An FBI speech scientist testified in court today that current technology couldn’t determine the voice on a 911 tape being used in the George Zimmerman trial. The recording is a critical piece of evidence to determine who was screaming for help just moments before Florida teen Trayvon Martin was killed in February 2012.
If the screams were Zimmerman’s, it would support his claim of self-defense. If they were Martin’s it would weaken Zimmerman’s claim that he felt his life was in jeopardy when he shot the unarmed victim. Zimmerman says he acted in self-defense after Martin punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground and threatened to kill him.
“It’s a critical piece of evidence for the prosecution,” Kendall Coffey, a former Miami U.S. Attorney, said in a phone interview. “If the prosecution can convince the jury that it is the voice of Trayvon Martin, the jury might conclude that Trayvon Martin is the true victim and George Zimmerman is the killer.”
Coffey believes the prosecution’s strategy would involve following what Zimmerman says and if he is untruthful. For the defense strategy, Coffey believes the best strategy would be to argue that the new technology isn’t sufficient scientific acceptance and expert testimony.
Among the other things the judge has to sort out in this trial, there are other twists and turns. Coffey says the standard for whether you admit evidence based on new technology may be about to change as of July 1 in Florida.
Zimmerman’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 10, but lawyers are in court this week to determine the rules for the proceedings.
If the screams were Zimmerman’s, it would support his claim of self-defense. If they were Martin’s it would weaken Zimmerman’s claim that he felt his life was in jeopardy when he shot the unarmed victim. Zimmerman says he acted in self-defense after Martin punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground and threatened to kill him.
“It’s a critical piece of evidence for the prosecution,” Kendall Coffey, a former Miami U.S. Attorney, said in a phone interview. “If the prosecution can convince the jury that it is the voice of Trayvon Martin, the jury might conclude that Trayvon Martin is the true victim and George Zimmerman is the killer.”
Coffey believes the prosecution’s strategy would involve following what Zimmerman says and if he is untruthful. For the defense strategy, Coffey believes the best strategy would be to argue that the new technology isn’t sufficient scientific acceptance and expert testimony.
Among the other things the judge has to sort out in this trial, there are other twists and turns. Coffey says the standard for whether you admit evidence based on new technology may be about to change as of July 1 in Florida.
Zimmerman’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 10, but lawyers are in court this week to determine the rules for the proceedings.
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