LIVE BLOG: George Zimmerman trial in the Trayvon Martin case
LIVE BLOG - George Zimmerman trial in the death of Trayvon Martin...
UPDATE, 3:50 p.m.: The court is in recess. Opening arguments in the trial will begin Monday at 9 a.m.
UPDATE, 3:23 p.m.: The selected jurors have just been sworn in. They are being moved to another room to learn the full detail of their sequestration. They will have no further contact with the attorneys or Judge Nelson until opening statements take place on Monday morning.
UPDATE, 3:17 p.m.: Judge Nelson is releasing some of the potential jurors that were not selected to participate in the trial.
UPDATE, 3:08 p.m.: The judge has asked that the attorneys protect all of the information that have about all of the potential jurors, and that the court records be sealed until a later date.
UPDATE, 3:00 p.m.: The jurors are B29, B76, B37, B51, E6, and E40. The alternates are E54 B72 E13 E28. All six of the selected jurors are women, five of whom are white and one that is Hispanic.
UPDATE, 2:03 p.m.: Court is back in session. The prosecution has asked to strike potential juror P67 for cause, but Judge Nelson declined.
UPDATE, 12:43 p.m.: Judge Nelson has called for a recess for lunch until 2:15 p.m.
UPDATE, 12:40 p.m.: The potential jurors agreed that Trayvon Martin’s race and age should not be given any “special consideration”.
UPDATE, 12:37 p.m.: All potential jurors agreed to take the witness testimonies in their proper context.
UPDATE, 12:28 p.m.: Some of the jurors have expressed concerns about people carrying firearms.
UPDATE, 12:23 p.m.: O’Mara asked the jurors whether neighborhood watch programs are “a good thing or a bad thing”. All jurors agreed it is a good thing.
UPDATE, 12:18 p.m.: The potential jurors discussed their experiences with violent crime. O’Mara is now asking the jurors about their experiences with fitness and contact sports.
UPDATE, 12:04 p.m.: The judge has read the jury instructions once again, and noted that the court will not define any additional terms that are not explained in the instructions.
UPDATE, 11:53 a.m.: Six jurors have indicated that they have concerns with the “Stand Your Ground” law or how it is applied. Potential juror B7 said he “hopes” that he can follow the law, although he has noted that he does not agree with it.
UPDATE, 11:41 a.m.: The judge is now reading a portion of the instructions for self-defense to the potential jurors.
UPDATE, 11:34 a.m.: O’Mara is explaining self defense that is within the confines of the law. He said that “deadly force” could be used if someone “reasonably believes” that it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.
UPDATE, 11:26 a.m.: O’Mara is asking the jurors how they feel about “taking the law into your own hands”.
UPDATE, 11:20 a.m.: “Sympathy is not an appropriate consideration,” said O’Mara. Some jurors said that sympathy is a natural human emotion, but agreed that they have to be able to control that.
UPDATE, 11:10 a.m.:Â O’Mara has expressed his concern for the jurors bringing life experience and biases into the courtroom. He is now talking about witness bias.
UPDATE, 10:51 a.m.: O’Mara is talking to the potential jurors about decisions and assumptions that they make in their everyday lives.
UPDATE, 10:47 a.m.: Court is back in session.
UPDATE, 10:29 a.m.: The judge has called for a 15 minute recess.
UPDATE, 10:22 a.m.: O’Mara is talking to the jury about the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms and the 6th Amendment rights to a fair trial for the defendant.
UPDATE, 9:53 a.m.: Judge Nelson has read the official court definition of “beyond a reasonable doubt”.
UPDATE, 9:40 a.m.: O’Mara is explaining what would be classified as “direct evidence”, “circumstantial evidence”, and a “reasonable doubt”.
UPDATE, 9:31 a.m.: O’Mara is discussing the label of “defendant” in reference to Mr. Zimmerman. He said, “George Zimmerman has been called a defendant as if he has something to prove.” O’Mara stresses the importance of the “presumption of innocence” to the jury and what it would take for the state to prove their case.
UPDATE June 20, 9:20 a.m.: Court is in session. Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s defense attorney, is addressing the group of potential jurors.
