Attorneys for George Zimmerman hope to rest their case as early as Tuesday afternoon after a judge ruled the defense can present evidence to the jury that Florida teen Trayvon Martin had marijuana in his system when the former neighborhood watch volunteer shot him.
Judge Debra Nelson denied a motion by prosecutors on Monday to keep toxicology results showing THC in Martin's system from the jury, paving the way for Zimmerman's lawyers to argue the drug may have influenced the teen's behavior. Defense attorney Don West noted that in Zimmerman’s statement to the non-emergency 911 dispatcher that it appeared the person he was observing in the Sanford, Fla., community was "on drugs."
Nelson is also expected to rule Tuesday on whether the defense can introduce a computer animation timeline of the fatal confrontation. Prosecutors — who believe the animation would only confuse jurors — say the animation doesn't depict a murder weapon and only approximates positions based on witness accounts.
The animation's creator, Daniel Schumaker, testified in court on Tuesday. Schumaker uses advanced technology like drones and motion capture suits to create the computer animations. For the animation of the struggle between Martin and Zimmerman, Schumaker used information from the coroner reports, police reports and crime scene photos to recreate the scene, and used audio from the 911 calls to determine the timing of events.
If the defense rests its case on Tuesday or Wednesday, the prosecution would then have a chance to rebuttal witnesses, with closing statements by Thursday or Friday.
A 911 call that recorded the fatal confrontation has become pivotal for both the prosecution and the defense.
Defense attorneys on Monday called a parade of Zimmerman’s friends and former co-workers to testify that it was the former neighborhood watch volunteer who could be heard screaming on the 911 tape. Martin’s father, who police said initially told them he did not recognize the voice, said he came to realize it was his son after hearing the tape some 20 times.
The testimony on the 911 call, in week three of Zimmerman's murder trial, came after the mothers of both Zimmerman and Martin testified Friday it was their son doing the screaming in the Feb. 26, 2012, call made to police. The issue is critical because Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense as he was being beaten.
Sanford Police Det. Christopher Serino and Police Officer Doris Singleton both recalled playing the 911 tape for Tracy Martin days after his son was killed, and both said Martin did not recognize his son's voice on the tape. But later, Tracy Martin, curiously called to the stand by lead defense attorney Mark O'Mara, testified that he did recognize his son's voice on the tape later, after hearing it several more times when played at the Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett's office.
"After listening to the tape for, maybe 20 times, I said I knew that it was Trayvon's voice," Martin said under questioning by O'Mara. Martin called his son his "best friend in life," and said the boy's death turned his world "upside down."
Earlier Monday, close friends and former co-workers of Zimmerman testified that they recognized Zimmerman's voice on the the 911 tape that captured his confrontation with Martin. Sondra Osterman, wife of Zimmerman’s best friend Mark Osterman, told jurors that the shrieking voice on the tape was “definitely” that of Zimmerman.
“Yes, definitely, it’s Georgie,” Osterman said. “I hear it, I hear him screaming.”
Osterman told jurors she has known Zimmerman since 2006, when they worked at a mortgage company. Osterman’s husband has written a book about the fatal shooting — "Defending our Friend: The Most Hated Man in America" — and Sondra Osterman told jurors that would not affect her testimony in the case.
“I wouldn’t lie for him or for anybody,” Sondra Osterman said of Zimmerman; she said she was unsure how many copies her husband's book has sold.
Osterman testified she did not think Zimmerman's use of an expletive on the 911 call indicated any ill-will or hatred on his behalf.
"I don't think he was angry," she told jurors.
Mark Osterman, a federal air marshal, told jurors he discussed gun safety with Zimmerman and took him to a gun range. Osterman testified that Zimmerman was “very safe all the time” with his Kel Tec 9-mm. handgun, which does not have an external safety and is difficult to fire accidentally.
“It’s a reliable firearm,” said Mark Osterman, who recommended to Zimmerman that he keep a round chambered in the weapon.
Mark Osterman also testified that he heard Zimmerman screaming on the 911 call.
“It sounded like George,” he told jurors.
During cross-examination by prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda, Osterman said he was unsure how many copies his book has sold, but confirmed that all proceeds were destined for Zimmerman.
Further bolstering the defense contention that Martin was getting the better of the fight when Zimmerman shot him was Adam Pollock, owner of a kickboxing gym where Zimmerman trained prior to the incident. Pollock said Zimmerman was "grossly obese" and unathletic.
"He came to the gym to lose weight and get in shape," Pollock said.
When O'Mara asked him to rate Zimmerman's athletic ability on a scale of one to 10 when he began training, Pollock replied: "Point-five."
Zimmerman, 29, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, claiming self-defense. It remains unclear whether Zimmerman will testify, although jurors already have heard his account through videotaped police interviews played in court.
Zimmerman faces life in prison if convicted. The state argued during its opening statement that the neighborhood watchman profiled and followed Martin in his truck and called a police dispatch number before he and the teen got into a fight.
Fox News' Joshua Rhett Miller, Serafin Gomez and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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