It's difficult to forget that a Florida jury believed a theory of a murder in which a child was alive one minute, and somehow magically dead sometime later. The last person to have seen her alive was her mother. Her mother hid evidence pertinent to the investigation from the police for months and behaved during the child's disappearance as if she was quite happy that her daughter was dead. Yet the defense actually presented no alternative theory of the crime, they merely insinuated one, and a Florida jury accepted that, even though in introducing the idea that an accidental death had occurred it was incumbent under Florida law for the defense to develop that theory of the crime.
Sorry if some of us are not as sanguine about how this is going to be resolved based on past determinations.
In the instant case, I believe the judge has already committed serious errors, and some of them strike me as reversible. She should have admonished Rachel Jentael on several occasions about her attitude, warned her it was disrespectful to the court, and failing to improve her outlook, held her in contempt. She did not. She repeatedly has cut the defense off during pertinent questioning and allowed an extended presentation of Zimmerman's knowledge of Stand Your Ground, when that evidence was not the least bit relevant to the case. She has also allowed hearsay to be introduced on several occasions, knowing that given the emotional vulnerability of a witness the defense would almost certainly not object. She should never have allowed a running commentary by a forensic examiner who did not even examine Zimmerman. That testimony is completely irrelevant, based on photographs is no better than hearsay, and has nothing to do with his state of mind, which is what the self-defense statute is about.
We should not expect her instructions to the jury to be clear, unbiased, or even professional. She's an Ito-wannabe. Even if Zimmerman is found guilty of manslaughter, this looks to be far from over.
She should never have allowed a running commentary by a forensic examiner who did not even examine Zimmerman. That testimony is completely irrelevant, based on photographs is no better than hearsay, and has nothing to do with his state of mind, which is what the self-defense statute is about. “””
I was stunned b y the comments of that supposed Medical Examiner. First—don’t most Medical Examiners deal with DEAD people?
Stating that Zimmerman’s injuries were “Insignificant” was certainly NOT very professional-—when all she saw was a photo—taken when Z was already cleaned up.
I sure would not want this person diagnosing any injuries I sustained from being slammed onto the concrete sidewalk!!!!!
The behavior of the ‘10 y/o girlfriend’ sure explained why the prosecution kept her hidden for the last 7 months and not brought forward until she was in court. She is a total loser—no education—no future—not employable—a surly attitude about everything—absolutely lacking in any respect of any kind.
Nice going to all the Black Panther members of the USA society!!! You have produced a totally useless citizen who will be on the public dole for the whole of her life—along with all her babies!!!