Update -- see post-hearing analysis at bottom of post.
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At a hearing today, the Judge in the George Zimmerman case granted the
prosecution's motion to exclude all mention of Trayvon Martin's social media use, including images and text relating to fighting and marijuana use.
We mentioned some of this evidence in our
prior post.
The Judge's ruling addressed Opening Statements and jury selection, and leaves open the possibility that if the prosecution somehow opens the door to the evidence, it could come in at trial, but for now, it's out.
In a bombshell revelation, Zimmerman's attorney asserted for the first time that Martin videotaped friends beating up a homeless man. I didn't hear that part of the court hearing, but here is what an Orlando Sentinel reporter tweeted:
[UPDATE -- Zimmerman's attorney
retracted the statement above:
During the Tuesday, May 28th hearing, Mr. O'Mara misstated the nature of video from Trayvon Martin's cell phone which was included in the Defendant's 3rd Supplemental Discovery. He stated that the video showed "two buddies of his beating up a homeless guy," when what happened was Trayvon Martin, along with a buddy, was videotaping two homeless guys fighting each other over a bike. Though it was unintentional, it is a particular concern to us because we are and have been committed to disputing misinformation in every aspect of this case, not causing it. For that, Mr. O’Mara apologizes.
]
Here are live tweets of other rulings from Orlando Sentinel reporters:
