Testimony: Day 7

The medical examiner took the witness stand today and told jurors George Zimmerman suffered “very insignificant” injuries during the altercation with Trayvon Martin.

Dr. Valerie Rao said Zimmerman’s two lacerations were not consistent with his story that Martin slammed Zimmerman’s head repeatedly on the concrete sidewalk. Prosecuting attorney, John Guy, asked Rao what the injuries would look like if Zimmerman’s head had been slammed repeatedly into the sidewalk. She told jurors there would be a lot of lacerations, and they would “bleed profusely and require sucturing.” She added Zimmerman did not show any signs of being “incapacitated” when he walked with Sanford police officers into the police station.

The jury heard the interview Zimmerman gave Fox News’ commentator Sean Hannity. The prosecution played a tape of the interview during which Zimmerman said he did not feel “particularly threatened” the night he encountered Trayvon. He also said Martin wasn’t running that night which is quite different from his statement to the police and his call to 911. Hannity asked Zimmerman if he had any regrets about the night he shot and killed Martin.

Lead investigator Christopher Serino returned to the stand today and maintained key parts of his earlier testimony regarding the shooting of Trayvon Martin. Serino is the state’s witness and was cross-examined by the defense three times. Each time the prosecution returned to point out inconsistencies in Zimmerman’s police statements or clarify Serino’s statements.

Prosecuting attorney, Bernie de la Rionda, asked Officer Serino, “Did you feel he (Zimmerman) exaggerated the manner in which he was hit?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Officer Serino.

There were a few tense exchanges between Defense attorney, Mark O’Mara, and Serino. O’Mara presented Serino with several theoretical situations in an attempt to paint George Zimmerman as having no ill will directed at Martin.  O’Mara asked about the expletives Zimmerman used during his 911 call. O’Mara asked Serino if he had ever used the word “***holes.” Serino replied that he had, but when pressed to characterize the word, Serino described is as “tends to be toward derogatory.”

Serino was the chief investigator in the case, and he wanted Zimmerman charged with manslaughter early on in the investigation. Time and again, the defense attorney led Serino through questions that seemed to be part of a strategy to position the neighborhood watch volunteer as a concerned, conscientious resident.

At one point, O’Mara suggested that Zimmerman stopped Trayvon before the teenager could commit a crime. Serino responded, “There was no evidence to suggest that at all.”

The prosecution called a friend of Zimmerman to testify. Mark Osterman wrote a book about the fatal shooting. He described Zimmerman as “the best friend I’ve ever had.” Prosecuting attorney, Bernie de la Rionda, asked Osterman about the differences in the book he wrote and the statements Zimmerman gave police. There were several inconsistencies regarding the events of the night Zimmerman shot and killed Martin.