State prosecutors push to keep Trayvon Martin's past, drug use out of trial...

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/state-pushes-to-keep-trayvon-martins-past-out-of-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20121540/-/v0sxit/-/index.html

 

State pushes to keep Trayvon Martin's past out of George Zimmerman trial

State files motion to keep defense from using Martin's school records, texts, social media

Published On: May 13 2013 11:47:58 AM EDT Updated On: May 13 2013 07:40:39 PM EDT

State: Keep Martin's past out of trial

4 WEEK TO GO BEFORE JURY SELECTION AND BATTLE LINES ALREADY BEING DRAWN IN THE CASE AGAINST GEORGE ZIMMERMAN. STATE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE MARTIN PAST DRUG USE IN SCHOOL DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS DON'T GET IN FRONT OF THE JURY. TONY IS COVERING A SLEW OF MOTION THAT IS WERE JUST FILED AND TONY, IS WERE JUST FILED AND TONY, THESE KINDS OF MOTIONS ARE NOT UNUSUAL. NO. SOME OF THE ONES FAILED TODAY ARE REALLY PRETTY STANDARD. JUST PRECAUTION. ALLOWING THE JUDGE TO PUT THE OTHER SIDE ON NOTICE NOT TO GET OUT OF LINE. BUT SEVERAL STATE MOTIONS SPECIFICALLY TARGET TRAYVON MARTIN PAST. AREA PROSECUTORS SAY THEY HAVE GOOD REASON TO THINK THE DEFENSE MAY TRY TO EXPLOIT AREAS THEY CLAIM SHOULD NEVER BE HEARD BY A JU SHOULD NEVER BE HEARD BY A JURY. TRAYVON MARTIN WAS 17 WHEN HE DIED. SOME OF THE INTEREST MIGHT FIND IN MANY 17-YEAR-OLD HIP-HOP FASHIONS. MARIJUANA. SOCIAL MEDIA PO MARIJUANA. SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE THEM WINS IF HE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO MATURE. NOW 4 WEEKS BEFORE JURY SELECTION, LEAD PROSECUTOR FEARS ZIMMERMAN DEFENSE TEAM MAY TRY TO PUT MARTIN CHARACTER ON TRIAL ALONGSIDE THEIR CLIENT. SO THE STATE FILED A SERIES OF MOTIONS AIMED AT GETTING JUDGE DEBORAH NELSON TO LAY DOWN THE LAW ON WHAT WILL BE OFF LIMITS BEFORE A JURY IS EVEN CHOSEN. AMONG THE TOPIC THE STAT THE TOPIC THE STATE WANTS BARRED HIS USE OF MARIJUANA. INCLUDING THE TRACES FOUND IN HIS SYSTEM WHEN HE DIED. SUSPENSION FROM SCHOOL. AND ANY FIGHTS HE MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN. HIS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS AND TEXT MESSAGES. ALL OF IT IRRELEVANT AND SERVE ONLY TO PREJUDICE THE JURY ABOUT PROSECUTOR WROTE. CHARACTER ASSASSINATION IS SOMETHING MARTIN FAMILY ATTORNEY SENSED FOR MONTHS. PEOPLE LOSE FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT TRAYVON IS A VICTIM OF A CRIME HE'S THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE. HE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS KILLED. Reporter: KILLED BUT NOT MURDERED IF THE JURY BELIEVES ZIMMERMAN SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM. THE STATE IS ALSO ASKING JURORS NEVER TO HEAR SANFORD POLICE DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CHARGE ZIMMERMAN IN MARTIN DEATH. POLICE CLAIM ALL EVIDENCE THEY HAD SUPPORTED ZIMMERMAN CLAIM OF SELF-DEF ZIMMERMAN CLAIM OF SELF-DEFENSE. SUCH OPINION STATE ARGUED WOULD BE IMPROPER FOR A JURY TO HEAR. I REACHED OUT TO THE DEFENSE TODAY TO ASK IF THEY REALLY DO INTEND TO TRY TO USE THESE ISSUES ABOUT MARTIN PAST AT TRIAL. SO FAR NO COMMENT. SO 4 WEEK TO GO. SGLAE WHEN WILL THIS ALL GET SORTED OUT? SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LIEUTENANT TO DO. A LIEUTENANT TO DO JUDGE HAS SET ASIDE THE TUESDAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY. SO TWO WEEK FROM TOMORROW FOR PRETRIAL MOTIONS. SO IT WILL LIKELY COME UP THEN. I THINK THERE'S A SLEW OF OTHER THINGS ON THERE TOO. SHE MOVES THROUGH THEM QUI SHE MOVES THROUGH THEM QUICK. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY SO.

ORLANDO, Fla. -

State prosecutors in the case against George Zimmerman are pushing to keep Zimmerman's attorneys from bringing testimony about Trayvon Martin's past during the trial.

The state said in motions filed on Friday they want to prevent Zimmerman's attorneys from bringing up Martin's personal life, including his school records, previous suspension from school, fights, text messages sent prior to his death unless related to case and his social media use.

The motion also says the state wants to prevent the defense from using Martin's toxicology report, which showed the level of marijuana in Martin's blood the night he was shot and killed.

The state's filings suggest they fear the defense may try to attack Martin's character, instead of focusing on whether Zimmerman murdered Martin. Assistant prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda argued that Martin's past is irrelevant and would clearly be designed only to prejudice the jury.

The state filing the motion doesn't mean the defense was trying to use it at the trial and often similar motions are filed as a precaution to give the judge an opportunity to tell both sides what they should not reference or introduce unless later ruled relevant and admissible.

Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara also filed motions discussing what they will discuss at the next hearing, which is set for May 28. Among the motions were a motion to allow additional witnesses and to allow expert testimony by video at the hearing.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder after shooting and killing Martin in Sanford in February 2012.