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George Zimmerman judge ponders request to use animated recreation George Zimmerman judge ponders request to use animated recreation
(2 months later)
A central Florida judge was considering Tuesday whether to allow defense attorneys to use an animated depiction of the fatal struggle between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman at Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial.A central Florida judge was considering Tuesday whether to allow defense attorneys to use an animated depiction of the fatal struggle between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman at Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial.
Judge Debra Nelson held an evidence hearing Tuesday on the piece of animation commissioned by defense attorneys. Jurors were out of the courtroom during the hearing.Judge Debra Nelson held an evidence hearing Tuesday on the piece of animation commissioned by defense attorneys. Jurors were out of the courtroom during the hearing.
Prosecutors object to the animation, saying it isn't an accurate depiction.Prosecutors object to the animation, saying it isn't an accurate depiction.
Defense attorneys called the man who created the animation to testify. Daniel Schumaker explained he sometimes places people in motion-capture suits to recreate crime scenes in his animations. It's the same type of technology used in films such as Avatar and the Iron Man movies.Defense attorneys called the man who created the animation to testify. Daniel Schumaker explained he sometimes places people in motion-capture suits to recreate crime scenes in his animations. It's the same type of technology used in films such as Avatar and the Iron Man movies.
To recreate the fight, Schumaker went to the crime scene and had employees in motion-capture suits re-enact what happened based on coroner photographs, police reports, the coroner's report, witness depositions and photos taken by responding police officers, he said.To recreate the fight, Schumaker went to the crime scene and had employees in motion-capture suits re-enact what happened based on coroner photographs, police reports, the coroner's report, witness depositions and photos taken by responding police officers, he said.
The fight took place on a dark, rainy night in February 2012 and there were no eyewitnesses who saw the entire fight. Several witnesses saw and heard parts of the struggle that left Martin dead with a bullet in his heart. For a timeline, Schumaker relied on a 911 call made by a neighbor reporting the struggle, he said.The fight took place on a dark, rainy night in February 2012 and there were no eyewitnesses who saw the entire fight. Several witnesses saw and heard parts of the struggle that left Martin dead with a bullet in his heart. For a timeline, Schumaker relied on a 911 call made by a neighbor reporting the struggle, he said.
The judge, frustrated by how long the evidence hearing was taking with jurors in a waiting room, postponed the rest of the hearing and her decision until the afternoon.The judge, frustrated by how long the evidence hearing was taking with jurors in a waiting room, postponed the rest of the hearing and her decision until the afternoon.
The hearing on the animation was held as another piece of evidence has emerged as the most important in the trial: a 911 call that capture screams from the struggle between Martin and Zimmerman.The hearing on the animation was held as another piece of evidence has emerged as the most important in the trial: a 911 call that capture screams from the struggle between Martin and Zimmerman.
Swaying jurors about whose screams are on the 911 call has become the primary goal of prosecutors and defense attorneys.Swaying jurors about whose screams are on the 911 call has become the primary goal of prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Defense attorneys called five of Zimmerman's friends Monday to testify that it was the neighborhood watch volunteer's voice yelling for help on the call, and they played the recording five times for jurors. Zimmerman's attorneys also called two police investigators who contend Martin's father, after hearing a recording of the call, initially said it wasn't his son. Zimmerman's attorneys then put Martin's father, Tracy Martin, on the witness stand and he denied ever saying the screams for help weren't his son.Defense attorneys called five of Zimmerman's friends Monday to testify that it was the neighborhood watch volunteer's voice yelling for help on the call, and they played the recording five times for jurors. Zimmerman's attorneys also called two police investigators who contend Martin's father, after hearing a recording of the call, initially said it wasn't his son. Zimmerman's attorneys then put Martin's father, Tracy Martin, on the witness stand and he denied ever saying the screams for help weren't his son.
The teen's father testified that he merely told officers he couldn't tell if it was his son after his first time listening to the call, which captured the audio of fight between Martin and Zimmerman.The teen's father testified that he merely told officers he couldn't tell if it was his son after his first time listening to the call, which captured the audio of fight between Martin and Zimmerman.
"I never said that wasn't my son's voice," said Tracy Martin, who added that he concluded it was his son after listening to the call as many as 20 times."I never said that wasn't my son's voice," said Tracy Martin, who added that he concluded it was his son after listening to the call as many as 20 times.
Before Tracy Martin took the witness stand, the lead investigator probing Martin's death testified that the father had answered "no" when the detective asked if the screams belonged to Trayvon Martin. Officer Chris Serino played the 911 call for Tracy Martin in the days immediately following Trayvon Martin's death in February 2012.Before Tracy Martin took the witness stand, the lead investigator probing Martin's death testified that the father had answered "no" when the detective asked if the screams belonged to Trayvon Martin. Officer Chris Serino played the 911 call for Tracy Martin in the days immediately following Trayvon Martin's death in February 2012.
"He looked away and under his breath he said 'no'," Serino said of Tracy Martin."He looked away and under his breath he said 'no'," Serino said of Tracy Martin.
Officer Doris Singleton backed up Serino's account.Officer Doris Singleton backed up Serino's account.
Convincing the jury of who was screaming for help on the tape is important to both sides because it would help jurors evaluate Zimmerman's self-defense claim. Relatives of Martin's and Zimmerman's have offered conflicting opinions about who is heard screaming. Zimmerman's mother and uncle testified last Friday it was Zimmerman screaming. Martin's mother and brother also took the witness stand last Friday to say the voice belongs to Martin.Convincing the jury of who was screaming for help on the tape is important to both sides because it would help jurors evaluate Zimmerman's self-defense claim. Relatives of Martin's and Zimmerman's have offered conflicting opinions about who is heard screaming. Zimmerman's mother and uncle testified last Friday it was Zimmerman screaming. Martin's mother and brother also took the witness stand last Friday to say the voice belongs to Martin.
Zimmerman himself once said during a police interview that the screams didn't sound like him, though he and his family later said the screams were his.Zimmerman himself once said during a police interview that the screams didn't sound like him, though he and his family later said the screams were his.
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and says he shot Martin in self-defense during a scuffle in the townhome complex where he lived. Martin was there visiting his father and his father's fiancee.Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and says he shot Martin in self-defense during a scuffle in the townhome complex where he lived. Martin was there visiting his father and his father's fiancee.
Prosecutors contend Zimmerman was profiling Martin and perceived the teen as someone suspicious in the neighborhood, which had been the site of a series of break-ins.Prosecutors contend Zimmerman was profiling Martin and perceived the teen as someone suspicious in the neighborhood, which had been the site of a series of break-ins.
Late in the day Monday, Judge Debra Nelson made a key ruling out of the presence of the jury.Late in the day Monday, Judge Debra Nelson made a key ruling out of the presence of the jury.
The judge denied a prosecution request to keep out parts of a toxicology report that shows Trayvon Martin had small amounts of marijuana in his system. Prosecutors argued the information would be prejudicial. But defense attorneys said it was relevant since Zimmerman believed Martin was under the influence at the time he spotted him in his neighborhood. Nelson had ruled before the trial that mention of marijuana wouldn't be allowed in opening statements.The judge denied a prosecution request to keep out parts of a toxicology report that shows Trayvon Martin had small amounts of marijuana in his system. Prosecutors argued the information would be prejudicial. But defense attorneys said it was relevant since Zimmerman believed Martin was under the influence at the time he spotted him in his neighborhood. Nelson had ruled before the trial that mention of marijuana wouldn't be allowed in opening statements.
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