Zimmerman trial lawyers have very different styles

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | June 22, 2013 | Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner

[2ndDivisionVet]

SANFORD — They have very different styles: Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda is fiery, dramatic and aggressive. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara is calm, laid-back and thoughtful.

On Monday, they will go head-to-head, de la Rionda trying to convict George Zimmerman of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, O'Mara trying to win his acquittal.

For each, it is the biggest case of his career.

De la Rionda has said little to reporters, but during hearings and jury selection, he has made clear his passion.

"We are to seek justice, to present evidence of wrongdoing," he told 40 prospective jurors Wednesday.

O'Mara has been far more visible, vocal and in recent months more confident. He has begun to predict victory.

"This case will fall," he said Thursday, "on the fact that the state cannot convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt with their evidence that a crime was committed by my client."

The two attorneys were collegial during the two weeks of jury selection, but earlier, their criticism of each other turned bitter.

De la Rionda has repeatedly accused O'Mara of grandstanding and playing to the media. O'Mara has accused the prosecutor of failing to turn over key information in the case, including that the state's most important witness lied under oath....

[Darren McCarty]

Sighs.

The two attorneys were collegial during the two weeks of jury selection, but earlier, their criticism of each other turned bitter. De la Rionda has repeatedly accused O'Mara of grandstanding and playing to the media. O'Mara has accused the prosecutor of failing to turn over key information in the case, including that the state's most important witness lied under oath....

Grandstanding and playing to the media is part of O'Mara's job. The latter part is in regards to discovery and could be considered professional misconduct. That's a big deal.

[Christie at the beach]

I am sorry. I meant to post 90 days. That was what I read

in a Tampa newspaper. Thanks for the post.

[Beagle8U]

West is the defense pitbull, he wants to rip into the prosecutor and the state's case, tearing it to shreds

MoM is the nice guy friendly defense lawyer that will make friends with the jury by being nice to all witnesses, while making prosecution witnesses look stupid and untrustworthy.