Andrew F. Branca is in his third decade of practicing law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He wrote the first edition of the "Law of Self Defense" in 1997, and is currently in the process of completing the fully revised and updated second edition, which you can preorder now at lawofselfdefense.com. He began his competitive shooting activities as a youth in smallbore rifle, and today is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a Life Member and Master-class competitor in multiple classifications in the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA). Andrew has for many years been an NRA-certified firearms instructor in pistol, rifle, and personal protection, and has previously served as an Adjunct Instructor on the Law of Self Defense at the SigSauer Academy in Epping, NH. He holds or has held concealed carry permits for Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, Florida, Utah, Virginia, and other states.
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 09, 2013148 Comments
By far the biggest news of the day came mid-afternoon when defense attorney Mark O'Mara informed Judge Nelson that his next witness, Elouise Dilligard, would be his last of the trial, and that he expected the defense to rest their case tomorrow. Given the expectations...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 09, 2013695 Comments
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.
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.]
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 08, 2013165 Comments
The defense team of Mark O'Mara and Don West began their first full day of presenting their case to the jury today, although so far this morning it's been nothing but O'Mara. Rumors are that the defense plans to call ~25 witnesses, and they moved...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 08, 2013558 Comments
I trust that everyone had a safe and satisfying extended (for some of you) 4th of July weekend.
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.
[caption id="attachment_55250" align="alignnone" width="432"] George Zimmerman, day 10 of Florida v. Zimmerman[/caption]
During the lunch recess, or immediately thereafter, we will TRY topost 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.
Yesterday I posted up an analytical piece of Mark O'Mara's request for a judgment of acquittal. O'Mara's motion was well-reasoned and supported by Florida's case law. It was, of course, doomed to peremptory denial by Judge Nelson. In that piece I've linked almost all of the case citations made by O'Mara to full-length copies of the decisions, so you can see the sources for yourselves, if you like (most of the decisions are gratifyingly brief). You can see that here:
Last Thursday, July 4, I had posted up a 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:
(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.)
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.]
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 07, 2013298 Comments
Immediately following the close of the State’s case on Friday, Mark O’Mara, the lawyer leading George Zimmerman’s defense team, stood before Judge Nelson and made his oral motion for a judgment of acquittal for his client (a parallel written motion was also submitted to the...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 05, 2013811 Comments
Today began with the expectation that it would the the day on which the State rested its case. That proved true, and it was. It was also among the most bizarre and disturbing days of a lengthy trial full to the brim with bizarre and disturbing days.
Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's Mother
The first State witness of the day was, as anticipated Sybrina Fulton. She had two missions for her appearance: (1) identify the screamer in the background of the Jenna Lauer 911 recording as her son, Trayvon Martin; and (2) avoid saying anything nice about the reputation or character of her son that would open the door to the defense introducing into evidence Martin's history of violence and drug use. She accomplished both.
There was never, of course, any question that she would say exactly that, nor that the defense would fail to point out the suggestive conditions in which the identification initially took place--in the Mayor's office, surrounded by family and family lawyers/advisors, and without any law enforcement officer present. Ms. Fulton's credibility was also substantively damaged when she claimed that she had not known before hearing the tape that it was believed to contain the sound of her son's last, desperate screams. That the persons responsible for playing that tape would not have prepared her beforehand for the shock--to not do so could only be described as monstrous.
Jahvaris Fulton, Trayvon Martin's Half-brother
Next up was Martin's half-brother, Jahvaris Fulton, also a son of Sybrina Fulton. He testified on the stand that the screamer was Trayvon Martin. On cross-examination, as so often has happened to State witnesses, the credibility of his testimony quickly vanished. Defense counsel O'Mara pointed out that two weeks after first hearing the recording played Jahvaris was still stating to reporters that he wasn't sure that the recorded screams were those of Trayvon. When pressed, his answers became a series of "don't know," "not sure, " can't remember," almost as if he'd been pushed outside the boundaries of the coaching for his testimony.
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 05, 2013869 Comments
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:
(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.)
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.]
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 04, 2013270 Comments
As the State prepares to rest its case against George Zimmerman as early as tomorrow, I can’t help but juxtapose where we ought to be in terms of the weight of evidence of Zimmerman’s guilt of second degree murder, and contrast it with where we...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 03, 2013322 Comments
First things first--Legal Insurrection presents yet another of our class-leading internet polls on Florida v. Zimmerman. Vote to lend your voice to whether George Zimmerman should be called by the defense to testify:
Should George Zimmerman testify?
Trial Day 8: Nearing the Close of the State's Case
We...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 03, 2013172 Comments
Today seemed to begin with a rare and much needed "win" for the State prosecutors. Unfortunately, what followed was a relentless unraveling of that win into a snatching of defeat from the jaws of victory. First, however, we should start with what little good news...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 03, 2013141 Comments
BREAKING NEWS
State witness Scott Pleasants, a Professor of George Zimmerman's for an online criminal justice course, just testified on cross-examination by O'Mara that Zimmerman's stated career goal was to become and attorney and eventually a State prosecutor.
[caption id="attachment_57510" align="alignnone" width="500"] Professor Scott Pleasants, testifies: "Zimmerman...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 03, 2013416 Comments
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 (not just a list of tweets this time!). 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.
This morning Court is expected to start at 8:300AM to hold a hearing on whether George Zimmerman's college records and applications to a VA police academy should be admitted. Once that is done, the trial proper will start.
To see yesterday's end-of-day analysis and video, which describes how Mark O'Mara's cross-examination of Investigator Serino so severely damaged the State's theory of the case, click here:
To see yesterday's mid-day wrap up, which provides analysis and video of the testimony of State witnesses (former Investigator, now) Patrolman Chris Serino, and Federal Air Marshall and self-described Zimmerman best friend Mark Osterman click here:
(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.)
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.]
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 02, 2013320 Comments
We covered the morning's events with our mid-day update, available here at the link below. If you've already viewed it, be aware that I have just now added to that post the video recordings of the morning testimony, so if you are interested in seeing...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 02, 2013164 Comments
Motion to Strike Key Serino Testimony Most Damaging to State
The Court opened today with a request from Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda, before the jury was present, to ask Judge Nelson to strike perhaps the most telling blow from yesterday's testimony from former Investigator Chris...
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 02, 2013542 Comments
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 (not just a list of tweets this time!). 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.
[caption id="attachment_57359" align="alignnone" width="347"] Defense Attorney Mark O'Mara cross-examines Sanford PD Investigator Chris Serino, 7/1/13[/caption]
This morning Court is expected to start at 9:00AM, with the continuing cross-examination of State witness Investigator Chris Serino, who at the time of events was the lead investigator into the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Our two live video feeds and scrolling Twitter feed of selected commenters can be found just below these introductory comments.
To see yesterday's end-of-day analysis and video, which describes how Mark O'Mara's cross-examination of Investigator Serino so severely damaged the State's theory of the case, click here:
To see yesterday's mid-day wrap up, which provides analysis and video of the testimony of State witnesses Dr. Hirotaka Nakasone, FBI speech expert, Police Officer Doris Singleton, and the direct examinaton by Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda of Investigator Chris Serino, click here:
(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.)
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.)
Posted by Andrew Branca
on July 01, 2013308 Comments
If you didn't listen to the live streaming of the Zimmerman case, you missed the most astonishing cross-examination of a trial that has been hip-deep in astonishing cross-examinations. (Fortunately for you, we provide the video, below, if you need to catch up--it's worth it.)
Chris Serino,...
