Thursday, June 6, 2013

George Zimmerman judge denies anonymous witnesses at trial

George Zimmerman (left) and defense attorney Mark O'Mara arrive in court for the last pretrial hearing Tuesday, June 6, 2013, before Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial for the death of Trayvon Martin on June 10. (PHOTO/Joe Burbank, Pool)

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Latest updates from the hearing
10:52 a.m. - Judge Nelson has returned from recess. IT director-turned-whistleblower Ben Kruidbos is scheduled to testify.

Martin family attorney Ben Crump releases a statement on the use of expert voice analysis testimony in trial:

"It is ridiculous for the Zimmerman defense team to argue that expert voice analysts should not be permitted to testify at the trial when George Zimmerman himself stated the voice crying for help on the 911 recording 'doesn't even sound like me.' Zimmerman made this statement in his interview with Detective Chris Serino upon Feb. 02/29/12 just 3 days after the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin. Expert voice analysis is critical to assist in identifying the voices upon the 911 tape."

10:40 a.m. - The next scheduled witness is White's client, IT director Ben Kruidbos. Court is in a 10-minute recess.

10:30 a.m. - White says he would never create up any information presented to court. He restates he is here because of the oath he took when he joined the Florida Bar in 1979. White's testimony is finished.

10:20 a.m. - Defense attorney Mark O'Mara begins questioning White, who says bias is not a factor in his allegation that the state withheld evidence.

10:10 a.m. - Wesley White says he has not ruled out running against his former boss, Angela Corey, in the next election for state attorney, saying he hasn't made up his mind. White says he came forward upon this issue out of his "obligation as an officer of the court," and had nothing to do with an alleged bias against Corey.

White says he was glad with his time in Corey's office, calling it a wonderful opportunity to work there. He adds, "You know what 'assume' stands for, don't you? 'Make an a** out of "u" and me'?"

10 a.m. - White clarifies that the pictures he claims the state did not turn over to the defense in a timely manner included photos of a gun, drugs and Trayvon Martin with an underage female. He also said there were texts regarding the "purchase and sale of a firearm." De la Rionda asks White if he asked why the IT director came forward. White says no.

During White's testimony, Martin family attorney Natalie Jackson arrived in the courtroom.

9:50 a.m. - Wesley White says he is representing an IT director who notified him about the pictures that White says the state withheld from Zimmerman's defense.

9:40 a.m. - The state argues Wesley White may be biased against the prosecution from his time working for the state. Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda asks White if he wanted to handle the Trayvon Martin case publicly. White's answer: He wanted all case.

9:30 a.m. - MOTION DENIED: Witnesses may not be anonymous during trial.

Next motion: Defense's demand for sanctions against the state. Wesley White, a former prosecutor who worked under state attorney Angela Corey, takes the stand to testify. White resigned from Corey's office last year. At an earlier hearing, White testified that he contacted the defense to say them that the state had not turned over photos from Trayvon Martin's cell phone, including pictures of a gun, Trayvon with an underage female, and what White identified as "drugs."

9:20 a.m. - Media attorney Scott Ponce argues against anonymous witnesses, saying there has not been an evidentiary hearing to show why a witness should be anonymous, and the defense has not provided any basis for using a screen to hide witnesses. Prosecutors also say a screen for some witnesses could be "dreadful or confusing" to the jury.

9:10 a.m. - First issue: Defense's demand for anonymous witnesses. Mark O'Mara says there are a "very few number of witnesses" who need to stay anonymous during the trial. He recommends a physical screen could be used to protect witness IDs. A media attorney, Craig Fugate, argues courts are public, including witness IDs "unless there are very compelling reasons."

9 a.m. - George Zimmerman is in court for what may be the final hearing before jury selection begins June 10. State attorney Angela Corey is in the front row for the hearing. -->

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