There’s some news in the slow-moving case this week as Judge Debra Nelson made some rulings on pre-trial motions. George Zimmerman’s defense team wanted to admit evidence that Trayvon Martin had been suspended from school, had used marijuana and was involved in fighting. The judge has blocked them from doing so, at least in opening arguments. She allowed for the possibility of said evidence being entered on a case-by-case basis as the trial progresses. The defense had also asked for a delay but Judge Nelson sided with prosecutor, Bernie de la Rionda, who argued that the case has dragged on long enough. No argument here.

The prosecutor and his team had to argue against several motions that would bring details of Trayvon’s private life before the jury. The judge agreed that these details – concerning Trayvon’s school record, drug use and fighting – were not relevant to the case. Not so easily deterred, defense lawyer Mark O’Mara asked that Judge Nelson not pre-emptively exclude the information as it would bolster their self-defense claim. O’ Mara argued:

“There is certainly enough evidence…that’s going to suggest Trayvon Martin involved himself ongoingly with fighting with other people.”

“Ongoingly”? That’s an interesting new word. Ain’t lawyers fun? O’Mara seems to think that just because he has some tapes that he says depicts Trayvon Martin participating in fights (they have not been authenticated), they will prove that the teen attacked Zimmerman on February 26th of last year. Those tapes might be allowed when it comes to the defense’s presentation before the jury, depending on the judge’s decision at that time. She may also let the jury hear that Trayvon’s blood tested positive for marijuana the night he was killed, but it’s impossible to know exactly when the teen had smoked it, as THC will remain detectable in the blood for 3-15 days after ingestion.

The Martin family’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, was pleased with Judge Nelson’s decisions, telling reporters outside the Seminole County courthouse:

“Trayvon Martin did not have a gun. Trayvon Martin did not get out of the car to chase anybody. Trayvon Martin did not shoot and kill anybody. Trayvon Martin is not on trial.”

Other decisions regarding the jury were also handed down today. The jury will not be sequestered, which had been requested by the defense, but they will be referred to by number rather than name during the selection process to protect their anonymity. Judge Nelson also thought it best not to bring the jury to the place where the shooting occurred, citing logistical problems.

There was also some controversy about pictures from Trayvon’s cell phone that the defense team say were not shared with them as is legally required. This will be hashed out on another day in court.

An interesting side-note on this case: Zimmerman has sued NBC Universal for defamation of character. The lawsuit states that NBC practiced “yellow journalism” in its coverage of the case, by its editing of the phone call made by Zimmerman to 911 just before the shooting. NBC is defending its actions. I’m pretty sure that 911 recording, in its unedited form, made Zimmerman look very bad. Maybe his lawyers think if they win a case against a big news organization like NBC it will bolster their case in the criminal trial. But I hardly think anyone could have made George Zimmerman look worse than he did himself.

Zimmerman, of course, has pleaded not guilty of second-degree murder, claiming self-defense. There was no set date for the next court day to hear the business about the pictures nor to get jury selection under way.

T. Steelman is a life-long Liberal. She has been writing online about politics since 2007. She lives in Western Washington with her husband, daughter, 2 cats and a small herd of alpacas. How can anybody be enlightened? Truth is, after all, so poorly lit…