In Zimmerman Trial, Prosecution Witnesses Bolster Self-Defense Claims[NY Times] [View all]

[hack89]

As the trial of George Zimmerman enters its second week on Monday, it appears that the prosecution is struggling to meet the burden of proving him guilty of second-degree murder, legal analysts said.

The defense scored a number of points during cross-examination. It showcased Mr. Zimmerman’s injuries, including a “likely” broken nose, as a physician assistant testified. The first police officer to arrive on the scene said that Mr. Zimmerman’s back and jeans were wet and that his jacket had bits of grass, suggesting he was on his back at some point. The officer also said that Mr. Zimmerman told him he had been yelling for help.

In addition, the resident with the best view of the altercation that night said the person “with lighter skin color” in red or white was being straddled on the ground by someone wearing dark colors. (Mr. Zimmerman was wearing a red jacket.) The witness further described a “ground and pound.” The person on the top, he said, was moving his arms in a downward motion (though the witness added he did not see actual punches).

And the jury learned that Ms. Jeantel’s first interview with Bernie de la Rionda, the chief prosecutor, took place in the home of Mr. Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, with Ms. Fulton sitting next to her. The setting, Ms. Jeantel acknowledged, skewed her story, which was likely to dent her credibility.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/us/in-zimmerman-trial-prosecution-witnesses-bolster-self-defense-claims.html?_r=1&

The state overreached - they should have gone with a manslaughter charge. They have a lot of catching up to do in order to convict him.