Posted on 07/01/2013 5:27:20 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
As the trial of George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin resumes on Monday, a CNN panel previewed what is expected to be the testimony of former Det. Chris Serino. Serino interrogated Zimmerman on the night of the murder and is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution. The CNN guests and anchor ntoed that his testimony could reverse the trajectory of this trial.
CNN anchor Carol Costello asked HLN contributor Jason Johnson about the suspicious circumstances surrounding Serinos recent reassignment and suggested that it may have had something to do with the fact that the former homicide detective was an advocate for the arrest and charging of Zimmerman early on in the investigation.
They played a clip of the recording of Zimmermans interrogation in which Serino berated the suspect over his shooting of an unarmed minor.
Criminal defense attorney Page Pate told Costello that Serinos testimony would help illuminate whether Zimmerman was acting lawfully when he engaged in a fight with Martin.
If he initiated the fight if hes in there throwing punches just because Trayvon throws a few himself and may even be winning at some point, does not give Zimmerman the right to take out a gun and shoot him, Pate said.
But how can you possibly figure out who threw the first punch? Costello asked.
Thats where Rachel Jeantel comes in, Johnson said. When she claims that she hears the phone drop.
Zimmerman had a gun in the chamber, he continued....
(Excerpt) Read more at mediaite.com ...
The following is a key exchange. MOM = Mark O'Mara:
__________________________________________________________________
Tweets from Andrew Branca, LOSD @LawSelfDefense
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: "Was there ANYTHING Zim said that was contradicted by evidence you had?" Serino: "No, sir."
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: "Not physical envidence, witnesses, officers, not one fact anywhere?" Serino: "No, sir, not that I found."
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: "Expect small differences between recountings?" Serino: "Absolutely, we're not robots."
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: "Evidence you had all fit into self-defense theory, right?" Serino: "Yes."
Perhaps the witness intimated it.
The last OMara question of the day, the last words the jury heard to take with them into the evening recess, could only be characterized as catastrophic for the States theory of the case.
Looking directly at the man who had been the chief investigator on the case, who had possessed access to ever bit of evidence of any sort, who had interviewed, and re-interviewed, and re-re-interviewedapplying increasing from each interview to the nextOMara asked him:
Do YOU think George Zimmerman was telling you the truth?
Serino succinct answer: Yes.
“Let’s say a Cop was on the receiving end of an ass whooping. Would there be any question if he shot the perp that it was self defense?”
There would be no question that it would be self defense. Because he is a cop. But, since GZ is not a cop, there is a higher standard for killing an unarmed teen. Even if he is black and got kicked out of school.
The person speaking about a gun safety was the clueless "HLN contributor Jason Johnson," not Detective Cerino.
I stand corrected
Don’t break my jaw! But do tell...!
Wonder how this brilliant mr gun-in-the-chamber could tell Zimmerman had the safety off when he left the car?
yes it looks so silly. with a 9 round magazine, i always have ten round in the gun.
What an asinine statement. If someone is on top of you, pummeling you, and telling you are going to die tonight, then you all rights to pull a gun and shoot to kill!
The prosecution’s case is on life support, especially after today when they played the entire tape of the first interview with Zimmerman done by the police - he in effect got to tell his entire version of the story with no chance for the prosecutor to cross-examine - no need for him to even take the stand now - Zimmerman owes the prosecutors a big steak dinner when he’s finally acquitted......
He can probably buy a herd of Angus cattle, a deluxe gas grill, a meat market and a hacienda with the money that NBC, CNN, the City of Sanford, the State of Florida, Ben Crump, the Black Panthers, Al Sharpton, Angela Corey and many more will be forking over in lawsuits.
... and the perp was reaching for his firearm...
"Would there be any question if he shot the perp that it was self defense?"
I can’t decide whether CNN or MSNBC will the most entertaining at verdict time.
And not one commentator that I've heard has mentioned this fact.
Just have ask, you state this will be on jurors mind all weekend. Today is Monday, they will be in court again to tomm. Are you pointing to testimony from Friday? Thanks
Ok, I’ll play. Would getting sucker punched and then held on the ground with your head slammed against the concrete give the higher standard you mention? How about when the one banging your head on the concrete eyes your firearm and you believe he is going to grab it?
Zimmerman had a gun in the chamber, he continued....
Odd that they would let someone with a gun into the judge’s chamber.
This was a blatant admission that the whole trial is bogus. I hope the defense brings this up and hammers it hard. The statement has been allowed to "slip" so far but it is a dead giveaway of why the trial is being held.
thank you for this link
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.