George Zimmerman trial: State wants testimony about Travyon Martin's personal life excluded

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | May 13, 2013 | Susan Jacobsen

[Uncle Chip]

The prosecution in the George Zimmerman murder case has asked a judge to prohibit testimony about shooting victim Trayvon Martin's personal life, including whether he had been suspended from school, used marijuana or been in a fight.

The information is irrelevant and would prejudice a jury, the state contends in the motion, filed late Friday.

The motion also asks the judge to disallow:

•Screen names used by Trayvon on social media.

•The fact that he wore or owned a set of gold teeth.

•The contents of text messages received or sent by Trayvon before Feb. 26, the day he died.

•The contents of text messages received or sent by Trayvon on Feb. 26 unless a court has ruled them admissible.

[Uncle Chip]

Surprise Surprise

[a fool in paradise]

No mention that he was a bright young child with a brilliant future ahead, right?

[fwdude]

Or that he loved little puppies, kitten and baby birds.

[a fool in paradise]

If they cannot be mention IN the trial, then be sure to give them headline coverage every day so that the low information viewers who WATCH this trial are aware of these things (such as the gangbanger wannabe’s social media names).

[Mr. K]

If they disallow everything except what happened that day, then it is STILL only Zimmmerman’s word against Saint Trayvon’s (and he’s not around to say) plus pretty close witnesses who saw trayvon on top of Zimmerman, AND Z’s injuries...

So... most of the circumstances support Zimmerman, even if you exclude what a dirtbag Trayvon was.

[Maceman]

Even if the judge grants the state’s motion, Martin’s background could come in.

If the state raises, even in passing, any reference to Trayvon being a sweet, innocent youth just out to for a walk, it strikes me that such an argument would open the door for the defense to raise his criminal past to rebut that testimony.

And I know what I’m talking about, because I have seen pretty much every episode of Law & Order ever made. ;-)

[Uncle Chip]

State’s Motion to protect Martin’s application for Saint of the Hood:

http://www.gzdocs.com/documents/0513/051013_limine_trayvon.pdf

[Pollster1]

George Zimmerman followed the intruder because Trayvon looked like a druggie, a thug, and a criminal. Now “Team Frame-the-White-Hispanic” wants to exclude evidence that Trayvon was in fact a druggie, a thug, and a criminal? That makes no sense in terms of justice. Zimmerman shot the criminal in self defense when the black man on top of him was “throwing down blows on the guy MMA [mixed martial arts] style.” It sounds to me like evidence that Trayvon was a thug, a bully, and a trained fighter is completely relevant - which is why Team Frame-the-White-Hispanic want the evidence excluded.

[bandleader]

Who’d A Thunk It???????????????????????

[bandleader]

I particulary liked the photo of little Trayvon when he was about 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rktman]

In response, GZ’s personal life info should be excluded. But then again that would probably be rasis’ to do that.

[traditional1]

Prejudicing a Jury to Defense Lawyers means ANY references to his criminal past, previous conduct, or anything that could be used to establish CHARACTER are nearly always ruled inadmissable, even when CONVICTED of past acts. This is NOT a way to run the court system, but Lawyers become Judges, and they protect their own income streams.

Serial Murderers can be made to look like Saints in court, by excluding past activities.....

Why don't they blindfold the Jury, so they can't see that the Defendant is black ?

Oh....that's right.....the Jury will be PACKED with Blacks who are going to make a "Social Statement", just like in the OJ Jury.

[Uncle Chip]

Then I guess we won’t see any of this at trial:

Trayvon Swung on a Bus Driver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cSoyM75eV0k

[UCANSEE2]

Thanks for posting this article.

The ‘prosecution’ is supposed to be trying to prove the ‘defendant’ (George Zimmerman) is guilty. That is it’s job.

So.... why is the prosecution trying to prove Martin is innocent ? That would be the actions of a defense lawyer.

[SoFloFreeper]

You mean they are wanting to HIDE all the information about the meritorious behavior of Saint Skittles of Sanford??

[jsanders2001]

Typical lawyer posturing; throw out past history. I mean just because the kid posted vides about how he hated white people, was caught with burglary tools and 12 stolen pieces of jewelry in his backpack at school, was into Fight Club ( the back of GZ head had apparently been bashed into the concrete with eyewitness testimony that TM was on top), was busted for using marijuana at school, came back from a store with items to make a drug concoction named Line orang mean he’s a bad kid right? Zimmerman was trying to play cop but with good intentions to protect his neighborhood from thieves but met up with a young punk black kid who didn’t like to be looked at fir what he was and it infuriated him. The rest is history.

Burglaries are probably down considerably now I’d bet.

[RHS Jr]

Lord, please get this NYC yankee crap in south Florida over with soon so George can sue the living hell out of their stupid bigot a$$’S! This is nothing but a Reconstruction II NYC bluebelly commie lynching of another poor white boy who dared to even defend himself from one of the savages!

[Moonman62]

Funny how St Tray is being treated like he’s the defendant.

[Uncle Chip]

And notice this state Motion:

MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER/MOTION IN LIMINE REGARDING TOXICOLOGY

http://www.gzdocs.com/documents/0513/051013_protective_order_re_toxicology.pdf

“nor is there any evidence that the victim ingested marijuana at or near the time of death”

[rockrr]

I’m curious what part of this do you attribute to “Reconstruction II NYC bluebelly commies”?