To a limited extent, I’ve had to deal with that issue - how to get this type of information into evidence. It can be tricky. It’s a question of laying the foundation. With enough time and subpoenas it can be done but not in 12 hours. What West is asking for is a sanction against the state because the state withheld evidence. This may be grounds for a mistrial which the defense doesn’t want but I’m not sure that it’s grounds for admission of the text messages. I do think that the video should go in with limits put on it in the jury instructions. Perhaps the texts could go in also with the jury being instructed that these were texts on the phone that Trayvon had at the time he was killed but that the source is not known. Leave it up to the jury. That’s what I would do if I were the judge. West is correct - defense should be favored on these issues. Judge knows that if Z is found guilty that she will likely be found to have committed reversible error. Judges hate being reversed. So at this time she has to be thinking, if Z is found innocent, even if the state appeals, he’s off the hook. She could still be found to have committed error but no harm no foul. I’ve had judges let evidence in for that reason alone.
Geez....compare this text to the videos we have all seen on facebook (or whatever). They actually corroborate each other.
I agree in an even tempered situation that is what should happen. However, this judge is on the fast track to conviction express. She wants nothing less than that. Tomorrow she will rule, no animation, remove Donnelly testimony (yeah I know a bell rung joke), and whatever else she can push though by 9AM when “her Jury” will be back in.