYER QUESTION

If the jury comes back with a guilty verdict can the appeal be heard immediately or does GZ have to go to prison for years while the slowest wheels on the planet turn? Given the appeals court’s knowledge of the judge’s abhorrent behavior can they elect to take the appeal immediately?

OH my now we are paraphrasing MLK! I think I need to puke now.

Oh my aching ass! BdlR just paraphrased MLK in re: Rachel!

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have jumped the racial shark…

    BubbaLeroy in reply to Fabi. | July 11, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where a brother can give a creepy ass cracker a beat down without fear of being shot.”

    Funny, that’s not how I remember the speech.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:24 pm

BDLR just appealed to the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. in asking the jury to believe Rachel Jeantel told the truth.

BDLR: referencing Dee Dee, “She didn’t come in here and lie to you about her conversation with TM. She could have embellished, lied,….” – She didn’t have to….Here the state is the expert.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:26 pm

BDLR now says that the jury shouldn’t disregard Jeantel’s testimony on the grounds that she is a liar!

In opening, the state yells what Zimmerman said. In all of his cross-x Bernie yells what Zimmerman said. Now Bernie says that Zimmerman was talking under this breath. Jezz

BDLR: Trayvon was on the phone with Rachael so much because he was learning to speak Haitian before joining the Peace Corp.

    kentuckyliz in reply to Browndog. | July 11, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    She was catfishing him. He had never met her in person and thought she was a hottie. I’m sure fighting with the phone line open was to impress her.

Yeah, Bernie! GZ calling TM an asshole is ill-will, but TM calling GZ a creepy-ass cracka is a term of endearment!

Go to Hell, BdlR. Go to Hell…

Uncle Samuel | July 11, 2013 at 2:31 pm

Officer Root said he had to DISREGARD Jeantel’s testimony because it was so incongruent and far afield from the rest of the witnesses. It did not work with the rest of the timelines.

Some have said it looks like a Crump invention.

The letter alleged to be from Jeantel to Sybrina has not been and cannot be proved that it is actually from her.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:32 pm

BDLR: “Witness said the person on top was larger and the yells were from a child. This proves the small child with a high pitched voice was on the bottom, namely TM.”

eld from the rest of the witnesses. It did not work with the rest of the timelines.

Some have said it looks like

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:34 pm

BDLR: “GZ had 18 months of MMA training. That explains the injuries to his face and head.”

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:36 pm

BDLR: “The fact that TM is dead requires the jury to convict. GZ’s injuries are irrelevant in light of the fact that TM is dead.”

Does a closing statement from he prosecution usually contain so little information on testimony and facts and so much emotion? It sounds as though the criterion for guild has been changed to if there is a reasonable chance that the event occurred then he is guilty.

So according to BDLR GZ had all this MMA experience as he knows damn well that TM had much more fighting experience, real life fighting experience, which he himself fought hard to exclude. That is the epitome of dishonesty.

    Voluble in reply to Harperman. | July 11, 2013 at 2:48 pm

    This is why lawyers are almost universally held in such low regard. You have to be too flexible with your morality and be willing to argue out of both sides of your mouth. These traits are rightfully seen as evidence of the lowest of character in everyday life but are tools lawyers are required to have.

    In short, an honorable lawyer is an ineffective one.

    Thus… there is a self-selection for people whose morals are in some way defective. Scary to actually see it, huh?

    And the prosecution doesn’t have the excuse that they have been dragged into a situation where they have to cut corners. They have the option of not bringing charges and not putting themselves in a position where they have to lie, mislead etc… They CHOSE to do this.

    That is why their careers should be forfeit.

      kentuckyliz in reply to Voluble. | July 11, 2013 at 3:08 pm

      When I used to work in giving college testing on Saturday mornings, the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) was the only one that required that we FINGERPRINT the test candidates to admit them to testing.

      That ought to tell you something.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:39 pm

BDLR: “Osterman testified GZ told him TM grabbed towards the holstered gun. Yet TM’s DNA was not found on the grip of the gun. Hence, GZ lied.”

BDLR: Trayvon was on top of Martin trying to shield him from further injury from the tree attack.

” I still think the bigger person was on top”. That is not proof the bigger person was on top. That is an opinion. In fact the one thing that has been proved was TM was on top.

Edit:

BDLR: Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman trying to shield him from further injury from the tree attack.

BDLR: “There wasn’t any DNA on gun.”

LOL. Well that proves that nobody touched the gun, right? Including Zimmerman.

Or maybe the ME tried to fingerprint that too, and wiped off all the DNA.

    kentuckyliz in reply to Observer. | July 11, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    There was no DNA on the flashlight, either, and George had been holding it, and the officer at the station. Remember GZ couldn’t turn on the flashlight? The police officer had to whack it to get the batteries to contact and turn it on. They discussed it on the recording. No DNA from either of them and there is incontrovertible proof they both handled it.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:43 pm

BDLR: “GZ’s jacket was not torn. You must convict.”

BDLR: My wife once bumped my head opening a door–did I shoot her? NO!!

    pjm in reply to Browndog. | July 11, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    Why did you leave your gun home that day ? Was it beause you knew you were planning to strangle her the next week, and you were plotting your ‘plausible deniability’ ?

    Are you related to GZ ? He’s that crafty, too. Went to college to study criminal justice, just so he could learn how to get away with shooting black people.

OMG! One drawstring was longer than the other?! That’s it, GZ is GUILTY!

BDLR: Photos show “the absence of blood on that sidewalk.”

And it was raining, and there were people (Zimmerman, neighbors, police, paramedics, ME technicians, etc.) walking around on that sidewalk before the photos were taken.

In real life you would think BDLR would have more sympathy for GZ as I’m sure BDLR was subject to having his ass kicked a lot of times growing up.

txantimedia | July 11, 2013 at 2:48 pm

His closing argument was so tendentious I had to turn it off. I just couldn’t listen any more. I’d bet the jury is feeling the same way.

    Baker in reply to txantimedia. | July 11, 2013 at 2:49 pm

    Ditto

    Harperman in reply to txantimedia. | July 11, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I thought the same thing at first. “My mind said turn it off!” But I couldn’t. I was held in fascination. Not with the power of his rhetoric but in fascination that any human being, especially one charged with protecting the public as a prosecutor is, could be so dishonest, so malignant and so blatant in his misrepresentation of facts.
    I have seen a lot in my life but I don’t think I have ever seen pure evil so blatantly exposed to the light of day.

Connivin Caniff | July 11, 2013 at 2:48 pm

I just started listening again. Is this guy for real? Making suggestions from the unequal postitions of the ends of the hoodie drawstring? Where is the blood? Is he denying there is blood? – Of course there was – it washed away in the rain dummy.

There’s way, WAY too much “I don’t know” coming out of BLDR’s mouth. He’s the prosecutor. It’s his JOB to know. To know beyond a reasonable doubt. Every time he says, “I don’t know, you decide” he’s admitting reasonable doubt.

Bernie’s doing a great job of introducing reasonable doubt!

txantimedia | July 11, 2013 at 2:51 pm

MOM’s closing argument. “I’d like to thank the prosecution for insisting there is reasonable doubt. Since I found their argument convincing, and if there is reasonable doubt you must find him not guilty, I really appreciate the prosecution doing my job for me.

Now, with regard to my client’s claim of self defense….”

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:51 pm

BDLR is now claiming that Zimmerman somehow immediately knew that the bullet hit TM’s heart. I suppose Zimmerman was carrying a stethoscope with him at the time.

BDLR: See all these townhouses? No blood on any of them!

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:52 pm

BDLR is claiming that GZ’s face was not bloodied.

    kentuckyliz in reply to Fred Thompson. | July 11, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    “Who are you going to believe–me or your lying eyes?” Thank God for the photo that Jenna Lauer insisted be taken because she was afraid to identify someone face to face. That’s the pic of GZ with the giant bleeding broken nose.

      kentuckyliz in reply to kentuckyliz. | July 11, 2013 at 4:18 pm

      I forgot to say–such a blatant stupid lie when the jury has seen photos of GZ’s injuries repeatedly makes BDLR’s credibility score plummet to subzero levels.

      BDLR = Batshit Deranged, undeserving of Legal Responsibilities

So now, in addition to stalking, holding trademark at gunpoint for 40 seconds, shooting him, bashing his own head, and arranging the body, GZ also cleaned up all the blood at the scene, all while the police were on the way?

Regarding moving Martin’s hands… in a self defense shooting, the main objective isn’t to “kill”, it’s to stop the threat. Checking the hands of the guy on the ground isn’t an unusual step. You want to make sure he doesn’t have a knife or a firearm.

I’m very disappointed that I just discovered Andrew (or someone) put up a whole new post for today’s proceedings. I’ve missed an hour of comments. 🙁

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:53 pm

BDLR: “How could GZ have swallowed blood when he was busy crying for help. OR IS HE A LIAR!”

    caambers in reply to Fred Thompson. | July 11, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    I ran in to a wall one time (silly story) and my nose started bleeding yet I was still able to talk even after tilting my head back as instructed. BDLR is a moron.

    Observer in reply to Fred Thompson. | July 11, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    LOL. Yes, because as everyone knows, it is physically impossible for a single person to both swallow and scream during a period of 42 seconds.

Henry Hawkins | July 11, 2013 at 2:54 pm

That sounded more like a defense closing argument than a prosecutor’s.

Fred Thompson | July 11, 2013 at 2:54 pm

BDLR, sick of his own maundering incoherence, asks for a recess.

BDLR: Of course Zimmerman knew Trayvon was dead. Every person Zimmerman has shot has been right through the heart!

I finally know a charge to which Zimmerman can be charged and to which I will agree…littering….yeah, I know…that was mean but what the hay, I’m sick of this goat roping.

BDLR: “Why would the blood not be on the victim’s hands.”

I can’t believe the way he’s harping on this, especially since it’s so easy for the defense to explain. Martin’s body was lying in the rain, in wet grass. Several people moved his arms and hands: Zimmerman, the first police officer (who rolled Martin over to do CPR), the paramedics, the ME techs, etc. Then you have the idiot ME Bao, who tried to fingerprint Martin at the scene (and anybody who knows how that’s done knows that Martin’s hands would have been handled a lot). All that — the rain, the wet grass, the various people handling and moving Martin’s hands — likely would have rubbed off any of Zimmerman’s blood. Then you have the added problem that the ME failed to bag the hands to preserve trace evidence.

Bernie is insulting the jurors’ intelligence with this stupid argument.

    robbi in reply to Observer. | July 11, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    Also, in the pictures of Trayvon holding the gun, it’s obvious that his nails were bitten to the quick. Don’t know if they were in this condition the night of the shooting but the picture seems to point t the fact that Martin was a nail biter.

      Bernice in reply to robbi. | July 11, 2013 at 3:16 pm

      I think there was testimony that Dr. Bao chewed down Trayvon’s finger nails after the corpse arrived at the morgue. Following SOP, Dr. Bao did wash the hands first.

    Fabi in reply to Observer. | July 11, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    Also, the ME didn’t check for DNA on the hands, only under the fingernails!

In recess to give the jury time to wake up.

Even MSNBC says that the persecution has not introduced a unified theory of the events! Unreal…

Why has BDLR not once used the words “evidence proved”…….

retiredprosecutor | July 11, 2013 at 3:02 pm

The prosecutor is simply trying to inflame the passion of the jury. That strategy usually doesn’t work with objective, fact-oriented, jurors who follow their oath, put passion and emotion aside, and decide the case upon the facts and the law. We shall see if these jurors are easily manipulated by this type of rhetoric, or if they act (as they are sworn to do) as objective, level-headed, judges of facts and the law.

BDLR: Trayvon had an iron grip over Zimmerman’s mouth, deathly afraid Zimmerman was trying to yell racial slurs within earshot of small children.

Very heartening to know that the juror who is a Hispanic nurse won’t make eye contact with the prosecutor.

Andrew Branca: can you give us more detail about the jurors’ body language?

    retiredprosecutor in reply to Mercyneal. | July 11, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    A prosecutor is in DEEP trouble when jurors won’t make eye contact with them, especially during their closing argument.

      caseyanderson2112 in reply to retiredprosecutor. | July 11, 2013 at 3:09 pm

      Do you think BDLR knows he’s in trouble? Or does he believe his own PR?

        retiredprosecutor in reply to caseyanderson2112. | July 11, 2013 at 3:17 pm

        I believe he knows he is in deep trouble. That is why he is relying so heavily upon an argument that is designed to inflame the jurors’ passions, instead of an argument that is more focused upon a meticulous analysis of the facts at the critical moment in time: The moment that GZ fired the fatal shot.

          caseyanderson2112 in reply to retiredprosecutor. | July 11, 2013 at 3:37 pm

          If I were in that jury I would be angered to no end by such a tactic, and I am of the same demographic so my response isn’t that unlikely. I just can’t believe this is happening here, in the US, and not in some third world craphole.

Diana Tennis ‏@TennisLaw 1m
Bernie going over check list: facts proven-not yet; elements of crime- not yet; scream f bomb – check check and check.
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