walking while black - Trayvon Martin

[HairOfTheDog]

^ The defense often asks for dismissal - it's common.

I'd be surprised if O'Mara failed to do so.

[Adub]

Of course there will be a motion to dismiss. Maybe that is why West is all panicky about having the State rest. He hasn't gotten around to writing it up yet.

[Duchess]

Why would George tell the cops that he didn't know about the Stand Your Ground law when the reality is he excelled in that course?

[Duchess]

Ha! He lied about it in the Hannity interview! Zing! Another dent in his credibility.

[ramseycat]

Because he is lying Duchess. He ducked up that night and made a mistake that changed the rest of his life. At this point, G is going to say whatever he has to that will make him seem innocent.

[HairOfTheDog]

Of course there will be a motion to dismiss. Maybe that is why West is all panicky about having the State rest. He hasn't gotten around to writing it up yet.

Are you surprised by the state's presentation of its case, Adub?

I can't decide whether:

1. This is generally how prosecutors planned on presenting their case and it's going as expected.

Opening statement: very short, strong, powerful and emotional.

Case-in-chief: simply an exercise in getting all of their evidence presented to the jury; not much concern about the weaknesses in the witnesses delivering it; no attempt to create a narrative of how it all fits together.

Closing Argument: Main crux and area of focus. Highlighting how their evidence shows inconsistencies in George's story; how those intentional inconsistencies/deceptions worked to George's advantage; the state of mind and reasons behind George's pursuing and killing Trayvon.

If this is the state's strategy, O'Mara could be taking a big risk if he chooses not to present a defense case and I expect a long closing argument from the state (and hope it's delivered by Guy, no de la rionda or Mantei, and it includes charts/visual aids).

OR...

2. The state's attorneys and their plan/presentation were simply not well organized; they expected the implications of their evidence to tie in more cohesively and obviously with their theory presented in opening statements; came up short (imo). Closing arguments will be their last chance to bolster a weak case.

[ramseycat]

I have a bad feeling G is going to walk.

[Adub]

The State has delivered on everything they stated in their opening statement. Except for the trajectory of the bullet. So the ME needs to be up on the stand come Friday. And followed maybe by Trayvon's mom?

I got distracted today because my grandson came home after ditching me during the Disneyland trip. But hopefully it is just a pit stop, and I can pass the little pest off to his Aunt on the 4^th for the weekend.

As an aside, I do believe that Zimmerman deserves to be found guilty of murdering Trayvon Martin. Had I never known George's previous NE911 calls , his desire to be a LEO, and his damnable lies, then I would have never cared. But, George Zimmerman fucked-up big time. And seeing and hearing Trayvon's Mother breaks my heart. This was all so fucking unnecessary as to be obscene. But depraved works just as well.

[Duchess]

Badgering the witness, muthafucka!

I normally fancy a defense attorney over a prosecutor but I'd like to slap the snot out of Don West.

[HairOfTheDog]

Disappointed that the ME's (Bao) evidence doesn't give him any insight as to the position of Travyon and Zimmerman when the shot was fired.

Made me sad to hear that Trayvon wouldn't have died immediately and would have been in pain for some minutes while he bled out.

Bao talks too much. He should just answer West's questions.

[Cynical Ninja]

Nice to know T would have been physically aware that Z was positioning his body like a showroom dummy as he lay dying on the wet grass.

[HairOfTheDog]

Nice to know T would have been physically aware that Z was positioning his body like a showroom dummy as he lay dying on the wet grass.

If you have a chance, check out the ME's testimony when it continues (attorneys are at side bar right now).

Talk about an ill-prepared and unprofessional prosecution witness.

Terrible way for the state to end its case-in-chief.

Live trial streaming:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/watch-g...?showAds=0

[Jimbone]

It really seems like this case is going as badly for the prosecution as the defense might have hoped it could. Of course I haven't been able to watch any of it, and am relying on comments here and reading news stories about it... but geez, it seems pretty obvious now why no one wanted to bring this case to trial before all the publicity.

[HairOfTheDog]

Dr. Bao is an 'effin nutcase.

[HairOfTheDog]

It really seems like this case is going as badly for the prosecution as the defense might have hoped it could. Of course I haven't been able to watch any of it, and am relying on comments here and reading news stories about it... but geez, it seems pretty obvious now why no one wanted to bring this case to trial before all the publicity.

I think that Zimmerman should have been charged. Publicity or not. I know that we have a difference of opinion in that regard.

But, I agree that it's been an extremely poorly presented case and the prosecution hasn't met its burden of proof to support the charges against Zimmerman.

Sloppy and disappointing showing by Corey and de la Rionda's teams, with some very counter-productive prosecution witnesses and ineffective lawyering.

The ME that did the autopsy for the state is an unbelievably annoying, combative, and ineffective witness. Were I a juror, I would discount anything he says. I hope he's dismissed soon.

[Duchess]

...now I want to slap the ME too.

[username]

I really think the state bungled this case. They never really made the point that, for all anyone knows, George initiated the physical contact.

Why wouldn't they (for example) ask every eye/ear witness that was put on the stand something to the effect of:

"Sir, did you witness the initial contact between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin"?

Witness: "No".

"Sir, do you know (or is it possible) that George Zimmerman might have initiated the physical contact"?

Witness: "Could be".

"So, sir, you can't rule out that George might have placed his hands on Trayvon before Trayvon struck George in the nose"?

"In fact, sir, if you believe that Trayvon was the initial aggressor, that belief is solely based on the defendant's word, correct"?

Blah, blah. I don't know how they could have inserted that exactly but I didn't hear any of that during the trial.

[Duchess]

Is this closing arguments?

Every time they say fuck in the courtroom I'm a little taken aback.

[username]

Is this closing arguments?

Every time they say fuck in the courtroom I'm a little taken aback.

No. Last I was watching, O'Mara was making his motion to dismiss or something. HotD and Adub have been saying this is typical...trying to get the case thrown out at this point. Assuming the judge denies it, it will then be the defenses turn to put on their case (I believe). The state rested earlier today.

[Duchess]

Thanks! I wondered given both sides are discussing how that night went down.