Shooting of Trayvon Martin - Page 121

On June 25 2013 03:34 ragz_gt wrote:


Or he just trying to put everyone to sleep.

On June 25 2013 03:35 farvacola wrote:

Well, at this juncture, it is pretty difficult to tell whether or not his "tactic" ends up paying off. Sure, he got a few chuckles, but the color of those laughs as they pertains to their view of the defense is still up in the air. A jury member might let out a small giggle only to later reflect on the proceedings and think, "Wow, that was not a place for laughing at all."

On June 25 2013 03:39 farvacola wrote:

Or perhaps he saw need to take their mind off his drudgingly long opening statement

On June 25 2013 03:34 ragz_gt wrote:


Or he just trying to put everyone to sleep.

On June 25 2013 03:40 Fruscainte wrote:


Court isn't like in TV. It's a long, dreadful process. People are watching this expecting it to be entertaining and like their reality shows or something.

EDIT: HE NEVER SAID PARDON MY LANGUAGE

LOL

On June 25 2013 02:59 darthfoley wrote:


You have to be fucking kidding me...

In its opening statement in the Travyon Martin murder trial, the prosecution Monday portrayed defendant George Zimmerman as a trigger-happy, police wannabe who saw the teenager as a suspicious person and considered it his right to "rid the neighborhood of anyone that he believed didn't belong."

"The truth about the murder of Trayvon Martin is going to come directly from his mouth, from those hate-filled words that he used to describe a perfect stranger and from the lies that he told to the police to try to justify his actions," prosecutor John Guy told the six-woman jury.

Guy moved quickly to try to jolt the jurors by using the "f-word" followed by "punks" in quoting from Zimmerman's conversation by cellphone with a police dispatcher as he followed the unarmed teenager through the gated community where he lived.

Zimmerman's defense attorneys, in their opening statement in the high profile case, said that the neighborhood watch volunteer shot Martin in self-defense. Defense attorney Don West told jurors that Zimmerman was being viciously attacked when he shot the 17-year-old Miami-area teen.

Zimmermanhas pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Fla.

Prosecutors say Zimmerman acted "imminently dangerous" and demonstrated a "depraved mind without regard for human life" -- Florida's definition of second-degree murder.

Trayvon Martin's mother and father are asking the public to pray for their family as opening statements begin in the trial of the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with fatally shooting her son. (June 24)

A 911 call that recorded screaming and the gunshot will be a key part of the trial. However, Circuit Judge Debra Nelson ruled Saturday that prosecution experts who said the voice screaming was Trayvon's will not be allowed to testify. Witnesses familiar with the voices of Zimmerman and Trayvon can testify to whom they believe is screaming, the judge ruled. That means Trayvon's and Zimmerman's families may testify.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Guy called the killing a "product of two worlds colliding."

One world, he said, was a boy visiting his father and walking home after buying a fruit drink and Skittles at a local convenience store.

In the other world, the prosecutor said, was a 28-year-old adult, a neighborhood watch coordinator, who was patrolling the area at night with a semi-automatic pistol tucked in his waistband in a "ready to fire position" with one live round in the chamber.

"When he saw Trayvon Martin, he didn't see a young man walking home," the prosecutor said. "As he told the (police) dispatcher, he saw someone that was 'real suspicious,' someone who looked like he was 'up to no good,' again, to use his word."

The prosecutor noted that in his conversation on a cellphone with the police dispatcher, he made the comments that "these a--holes, they always get away."

In explaining the state's case against Zimmerman, Guy, often pointing directly at Zimmerman, repeated those words several times saying Zimmerman wrongly profiled a teen walking home as a criminal.

"Those words were in his chest," Guy said. "Those words were in the defendant's heart before he pressed a pistol to Trayvon Martin's chest."

Guy said Zimmerman had spun a web of lies when he said Trayvon punched him, and knocked him down.

West, however, told jurors that Martin had thrown a "sucker punch" at Zimmerman after possibly hiding."Trayvon Martin decided to confront George Zimmerman,'' West said. "The evidence will show this is a sad case,'' he said. ""There are no monsters."

West began his opening statement with a joke. "Knock, knock," West said. "Who's there?" George Zimmerman. George Zimmerman who? Congratulations you're on the jury."

The court remained quiet and jurors' faces were blank. Later, after a break, West promised not to tell any more bad jokes.

Guy said earlier that police officers on the scene, emergency personnel, a medical examiner and several residents who live nearby the shooting will testify.

"No one heard or saw this from start to beginning to end," said Guy, explaining that witnesses saw slices that don't fit with Zimmerman's version.

The state will also show evidence that Zimmerman applied to be a police officer, wanted to go on a police ride along, was a criminal justice student and initiated a neighborhood watch program as captain, Guy said.

He added that at least a year before the shooting Zimmerman was taking martial arts and self defense classes at a gym and learning how to fight.

Guy pointed out that none of Zimmerman's blood or DNA was found on Trayvon's body, clothing, or under his nails. Zimmerman's gun also didn't have any of Trayvon's blood or DNA, he said.

"It's physically impossible the way he explained it," Guy said, explaining Zimmerman's gun was "ready to go."

Guy said medical personnel tried to save Trayvon who was found faced down with his hands on his chest. Photos of Trayvon will be shown to the jury.

He said the jury will hear the 911 call and that the screaming stops instantly when the gun goes off.

"George Zimmerman did not shoot Trayvon Martin because he had to," Guy said. "He shot him for the worst of all reasons because he wanted to."

Shortly before opening statements, the family of Trayvon Martin and their attorney asked for prayers.

"As the court proceedings continue, we as a family look and cherish the memories that Trayvon left us with," said Trayvon's father, Tracy Martin, adding that memories of his son's smile was giving him strength.

The teen's mother, who remained quiet during two weeks of jury selection, also spoke.

"I don't want any other mother to have to experience what I'm going through now," Sybrina Fulton said. "I ask that you pray for me and my family."

Fulton said she plans to attend the trial everyday to offer support for her son's memory.

Trayvon's brother, Jahvaris Fulton, as well as the late teen's grandmother also attended court.

The family's attorney, Benjamin Crump, said while murder trials are emotional, the jury will need to do its duty and listen to all the facts.

"There are two important facts in this case," Crump said. "George Zimmerman was a grown man with a gun. Trayvon Martin was a minor with no blood on his hands."

Nelson, honoring a prosecution request, ordered Zimmerman's family to leave the courtroom for the duration of the trial because members are potential witnesses.

In a statement to the media, Robert Zimmerman, George's brother, was critical of the move. He said George "can count on his parents' & his family's unwavering & unconditional support, as he has throughout this ordeal, until he is acquitted."

Trayvon's family can stay because Florida law allows the victim's family to stay.

On June 25 2013 03:57 xDaunt wrote:

This is all true. However, effective trial advocacy -- particularly in front of a jury -- always contains some degree of "entertainment" or "showmanship" so as to keep the attention of the jury. Aside from technical difficulties, the real problem with that opening statement is that it had way too much shit in it. It wasn't lean. It didn't convey a strong message. I guarantee that there will be important parts of it that the jury will not remember just because of the sheer amount of shit that was thrown at them all at once.

Will it matter in the long run? Probably not. I'm of the opinion that lawyers are far less important to the trial process than they like to think they are. The facts make the case. Advocacy has a comparatively minor influence upon the outcome.

On June 25 2013 04:21 Crownlol wrote:


I had just assumed you're an attorney. What's your profession?