By: Taren Vaughan
What occurred during Day 7 of the Trayvon Martin murder trial has raised some eyebrows. For those who haven’t been following the trial closely, several testimonies have been given so far. Following the ones given by Trayvon Martin’s friend Rachel Jeantel and resident eyewitness Jonathan Good, Sanford police officers took the stand yesterday to give theirs. Officer Doris Singleton revealed a detail many found interesting during her testimony about the story George Zimmerman told during the interviews he gave and she said Zimmerman’s account didn’t remain consistent. According to a report from Newser, the Prosecution wants to introduce George Zimmerman’s school records to the trial as a way to prove Zimmerman was fully aware of the Stand-Your-Ground law the state of Florida has in place while defense attorneys insists the school records have no relevancy:
Prosecutors asked a judge Tuesday to allow them to introduce school records showing Zimmerman took a class that addressed Florida’s self-defense law. They say it will show he had knowledge of the law, even though he claimed he didn’t in an interview with talk show host Sean Hannity. The interview was played for jurors Tuesday.
The judge said she would rule later Tuesday.
Prosecutors also want to introduce a job application Zimmerman made to a police agency in Virginia and an application to ride around with Sanford police officers.
In addition to the Prosecution seeking permission to introduce Zimmerman’s school records, Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda asked the judge to strike a statement made by lead detective Chris Serino from the record that he made on Monday:
De la Rionda argued the statement was improper because one witness isn’t allowed to give an opinion on the credibility of another witness. Defense attorney Mark O’Mara argued it was proper because it was Serino’s job to decide whether Zimmerman was telling the truth.
Judge Debra Nelson told jurors to disregard the statement.
“This is an improper comment,” the judge said.
The prosecutor then questioned Officer Serino about his opinion of George Zimmerman’s attitude towards Trayvon Martin as Serino says Zimmerman didn’t display any ill will towards Trayvon. Chris Serino was also questioned about the phone call Zimmerman made to the police:
The prosecutor played back Zimmerman’s call to police to report the teen waling through his gated community. Zimmerman uses an expletive, refers to “punks” and then says, “These a——-. They always get away.”
The detective conceded that Zimmerman’s choice of words could be interpreted as being spiteful.
The prosecutor also challenged Serino’s contention that Zimmerman’s story didn’t have any major inconsistencies. The prosecutor played back Zimmerman’s police interview and noted that investigators were asking about small differences in the neighborhood watch volunteer’s story. Zimmerman claimed he spread out the teen’s arms after the shooting. But a photo taken immediately after the shooting shows Martin’s arms under his body.
“Is that inconsistent with the defendant’s statement he spread the arms out?” de la Rionda asked.
“That position, yes it is,” Serino said, though he later noted that Zimmerman’s description was consistent with the medical examiner’s report.
Later, in response to Serino’s cross-examination testimony that he’d seen a convenience store video that showed Martin in a hooded sweatshirt, de la Rionda asked, “Are you saying in Seminole County, it’s illegal for someone to wear a hoodie at night?”
“No sir. I’m not,” Serino said.
In addition to Chris Serino being questioned about Zimmerman’s phone call, prosecutors called a medical examiner from Jacksonville to the stand. Although she did not perform the autopsy on Trayvon Martin, Dr. Valerie Rao was asked by prosecutors to review the evidence in the case. In her testimony, Dr. Rao says Zimmerman’s injuries were insignificant and her comments fueled the Prosecution’s claims that Zimmerman’s life was not in jeopardy during the fight he had with Trayvon Martin:
“They were so minor that the individual who treated and examined Mr. Zimmerman decided stitches weren’t required.”
Here are the clips from Day 7 of the trial:
““They were so minor that the individual who treated and examined Mr. Zimmerman decided stitches weren’t required.” >>>> PUT HIM IN JAIL.
Zimmerman will not last a day in general population.
FINALLY!!!!!!!!! A good day for the prosecution Zimmerman injuries are inconsistent with what he said.
Today was a bad day for George Zimmerman which was a good day for justice.
Of course his injuries weren’t life threatening. His life was never in danger.
Yes!!!!!
*fist pump*
Why is it taking so long to say that porky pig look a like is guilty. his racist thoughts got the best of him.
Trayvonneeds justice!!!
Zimmerman is in trouble.
I cannot stand George Zimmerman’s lawyer or his racist daughter. I hope they all get whats comin to them.
He was cocky from the beginning and justice is long overdue for Trayvon and his family. I cant fathom how people can actually defend a woman beating, incestuous child molesting murderer. Its sick and beyond comprehension.