LIVE BLOG: George Zimmerman trial in the Trayvon Martin case
LIVE BLOG - George Zimmerman trial in the death of Trayvon Martin...
UPDATE, 4:17 p.m.: P67 has now been released. All potential jurors will be questioned by Mark O’Mara, of the defense, tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
UPDATE, 4:09 p.m.: O’Mara is explaining the timeline of the case to P67, who is also concerned about taking time away from his work and family.
UPDATE, 4:00 p.m.: Potential juror P67 has requested to talk to the prosecutor separately from the other jurors. He has mentioned that he is uncomfortable with the media and the fact that they used descriptors that identified his heritage. He said he would rather be referred to as a “resident”, “citizen”, or “Hispanic” instead of a “Mexican”.
UPDATE, 3:57 p.m.: Judge Nelson is releasing the group of potential jurors for the night. The potential jurors will be questioned by Mark O’Mara, of the defense, tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
UPDATE, 3:51 p.m.: Bernie de la Rionda has finished his round of questioning. The judge has called for a 15 minute recess.
UPDATE, 3:46 p.m.: De la Rionda has fully explained the second degree murder charge as well as some aspects of the mandated sequestration process.
UPDATE, 3:29 p.m.: The potential jurors agreed that they support the second amendment right to bear arms. Some potential jurors carry a gun and many have family members who own guns. One potential juror is a member of the NRA.
UPDATE, 3:25 p.m.: The prosecutor asked if Trayvon Martin’s life was less valuable because he was a minor or because he was African American. All potential jurors said no.
UPDATE 3:21 p.m.: Two potential jurors said they had a real “working knowledge” of cell phone technology.
UPDATE, 3:17 p.m.: De la Rionda asked if anyone lived in a gated community or a community with a neighborhood watch. Many said that they live in a community with neighborhood watch, but do not participate.
UPDATE, 3:07 p.m.: When asked if they had any experience in law enforcement, many claimed to have familial connections. Of those that answered that they had a relationship to law enforcement, none said that it would hinder their ability to serve on the jury.
UPDATE, 2:48 p.m.: Potential jurors E6, I33, G63, and B61 explained their relation to those witnesses who they identified.
UPDATE, 2:36 p.m.: De la Rionda is questioning potential jurors about the nature in which they know the potential witnesses that they indicated earlier.
UPDATE, 2:30 p.m.: De la Rionda asked potential jurors about previous legal cases they were involved in.
UPDATE, 2:14 p.m.: Several potential jurors admitted that there was crime in their neighborhood, and some said that a neighborhood watch was set up. No jurors said that they personally took major steps to combat the problem in their community.
UPDATE, 2:07 p.m.: Lead prosecutor, Bernie de la Rionda, is asking the group of potential jurors to indicate if they have been the victim of a crime. Several jurors indicated that they were victims, and of those a few specified that they were the victims of violent crimes. One juror said they could not set aside the memory of that crime to serve as a juror.
UPDATE, 1:59 p.m.: Court is back in session.
UPDATE, 12:34 p.m.: The judge has called for a recess for lunch. Court will resume at 1:45 p.m.
UPDATE, 12:32 p.m.: Some jurors said that they had family and close friends that had been treated unfairly when they were arrested or prosecuted.
UPDATE, 12:31 p.m.: Bernie de la Rionda has asked the jurors if they have ever been arrested. Several jurors have admitted to being arrested, and all but one juror said that they had been treated fairly by their prosecutors. All have said that they would not hold their past circumstances against the court in this case.
UPDATE, 12:17 p.m.: Several potential jurors have indicated that they know or have relationships with attorneys or others related to the law. None have admitted that those relationships would effect or interfere with their ability to serve as a juror.
UPDATE, 12:05 p.m.: The prosecutor asked the group how they feel about attorneys. The potential jurors agreed that they would not hold their opinions about attorneys against the state of Florida or the defense.
UPDATE, 11:59 a.m.: Several potential jurors have admitted that they do not or have not watched the TV show CSI. De la Rionda is explaining that a real trial is nothing like these fictional shows. The potential jurors agree that they won’t expect the court to resemble these shows.
UPDATE,11:56 a.m.: The prosecutor is explaining the difference between direct and circumstantial evidence. Both types of evidence are permissible in court.
UPDATE, 11:52 a.m.: “Sympathy plays no role in arriving at a verdict,” said De la Rionda. The potential jurors all agreed. The prosecutor said the same thing of biases.
UPDATE, 11:44 a.m.: Court is back in session. Group questioning has begun. All potential jurors are in agreement that both sides deserve a fair trial. De la Rionda is explaining that the state has the burden of proving that a crime was committed by the defendant “beyond a reasonable doubt”.
UPDATE 11:24 a.m.: The judge has called a 15 minute recess.
UPDATE, 11:20 a.m.: I44 has lived in the area for two years. He is married with children. He is involved in a barbeque association and has previously served as an alternate juror.
UPDATE, 11:18 a.m.: I33 is married with no children. He is searching for a new career. He enjoys farming and fishing. He has no prior jury service.
UPDATE, 11:16 a.m.: I24 has been a resident of the area since 1968. She is married with children. She likes sports and travel. She was summoned for jury once, but never served.
UPDATE, 11:16 a.m.: I19 is single with no children. She has been a resident of Seminole County for 3 years.
UPDATE, 11:15 a.m.: I5 has lived in the area for 13 years and is married with three children. He was in the military and has previously served on multiple juries.
UPDATE, 11:12 a.m.: H86 is single with no children. She was born and raised in the area. She was away at school when she was summoned for a previous jury.
UPDATE, 11:11 a.m.: H69 has lived in the area for 21 years. She is married and attends church. She spends time with family and pets outside of work. She has no prior jury experience.
UPDATE, 11:09 a.m.: H81 is married has two kids. He has worked at the same job for 25 years. He likes the internet and has served on the jury in Seminole County before.
UPDATE 11:09 a.m.: H35 is married and has no children. She has had no previous jury experience.
UPDATE 11:07 a.m.: H29 was in the military. He is divorced and has two kids. He likes tennis and has lived in the area for 30 years.
UPDATE, 11:05 a.m.: H18 served in the Army and has one child. He previously worked as a contractor.
UPDATE, 11:04 a.m.: H7 is married and has children. He is involved with Boy Scouts and has lived in the area for 27 years.
UPDATE, 11:02 a.m.:Â H6 has lived in the area for a year and a half. He is single and has no kids. He has had previous jury experience.
UPDATE, 11:01 a.m.: G81 is married and does not have children. He likes golfing and traveling.
UPDATE, 10:59 a.m.: G66 is a widow. She is retired and has two children. She was previously a financial adviser and now belongs to a motorcycle club.
UPDATE, 10:59 a.m.: G63 is unemployed and single. He likes chess and weight lifting.
UPDATE, 10:57 a.m.: G47 is single with no kids. He likes sports and beer. He has had no military or jury experience.
UPDATE, 10:55 a.m.: G29 is single and has no children. She has lived in the area for nine months. She enjoys sports and was summoned for the jury once before.
UPDATE, 10:54 a.m.: G14 is divorced and has two children. She has worked the same job for the past 3 years and is actively involved with the Boy Scouts.
UPDATE, 10:49 a.m.: B67 is married with three kids. He is originally from Mexico and attends church. He requested to have his done questioning in private, but was denied by the judge.
UPDATE, 10:47 a.m.: K95 is married and has two children. She volunteers with several organizations. She has lived in the area for 16 years.
UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: K80 has been a resident since 2004. Many of her family members have served in the military. She is married and has two young children. She is active in the Girl Scouts.
UPDATE, 10:44 a.m.: E28 is married and has two children. She spouse is a teacher. She previously served on the jury of a civil suit.
UPDATE, 10:42 a.m.: E13 is single with no children. She attends church and works as an surgical assistant.
UPDATE, 10:41 a.m.: E22 is single with no children. She gardens in her free time and is a part of a social service organization.
UPDATE, 10:40 a.m.: B72 is single and has no children. He spends free time in the gym and participating in arm wrestling competitions.
UPDATE, 10:38 a.m.: B61 is recently married and has no children. She works as an engineer and her husband is studying to become an engineer. She has no prior jury experience.
UPDATE, 10:35 a.m.: M75 moved to Seminole in 2001. She is single with no children, and has worked at a theme park in Orlando.
UPDATE, 10:32 a.m.: E73 is from New Jersey and has lived in the area for 17 years. She works as a consultant and has been married for 33 years. She has served on a jury five times. She has two kids and her husband is retired.
UPDATE, 10: 30 a.m.: E54 has lived in the area for 14 years and grew up in Central Florida. He has been married for 5 years and has two step-children. He is interested in genealogy and golf.
UPDATE 10:27 a.m.: E40 is married to a chemical engineer and works as a safety officer. She moved to Florida from Iowa. She served on a jury 20 years ago.
UPDATE, 10:25 a.m.: B6 is married to an engineer and has two children. She previously volunteered at a school. She spends her time taking care of her family and gardening. She has never has previous jury experience.
UPDATE, 10:23 a.m.: B86 is single and has two children.
UPDATE, 10:21 a.m.: B51 is not married, has no kids, and is retired.
UPDATE, 10:18 a.m.: B37 moved to Seminole County from California. She is married to a corporate attorney and has two children. She was previously involved in animal rescue groups.
UPDATE 10:14 a.m.: B35 is being questioned. He is married and has lived in Seminole County for years. He has a son, and coaches football. He served in the Marine Corps.
UPDATE, 10:11 a.m.: B7 is now being questioned. He is married and has no children. He has served on a jury before.
UPDATE 10:08 p.m.: B76 is being questioned. She is married and has two children . She and her husband manage rental properties.
UPDATE, 10:06 a.m.: The prosecutor is now questioning B29. She is married, has 8 children, and works as a CNA. She implied that her family takes up most of her time outside of work. She is originally from Chicago.
UPDATE, 10:00 a.m.: De la Rionda asks B12 how long she has been a resident of Seminole County, she answered 40 years. The prosecutor is asking B12 questions about her job, marital status, children, and social activities.
UPDATE, 9:55 a.m.: Prosecutor, Bernie de la Rionda, is now speaking to the group of potential jurors. He will be able to question them about their backgrounds individually and as a group.
UPDATE, 9:49 a.m.: Three potential jurors have indicated that they recognize witness names on the list.
UPDATE, 9:39 a.m.: The potential jurors are being handed a list of the potential witnesses for the case, and are being asked to circle any names they recognize and notify the judge.
UPDATE, 9:33 a.m.: The courts is back in session and all potential jurors are in the courtroom. The judge is instructing the group not to discuss or research the court proceedings so that they may have a fair trial.
UPDATE June 19, 9:11 a.m.: Some of the prospective jurors have not arrived to the courthouse. Judge Nelson has called a recess until they arrive.
