Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion:
If you didn’t listen to the live streaming of the Zimmerman case, you missed the most astonishing cross-examination of a trial that has been hip-deep in astonishing cross-examinations. (Fortunately for you, we provide the video, below, if you need to catch up–it’s worth it.)
Chris Serino, Investigator, Sanford PD, Cross-Examination by O’Mara
[youtube]http://youtu.be/5WIDZv1aHYg[/youtube]
Chris Serino, Investigator, Sanford Police Department, Cross-Exam, Part 2
Chris Serino, Investigator, Sanford Police Department, Cross-Exam, Part 3
On the stand was Chris Serino, who was the lead investigator for the Sanford Police Department on the Trayyvon Martin shooting. Defense counsel Mark O’Mara led cross-examination with his usual consummate skill, obtaining responses from this witness–remember, the State’s witness–that all but completely guts the State’s charge in this case.
Among the key revelations so far:
Zimmerman was always completely cooperative, open, and straightforward with all the police investigators over many weeks of multiple interviews, both in person at the police station and phone. The sense given is that Zimmerman demonstrated endless patience.
O’Mara noted that Serino was leading an investigative team, gathering and sharing evidence ,that included all levels of the Sanford Police Department up to the Chief, and even members of the 18 Circuit State Prosector’s office. Asked if there was ANYTHING that Zimmerman had said that contradicted the wealth of evidence possessed by Serino, the Investigator answered, “No, sir.” No physical evidence, no witness evidence, no officer statements, nothing? “No, sir.”
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: “Not physical envidence, witnesses, officers, not one fact anywhere?” Serino: “No, sir, not that I found.”
— Andrew Branca, LOSD (@LawSelfDefense) July 1, 2013
In fact, noted O’Mara, the evidence Serino had all fit into a self-defense theory, and Serino agreed that it did, and that his information supported self-defense. Serino would note this in the normal course of an investigation because in addition to investigating crime it was also his charge to investigate defenses, including self-defense.
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: “Evidence you had all fit into self-defense theory, right?” Serino: “Yes.” http://t.co/NcBW4U2XU0
— Andrew Branca, LOSD (@LawSelfDefense) July 1, 2013
Serino offered to help Zimmerman obtain help, including psychological help, for the nighmares and anxiety that he cautioned often followed a event as traumatic as having to take a human life in self-defense.
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: “You told Z you would help him with anxiety, nightmares likely to follow shooting?” Serino: “Yes”
— Andrew Branca, LOSD (@LawSelfDefense) July 1, 2013
He noted that, “In this particular case, Zimmerman could have been a victim, too.”
#Zimmerman Trial: WOW! Serino: “In this particular case, Zimmerman could have been a victim, too.” http://t.co/NcBW4U2XU0
— Andrew Branca, LOSD (@LawSelfDefense) July 1, 2013
O’Mara asked if Serino was familiar with such symptoms from having observed them in fellow officers who had had to kill in self-defense, and the question brought a quick, if tardy, objection from State prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda.
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: “You were familiar with that because of fellow officers who had had to shoot someone?” BDLR: Objection Score!
— Andrew Branca, LOSD (@LawSelfDefense) July 1, 2013
O’Mara also asked about Zimmerman’s affect at the time of the incident. Serino agreed that Zimmerman had presented a “flat” affect but put it down to trauma. When asked if Serino has perceived Zimmerman to seem uncaring or cavalier for having had to shoot someone beating him up, Serino’s response was beaten out by a quick BDLR objection.
Zimmerman Trial: MOM: “Did it seem uncaring that he was beaten up and had to shoot someone because of it?” Bam. http://t.co/NcBW4U2XU0
— Andrew Branca, LOSD (@LawSelfDefense) July 1, 2013
When asked by O’Mara about the severity of Zimmerman’s injuries, the Investigator replied that they did not seem to him, a career police officer who has seen far worse, as life threatening, but that one also had to take into account the mental trauma of the event of having survived a life-and-death situation. O’Mara noted, however, that in fact the extent of injuries don’t matter for purposes of self-defense, and Serino agreed. “In fact,” observed O’Mara,” we don’t need to see life-threatening injuires, not any injuries, dow we?” “No, sir,” answered Serino.
#Zimmerman Trial: MOM: “In fact, we don’t need to see life-threatening injuries, not any injuries, do we?” “No, sir.”
— Andrew Branca, LOSD (@LawSelfDefense) July 1, 2013
Serino noted that in this particular case he was under quite a lot of external pressure to move the case forward.
#Zimmerman Trial: MOM” You were also under quite a lot of external pressure to move case forward, right?” Serino: “Yes, I was.”
— Andrew Branca, LOSD (@LawSelfDefense) July 1, 2013
How many of the Sanford PD were demoted or fired because the public (and Obama through Holder) demanded Zimmerman’s arrest?
The Chief of Police was fired.
Serino was a lead investigator when Zimmerman was arrested.
He is a patrolman now.
I know he made light of this during his testimony, but I wonder how it affected his willingness to help the prosecution.
I think the mischaracterization of these PD members and their subsequent punishment cannot be discounted.
Zimmerman’s prosecution is finding this out while each one is on the stand.
Even if he walks as a result of this case, the Feds will charge him and take yet another bite at the apple.
What I wander is what evidence the Feds can muster against him if the coroner is as wrankled about the political aspect of this case as all these police are.
@Nan G:
It doesn’t matter what they have on him; it there is political hay to be made in continuing to make Zimmerman’s life miserable, they will. After all, what grounds did they have to investigate James Rosen?
The worst part is that, despite all the evidence supporting Zimmerman’s original story, we won’t know until the verdict is actually read if he is released or not. I have no faith, nowadays, that a jury or court can act strictly on the evidence, law and rights.
How so many people can be completely ignoring the obvious inconsistencies, contradictions, and outright impossibilities in Zimmerman’s account of events is beyond me.
At some point the prosecution is going to lay all of that out, item by item, for the jury’s consideration. I think that’s likely going to be a bad day for George Zimmerman.
Today the Medical Examiner, Valerie Rao, was on the stand.
But she was NOT there to talk about Trayvon’s wounds.
On Cross she was forced to a little bit.
She was there to claim Zimmerman could have sustained all his head injuries by being hit once and hitting the pavement twice.
The curvature of his head and placement of his bruises and cuts stymied her.
Somehow she still felt a flat concrete slab could do it all in one landing.
She finally did admit it was also AS PLAUSIBLE that Zimmerman’s head had hit the concrete multiple times.
She even admitted his nose and forehead might have been hit more than once, too.
To justify her idea, she refused to admit to seeing any of the many bruises and bumps on Zimmerman’s head.
Now who is Valerie Rao?
She’s a medical examiner from the district that includes Jacksonville, which just happens to be the home city of this team of Prosecutors–including Angela Corey, Bernie de la Rionda, and the others–who was brought in at the Governor’s orders to displace the existing local team of prosecutors that had failed to bring a second degree murder charge against Zimmerman.
Her past?
There were years of complaints about her unsanitary procedures, including such [STOP IF EATING DINNER] pleasantries as Dr. Rao washing her feet in the autopsy sink, using her bare hands during procedures, and even accusations of exposing doctors to deadly diseases. Ultimately she was removed from that position. To read the original news article, see:
Former employee speaks out about medical examiner
Angela Corey provided Dr. Rao with an interim appointment as Medical Examiner in Jacksonville, a position later changed to a permanent appointment by the Governor.
Her testimony today was completely based on photos….she never even saw George Zimmerman!
BUT her testimony was irrelevant!
Why?
Because the defense’s theory of the case is that George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin in lawful self-defense.
Only on cross did she talk about Trayvon’s injuries.
His hand’s injuries, apparently could have been caused by striking someone.
~~~~~
Now, law enforcement officers, take note:
IF the prosecution takes the tack that Zimmerman was a nut case about law enforcement because he took a class, wanted to do a ride along, and applied to be a police officer…..how much MORE do they think of YOU all as nuts???