Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda
Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner at the
Orlando Sentinel report:
The state expects to rest its case against George Zimmerman in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin today, Circuit Judge Debra Nelson said this afternoon.
Nelson made that comment this afternoon during a debate about scheduling after attorneys in the case returned from the daily lunch break. The defense is expected to begin presenting its case Friday, Nelson said.
Defense attorney Mark O'Mara is expected to hold a press conference after court today if the state rests its case.
Testimony so far Wednesday came from several witnesses, including:
• Amy Siewert: A firearms analyst from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. She testified that Trayvon Martin was killed 16 months ago by a "contact shot" with the hoodie he was wearing. The gun may not have been pressing against Trayvon's body, however. Based on the evidence, she said, when Zimmerman fired his 9mm pistol, it had a full magazine and one in the chamber, ready to fire.
• Anthony Gorgone: A DNA analyst for the FDLE. He testified no DNA from Trayvon was found on Zimmerman's gun. Zimmerman has variously claimed that the teenager tried to grab or actually did grab it before he gained control and fired the fatal shot.
• U.S. Army Capt. Alexis Francisco Carter Jr.: A Judge Advocate General officer and former public defender. He taught Zimmerman a Criminal Litigation course and said he "was probably one of the better students in the class," and received an "A." The class included discussion of Florida's "stand your ground" self-defense law, Carter said. Carter also testified about that law and the rest of Florida's self-defense statute under cross examination, noting that injuries are not required for someone to fear or her or his life.
The prosecution believes the classwork is important because Zimmerman claimed in his interview with Fox host Sean Hannity that he didn't know Florida self-defense law before the shooting.
2:40 PM PT: The prosecution was expected to wrap up today, but it wound up asking questions of Anthony Gorgone, the DNA specialist, until after 5 PM ET and will return with its remaining witnesses when the court reconvenes on Friday.