walking while black - Trayvon Martin

[Duchess]

appears to be almost injury free to me.

He was beaten close to death, to the point that he feared he was going to die. *nods*

[Cynical Ninja]

He was beaten close to death, to the point that he feared he was going to die. *nods*

[/i][/size]

Yeeeeeeeaaahhhhh.......right!

(CN glances side to side while rubbing his chinny chin chin in contemplation).

[HairOfTheDog]

I can't find a published schedule for the Zimmerman trial court, but it looks like trial will start at:

9:00 a.m. Eastern (GMT - 4)

US Conversions:
6:00 a.m. Pacific
7:00 a.m. Mountain
8:00 a.m. Central

Sometimes there are hearings that are scheduled to take place in court before the day's testimony; some of those are broadcast and others are sealed. So, start times for what the public sees can vary.

This live streaming link/page will be the same for the duration of the trial:
http://www.wptv.com/generic/news/nationa...e-coverage

[username]

Guy is kind of a cutie.

[username]

George is giving me the impression that he is having trouble staying awake.

He's totally nodding off! He can barely keep his eyes open.

[Jimbone]

I can't see it... but that won't play well with a jury.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's like West is trying the case in opening statements.

Way too long and detailed, imo. I don't think the defense will put Zimmerman on the stand to tell his own story.

Judge Nelson has had to remind West of the parameters of opening statements a couple of times so far.

West touched on "contact shot" and why prosecutor Guy was wrong in stating that Trayvon had a contact shot. West said it was the sweatshirt that did (as best I can tell the point he was trying to make).

Now, we're hearing how "soft" George was considered at the gym and how he was trying to lose weight there and was in better shape back in Feb 2012, but he was never a good fighter or athlete.

George is a responsible gun owner and most people didn't know he even had one, says West.

George has been in the community since 2009. George's neighbor had a big bad aggressive dog that harassed George's wife. George called animal control a couple of times. George considered pepper spray. But, that wasn't a good solution. That's why George got a permit, took a class, and learned how to use a gun. Double action only gun without a safety is what was recommended.

Geez, West needs to move to end his opening statement. He's only supposed to be covering what the evidence will show; Nelson agrees with me. Ha. She just reminded West again about sticking to the parameters.

West says Trayvon was in fact armed. He was armed with the concrete sidewalk!

P.s. West did start the post-lunch portion of his statement with an apology for the failed knock knock joke in attempt to bond with jury.

[Cynical Ninja]

Just seen some footage online of George in court today, he must be on something or he hasn't been sleeping much lately or both.

There's no way the defence will want him giving testimony on the stand, he looks like he's been shot in the arse with a tranquiliser dart.

[Duchess]

West says Trayvon was in fact armed. He was armed with the concrete sidewalk!

Hahaha! Armed with a concrete sidewalk. *snort*

I'm just a little biased but he looks like a dumbass saying that.

[HairOfTheDog]

O'Mara is now basically whining because Trayvon's family is back in court and Zimmerman's parents can't come in (they are on witness lists).

The parents of a minor victim are allowed to be there unless the defense can show that there's some prejudice by them being there, even if they're gonna testify later.

Jesus Christ, O'Mara is arguing with the judge and wants to make it public that Tracy Martin (Trayvon's dad) cussed at someone on the Zimmerman side. PR again. There's nothing on the record to support that.

Now, O'Mara is suggesting that it's not fair that Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman (George's parents) can't be there because they're on the prosecution witness list. He wants the judge to try to force of the prosecution to reveal if they will indeed call the Zimmermans or if the prosecution is just trying to keep George's parents out of the courtroom.

Ah hell, now a Zimmerman friend testifying that Tracy Martin muttered under his breath "mother fucker" when he saw the friend's badge while walking out of court.

Ridiculous! The defense is trying to make it seem like this happened while court was in progress. This is so stupid! Idiotic defense tactic, imo. If Tracy did mutter it, so what? No threat, nothing overt.

De la rionda is getting heated in cross-examining the nark (or liar). This alleged cussing didn't even happen today. It happened weeks ago, the witness told George's wife, the wife told O'Mara.

[Cynical Ninja]

Looks like the defence are determined to fling as much shit as possible at Trayvon and the Martin family at any given opportunity to try and portray them as stereotypical good for nothing niggers.

[Cynical Ninja]

Hahaha! Armed with a concrete sidewalk. *snort*

I'm just a little biased but he looks like a dumbass saying that.[/i][/size]

That is desperately clutching for sure.

The prosecution need to keep reiterating that Trayvon was UNARMED.

[HairOfTheDog]

Judge Nelson just ruled that the Zimmerman's friend's testimony about the cussing is irrelevant.

Nelson re-iterated the laws that clearly allow the Martin family to be in court, but not the Zimmermans.

Brief recess.

(This is the kind of silly drama that's been taking place in this case even at pre-trial hearings. Nelson sometimes has to be like a babysitter.)

[HairOfTheDog]

Guy is kind of a cutie.

No objection here.

He's direct and prepared too. No meandering.

He's questioning the prosecution's first witness, Chad Joseph.

Chad is the 15 year old son of Tracy Martin's girlfriend, Brandy Green (sp). Trayvon was hanging out with Chad watching tv and playing video games when Trayvon left to go to the store; Chad wanted Skilttles.

Chad is nervous and cute. He's about to be cross examined by O'Mara.

[HairOfTheDog]

Chad Joseph is off the stand. He basically established what Trayvon was doing before he left for the store.

Andrew Gaugh is the second prosecution witness. Guy is questioning him now.

He's the 7-11 cashier that rang up Trayvon's purchase on the night Trayvon was shot.

He says Trayvon paid cash; caused no concern; he had never seen Trayvon before.

6:22 pm is when Trayvon entered the store according to surveillance cam.

We're watching Trayvon put the candy and tea on the counter, he reaches into his pockets a few times to get cash and change when he's rung up, cashier puts candy and tea in bag, Trayvon goes to leave, picks up something off the ground....

Another cam view is being shown.

[HairOfTheDog]

O'Mara cross-examining Gaugh.

O'Mara wants to know if Gaugh found it strange how long it took Travyon to get the money out of his pocket. Witness says, "no". (I thought it took a while myself.)

O'Mara asks Gaugh why he was watching Trayvon when Trayvon headed for the back of the store after the purchase. Gaugh said he wasn't.

O'Mara asks and Gaugh reponds that he doesn't remember the encounter with Trayvon; he's seen the surveillance.

Gaugh's 5'10".

Witness excused.

[ramseycat]

Holy shit George is totally falling asleep.

[ramseycat]

Fucking commercials! I want to see thus kids testimony.

[username]

At some point in his opening, O'Mara made it a point to say T was carrying a full, 24oz (or so) Arizona. He said that was important so I'm guessing that will be offered as a weapon somehow too. Just a guess.

[HairOfTheDog]

Prosecutor Richard Matei called the 911 operator, Sean Noffke, to the stand.

Noffke confirmed that Zimmerman's call was non-emergency to report a "suspicious person".

Noffke confirmed that George described the suspicious person as black male in his late teens with his hand in his waist band.

Noffke said that he heard what he thought sounded like a car door opening during the call and he asked George if he was following the subject..

Noffke confirmed that he told Zimmerman he didn't need to follow the subject and George confirmed understanding of that. Noffke also explained that operators don't give callers direct commands for liability reasons.

The 911 call was played again.

O'Mara cross-examined Noffke.

Noffke says he did not find Zimmerman's tone to be angry during the call.

Noffke says he cannot tell what Zimmerman was thinking when O'Mara asks him questions of that nature.

On re-direct, prosecutor Matei asks Noffke if George's references to "fucking punks" and "assholes" might indicate ill-will towards the subject. Noffke agrees that's true and he hears such references all of the time.

Noffke confirms that he never told Zimmerman to follow the subject, he never heard Zimmerman get back in his vehicle, and he never heard hostility in George's voice.

Noffke is dismissed; subject to recall.