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{{short description|2013 murder trial in Florida, United States}}
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{{Infobox court case
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'''''State of Florida v. George Zimmerman''''' was a [[Criminal procedure|criminal prosecution]] of [[George Zimmerman]] on the charge of [[Murder in United States law|second-degree murder]] stemming from the [[killing of Trayvon Martin]] on February 26, 2012.
On April 11, 2012, George Zimmerman, a
After 16 hours of deliberations over the course of two days, on July 13, 2013, a six-person jury rendered a [[Acquittal|not guilty]] verdict on both charges (including manslaughter).<ref name="Not Guilty CNN">{{cite news|last=Botelho|first=Greg|title=Zimmerman jury reaches a verdict|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/justice/zimmerman-trial/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|access-date=July 13, 2013|website=[[CNN]] |date=July 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/13/george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-jury-saturday-deliberations/2514233/ |title=Zimmerman jury reaches a verdict |first=Yamiche |last=Alcindor |work=[[USA Today]] |date=July 13, 2013 |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref>
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On March 22, 2012, Florida Governor [[Rick Scott]] announced his appointment of [[Angela Corey]] as the Special Prosecutor in the Martin investigation.<ref name="flgov1">{{cite web|url=http://www.flgov.com/2012/03/22/governor-rick-scott-announces-new-state-attorney-and-task-force-in-response-to-trayvon-martin-incident/|title=Governor Rick Scott Announces New State Attorney and Task Force in Response to Trayvon Martin Incident|publisher=flgov.com|access-date=March 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307231115/http://www.flgov.com/2012/03/22/governor-rick-scott-announces-new-state-attorney-and-task-force-in-response-to-trayvon-martin-incident/|archive-date=March 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was the State Attorney for [[Duval County, Florida|Duval]], [[Clay County, Florida|Clay]] and [[Nassau County, Florida|Nassau]] counties.<ref name="Tough Minded">{{cite news|last=Olorunnipa |first=Toluse |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/28/v-fullstory/2717866/tough-minded-prosecutor-in-spotlight.html |title=Tough Minded Prosecutor In Spotlight On Trayvon Martin Case |access-date=March 29, 2012 |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402121630/http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/28/v-fullstory/2717866/tough-minded-prosecutor-in-spotlight.html |archive-date=April 2, 2012 }}</ref> When Corey took the case, she chose [[Bernie de la Rionda]] as lead prosecutor. De la Rionda was an Assistant State Attorney in Corey's office and had been a prosecutor for 29 years.<ref name="Stutzman2012Mar">{{cite news | first = Rene | last = Stutzman | title = Trayvon Martin special prosecutor wastes no time in launching case review | date = March 25, 2012 | publisher = Tribune Interactive, Inc | url = http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-25/news/os-trayvon-martin-special-prosecutor-plans-20120325_1_chief-bill-lee-special-prosecutor-arrest-warrant | work = [[Orlando Sentinel]] | access-date = October 19, 2012 | archive-date = May 16, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120516044709/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-25/news/os-trayvon-martin-special-prosecutor-plans-20120325_1_chief-bill-lee-special-prosecutor-arrest-warrant | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="FBI2010">{{cite web | url = https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/partnerships_and_outreach/community_outreach/dcla/2010/jacksonville | title = 2010 Director's Community Leadership Awards | access-date = October 19, 2012 | website = [[FBI]] | publisher = U.S. government, U.S. Department of Justice}}</ref> Prosecutors John Guy and Richard Mantei assisted, with Guy making the opening statement.
The prosecutor initially responsible for the case was Norm Wolfinger, a [[State Attorney]] whose jurisdiction included [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole County]] where the shooting occurred on February 26, 2012.<ref name="time wolfinger">{{cite
==Defense attorneys==
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On May 31, 2012, [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] attorney Don West left his job as a federal [[public defender]] to join the defense team led by O'Mara. West specialized in murder cases and had been a board certified criminal trial specialist for 25 years. He and O'Mara had been friends for a long time.<ref name="Stutzman2012May">{{cite news | first1 = Rene | last1 = Stutzman | first2 = Jeff | last2 = Weiner | title = George Zimmerman's legal team adds murder specialist Don West | date = May 31, 2012 | publisher = Tribune Interactive, Inc | url = http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-31/news/os-george-zimmerman-new-lawyer-west-20120531_1_federal-public-defender-defense-lawyer-legal-team | work = [[Orlando Sentinel]] | access-date = October 19, 2012 | archive-date = June 2, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120602104503/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-31/news/os-george-zimmerman-new-lawyer-west-20120531_1_federal-public-defender-defense-lawyer-legal-team | url-status = dead }}</ref>
==Pre-trial==
At a pretrial hearing on April 12, Judge Mark Herr ruled that the affidavit was legally sufficient to establish [[probable cause]]. After Seminole County Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler removed herself, Kenneth Lester Jr. took the case upon himself as its judge.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Palazzolo |first=Joe |date=April 19, 2012 |title=Meet the (New) Judge Handling George Zimmerman's Case |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-LB-42441 }}</ref> At a pretrial hearing on April 12, Judge Mark Herr ruled that the affidavit was legally sufficient to establish [[probable cause]]. Court documents, including witness statements and other information, were sealed at the request of the defense team,<ref name="herr hearing">{{cite news |last1=Stutzman |first1=Rene |last2=Hernandez |first2=Arelis R. |date=April 12, 2012 |title=Zimmerman makes court appearance |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-12/news/os-trayvon-martin-george-zimmerman-charged-jail-20120412_1_face-murder-charges-today-show-accident
===Zimmerman's bond revocation===
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===Removal of Judge Lester & assignment of Judge Nelson===
Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, filed a motion to disqualify Judge Lester, alleging that Lester had made disparaging and gratuitous remarks about his client in the July 2012 bond order.<ref name="new judge Nelson">{{cite web |title=Appeals court grants George Zimmerman new judge |url=http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/appeal-court-rules-zimmermans-favor-judge-lester-s/nRN6p/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831075546/http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/appeal-court-rules-zimmermans-favor-judge-lester-s/nRN6p/ |archive-date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2012 |website=[[WFTV]] Channel 9 Orlando}}</ref> O'Mara said the judge's statement that he believed Zimmerman had misled the court at his first hearing was an indication of bias against Zimmerman and would impact Zimmerman's ability to get a fair trial.<ref>{{cite web|title=George Zimmerman seeks new judge in murder case|url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/George-Zimmerman-seeks-new-judge-in-murder-case/-/1637132/15509080/-/tmpg1az/-/index.html?treets=orlpn&tml=orlpn_break&ts=T&tmi=orlpn_break_1_02410107132012|website=[[ClickOrlando]]|publisher=WKMG Channel 6 Orlando|access-date=July 13, 2012|archive-date=August 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824180357/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/George-Zimmerman-seeks-new-judge-in-murder-case/-/1637132/15509080/-/tmpg1az/-/index.html?treets=orlpn&tml=orlpn_break&ts=T&tmi=orlpn_break_1_02410107132012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Zimmerman Attorney Makes Motion To Disqualify Judge|url=http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/07/13/516694/zimmerman-attorney-makes-motion-to-disqualify-judge/?mobile=nc|website=[[Think Progress]]|access-date=July 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722032826/http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/07/13/516694/zimmerman-attorney-makes-motion-to-disqualify-judge/?mobile=nc|archive-date=July 22, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The state criticized the motion for citing "facts that are inaccurate, misleading and/or incomplete".<ref name="state motion 17july">{{cite web|last=Seiger|first=Theresa|title=State attorney says Zimmerman using court filings to sway media|url=http://www.wbtv.com/story/19055580/prosecution-zimmerman-defense-using-court-to-influence-coverage|website=[[WBTV]]|access-date=July 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824180401/http://www.wbtv.com/story/19055580/prosecution-zimmerman-defense-using-court-to-influence-coverage|archive-date=August 24, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
When Judge Lester refused to recuse himself and ruled that the defense's motion was legally insufficient,<ref name="judge stays on">{{cite web|title=Judge to stay on in George Zimmerman case|url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Judge-to-stay-on-in-George-Zimmerman-case/-/1637132/15914324/-/7eccye/-/index.html?treets=orlpn&tml=orlpn_break&ts=T&tmi=orlpn_break_1_07500208012012|website=[[ClickOrlando]]|publisher=WKMG TV Channel 6 Orlando|access-date=August 1, 2012}}</ref> the defense appealed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Liston|first=Barbara|title=Trayvon Martin killer makes another appeal for a new judge|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-florida-shooting-idUSBRE87C14J20120814?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&dlvrit=60573|website=[[Reuters]]|access-date=August 14, 2012|date=August 14, 2012}}</ref> On August 29, 2012, the Fifth District Court of Appeal granted the petition for a new judge for the trial. Circuit Judge Debra Nelson was assigned to the case.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stutzman|first=Rene|title=George Zimmerman's new judge: Debra S. Nelson|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-08-31/news/os-george-zimmerman-new-judge-20120830_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-mark-o-mara|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=August 31, 2012}}</ref> Judge Debra S. Nelson of the [[Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida|18th Circuit Court of Florida]] was the fourth judge to preside over the case. Nelson had been a judge for thirteen years, much of it handling criminal matters. Before becoming a judge she had worked in civil litigation.<ref name="lester out">{{cite news |last1=Stutzman |first1=Rene |last2=Weiner |first2=Jeff |date=August 29, 2012 |title=Appeal court: Lester is out |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-08-29/news/os-george-zimmerman-appeals-ruling-lester-20120829_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-mark-o-mara}}</ref>
=== Defense plans for pretrial immunity hearing ===
Under Florida law, the use of deadly force against an attacker is permissible in certain situations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alcindor |first1=Yamiche |date=March 5, 2013 |title=Zimmerman self-defense hearing no longer in April |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/05/zimmerman-self-defense-hearing-no-longer-in-april/1964901/}}</ref> The adoption of the [[Stand-your-ground law|Stand Your Ground]] law in 2005 modified the self-defense law so that a person who reasonably believes they must use deadly force to prevent serious injury to themself may lawfully do so without first attempting to retreat from an attacker; prosecution for using deadly force in such situations is prohibited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida's Stand Your Ground panel: Keep self-defense law intact |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/stand-your-ground-panel-keep-self-defense-law-inta/nS5yj/ |access-date=June 5, 2020 |work=[[Palm Beach Post]]}}</ref> A defendant in a homicide case who claims to have acted in self-defense may petition the court to grant the defendant immunity from prosecution under these provisions of the law.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 27, 2014 |title=Zimmerman lawyer seeks change in Florida trials on 'stand your ground' law |website=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-florida-selfdefense-idUSBREA1Q04W20140227}}</ref> Legal experts say that in a pretrial immunity hearing, the burden of proof is on the defendant to show from "a preponderance of the evidence" that they acted lawfully, whereas in a trial by jury the burden of proof is on the prosecution, who must show "beyond a reasonable doubt" (a much higher standard than required for establishing "a preponderance of the evidence") that the defendant acted unlawfully.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Halloran |first1=Liz |date=July 15, 2013 |title='Stand Your Ground' Laws Under Scrutiny Post-Zimmerman Verdict |website=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/07/15/202418599/stand-your-ground-laws-under-scrutiny-post-zimmerman-verdict |access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news |last=Alvarez |first=Lizette |date=April 30, 2013 |title=George Zimmerman Waives Right to Pretrial Hearing |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/us/george-zimmerman-waives-right-to-pretrial-hearing.html?_r=0}}</ref> It was this statute which enabled George Zimmerman to initially be released from the police after the shooting, considering Zimmerman had been justified by the law to protect himself and there was no evidence to counter his claims: Zimmerman was legally prohibited from arrest.<ref name=":54">{{Cite journal |last1=Mack |first1=LaKerri R. |last2=Roberts-Lewis |first2=Kristie |title=The Dangerous Intersection between Race, Class and Stand Your Ground |url=https://digitalscholarship.tsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1044&context=jpmsp |journal=Journal of Public Management & Social Policy}}</ref>
On August 9, 2012, Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, announced that the defense team was planning to present their case to the judge at an immunity hearing before going to trial in order to request that the case be dismissed under the protection from prosecution provided for by the state's Stand Your Ground law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Zimmerman stand your ground: George Zimmerman's defense team to seek "stand your ground" hearing |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-08-09/news/os-george-zimmerman-stand-your-ground-20120809_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-mark-o-mara |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513011008/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-08-09/news/os-george-zimmerman-stand-your-ground-20120809_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-mark-o-mara |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2020 |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Mara |first1=Mark |title=There Will Be a "Stand Your Ground" Hearing in the George Zimmerman Case |url=http://gzlegalcase.com/index.php/press-releases/42-there-will-be-a-stand-your-ground-hearing-in-the-george-zimmerman-case |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803173639/http://gzlegalcase.com/index.php/press-releases/42-there-will-be-a-stand-your-ground-hearing-in-the-george-zimmerman-case |archive-date=August 3, 2014 |access-date=2014-08-29 |publisher=Zimmerman Legal Defense Fund Trust}}</ref> At a press conference held the following week, O'Mara said that "the facts don't seem to support a 'stand your ground' defense". He said that rather than seeking to have the charges dropped based on Stand Your Ground-law immunity, the defense team would ask at the pretrial hearing that the case be dismissed on the basis of immunity from prosecution provided for in traditional self-defense cases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zimmerman lawyer pursuing traditional self-defense<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/zimmerman-lawyer-pursuing-traditional-self-defense |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310064003/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/zimmerman-lawyer-pursuing-traditional-self-defense |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=George Zimmerman's Lawyer: 'Stand Your Ground' Doesn't Apply |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2012/08/zimmerman-team-stand-your-ground-doesnt-apply.html |access-date=June 5, 2020 |website=[[Intelligencer (website)|Intelligencer]]}}</ref> In April 2013, on the advice of his attorneys, Zimmerman waived his right to a pretrial immunity hearing, and the court began preparations for the case to be tried by a jury.<ref name="nytimes.com" /> O'Mara would later say, after the trial had concluded, that he had not relied during the trial on the Stand Your Ground provision of the law because Zimmerman had not had an option of retreating.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news |last=Alvarez |first=Lizette |date=July 14, 2013 |title=In Zimmerman Case, Self-Defense Was Hard to Topple |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/us/in-zimmerman-case-self-defense-was-hard-to-topple.html?pagewanted=all}}</ref> O'Mara would also say that he ultimately had not sought a pretrial immunity hearing because his case for defense would have been revealed during the hearing to the prosecution, which would have put the defense team at a disadvantage had the immunity request been denied and the case proceeded to trial.<ref name="ReferenceA" />
== Discovery evidence ==
In May 2012, the defense received the first round of discovery evidence: 67 compact discs, a list of witnesses that included 50 possible law enforcement officers, 28 officers from the Sanford Police Department, 28 civilian witnesses, members of Martin's family, two of Zimmerman's friends and his father, Robert Zimmerman. Also listed as potential prosecution witnesses were technicians in biological and DNA evidence, trace evidence, gunshot residue, fingerprints and firearms, two FBI agents, and two audio technicians who analyzed the emergency calls made during the confrontation to determine who was heard screaming in the background.<ref name="cnn evidence list2">{{cite news |date=May 15, 2012 |title=Zimmerman prosecutors release evidence list |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2012-05-15/justice/justice_florida-teen-shooting_1_document-defense-attorneys-prosecutors?_s=PM:JUSTICE |url-status=dead |access-date=June 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618184023/http://articles.cnn.com/2012-05-15/justice/justice_florida-teen-shooting_1_document-defense-attorneys-prosecutors?_s=PM:JUSTICE |archive-date=June 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="discovery2">{{cite news |date=May 14, 2012 |title=Defense has discovery in neighborhood watch case |website=[[Fox News]] |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/14/defense-has-discovery-in-neighborhood-watch-case}}</ref><ref name="discoveryWSJ2">{{cite news |last1=Campo-Flores |first1=Arian |last2=McWhirter |first2=Cameron |date=May 18, 2012 |title=Evidence Released in Florida Killing |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303879604577410691487061580}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=December 15, 2011 |title=Ballistics, prints point to White House shooting suspect, prosecutors say |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2012-05-15/justice/justice_florida-teen-shooting_1_document-defense-attorneys-prosecutors?_s=PM:JUSTICE |url-status=dead |access-date=May 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719222704/http://articles.cnn.com/2012-05-15/justice/justice_florida-teen-shooting_1_document-defense-attorneys-prosecutors?_s=PM:JUSTICE |archive-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Audio technicians Tom Owen and Edward Primeau concluded that the screams were not Zimmerman's.<ref name="cnn evidence list">{{cite news|title=Zimmerman prosecutors release evidence list|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2012-05-15/justice/justice_florida-teen-shooting_1_document-defense-attorneys-prosecutors?_s=PM:JUSTICE|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=June 12, 2012|date=May 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618184023/http://articles.cnn.com/2012-05-15/justice/justice_florida-teen-shooting_1_document-defense-attorneys-prosecutors?_s=PM:JUSTICE|archive-date=June 18, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> James Ryan and Alan Reich, independent experts retained by ''[[The Washington Post]]'', varied in their interpretations of the audio on the phone recordings.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/trayvon-martin-case-911-call-two-experts-reach-two-much-different-conclusions/2012/05/19/gIQAtuapbU_story.html | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | first1=Stephanie | last1=McCrummen | first2=Sari | last2=Horwitz | title=Trayvon Martin case 911 call: Two experts reach two very different conclusions | date=May 22, 2012}}</ref>|group="Note"|name="audio experts"}} Additional evidence released were audio and video recordings, photos, witness statements, forensic findings, Martin's autopsy report, evidence taken from Zimmerman after the shooting – his weapon, bullets, clothes, a DNA sample, medical records and his cell phone data.<ref name="cnn evidence list2" /><ref name="discovery2" />
In June 2012, the prosecution released recordings of two [[9-1-1|911 calls]] placed by Martin's father the morning after the shooting. In the calls, Mr. Martin expressed worry that his son had not returned home, and inquired about filing a missing person report.<ref>{{cite web |title=Police release calls from Trayvon Martin's father |url=http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/trayvon-martin-extended-coverage/Police-release-911-calls-from-Trayvon-Martin-s-father/-/14266478/15179880/-/11wok36/-/index.html?treets=orl&tid=26511368755813&tml=orl_break&tmi=orl_break_1_05270206202012&ts=H |access-date=June 21, 2012 |website=[[WESH]] Channel 2 Orlando}}</ref> Additional discovery released was a report containing the results of Zimmerman's voice stress test,<ref>{{cite web |date=June 26, 2012 |title=George Zimmerman Passed Police Lie Detector Test Day After Trayvon Martin Killing |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/george-zimmerman-lie-detector-421395 |access-date=June 26, 2012 |website=[[The Smoking Gun]]}}</ref> and Zimmerman's account of the events and written statements.<ref>{{cite web |title=New George Zimmerman evidence released Tuesday |url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/New-George-Zimmerman-evidence-to-be-released-Tuesday/-/1637132/15275900/-/jp0aql/-/index.html |access-date=June 26, 2012 |website=[[ClickOrlando]] |publisher=WKMG TV Channel 6}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The defense also released audio and video recordings of Zimmerman's police interviews and re-enactment following the shooting.<ref name="new evidence CNN2">{{cite news |last=Hayes |first=Ashley |date=June 21, 2012 |title=George Zimmerman: Trayvon Martin threatened my life |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/21/justice/florida-teen-shooting/index.html |access-date=June 21, 2012}}</ref>
In
In
In September 2012, the DNA report on the gun used in the shooting was released with only Zimmerman's DNA being found on the gun, no trace of Martin's.<ref name="Crimesider19Sep2">{{cite news |last=Crimesider Staff |date=September 19, 2012 |title=Trayvon Martin's DNA not found on George Zimmerman's gun, forensic tests say |website=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57515801-504083/trayvon-martins-dna-not-found-on-george-zimmermans-gun-forensic-tests-say/ |access-date=September 20, 2012}}</ref><ref name="LAT-discovery2">{{cite news |last=Muskal |first=Michael |date=September 18, 2012 |title=George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin: Results of DNA tests released |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-zimmerman-prosecution-dna-evidence-20120919,0,120380.story |access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|See [https://web.archive.org/web/20130824175413/http://www.tampacriminaldefense.com/images/FDLE-Lab-report.pdf Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Laboratory Report, March 26, 2012].|group="Note"|name="GunDNA"}}
On October 19, Judge Nelson granted the defense's request for access to Martin's school records, cell phone records, and social media (such as [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]]) posts. In her ruling, Nelson said that Zimmerman's attorneys needed to know whether Martin's school records and social media postings revealed any evidence that he had had violent tendencies.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 19, 2012 |title=George Zimmerman's attorneys can examine Trayvon Martin's school, social media records |work=Fox News |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/19/new-motions-expected-in-trayvon-martin-case-defense-to-ask-for-more-witness/ |access-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Amanda |last2=Kavanagh |first2=Margaret |date=October 19, 2012 |title=Zimmerman judge allows access to Trayvon Martin's records |url=http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/10/19/george_zimmerman_to_.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021212612/http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/10/19/george_zimmerman_to_.html |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=October 19, 2012 |website=[[Central Florida News 13]]}}</ref> Martin's parents said the defense's request for school records and social media was a "[[fishing expedition]]" aimed at attacking their son and an attempt to assassinate his character.<ref name="school records2">{{cite news |last=Alcindor |first=Yamiche |title=Trayvon Martin's postings, school records spark court debate |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20121020/NEWS07/121020010/Trayvon-Martin-s-postings-records-spark-court-debate?odyssey=nav%7Chead |access-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref> She also ruled that Zimmerman's medical records be provided to prosecutors. Nelson said she would review the medical records and decide whether anything should be withheld.<ref name="school records2" />
The defense additionally requested from [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] and reporter [[Matt Gutman]] all recordings, notes and correspondence related to Witness Number 8, Trayvon Martin's friend who said she was speaking with Martin by phone just before he was shot. O'Mara's motion stated the call lasted more than 26 minutes and the recording they received from the authorities was only 12 minutes, 44 seconds long.<ref name="Stutzman18Jan2">{{cite news |last=Stutzman |first=Rene |date=January 18, 2013 |title=Zimmerman attorneys: We want ABC News notes, audio |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-18/news/os-george-zimmerman-defense-records-20130118_1_zimmerman-attorneys-trayvon-martin-george-zimmerman |access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=George Zimmerman: Lawyer asks for evidence from ABC |url=http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/1/18/george_zimmerman_law.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126051820/http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/1/18/george_zimmerman_law.html |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |website=[[Central Florida News 13]]}}</ref>
On December 3, 2012, defense attorney Mark O'Mara stated that he was "frustrated" that in the original discovery, a grainy black-and-white photo of Zimmerman had been substituted for the original color photo of Zimmerman's bloody nose. Criminal attorney David Wohl said the submission of the copy "borders on prosecutorial misconduct".<ref>{{cite news |date=December 3, 2012 |title=Lawyer for George Zimmerman 'frustrated' at prosecutors' withholding of graphic photo |website=[[Fox News]] |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/03/newly-released-photo-shows-bloodied-george-zimmerman-from-night-trayvon-martin}}</ref>
==Jury selection==
On May 28, 2013, Judge Nelson denied a defense motion to delay the trial for six weeks.<ref name=
On June 10, 2013, jury selection began with 100 prospective jurors filling out questionnaires. Five hundred people received summonses, and the process for picking a jury was expected to take two weeks.<ref name="jury
In Florida, juries consist of six people; 12 jurors are required only for criminal trials involving capital cases, where the death penalty is applicable. Zimmerman's jury consisted of six members and four alternates.<ref name="12
During the fourth day of jury selection, Judge Nelson announced that the jury would be [[Jury sequestration|sequestered]] during the trial, which was expected to take two to four weeks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stutzman |first=Rene |
On June 18, 2013, forty potential jurors (16 men and 24 women) made it past the initial screening process.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 18, 2013 |title=40 candidates retained for George Zimmerman jury pool | George Zimmerman Murder Trial |url=http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/trayvon-martin-extended-coverage/8-people-still-needed-to-fill-george-zimmermans-potential-jury-pool/-/14266478/20608612/-/item/0/-/fag8wl/-/index.html |
The defense struck one potential juror, a female African American, as a "[[stealth juror]]" for failing to disclose that her pastor had advocated strongly on behalf of Trayvon Martin. The state attempted to strike one woman whose husband owned guns and who said she might have difficulty sending someone to prison. They also attempted to strike a woman who asked why Martin was out at night. The judge denied the strikes, and both women were part of the six person jury.<ref>{{cite news |
The prosecution struck one potential juror who was a black gun-owner who stated he watched Fox News.<ref>{{cite web |
On June 20, 2013, jury selection was completed. Six jurors and four [[Alternate juror|alternates]] were selected. All six of the jurors were female, while two of the alternate jurors were male and two female. Five of the jurors were white; one was of mixed black and [[Mestizo]] ancestry. All of the alternates were white, and of those, one of the male alternates was said to have been [[white Hispanic]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Stutzman |first=Rene |date=June 20, 2013 |title=George Zimmerman trial: Jury seated for Trayvon Martin shooting |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-trial-jury-20130620,0,3507776.story?sadas |
==Admissibility of evidence==
Judge Nelson ruled that Martin's school records, history of marijuana use, fights, and photos and text from the teen's phone should not be mentioned during the trial. The judge did say that she might change her mind during the trial if the subjects become relevant.<ref>{{cite news |
Zimmerman's attorneys had requested a ''[[Frye standard|Frye]]'' hearing regarding the admissibility of the testimony of the audio analysts, to determine if the methods used by them were generally accepted by the scientific community.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stutzman |first=Rene |
On June 22, 2013, Judge Nelson ruled that the audio experts would not be allowed to testify at Zimmerman's trial. The prosecution wanted to use voice experts that had been hired by lawyers and news organizations to analyze the 911 calls recorded during the confrontation to determine whether it was Martin or Zimmerman yelling for help. The experts arrived at mixed conclusions. The judge said in her ruling, "There is no evidence to establish that their scientific techniques have been tested and found reliable." Her ruling didn't prevent the 911 calls from being played at trial.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 22, 2013 |title=Judge prohibits audio experts from testifying on screams in 911 call in Zimmerman trial |work=[[Fox News]] |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/22/prosecution-audio-experts-prohibited-from-testifying-on-screams-in-11-call-in/
On July 8, Judge Nelson ruled that the defense could tell the jury that Martin had a small amount of marijuana in his system at the time of his death. Assistant State Attorney John Guy argued that it was a backdoor attack on Martin's character, while defense attorney Don West argued that an expert would tell the jury that the amount was enough to create "some level of impairment".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stutzman |first1=Rene |
On July 11, 2013, Special Prosecutor Angela Corey fired Ben Kruidbos,<ref name="jksn fired">{{cite web |last=Bauerlein |first=David |date=July 13, 2013 |title=Angela Corey fires staffer who raised concerns in Trayvon Martin case |url=http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-dixon/2013-07-13/angela-corey-fires-staffer-who-raised-concerns-trayvon |access-date=July 16, 2013 |work=[[The Florida Times-Union]] (jacksonville.com)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 13, 2013 |title=State attorney employee fired in Zimmerman case |publisher=[[WFTV]] 9 Orlando |url=http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/former-it-director-ben-kruidbos-fired-state-attorn/nYpx9/ |url-status=dead |access-date=July 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716213139/http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/former-it-director-ben-kruidbos-fired-state-attorn/nYpx9/ |archive-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref> the information technology director for the State Attorney's office, for alleged misconduct and violations of "numerous state attorney's office policies and procedures." Kruidbos had alleged in a pre-trial hearing that the prosecutors had failed to provide full [[Discovery (law)|discovery]] to Zimmerman's defense team as required by law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Winter |first1=Tom |last2=Novogrod |first2=James |date=June 6, 2013 |title=Zimmerman hearing heats up as lawyers spar |website=[[NBC News]] |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/06/18798509-zimmerman-hearing-heats-up-as-lawyers-spar?lite}}</ref><ref name="CNN-IT-firing-20130715">{{cite news |last1=Watkins |first1=Tom |last2=Leung |first2=Nancy |date=July 15, 2013 |title=IT director who raised questions about Zimmerman case is fired |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/13/justice/zimmerman-it-firing/index.html |access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref>
==Opening statements==
Don West made a lengthy opening statement for the defense, beginning with a [[knock-knock joke]] about jury selection.<ref>{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Goldberg|title=George Zimmerman's Lawyer Tells 'Knock-Knock' Joke At Trial (VIDEO)|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/george-zimmerman-knock-knock_n_3491367.html|website=[[Huffington Post]]|access-date=January 14, 2015|date=June 24, 2013}}</ref> West stated that "there are no monsters" in the case, but that Zimmerman shot Martin "after being viciously attacked." West stated that Zimmerman was "sucker punched in the face, and had his head hammered against the ground." West played Zimmerman's non-emergency phone call twice, and used several visual aids to show jurors the location of various events in the case and to outline a timeline of the phone calls and events. West asserted that Martin had plenty of time to go home during the phone calls, but decided to confront Zimmerman. West attempted to reconstruct the shooting, using witness statements, crime scene photographs, and a discussion of Zimmerman's injuries that used photos. West then described Zimmerman's actions after the incident, and summarized witness and police statements and observations about Zimmerman's appearance and behavior. After the recess, West continued, pointing out that the gunshot was at contact range for Martin's sweatshirt, but several inches away from Martin's body, and said this proved that Martin was on top at the moment of the shot, with his shirt hanging down.<ref>George Zimmerman Trial - Day 1 - Part 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvq6E2Re0Tw Retrieved September 10, 2016</ref>
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==Prosecution's case==
===
Chad Joseph, the 15-year-old son of Martin's father's girlfriend, was called by the state as the first witness and testified that he asked Martin to buy him [[Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles]]; he did not go with Martin because he was playing a [[PlayStation 3|PS3]] video game.<ref name="chad clickorl">{{cite web|author=ClickOrlando|title=Guide to state witnesses in George Zimmerman trial|url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/guide-to-state-witnesses-in-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20789096/-/4mwq2w/-/index.html|website=[[ClickOrlando]]|date=July 2, 2013|access-date=July 14, 2013|archive-date=July 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705052507/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/guide-to-state-witnesses-in-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20789096/-/4mwq2w/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="cbs miami1">{{cite web|author=CBS Miami & The Associated Press|title=First witnesses take stand in Zimmerman trial|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/06/24/opening-statements-monday-in-zimmerman-trial/|website=[[CBS Miami]]|date=June 24, 2013|access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref>
Andrew Gaugh, who was the [[7-Eleven]] clerk who sold Martin snacks, gave the next testimony; he said that Martin paid with cash, and he did not see anything suspicious about Martin's behavior.<ref name="cbs miami1"/><ref name="fox gaugh">{{cite news|author=Fox News|title=Prosecutors push to admit non-emergency calls on second day of Zimmerman murder trial|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/24/prosecutors-defense-set-to-make-opening-statements-in-george-zimmerman-trial/|website=[[Fox News]] |date=June 25, 2013|access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref>
Donald O'Brien, the HOA president, testified that Zimmerman and the neighborhood watch were not affiliated with the HOA. O'Brien said he felt that Zimmerman was the coordinator of the program because Zimmerman had taken the initiative to get the program started, and that the watch program had instructed participants not to follow suspects but call 911. He said he did not feel that the neighborhood needed a watch program. On cross-examination, he testified that the police did not do regular patrols of the area due to the lack of a written agreement between the HOA and the police department. O'Brian testified that construction workers in the neighborhood had followed a burglary suspect in the past, resulting in an arrest, and that he had sent out a congratulatory email. During several rounds of redirects he said "do not follow", as well as "follow at a safe distance".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/6/25/george_zimmerman_tri_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628071353/http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/6/25/george_zimmerman_tri_1.html |archive-date=June 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |title=George Zimmerman jury sees Trayvon's body, items from scene
Ramona Rumph from the Sheriff's communications office testified regarding how time stamps are applied in 911 calls. Rumph testified that 911 calls are initially coded as "routine" but can be upgraded, and that multiple calls can be linked together. Rumph testified as to the times of the various witness 911 calls. She testified about details of Zimmerman's prior 911 and non-emergency calls. The state then played several of his previous 911 and non-emergency calls for the jury. After the calls were played on cross-examination O'Mara asked Rumph about the results of these calls, and she testified that some had resulted in contacts with suspects. She could not comment on if the number of calls Zimmerman made was unusual.<ref name="cnn rumph">{{cite news |first=Stephen ([[HLNTV]]) |last=Loiaconi |date=June 29, 2013 |title=Get caught up: Week 1 of Zimmerman trial |website=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/29/justice/zimmerman-trial-recap/ |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="msnbc rumph">{{cite web |first=Trymaine |last=Lee |date=July 5, 2013 |title=George Zimmerman trial: The prosecution rests |url=http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/07/05/george-zimmerman-trial-the-prosecution-rests/ |access-date=July 14, 2013 |website=MSNBC}}</ref><ref name="cfnews rumph">{{cite web |author=cfnews13.com |date=June 26, 2013 |title=George Zimmerman trial: Updates |url=http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/6/26/zimmerman_opening_statements.html |access-date=July 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629133336/http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/6/26/zimmerman_opening_statements.html |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |website=[[Central Florida News 13]]}}</ref>
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Greg McKinney, who worked for the company that ran the Retreat's security cameras, testified as to why the cameras near the front gate were not working at the time of the incident, and that security camera clocks may be off by as much as 18 minutes.<ref name="chad clickorl"/><ref name="wtsp mckny">{{cite web|author=The Associated Press|title=George Zimmerman trial enters 5th day, neighbors testify about what they saw|url=http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/322696/250/Neighbor-Zimmerman-said-Just-tell-her-I-shot-someone|website=[[WTSP]] (Tampa Bay)|date=June 28, 2013|access-date=July 14, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
===
Sean Noffke, the dispatcher who was on the phone during Zimmerman's non-emergency call, testified regarding his own statements at that time. Noffke said that when he told Zimmerman, "We don't need you to do that," he was making a suggestion, not giving an order. He said that dispatchers do not give orders because of liability issues. During cross-examination, Noffke testified that Zimmerman did not seem angry during the call, and that he wanted the police to come to his location. Noffke also testified that he asked Zimmerman which way Martin was going, and that his question could be interpreted as a request to go and see which way he was going. He clarified his statement that dispatchers do not give orders but suggestions for the safety of the caller. He testified that Zimmerman's swearing and comments about Martin did not raise any particular concern, but under redirect said that Zimmerman's language could be interpreted as "hostile." The defense then asked if Noffke actually heard hostility, and he said "no". The defense asked about the statements regarding Martin's race and appearance, and Noffke testified that all of the discussion was for the purpose of identification of the suspect, and did not seem unusual.<ref name="cbs miami1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-trial-openings-20130624,0,920748.story?dasdase |title=George Zimmerman trial opening statements |website=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=June 24, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref>
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"No, sir, it does not." Serino also testified that calling someone "fucking punks" is ill will and spite.<ref name="cnn single"/><ref name="cbs serino">{{cite news|first=Erin |last=Donaghue|title=George Zimmerman trial: Chris Serino, lead detective in case of Trayvon Martin killing, takes stand|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57591875-504083/george-zimmerman-trial-chris-serino-lead-detective-in-case-of-trayvon-martin-killing-takes-stand/|website=[[CBS News]]|date=July 1, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref><ref name="usa serino">{{cite news|first=Yamiche |last=Alcindor |title=Officer testimony no slam dunk for Zimmerman prosecutors|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/02/zimmerman-trayvon-martin-murder-trial/2482325/|work=[[USA Today]]|date=July 2, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref>
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Dr. Shiping Bao, the associate medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Martin, testified that he didn't die immediately and that his heart was still beating after being shot. Bao said Martin was shot from intermediate range, which he defined as between 0.4 inches and 4 feet, and said the muzzle had loose contact with Martin's clothing. Bao also testified that he didn't believe that Martin could have moved after being shot. Dr. Bao stated that Martin was 5 feet 11 inches and 158 pounds when he died, was healthy at the time of the shooting, and had a small abrasion on his fourth and fifth left fingers. Bao also said that the knees of Martin's pants were stained.<ref name="click bao">{{cite web|author=[[ClickOrlando]]|title=Medical Examiner admits changing opinion on Trayvon Martin's death |url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/medical-examiner-says-trayvon-martin-suffered-after-being-shot-by-george-zimmerman/-/1637132/20851274/-/156rxi6z/-/index.html|website=[[ClickOrlando]]|date=July 5, 2013|access-date=October 13, 2013|archive-date=July 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709040515/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/medical-examiner-says-trayvon-martin-suffered-after-being-shot-by-george-zimmerman/-/1637132/20851274/-/156rxi6z/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="nytimes bao">{{cite news|last=Buckley |first=Cara|title=2 Mothers testify, each saying that screams on the phone were her son's|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/us/martins-hands-were-almost-free-of-wounds-medical-examiner-says.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 5, 2013|access-date=October 13, 2013}}</ref>
[[File:George Zimmerman front of head.jpg|thumb|Image taken of George Zimmerman's injuries after the shooting.]]
[[File:George Zimmerman back of head.jpg|thumb|Image taken of George Zimmerman's injuries after the shooting.]]
Dr. Valerie Rao, a medical examiner who reviewed video and photographs of Zimmerman's injuries, testified that she thought Zimmerman's wounds were "insignificant" and "non-life threatening." She said that Zimmerman's head might have only hit the concrete a single time and the injuries were so minor that they were not consistent with grave force.<ref name="abc rao">{{cite web|last1=Tienabeso |first1=Seni |last2=Gutman |first2=Matt |title=George Zimmerman jury told his injuries were 'insignificant'|url=https://abcnews.go.com/2020/george-zimmerman-jury-told-injuries-insignificant/story?id=19552856|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=July 2, 2013|access-date=October 13, 2013}}</ref><ref name="businsider rao">{{cite web|last=Sterbenz |first=Christina|title=Medical Examiner contradicts a key part of George Zimmerman's story|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/valerie-raos-george-zimmerman-testimony-2013-7|publisher=[[Business Insider]]|date=July 2, 2013|access-date=October 13, 2013}}</ref>
Anthony Gorgone, a [[crime lab analyst]] with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, testified that he found no traces of Zimmerman's DNA in scrapings taken from Martin's fingernails. Gorgone said he did find both Zimmerman's and Martin's DNA on the gray sweatshirt Martin was wearing, and both of their DNA was found on Zimmerman's jacket. Gorgone said Zimmerman's DNA was found on the grip of his gun, but that Martin's was not found.<ref name="nytimes dna">{{cite news|last=Buckley |first=Cara|title=Zimmerman studied 'Stand your Ground' in class, Florida court is told|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/us/witnesses-tell-of-zimmermans-interest-in-law-enforcement.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 3, 2013|access-date=October 13, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cnn dna">{{cite news|title=Crime Lab Analyst Testifies (transcript)|url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1307/03/cnr.12.html|website=[[CNN]]|date=July 3, 2013|access-date=October 13, 2013}}</ref>
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Hirotaka Nakasone, a voice analysis expert, was called by the state after previously being called by the defense during the Frye hearing. Nakasone testified that the recordings of the screams on the 911 calls were of poor quality due to the distance from the phone and compression introduced by the cell phone. He found 45 seconds of recording between the start of the screaming until the gunshot. Approximately 19 seconds was actual screaming, of which 3.5 seconds were able to be isolated for analysis. He testified that it was not possible to do voice analysis on this data as it was "not fit for the purpose of voice comparison", which generally requires 30 seconds for analysis. He further testified that doing age estimation by listening or pitch analysis has a high margin of error. Nakasone testified that someone who is familiar with voices can recognize those voices and identify them more easily than someone unfamiliar with the voices. Nakasone testified that for these samples, someone who had heard a person in a variety of situations speaking, uttering, and screaming in a similar situation could be better able to recognize the speaker. On cross-examination, Nakasone testified that there could be significant listener bias which could impact the reliability of "familiar voice recognition", introduced by having multiple people attempting to identify a voice together. Nakasone testified that the same word repeated is generally unsuitable for analysis, because there is not a sufficient number of the [[phoneme]]s which can be used to identify the voice. Nakasone said that the screams were made under "extreme duress" and in a "life-threatening situation", and that due to physiological changes during life-threatening screams, any analysis using such screaming was not possible. Nakasone also testified that using screams like this for age estimation would be "very very challenging" and that it would generally not be attempted.<ref name="cbs voicex">{{cite news|first=Erin |last=Donaghue|title=George Zimmerman trial: Voice expert testifies during second week of testimony|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57591766-504083/george-zimmerman-trial-voice-expert-testifies-during-second-week-of-testimony/|website=[[CBS News]]|date=July 1, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ibt voicex">{{cite web|first=Howard |last=Koplowitz|title=George Zimmerman trial: FBI Expert Hirotaka Nakasome testifies he can't tell if Trayvon Martin or Zimmerman screamed on 911 call|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/george-zimmerman-trial-fbi-expert-hirotaka-nakasome-testifies-he-cant-tell-if-trayvon-martin-or#|work=[[International Business Times]] |date=July 1, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref>
===
Selene Bahadoor was a resident of the Retreat at Twin Lakes who worked in [[information technology|IT]] for a hospital. She was at home with relatives and friends on the night of the shooting. She testified that she heard noises outside, moving from the south (left) towards the north (right) towards the top of the T (where two sidewalks met). She went to her window and did not see anything, but moved to her sliding glass door and saw "figures and arms flailing" and that two people appeared to be standing, but it was too dark to identify them or their clothes. She said she heard something that sounded like "No" and then went back to her kitchen to turn off the stove, heard a shot, and then returned to the sliding door. At that time she saw someone lying in the grass face down. She saw several neighbors also looking at the scene, and then the police, but did not go outside. Bahadoor testified that she had previously known Zimmerman as a neighborhood watch person. On cross-examination by O'Mara, Bahadoor testified that she discussed her testimony with the police and did not recall if she had said the noise moved from south to north during her initial interview with Chris Serino or [[Florida Department of Law Enforcement|FDLE]]. When presented with her transcripts from those interviews, the transcripts said only "running" but not the direction. She testified that she had mentioned the left to right (south to north) motion to her sister. She "liked" the Justice4Trayvon Facebook page and signed the [[Change.org]] petition, but said she has sympathy for both families. She reiterated that it was too dark to see which participant was which, or what positions they were in. On redirect, she said she had not been asked about the direction of movement previously, and had not come forward earlier because she did not want to be in the public eye. On re-cross, she said that she had done an interview for national television, but that it did not air.<ref name="OSDay12" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/national/south/2013/06/judge_in_trayvon_martin_case_weighs_police_calls |title=Judge in Trayvon Martin case weighs police calls |work=[[Boston Herald]] |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Richard |last=Luscombe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/25/zimmerman-trial-graphic-photos-trayvon-martin |title=Zimmerman trial jurors shown graphic photos of Trayvon Martin's body |work=[[The Guardian (UK)]] |date= June 25, 2013|access-date=June 30, 2013 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/state-shows-jurors-pics-of-trayvon-martin-s-body-in-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20703406/-/kqk2rl/-/index.html |title=State shows jurors pics of Trayvon Martin's body in George Zimmerman trial |website=[[ClickOrlando]] |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-date=June 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628231534/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/state-shows-jurors-pics-of-trayvon-martin-s-body-in-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20703406/-/kqk2rl/-/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/06/25/Zimmerman-neighbor-said-she-saw-figures-arms-flailing-after-shooting/UPI-52811372194382/ |title=Zimmerman neighbor S. Bahadoor testifies she saw arms flailing |website=[[UPI]] |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref>
Jayne Surdyka was a neighbor in the Retreat who was in her upstairs bedroom at the time of the incident. She went to close her window due to the "pouring down rain", when she heard a loud "dominant" voice. She reopened the window to see into the courtyard and heard a voice that sounded "angry, very agitated" but that she could not hear words. She shut off her lights to reduce glare and see better, and saw two men on the ground one on top of the other. She heard a cry for help that she thought was made by "the boy" and then heard "pop, pop, pop". She saw one of the men get up and hold his head while the other stayed on the ground face down. Surdyka's 911 call was then played.{{Listen|filename = Trayvon Martin Shooting Call7.ogg|title =Surdyka's call to 911|description =911 call, February 26, 2012| help = yes| type = sound| style = float:right}}
On cross-examination, the defense asked about the cries for help that she heard, and she confirmed she heard only two cries: one for help, and then a "yelp" just before the gunshot. West asked her if she had heard the other 911 calls and cries for help previously. West asked her if "the loud voice could have been someone on a cell phone in the wind", and she replied, "I guess". She clarified that there was five to ten minutes between the initial "loud voice" and the later argument and fight; she assumed they were the same voice. She said that during the argument the "loud" voice initiated and a "meek" voice replied. She commented that when the porch lights were off it was "pitch black" in the yard, but that she could see well enough to see that the person on top was wearing a dark or black shirt or jacket. West asked her to reconcile Martin's chest wound with her testimony that Zimmerman stood up from on top, with Martin underneath him, face down. West pressed her to admit that she assumed which voice was which, but she replied that she felt the aggressive voice was "a man's" and that the other voice was higher pitched and she felt that it was "a boy's".<ref>{{cite web|last=Sloane |first=Amanda |url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/06/26/will-eyewitnesses-help-george-zimmerman--trial-day-3-prosecutors |title=Key witness recounts Martin's final phone call |website=[[HLNTV]] (Headline News) |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Mike |last1=Schneider |first2=Kyle |last2=Hightower |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/eyewitness-testifies-zimmerman-trial-19490711#.Ucrvnfm1F8E |title=Martin Friend Returns to Stand at Zimmerman Trial |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mysanfordherald.com/view/full_story/22983682/article-Prosecution-continues-to-call-witnesses-in-Zimmerman-case?instance=home_news_right |title=Prosecution continues to call witnesses in Zimmerman case |publisher=[[The Sanford Herald]] |access-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204125709/http://www.mysanfordherald.com/view/full_story/22983682/article-Prosecution-continues-to-call-witnesses-in-Zimmerman-case?instance=home_news_right |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57591121-504083/george-zimmerman-trial-neighbor-testifies-she-heard-boys-voice-yelling-for-help/ |title=George Zimmerman trial: Neighbor testifies she heard "boy's voice" yelling for help |website=[[CBS News]] |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/jayne-surdyka_n_3503189.html |title=Jayne Surdyka, George Zimmerman Trial Witness, Says She Felt Cries For Help Were 'A Boy's Voice' |website=[[Huffington Post]] |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2013 |first=Danielle |last=Cadet}}</ref>
Jeannee Manalo was with her family watching TV in the living room at her home in the Retreat at the time of the incident. Manalo said she heard a "howling" sound and looked out the sliding door, but was unable to see anything due to the darkness. Later, she heard a yelling that she thought was "help". She looked out and could not see anything, but heard struggling. After hearing "help", she returned to watching TV, and then only looked out again after hearing the gunshot. She then looked out again and saw two people on the grass, with a neighbor outside with them who was asking if he should call 911. Manalo testified that she did not notice the size at the time, but after seeing the news, she believes Zimmerman was on top. Manalo could not tell which person was screaming for help. After she heard the shot, she looked out again. Her husband went outside and then returned to get a plastic [[Walmart]] bag to be used for CPR. On cross-examination, she said that noises seemed to move closer over the incident, moving from the top of the "T" slightly further south. West questioned Manalo about differences between her current recollections and the statements she made during investigator interviews at the time. In her earlier statements, Manalo did not describe the sizes of the individuals or compare them. West asked about seeing Zimmerman after the incident and referred to a photo of his injuries, but Manalo replied that she did not get a good look at his face that night. West asked what photos she used to develop her understanding of the relative sizes of Martin and Zimmerman. She testified that she had seen full body photos of Zimmerman from the police station, and the "hoodie", "hollister", and "football" shots of Martin. She had not seen photos of Martin from the 7-Eleven surveillance video. She stated she did not look at photos of Zimmerman's injuries, including one taken by her husband, until later. Manolo testified that she might be wrong on the size comparison, and that "I don't know who's bigger now". She later testified that her opinion of the relative sizes of Martin and Zimmerman the night of the incident was based on old photographs of Martin. After several rounds of questioning, she said her opinion of the sizes was based on the photographs, but that the person who was on top got up.<ref name="foxnews1">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/26/judge-in-trayvon-martin-case-weighs-police-calls/ |title=Teen who spoke to Trayvon Martin moments before his death testifies in Zimmerman trial |website=[[Fox News]] |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref>
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Jonathan (John) Good, a neighbor at the retreat, testified that he heard a faint noise outside but could not tell the direction. As the noises grew louder, he looked outside through his blinds. He opened his door and looked out and saw "some sort of tussle" where the participants were on the ground. He called out, "What's going on?" and "Stop it" as he started to step outside. Good said the participant wearing "dark or black" was on top and the person wearing "red or white" was on the bottom, and the person on the bottom had lighter skin. He described the person on top having their legs straddling the person on the bottom, who was face up.
He could not hear any pounding or hitting, but did see "downward arm motion, multiple times" that "looked like punches" from the person on top. He heard a "help" from the person on the bottom, and Good said, "Cut it out" and that he was going to call 911. He went back inside to call 911, but he heard a gunshot before the call was completed. Good's call to 911 was played for the jury. {{Listen|filename = Trayvon Martin Shooting Call2.ogg|title =Good's call to 911|description =911 call, February 26, 2012| help = yes| type = sound| style = float:right}}
Good testified that his statement in earlier interviews of "MMA-style" was in reference to the person on top straddling the person on the bottom and striking them. He testified he did not see the person on top slamming the person on bottom's body or head into the concrete. He said the recorded calls for help from the other's 911 calls did not sound the same as the cries for help he heard. On cross-examination he stated that he could not be sure that additional hitting or head pounding was not happening; he just did not see well enough to say that it did happen. Using photographs of Zimmerman and Martin from that night, he identified Martin as the person on top, and Zimmerman as the person on the bottom.<ref name="New York Post - Not Guilty">Bobby Martinez in Sanford Florida and Laura Italiano and David K. Li of New York. "'Not Guilty' In Trayvon Slay". ''[[New York Post]]''. July 14, 2013. pg 5. Retrieved July 14, 2013.</ref> Defense attorney West had Good go over a sketch of the scene and positions of the participants that he had made shortly after the incident. Between the time Good was initially outside and when his 911 call began, he went upstairs and down a hallway to get his phone, at which time he looked out a window and saw Martin's body on the ground. Good stated that in his opinion it was Zimmerman's voice screaming for help.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.local10.com/news/george-zimmerman-trial-witness-john-good/-/1717324/20755808/-/n5jses/-/index.html |title=George Zimmerman trial: Witness John Good |date=June 29, 2013 |website=Local10.com |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/prosecution-witness-describes-trayvon-martin-as-attacking-george-zimmerman-on-night-of-murder/ |title=Zimmerman Trial Trayvon Martin Witness John Good Attack |publisher=Mediaite |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57591520-504083/george-zimmerman-trial-neighbor-testifies-trayvon-martin-was-straddling-zimmerman-moments-before-fatal-gunshot/ |title=George Zimmerman trial: Neighbor testifies Trayvon Martin was straddling Zimmerman moments before fatal gunshot |website=[[CBS News]] |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/28/zimmerman-defense-grills-witness-for-second-day/ |title=Witness describes Zimmerman's injuries, phone call to wife |website=[[Fox News]] |date= June 28, 2013|access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-witnesses-conflicting-versions-fatal-fight/story?id=19517236#.Uc27_Pm1F8E |title=George Zimmerman Was Beaten, Two Prosecution Witnesses Say |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=February 26, 2012 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Benn |first=Evan |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/28/3475059/state-presses-on-in-george-zimmerman.html |title=SANFORD: Witness who saw "tussle" testifies in Zimmerman trial as social media explodes over photo of defense lawyer - Trayvon Martin |work=[[Miami Herald]] |date=February 26, 2012 |access-date=June 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629231637/http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/28/3475059/state-presses-on-in-george-zimmerman.html |archive-date=June 29, 2013 }}</ref>
Jonathan Manalo, whose wife testified earlier, told the jury he was the first person to make contact with Zimmerman after the shooting. Manalo said that Zimmerman was calm and easy to understand before police arrived. Manalo said as soon as he saw Zimmerman, he started explaining what happened. Manalo testified that Zimmerman told him that he was defending himself when he shot Martin. Manalo also testified that after police arrived, Zimmerman asked him to call his wife and "tell her I shot someone."<ref name="usa manalo">{{cite news|first=Yamiche |last=Alcindor|title=Zimmerman witness says he tried to break up fight|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/06/28/zimmerman-trial-witness-says-he-tried-to-stop-fight/2471949/|work=[[USA Today]]|date=June 29, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cbs manalo">{{cite news|author=Crimesider Staff|title=George Zimmerman trial: First week of testimony wraps up in case of Trayvon Martin killing|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57591623-504083/george-zimmerman-trial-first-week-of-testimony-wraps-up-in-case-of-trayvon-martin-killing/|website=[[CBS News]]|date=June 28, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref>
===
Rachel Jeantel, Witness No. 8, was a friend of Martin's in elementary school and high school.
Jeantel testified that she was on the phone with Martin during the incident and that they were on the phone together while Martin was at the 7-Eleven. The call was disconnected and Martin later called her back. Jeantel testified that during the second call, Martin said a man was watching him, but that she did not think it was a "big idea." Jeantel asked Martin how the man looked and he told her that he was "a creepy-ass cracker." Jeantel warned Martin to walk away because "it might be a rapist." Martin, she said, told her that the "nigga is still following me"<ref name="Jeantel CNN">{{cite news|title=Key witness recounts Trayvon Martin's final phone call|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/26/justice/zimmerman-trial|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=15 August 2013|date=June 27, 2013}}</ref> so he was going to try to "lose him" and get back to the home where he was staying. As Jeantel remained on the phone with Martin, he said, "The nigga is behind me." The man who was allegedly following him reappeared and Martin said, "Why are you following me for," and then Jeantel heard a hard-breathed man come and say, "What are you doing around here?" Jeantel testified that she said, "Trayvon, Trayvon" and she "started to hear a little bit of Trayvon saying, get off, get off." Jeantel then said she heard Martin's phone headset fall and Martin say, "Get off." The phone went dead and Jeantel said she didn't speak to Martin again. Jeantel also testified that she believed the screams heard on the 911 call were Martin's, because "Trayvon has kind of a baby voice."<ref name="Jeantel HuffPost">{{cite news|title=Rachel Jeantel, Trayvon Martin Friend: Teen Was Trying To Escape George Zimmerman|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/rachel-jeantel-trayvon-martin_n_3505587.html|website=[[Huffington Post]]|access-date=15 August 2013|first=Danielle|last=Cadet|date=June 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="fox jeantel">{{cite news|author=[[Fox News]]|title=Teen who spoke to Trayvon Martin moments before his death testifies in Zimmerman trial|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/26/judge-in-trayvon-martin-case-weighs-police-calls/|website=[[Fox News]]|date=June 26, 2013|access-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name="abc jeantel">{{cite web|first1=Seni |last1=Tienabeso |first2=Matt |last2=Gutman |title=George Zimmerman witness can't say who threw first punch|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-witness-threw-punch/story?id=19504826|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name="msnbc jeantel">{{cite web|first=Sarah |last=Muller|title=Zimmerman case: Is Rachel Jeantel on trial too?|url=http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/06/29/zimmerman-case-is-rachel-jeantel-on-trial-too/|website=[[MSNBC]]|date=June 29, 2013|access-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref>
On cross-examination by defense attorney Don West, Jeantel testified that she had lied about her reasons for not going to Martin's funeral and said the reason she didn't go was because she felt guilty and didn't want to see the body. West asked her why she didn't call police after the phone went dead. Jeantel said, "I thought he was going to be OK because he was right by his daddy's house." West also asked her about the last thing she had heard, which was "something hitting somebody." Jeantel told West that "Trayvon got hit," and West then asked her, "You don't know that, do you?" Jeantel testified, "No sir."<ref name="fox jeantel"/><ref name="abc jeantel"/><ref name="msnbc jeantel"/>
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West also questioned her about the term "creepy ass [[Cracker (pejorative)|cracker]]." West asked her, "Do people that you live around and with call white people 'creepy ass crackers'?" Jeantel said, "Not creepy, but cracker, yeah." West then asked her if she was saying that people in her community and culture that she lived in called white people crackers. Jeantel testified, "Yes, sir." West also asked her if she thought the term was a racial comment and offensive. Jeantel said she didn't believe "creepy ass cracker" was a racial comment and said, "No," it wasn't offensive. She also testified that the reference to cracker referred to "a pervert." Jeantel said she never told anyone about Martin saying that term until a year after the shooting.<ref name="fox jeantel"/><ref name="abc jeantel"/><ref name="msnbc jeantel"/><ref name="jeantel 5">{{cite web|title=Rachel Jeantel faces 2nd day of questioning in George Zimmerman trial|url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/rachel-jeantel-returns-to-stand-in-george-zimmerman-murder-trial/-/1637132/20735920/-/hbqre8/-/index.html|website=[[ClickOrlando]]|access-date=July 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715203611/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/rachel-jeantel-returns-to-stand-in-george-zimmerman-murder-trial/-/1637132/20735920/-/hbqre8/-/index.html|archive-date=July 15, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="jeantel 6">{{cite news|title=George Zimmerman trial: Race is a subtext, not the focus|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/george-zimmerman-trial-race-is-a-subtext-not-the-focus/2013/07/02/a296611e-e262-11e2-a11e-c2ea876a8f30_story_1.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 16, 2013|first=Manuel|last=Roig-Franzia|date=July 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="usa jeantel">{{cite news|first=Yamiche |last=Alcindor |title=Trayvon Martin's friend: Encounter was racially charged|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/27/trayvon-martin-sanford-zimmerman-florida-race/2462403/|work=[[USA Today]] |date=June 27, 2013|access-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref>
Zimmerman's defense attorney asked her if Martin had perhaps lied to her because he did not want her to know if he decided to assault Zimmerman that night. Jeantel testified, "That's real retarded, sir. That's real retarded to do that, sir. Why on earth – Trayvon did not know."<ref>{{
During the trial, a letter to Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon's mother, was presented as evidence. The letter outlined what was supposedly overheard on a phone call in the moments before the fight between Martin and Zimmerman broke out. It was written in cursive and signed with the printed name "Diamond Eugene." Jeantel claimed the letter was from her, prepared with the help of a friend. However, when asked on the stand if she was able to read the letter to verify its contents, Jeantel admitted, "I don't read cursive."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2013/06/28/trayvon-martins-girlfriend-admits-she-cant-read-the-letter-she-supposedly-wrote-to-his-mother-about-his-death/|work=[[New York Post]] |title = Trayvon Martin's girlfriend admits she can't read the letter she supposedly wrote to his mother about his death|date = June 28, 2013}}</ref> Jeantel claimed that the name "Diamond Eugene" was her nickname.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/rachel-jeantels-inconsistent-story-2013-6|title = George Zimmerman's Defense is Poking a Ton of Holes into the Star Prosecution Witness' Story|website = [[Business Insider]]}}</ref>
(In December
==Defense's case==
On July 5, the defense began presenting their case to the jury.<ref name="defense 1">{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Gutman |date=July 8, 2013 |title=Two Mothers Testify in Zimmerman Trial |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/george-zimmerman-trial-trayvon-martin-death-mothers-testify-19603528 |access-date=July 10, 2013 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref><ref name="defense 3" />
===Testimony===
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Sondra Osterman, wife of Zimmerman's friend Mark Osterman, testified that the voice screaming for help on the 911 tape was "definitely" that of Zimmerman. She stated, "Yes, definitely, it's Georgie, I hear it, I hear him screaming."<ref name="defense 4">{{cite news|author1=[[Fox News]] |author2=Joshua Rhett Miller |author3=Serafin Gomez |author4=[[Associated Press]] |title=Judge rules defense can show Trayvon Martin died with marijuana in his system|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/08/zimmerman-defense-to-continue-presentation-monday/|website=[[Fox News]]|date=July 8, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> Osterman also said that she had known Zimmerman since 2006, when they worked together at a mortgage company. When questioned about her husband's book that he wrote about the shooting, she stated that it had not affected her testimony in the case. She testified that "I wouldn't lie for him or for anybody." She also testified she did not think Zimmerman's use of an expletive on the 911 call indicated any ill-will or hatred on his behalf. She stated, "I don't think he was angry."<ref name="defense 4" />
Mark Osterman, a friend of Zimmerman and [[Federal Air Marshal Service|federal air marshal]], testified that he heard Zimmerman screaming in the background of the 911 call. He stated, "It sounded like George." He also testified that he had discussed gun safety with Zimmerman and took him to a [[Shooting range|gun range]]. Osterman said that Zimmerman was "very safe all the time" with his [[handgun]]. When questioned about the gun Zimmerman owned,{{#tag:ref|At the time of the incident, Zimmerman owned a black [[Kel-Tec PF-9]], 9mm semi-automatic pistol.<ref name="zim gun" >{{cite
Osterman stated, "It's a reliable firearm," and also said that he had recommended to Zimmerman that he keep a round chambered in the weapon. During cross-examination by Bernie de la Rionda, Osterman said he was unsure how many copies his book, ''Defending our Friend; the Most Hated Man in America'', had sold and stated that all proceeds would go for Zimmerman.<ref name="defense 4" /><ref name="defense 5">{{cite news|first=Manuel |last=Roig-Franzia|title=George Zimmerman trial continues to focus on 911 call|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/george-zimmerman-trial-continues-to-focus-on-911-tape/2013/07/08/97e65f6c-e7e9-11e2-aa9f-c03a72e2d342_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 8, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref>
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Bill Lee, former Sanford police chief, testified that he recommended the tape of the 911 call be played for Martin's family individually, rather than in a group, to avoid any improper influences. Lee said that he had offered to be in the room when the 911 tape was played, but the city manager declined to have him or other police officials present. Lee stated that it was rare for the mayor and city manager to become involved in police investigations. The former police chief also testified "the evidence in testimony gave us an indication who was screaming on the tape."<ref name="defense usa" /><ref name="defense sanherald">{{cite web|first=Rachel |last=Delinski|title=Day 20: Third week of testimony in Zimmerman case|url=http://mysanfordherald.com/view/full_story/23070613/article-Day-20--Third-week-of-testimony-in-Zimmerman-case?instance=home_news_right|work=[[The Sanford Herald]]|date=July 8, 2013|access-date=July 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204125709/http://mysanfordherald.com/view/full_story/23070613/article-Day-20--Third-week-of-testimony-in-Zimmerman-case?instance=home_news_right|archive-date=February 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Experts' analyses===
Dr. [[Vincent Di Maio]], a [[Forensic pathology|forensic pathologist]] and gunshot wound expert, testified that Martin's gunshot wound was consistent with Zimmerman's story that Martin was on top of him and leaning over him when he was shot.<ref name="defense cbs4">{{cite news|first=Erin |last=Donaghue |title=George Zimmerman trial: Trayvon Martin was on top of Zimmerman when teen was shot, gunshot wound expert testifies|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57592866-504083/george-zimmerman-trial-trayvon-martin-was-on-top-of-zimmerman-when-teen-was-shot-gunshot-wound-expert-testifies/|website=[[CBS News]]|date=July 9, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="defense latimes">{{cite news |first1=Michael |last1=Muskal |first2=Tina |last2=Susman |title=Martin was leaning over Zimmerman when shot, expert says|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-0710-zimmerman-trial-20130710,0,1419846.story|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 9, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> The gunshot evidence indicated that Martin's clothing was from two to four inches from his body when he was shot, Di Maio said, "If you lean over someone, you notice the clothing tends to fall away from the chest, if instead you're lying on your back and someone shoots you, the clothing is going to be against your chest."<ref name="defense cbs4" /> Di Maio said he had examined photographs and the [[autopsy]] and [[toxicology]] reports and concluded that the evidence was consistent with Zimmerman's statements to police.<ref name="defense latimes" /> Di Maio testified the path of the bullet ran from Martin's left side through part of his heart and into a portion of the right lung. Di Maio stated, "The medical evidence...is consistent with his [Zimmerman's] statement."<ref name="defense latimes" />
Di Maio also testified that Zimmerman had at least six injuries from the struggle: two head lacerations, two wounds to his temples and wounds on his nose and forehead. Di Maio said those injuries were consistent with Zimmerman having his head banged into a sidewalk, and that such injuries can be dangerous. Di Maio stated it's possible to receive trauma without visible wounds, testifying that, "You can get severe trauma to the head without external injuries, actually." Di Maio said Zimmerman's nose may have been fractured, which was consistent with Zimmerman being punched in the nose.<ref name="defense cbs4" /><ref name="defense usa3">{{cite news|first=Yamiche |last=Alcindor|title=Pathologist supports Zimmerman's description of attack|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/09/george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin--marijuana/2501293/|work=[[USA Today]]|date=July 10, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref>
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When asked if Zimmerman had been [[Overcharging (law)|overcharged]] in the case, State Attorney Angela Corey told reporters after the verdict that the allegations against Zimmerman "fit the bill" for a second-degree murder charge. Prosecutor de la Rionda said that he was disappointed with, but respected, the jury's verdict.<ref name="verdict2"/>
==Juror comments==
=== B37 ===
Two days following the conclusion of the trial, one of the jurors (Juror B37) spoke with [[Anderson Cooper 360°|Anderson Cooper]] of [[CNN]] about her experience as a member of the jury.<ref name="cnn juror">{{cite news |last=Ford |first=Dana |date=July 16, 2013 |title=Juror: No doubt that George Zimmerman feared for his life |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/15/justice/zimmerman-juror-book/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 |access-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name="chitri juror">{{cite news |last=Pearce |first=Matt |date=July 15, 2013 |title=Zimmerman juror: Half the jury initially thought he was guilty |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-na-nn-zimmerman-juror-20130715,0,806006.story |access-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref> She said that in an initial vote, three of the jurors had voted to find Zimmerman not guilty, but two had voted to find him guilty of manslaughter and one had voted to find him guilty of second-degree murder:<ref name="chitri juror" /> "there was a couple of them in there that wanted to find him guilty of something and after hours and hours and hours of deliberating over the law, and reading it over and over and over again, we decided there's just no way, other place to go."<ref name="cnn juror" /> Jurors cried when they submitted their final vote to the court officer, she said.<ref name="apwapob37">{{cite news |last=[[Associated Press]] |date=July 15, 2013 |title=Juror: 6-woman jury was initially split on Zimmerman, but law led them to acquit |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/zimmerman-juror-says-sanford-detective-made-big-impression-planning-to-write-a-book/2013/07/15/ce4afbb2-edb1-11e2-bb32-725c8351a69e_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716162040/http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/zimmerman-juror-says-sanford-detective-made-big-impression-planning-to-write-a-book/2013/07/15/ce4afbb2-edb1-11e2-bb32-725c8351a69e_story.html |archive-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref>
Juror B37 told Cooper that she believed "It pretty much happened the way George said it happened."<ref name="nytjb37">{{cite news |last=Alvarez |first=Lizette |date=July 15, 2013 |title=Zimmerman juror discusses how verdict was reached |work=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/us/zimmerman-juror-discusses-how-verdict-was-reached.html}}</ref> She believed the defense's argument that Martin had thrown the first punch in the confrontation and that it was Zimmerman's calls for help that were heard on the 911 call recordings, and she said that Zimmerman, fearing he was at risk of bodily harm or even loss of his life, had had a right to protect himself.<ref name="cnn juror" /> In response to Cooper's questioning, she said that former lead police investigator Chris Serino's testimony that he had believed Zimmerman was telling the truth had made a strong impression on her (although Judge Nelson had instructed the jury that they should disregard Serino's comment and not consider it in rendering a verdict).<ref>{{cite news |last=Alcindor |first=Yamiche |date=July 6, 2013 |title=Experts: prosecutors failed to humanize Trayvon |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/16/zimmerman-trayvon-juror-b37/2521529/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Greg |date=July 16, 2013 |title=Juror B37 speaks out about Zimmerman verdict |website=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/07/16/202566703/juror-b-37-speaks-out-about-zimmerman-verdict}}</ref> Juror B37 also said that she did not believe Zimmerman had made any assumptions about Martin on the basis of Martin's skin color: "I think all of us thought race did not play a role.... We never had that discussion."<ref name="cnn juror" /> The juror said she believed that ultimately both Martin and Zimmerman were partly to blame for the outcome. "It's a tragedy this happened. But it happened.... And I think both were responsible for the situation they had gotten themselves into. I think both of them could have walked away. It just didn't happen."<ref name="cnn juror" />
On the same day that Juror B37's interview with Anderson Cooper was broadcast, it was announced that Juror B37 and her attorney husband had contacted a literary agent on July 14, one day following the conclusion of the trial, and had signed to write a book about the case.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rudra |first=Geetika |date=July 15, 2013 |title=George Zimmerman juror B37 to write book |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-juror-b37-write-book/story?id=19669496}}</ref> The next day, the literary agent tweeted that she was rescinding her offer of representing her "after careful consideration." An online campaign, particularly on [[Black Twitter]], to stop the publication had garnered over one thousand signatures at change.org. Neither the juror nor her agent said the campaign was the reason for cancelling the project. The literary agent released a statement from Juror B37 on Twitter which said the "isolation shielded me from the depth of pain that exists among the general public over every aspect of this case."<ref>{{cite news |last=Zak |first=Dan |date=July 16, 2013 |title=Juror B37 and the Zimmerman trial book deal that wasn't |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2013/07/16/juror-b37-and-the-zimmerman-trial-book-deal-that-wasnt/ |access-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref>
Four of the other jurors released a statement saying that Juror B37's views should not be regarded as representative of their views on the trial.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jacobson |first=Susan |date=July 16, 2013 |title=4 Zimmerman jurors: B-37 does not speak for us |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-jurors-react-20130716,0,7721592.story}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Statement released from the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. [http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/news/documents/2013/07/16/Jurors_Statement.pdf State vs. Zimmerman jurors' request for privacy]|group = "Note"}}
=== B29 ===
Juror B29, a 36-year-old Puerto Rican mother of eight children, who was living in Chicago at the time of the shooting, was interviewed about the trial on July 25.<ref name="goodmorningamerica">{{cite news |last=Newcomb |first=Alyssa |date=July 25, 2013 |title=George Zimmerman juror says he 'Got away with murder' |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-juror-murder/story?id=19770659}}</ref> She said, "George Zimmerman got away with murder, but you can't get away from God. And at the end of the day, he's going to have a lot of questions and answers he has to deal with."<ref name="maddyos">{{cite news |last1=Boedeker |first1=Hal |last2=Pavuk |first2=Amy |date=July 25, 2013 |title=George Zimmerman trial juror tells ABC: 'He got away with murder' |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-juror-b29-speaks-20130725,0,5994454.story}}</ref> She said that as the jury began deliberations, she wanted to convict Zimmerman of second-degree murder, and she held to her position that Zimmerman should be found guilty even after all the other jurors had decided to find him not guilty.<ref name="goodmorningamerica" /> However, she said that after nine hours of deliberations, she realized that there was not enough evidence to convict Zimmerman under Florida law: "As the law was read to me, if you have no proof that he killed him intentionally, you can't say he's guilty....you can't put the man in jail even though in our hearts we felt he was guilty."<ref name="maddyos" /> The juror said that she felt like she owed Martin's parents an apology because she felt she had let them down.<ref name="goodmorningamerica" />
==Public response==
The shooting and trial regarding Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman became highly controversial and publicized, embarking national public discourse regarding racial profiling, gun control, and justice systems. The media pontificated upon certain aspects of the case and shooting, resulting in certain narratives; there were a plethora of opinions, protests, and propaganda which perpetuated national debate and outrage.<ref name=":14">{{Cite journal |last1=Lane |first1=Kimberly |last2=Williams |first2=Yaschica |last3=Hunt |first3=Andrea N. |last4=Paulk |first4=Amber |date=2020 |title=The Framing of Race: Trayvon Martin and the Black Lives Matter Movement |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0021934720946802?journalCode=jbsa |journal=Journal of Black Studies|volume=51 |issue=8 |pages=790–812 |doi=10.1177/0021934720946802 }}</ref>
=== For the verdict ===
Some supporters of Zimmerman were pleased with the non-guilty verdict.<ref name="response14">{{cite news |last=Grinberg |first=Emanuella |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Anger, sadness but little surprise over Zimmerman verdict |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/justice/zimmerman-verdict-reax/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> Supporters were also outside the courthouse in Sanford, Florida, rejoicing the not guilty verdict. Some supporters at the courthouse said the jury made the right decision because they felt that Zimmerman shot and killed Martin in self-defense.<ref name="response432">{{cite news |author1=[[Fox News]] |author2=[[Associated Press]] |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Protests of Zimmerman verdict mostly peaceful; sporadic vandalism reported |website=[[Fox News]] |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/14/george-zimmerman-acquitted-murder-in-trayvon-martin-shooting-death/ |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref>
However, despite acceptance or understanding of the verdict, many (supporters or non-supporters of Zimmerman) were displeased with George Zimmerman's actions: Zimmerman was heavily criticized for his potentially racist ambitions, due to interpreters depicting his intentions as [[racial profiling]], whether or not he ultimately had to act in self-defense. A few variations regarding the definition of racial profiling include the notion that suspects are identified and approached due to physical, behavioral, psychological, or unwarranted factors such as race.<ref name=":54"/>
On the eve of the verdict, criminal law experts interviewed by [[CNN]] agreed that acquittal was likely. [[Christopher Darden]], trial prosecutor in the [[O. J. Simpson murder case]], said the prosecution's case lacked evidence: "[J]ust about everything the prosecution has asserted in this case has been addressed by the defense and refuted. ... [Y]ou have to wonder if you're a juror sitting on this case, why was this prosecution brought in the first place? ... I mean, there are just huge, huge holes in the prosecution's case." Criminal defense attorney Diana Tennis agreed, saying in part: "[W]e have a rule of law, we have a very high burden in criminal cases for a reason, no matter what the color of any party and in the USA you don't get convicted typically on evidence that is not better than this."<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1307/08/cg.02.html THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER (transcript)] Aired July 8, 2013 - 16:30 ET</ref>
Attorney and former Court TV anchor [[Jami Floyd]] told BET, "It is clear that George Zimmerman pursued Trayvon Martin and that he shot him. But it boils down to the question of who threw the first punch. There are only two people who could answer that question, and one of them is dead."<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Zimmerman Trial, Varying Opinions From Legal Experts |url=https://www.bet.com/news/national/2013/07/01/in-zimmerman-trial-varying-opinions-from-legal-experts.html?cid=facebook |access-date=June 5, 2020 |website=[[BET]]}}</ref>
[[Alan Dershowitz]] told the [[BBC]] that the verdict was "right" since there was "reasonable doubt" as to Zimmerman's guilt.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23310953 Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman verdict 'was right']. [[BBC]]. July 14, 2013.</ref> In regards to the prosecution, he said to [[Mike Huckabee]]: "She (State Attorney [[Angela Corey]]) submitted an affidavit that was, if not perjurious, completely misleading. She violated all kinds of rules of the profession, and her conduct bordered on criminal conduct. [...] Halfway through the trial she realized she wasn't going to get a second degree murder verdict, so she asked for a compromised verdict, for manslaughter. And then, she went even further and said that she was going to charge him with child abuse and felony murder. That was such a stretch that it goes beyond anything professionally responsible. She was among the most irresponsible prosecutors I've seen in 50 years of litigating cases, and believe me, I've seen good prosecutors, bad prosecutors, but rarely have I seen one as bad as this prosecutor."<ref name="rcp dersh">{{cite web |author=RealClearPolitics |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Dershowitz: Zimmerman Special Prosecutor Angela Corey Should Be Disbarred |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/07/14/alan_dershowitz_zimmerman_special_prosecutor_angela_corey_should_be_disbarred.html |access-date=July 16, 2013 |website=[[RealClearPolitics]]}}</ref>
ABC chief legal affairs anchor [[Dan Abrams]] called it "the right legal verdict". He said the prosecution had a tough case from the start, and, "as a legal matter, I don't see how they [the jury] could have reached another verdict, considering how the law works with regard to self-defense".<ref>{{YouTube|Cmr1bsDx36w|The George Zimmerman Verdict - The View}}</ref>
Former President [[Jimmy Carter]] said the jury made the "right decision" based on the evidence presented by the prosecution. Carter said, "It's not a moral question, it's a legal question and the American law requires that the jury listens to the evidence presented."<ref>{{cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |author-link=Hadas Gold |title=Jimmy Carter: George Zimmerman jury 'right' |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/jimmy-carter-george-zimmerman-verdict-94320.html?hp=f2 |access-date=July 17, 2013 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref>
After the trial, as calls to prosecute Zimmerman for an alleged federal civil right violation were heard, ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'' editorial board wrote that such a move was unwarranted by the evidence and could amount to [[double jeopardy]]: "[Zimmerman] shouldn't have assumed that Martin was up to no good, and he shouldn't have pursued him after a police dispatcher warned him not to. And yet not every tragedy or bad judgment is proof of a crime, much less a federal civil rights violation."<ref>{{cite news |author=Times Editorial Board |date=July 16, 2013 |title=Why try George Zimmerman? |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/16/opinion/la-ed-george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-20130716}}</ref>
=== Against the verdict ===
Supporters of Trayvon Martin protested outside the courthouse, accompanied with chants and cries for justice.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Alvarez |first1=Lizette |last2=Buckley |first2=Cara |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Zimmerman Is Acquitted in Killing of Trayvon Martin |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/us/george-zimmerman-verdict-trayvon-martin.html |url-status=}}</ref> Some supporters of Zimmerman were not pleased with the verdict, considering they had felt that the prosecution had failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.<ref name="response14"/> The trial has been referred to by some as a "failed prosecution," in the sense that the prosecution should have approached their case differently in order to constitute justice.<ref name=":22">{{Cite journal |last1=Gould |first1=Jon B. |last2=Smiegocki |first2=Victoria M. |last3=Leo |first3=Richard A. |title=Theorizing Failed Prosecutions |url=https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc/vol112/iss2/4/ |journal=Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology}}</ref> Critics have speculated that the prosecution had overcharged George Zimmerman, and had Zimmerman's prosecution presented a lesser charge such as felony stalking second to the second degree murder, Zimmerman's verdict may have differed, appeasing and satisfying those who had felt Zimmerman had got off easy while justice is served.<ref name=":22" />
Martin's father, Tracy Martin [[Twitter|tweeted]] after the verdict was announced: "Even though I am broken hearted my faith is unshattered I will always love my baby Tray."<ref name="cnn trmart22">{{cite news |last=Bennett |first=Colette |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Disbelief, relief, Twitter erupts after Zimmerman verdict |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/studentnews/zimmerman-verdict-social-media/ |access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref><ref name="hln fult22">{{cite web |last=Bennett |first=Colette |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Disbelief, relief, Twitter erupts after Zimmerman verdict |url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/07/13/zimmerman-verdict-not-guilty-social-media-reaction/ |access-date=July 15, 2013 |publisher=[[HLNTV]] (Headline News)}}</ref>
Civil rights leader [[Jesse Jackson]] said that he was stunned by the decision and that the Department of Justice must intervene to take it to another level. [[Benjamin Jealous]], president of the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People|NAACP]], said that he had spoken to senior justice officials about pursuing federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman. [[Al Sharpton]] said the verdict was a "slap in the face to the American people" and urged action by federal officials.<ref name="response222">{{cite news |last1=Wulfhorst |first1=Ellen |last2=Liston |first2=Barbara |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Zimmerman cleared in Trayvon Martin death, faces outrage |website=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-florida-shooting-idUSBRE96C07420130714 |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref>
Musician [[Stevie Wonder]] told a concert audience in [[Canada]] after the verdict, that he had decided, until the stand your ground law is abolished in Florida, he would never perform there again. Wonder also told the audience that he would not perform in any state or part of the world where that law exists. According to CNN, there are currently 22 states that have a version of the stand your ground law,<ref name="cnn stewon22">{{cite news |last=Duke |first=Alan |date=July 16, 2013 |title=Stevie Wonder says he'll boycott stand your ground states |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/16/showbiz/stevie-wonder-florida-boycott/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 |access-date=July 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Penal Code §§ 197, 198.5">{{Cite web |title=Penal Code §§ 197, 198.5 |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=187-199 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512011845/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=187-199 |archive-date=May 12, 2009 |access-date=April 3, 2012 |publisher=[[California|Legislative Counsel, State of California]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="CALCRIM 50522">{{cite web |date=January 2006 |title=CALCRIM No. 505. Justifiable Homicide |url=http://www.californiajuryinstructions.net/Criminal/CALCRIM/Vol_1/SERIES_500_HOMICIDE/CALCRIM_505_232_Justifiable_Homicide_Self-Defense_or_Defense_of_Another.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611203747/http://www.californiajuryinstructions.net/Criminal/CALCRIM/Vol_1/SERIES_500_HOMICIDE/CALCRIM_505_232_Justifiable_Homicide_Self-Defense_or_Defense_of_Another.htm |archive-date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=April 3, 2012 |publisher=CaliforniaJuryInstructions.Net |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Daluiso v. Boone, 71 Cal.2d 484">{{cite web |date=June 27, 1969 |title=Daluiso v. Boone, 71 Cal.2d 484 |url=http://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/daluiso-v-boone-27416 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |publisher=Official California Reports, 2nd Series, Vol. 71, Pg. 484 (California Supreme Court reporter)}} California has [[justifiable homicide]] provisions, as distinct from "Stand Your Ground." To the contrary, the state provides civil remedy for injury caused by self-help--even for [[intentional infliction of emotional distress]]. See [http://courts.ca.gov/opinions-slip.htm Official Reports Opinions Online]</ref> including his home state of Michigan,<ref>{{cite web |title=Self-Defense Act |url=http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(oxh1is45y5xcsd45emf50w3i))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-780-972 |access-date=16 July 2013 |publisher=Michigan Legislature}}</ref> and current state of California.<ref name="Penal Code §§ 197, 198.5"/><ref name="CALCRIM 50522"/><ref name="Daluiso v. Boone, 71 Cal.2d 484"/>
=== Media criticism ===
While some were dissatisfied with the verdict, others displaced their dissatisfaction towards the manner in which public sources pontificated upon aspects of the shooting and case.
As the case swept the nation an approximate 3 weeks after the ''Sanford Herald'' documented the story, publications and news sources pontificated upon certain aspects of the situation immediately; for example, some news sources determined Zimmerman had "claim[ed] self-defense" whereas others accepted self-defense as a fact regarding his actions.<ref name=":62">{{Cite journal |last1=Willis |first1=Erin |last2=Painter |first2=Chad |date=May 11, 2016 |title=Race prominent feature in coverage of Trayvon Martin |url=https://ecommons.udayton.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=cmm_fac_pub#:~:text=Martin%27s%20race%20was%20reported%20much,half%20of%20the%20news%20article.&text=Times. |journal=Newspaper Research Journal |volume=37 |issue=2}}</ref> Additionally, Zimmerman was described as "white" despite his identification as Hispanic in certain articles without correction and Trayvon Martin "was described as a black teenager in a hoodie, which new audiences have been primed to regard as dangerous"; these details impacted depictions of the incident with no empirical evidence to support its derivative.<ref name=":62" /> The discrepancy involved in the incident enabled authors to fill in the blanks. For example, authors elaborated on the notion of the framing of race, in which black Americans faced unfair depictions as opposed to white Americans depicted as saviors, and so encouraging the subconscious indulgence of stereotypes unrelated to the case itself and its attributes.<ref name=":14"/> Additionally, others developed the idea that Trayvon Martin was exploited in order for others to gain power off of his suffering, furthering race as an artificial and divisive tool.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steele |first=Shelby |title=The Exploitation of Trayvon Martin |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303302504577323691134926300 |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=login.libezproxy2.syr.edu}}</ref> The incident and case proves to emphasize the role in which audiences can derive biased narratives based on connotations of race, tainting evidence utilized in cases and legal matters.<ref name=":14"/>
==
[[File:Trayvon Martin shooting protest 2012 Shankbone 26.JPG|thumb|Picture of Trayvon Martin shooting protest in 2012.]]
Police in [[Oakland, California]], said about one hundred people protested, with some protesters breaking windows and starting fires in the streets. Protesters there also reportedly vandalized a police car, burned an American flag and a [[Flag of California|California state flag]], and spray-painted a county courthouse.<ref name="response432"/> Other protests in support of the Martin family occurred in [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Los Angeles]], San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Baltimore, Detroit and [[New York City]], among others.<ref name="washpostjuly1422">{{cite news |last1=Leonnig |first1=Carol D. |last2=Johnson |first2=Jenna |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Anger flows at acquittal of George Zimmerman in death of Trayvon Martin |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/anger-flows-at-acquittal-of-george-zimmerman-in-death-of-trayvon-martin/2013/07/14/e1a1216a-ec98-11e2-bed3-b9b6fe264871_story.html |access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cnn rallies22">{{cite news |last=Shoichet |first=Catherine E. |date=July 15, 2013 |title=Zimmerman verdict reactions ring out in protests, calls from pulpit |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/14/justice/zimmerman-verdict-reax/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 |access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref><ref name="response432" />
In response to the acquittal of Zimmerman, protests through a multitude of forms emerged, including films and documentaries, social media posts, and non-violent and violent rallies.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hope |first=Jeanelle K. |date=Spring 2023 |title=Protesting on Screen: Black Protest Films in the Era of #BlackLivesMatter |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/883808 |journal=Black Camera; Bloomington |volume=14 |issue=2}}</ref>
=== Black Lives Matter ===
[[File:Black Lives Matter protest at US Embassy, London 03.jpg|thumb|Protestors for Black Lives Matter at the US Embassy in London in June 2020.]]
Trayvon Martin's death can be analyzed as a catalyst incident for the Black Lives Matter movement.<ref name=":14"/> The term "Black Lives Matter" was mainly integrated into social literature through hashtags on Twitter in response to the acquittal of Zimmerman, and has now grown in its prevalence and significance politically.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Clapp |first=Lenny |date=February 3, 2022 |title=What Is Wrong with 'All Lives Matter'? What and How 'Black Lives Matter' Means |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/japp.12567 |journal=Journal of Applied Philosophy |volume=39 |issue=2|pages=346–358 |doi=10.1111/japp.12567 }}</ref> In simple terms, Black Lives Matter can be described as an activist movement in which supporters strive for equality, liberation, and justice of black people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Lives Matter |url=https://impact.blacklivesmatter.com |website=Black Lives Matter}}</ref> The organization has continued to acknowledge issues of racial inequality and acknowledge widespread police murders including Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and numerous others.<ref name=":43">{{Cite journal |last=Aduago |first=Pamela Nwakanma |date=December 2022 |title=From Black Lives Matter to EndSARS: Women's Socio-Political Power and the Transnational Movement for Black Lives |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/abs/from-black-lives-matter-to-endsars-womens-sociopolitical-power-and-the-transnational-movement-for-black-lives/5B65728A08EEE5764326CD180681FCF5 |journal=Perspectives on Politics; Cambridge |volume=20 |issue=4 |via=ProQuest}}</ref> The effects of BLM has been paralleled by countries around the world, shifting police brutality into the public eye and requiring reflection regarding the multitude of fields it impacts including economics, morality, and equality.<ref name=":43" /> In terms of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, it enabled an outlet in which protestors could demand justice and disseminate a social power and strength within communities, with its participants perpetrating a widespread call-to-action through these protests and conventions.<ref name=":43" /> The Black Lives Matter movement has been referred to by several writers in the New York times as the largest social movement in U.S. history.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Buchanan |first1=Larry |last2=Bui |first2=Quoctrung |last3=Patel |first3=Jugal K. |date=2020-07-03 |title=Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/03/us/george-floyd-protests-crowd-size.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
== Analysis and reflection ==
In order to utilize the shooting and case as education, officers and leaders engage in interconnected strategies which incorporate psychological and political concepts to better their systems. The death of Trayvon Martin and trial of George Zimmerman has encouraged reconsideration of certain policing implications and enforced structures in order to prevent a similar incident and thus political outcry. For example, Chief Joseph H. Lumpkin develops enforcements which encourages meaningful reflection of the case, including representative bureaucracy, community-oriented policing (COP), and means for successful recruitment, motivations and training of police officers.<ref name=":32">{{Cite journal |last1=LePere-Schloop |first1=Megan |last2=Lumpkin |first2=Joseph H. |title=Learning from Trayvon: Lessons and Implications for Police Organizations and Leaders |url=https://digitalscholarship.tsu.edu/jpmsp/vol23/iss1/5/ |journal=Journal of Public Management & Social Policy}}</ref> Representative bureaucracy emphasizes the representation of various groups actively regardless of demographic characteristics, COP focuses on remaining engaged in a community's needs and collaboration between police and citizens, and training of police officers entails the ongoing attention and educational support for continuous learning of police officer's and their duties.<ref name=":32" />
The shooting also highlighted the significance of Florida's Stand Your Ground law, in which encouraged reflection towards the law and its efficiency: there have been efforts to reform the legislation in order to enforce the notion that a person must attempt to retreat from their situation safely before in order to promote "de-escalation" in these conflicts.<ref name=":54"/> However, it is not widely adopted that people want this notion reformed, and continues to remain the topic of gun control conversations and public discourse nationally.<ref name=":54" />
==See also==
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[[Category:2010s trials]]
[[Category:21st-century American trials]]
[[Category:Murder trials in the United States]]
[[Category:Killing of Trayvon Martin]]
[[Category:Seminole County, Florida]]
[[Category:Media bias controversies]]
[[Category:Criminal trials that ended in acquittal]]
[[Category:Trials in Florida]]
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