LIVE BLOG: George Zimmerman trial in the Trayvon Martin case
LIVE BLOG - George Zimmerman trial in the death of Trayvon Martin...
UPDATE, 5:04 p.m.: Judge Nelson has called for the evening recess. Court will resume tomorrow at 9 a.m.
After a week of individual questioning the attorneys and judge have reached the magic group of 40 potential jurors that will move on to a group questioning round. Of these 40 people, 6 individuals and 4 alternates will be selected to make up the actual jury. The jurors that have qualified thus far will be questioned by the attorneys tomorrow morning.
UPDATE, 4:39 p.m.: Judge Nelson has excused the individuals waiting to be interviewed. The regular voir dire questioning will begin for the selected potential jurors tomorrow at 9 a.m. The judge is giving these potential jurors instructions not to research or discuss the case, and has released them for the evening.
UPDATE, 4:37 p.m.: Judge Nelson announced that 40 prospective jurors have been chosen from the pre-trial publicity interviews.
UPDATE, 4:28 p.m.: I44 has used phrases like “media hyped” and “sensational” to describe coverage of this case. He said he has friends that have formed opinions, but he has not.
UPDATE, 4:23 p.m.: I44 said that serving on the jury would not be an insurmountable hardship. O’Mara is now questioning I44.
UPDATE, 4:19 p.m.: I44 said that he heard references to a 911 audio call. He recognized the protests because of the traffic it caused on his route home from work, and said that people have the right to protest peacefully.
UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.: I44 said that he remembers Skittles, Trayvon Martin wearing a hoodie, and that it was raining on the night of the shooting. He said that he could disregard anything that is not presented in the courtroom if selected in the jury.
UPDATE, 4:10 p.m.: A new potential juror, I44, is being questioned by De la Rionda.
UPDATE, 4:06 p.m.: I33 said he has not been given enough facts to form an opinion. He believes he can remain open minded.
UPDATE, 3:55 p.m.: I33 said he would not have a hardship if selected to be on the jury. Don West is now questioning I33.
UPDATE, 3:52 p.m.: I33 said he and his family do not participate in social media.
UPDATE, 3:47 p.m.: I33 said he has had general discussions about the case with family.
UPDATE, 3:43 p.m.: I33 heard about the 911 tape and the debate around the screaming. I33 said he has not formed an opinion about the recording and does not know who was screaming.
UPDATE, 3:39 p.m.: I33 said that he learned of the case through local media. He said he knows it (the shooting) happened at night and “they got in a fight”, pertaining to what he remembers of the case. He has seen photographs of both Martin ans Zimmerman.
UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: Court is back in session. The prosecutor is now questioning a new potential juror, I33.
UPDATE, 3:17 p.m.: The judge called for a 15 minute recess.
UPDATE, 3:14 p.m.: I24 mentioned that Martin was African-American and Zimmerman was Hispanic. She said “that could be a conflict in itself”.
UPDATE, 3:08 p.m.: I24 said, “Sometimes the media does the public a great disservice by publishing.. .whatever.” She admits that the public could get a bad impression of people from media reports. I24 said that she could make judgements based solely off of what was presented in court.
UPDATE, 3:06 p.m.: O’Mara is now questioning I24.
UPDATE, 3:02 p.m.: I24 said she would not face a hardship by serving on the jury.
UPDATE, 2:51 p.m.: I24 said that she has not formulated an opinion about Zimmerman’s guilt or innocence. She said coworkers have commented that Zimmerman was guilty. She said she told them that they were “jumping to conclusions”.
UPDATE, 2:45 p.m.: Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda is questioning a new potential juror I24. She said that she has seen coverage of the case on local and national news outlets.
UPDATE 2:36 p.m.: I19 said her initial reaction when she learned that Zimmerman shot Martin was that he had done something wrong, but she claims to not care much about the case.
UPDATE, 2:29 p.m.: I19 said her mother would not be happy is she served on the jury.
UPDATE, 2:22 p.m.: I19 said she “consciously avoids” the news on TV, in the newspaper, and online. She said “I have other things I’d rather be focused on”.
UPDATE, 2:14 p.m.: Don West is now questioning I19.
UPDATE, 2:11 p.m.: I19 said that she doesn’t have an interest in the case, and has indicated that serving on the jury would present her with a financial hardship.
UPDATE, 2:08 p.m.: De la Rionda is now questioning a new potential juror I19. She learned of the case from conversations with her mother and understands that Zimmerman allegedly killed Martin.
UPDATE, 1:44 p.m.: I14 said that he has seen photos of Martin where he looked very young. He remembers that Zimmerman was told by the police that he did not need to follow Martin. I14 admits that Zimmerman might have been wrong in pursing Martin.
UPDATE, 1:34 p.m.: I14 said that a friend thinks that Zimmerman acted in self defense. I14 said he remembers the media saying that Martin broke Zimmerman’s nose before the shooting.
UPDATE, 1:31 p.m.: I14 said he knows Zimmerman was involved with the neighborhood watch. I14 said he has had about 5 or 6 conversations with friends pertaining to the case.
UPDATE, 1:27 p.m.: I14 has had conversations with classmates. He heard that Martin was unarmed at the time of the shooting. Some of his classmates believed that Zimmerman had no right to shoot Martin.
UPDATE, 1:23 p.m.: O’Mara is now questioning I14.
UPDATE, 1:22 p.m.: I14 said that he heard about “riots” related to the case. He said he has no opinion on Zimmerman’s guilt or innocence.
UPDATE, 1:14 p.m.: I14 has seen photos of both Zimmerman and Martin.
UPDATE, 1:11 p.m.: I14 said he heard about the case at school and on the news. He remembers hearing that Zimmerman called the police while following Martin, and Zimmerman is claiming that Martin attacked him.
UPDATE, 1:10 p.m.: Court is now in session. Potential juror I14 is now being questioned by prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda.
UPDATE, 12:07 p.m.: The court will be in recess for lunch until 1:10 p.m.
UPDATE, 12:02 p.m.: I5 said he does not believe there is a racial component to this case. When asked if he believes this case is a “civil rights” case, I5 answered no.
UPDATE, 11:52 a.m.: I5 said his wife is no more interested in the case than he is. They have discussed the Casey Anthony case, but not this one.
UPDATE, 11:45 a.m.: Defense attorney Don West is now questioning I5.
UPDATE, 11:42 a.m.: I5 said he thought there was “a scuffle” before the shooting.
UPDATE, 11:37 a.m.: I5 said he has not formed an opinion about the guilt or innocence of Zimmerman. He said the media reported a “self defense law” but he has not made a decision about whether Zimmerman killed Martin in self defense.
UPDATE, 11:35 a.m.: I5 said remembers that the community was upset because of the lack of the arrest of Mr. Zimmerman. He thought that the presence of the “black leaders” during the marches was inappropriate.
UPDATE, 11:29 a.m.: I5 does not participate in social media.
UPDATE, 11:23 a.m.: I5 said that some media sources were slanted against George Zimmerman. He mentioned his dislike for the HLN coverage of the case.
UPDATE, 11:20 a.m.: I5 said he got the impression that Zimmerman was “defending himself”.
UPDATE, 11:18 a.m.: I5 has learned about the case on national news, he does not watch local news. He referenced “black leaders” coming into the town and “marches”.
UPDATE, 11:15 a.m.: Potential juror I5 is now being questioned by Bernie de la Rionda.
UPDATE, 10:55 a.m.: H86 said she can agree to only consider what is presented in the courtroom.
UPDATE, 10:50 a.m.: O’Mara is now questioning H86.
UPDATE, 10:48 a.m.: H86 said she has seen instances where the media has not portrayed a situation accurately. She said the media may put a spin on their coverage to make it more “entertaining”.
UPDATE, 10:35 a.m.: H86 said she has not followed this case in the media, even though she cares about current events.
UPDATE, 10:33 a.m.: The next potential juror, H86, is now being questioned by De la Rionda.
UPDATE, 10:31 a.m.: H69 said she would be open to hearing all the evidence presented by the court.
UPDATE, 10:22 a.m.: West is explaining how H69 could have visitation with her family during sequestration. West is questioned H69 about how her medical needs could be accommodated during the trial.
UPDATE, 10:18 a.m.: Don West is questioning H69.
UPDATE, 10:14 a.m.: H69 said that she did not know the names of the individuals in the case before she was summoned for the jury. H69 admits that serving on the jury would be a hardship because she is pregnant and would like to be in contact with her family.
UPDATE, 10:11 a.m.: “Everyone is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty,” said H69. She said she has not formed an opinion about Zimmerman’s guilt or innocence. H69 said that she is not leaning toward any side, and she does not discuss the case with family.
UPDATE, 9:57 a.m.: H69 says she does not know how old Martin was.
UPDATE, 9:51 a.m.: H69 has seen a picture of Mr. Zimmerman’s face. She mentioned that the media put up a picture of Trayvon Martin that was not accurate to try to paint him as younger than his actual age. One of her coworkers said that the picture was not up-to-date. H69 claims that she does not have much time for conversation at work.
UPDATE, 9:46 a.m.: H69 said that she learned of the case on on local news, but only in passing. She reads the Wall Street Journal, but has not seen any reports about this case in print or online.
UPDATE, 9:45 a.m.: De la Rionda is now questioning H69, a new potential juror.
UPDATE, 9:44 a.m.: H81 has two pending civil cases that are to be brought before Judge Nelson. He says this will not impact his ability to be a fair and impartial juror if he is selected.
UPDATE, 9:41 a.m.: H81 said that when he takes a position on something it is a “studied” one. He said his friends know he stands up for what he believes in.
UPDATE, 9:31 a.m.: O’Mara, defense attorney, is now questioning H81.
UPDATE, 9:23 a.m.: H81 said that he has not been following the case.
UPDATE, 9:21 a.m.: H81 said, “You had a family that was grieving for the loss of their son. Another family grieving for the potential loss of their loved one.” He said that there was hurt on both sides, and people were expressing those emotions.
UPDATE, 9:13 a.m.: H81 says he would believe one of the defense attorneys to be credible if they spoke at a press conference. He did admit that the defense team might be bias toward Zimmerman. H81 thinks that he can make judgments based only off of what is presented in court.
UPDATE, 9:10 a.m.: H81 watches local and national news. He does not always believe what is reported in the media and said the media injects their opinions.
UPDATE June 18, 9:08 a.m.: Court is back in session for another day of jury selection. The prosecutor, Bernie de la Rionda, is questioning a new potential juror H81.
