Posted on 06/22/2013 5:26:47 PM PDT by 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....
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Maybe Al Sharpton will adopt him.
There was an unlawful killing of the victim by an act imminently dangerous to another and demonstrating a depraved mind without regard for human life.
I don't know how you can prove that a guy on his back getting his head thumped into a concrete sidewalk demonstrates a depraved mind when he shoots his attacker.
Of course this case won't be decided on its merits. It will be decided on emotion.
As for the 911 call, why would Trayvon be yelling ‘help’ when the only wounds he had, besides the gunshot wound that killed him, were offensive wounds on his hands? If this Defense Attorney cannot win, he should retire. That being said, I hope the jury actually cares about the law, right and wrong, or there could be a problem.
The authorities did not charge Zimmerman for 9 months.
Obama, the daddy, made the call to the state, “Get that boy”
With all due respect, Rene, those two accusations are not equivalent:
What Bernie accused O'Mara of is legal behaviour, but what O'Mara accused Bernie of is criminal misconduct. It is a crime to do what Bernie has done in this case.
Are you that stupid or is it your AA editor that makes you that way???
Sorry, can’t find the pic.
I’ve been following this since the hearings began.
IMHO, Prosecutor De la Rionda come across as a slick, intimidating blowhard.
I think defense attorneys Mark O’Mara, and Don West know the law and are unrelenting.
Zimmerman is getting his money’s worth.
What do you think about the judge?
But your buddy is not constrained in a court....
I suppose the prosecution has to base its argument on “passion” since the prosecution itself was demanded by mob racism rather than evidence.
From this retired Prosecutor’s point of view, this is a fascinating trial.
Much to the understandable chagrin of the public, we handled these things, on both sides, much like an ER doctor who just does his job amidst the carnage ... a combination of science and Art.
Where's the Justice and the Law in that?
What about the distance between Justice and The Law?
With everything that’s been released, there’s been no test results of Zimmerman’s handgun to explain why it malfunctioned. Doesn’t that seem strange to you?
He was being held at gunpoint, say the Martin-was-murdered public.
The state has not offered a theory of the case.
More like 6 or 7 weeks. Martin was shot on Feb 26, 2012. Zimmerman was charged on an information and arrested on April 11, 2012.
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