Expert on gunshot wounds says evidence jibes with Zimmerman’s story

By MIKE SCHNEIDER and KYLE HIGHTOWER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

11 years ago

Defense counsel Mark O’Mara, far right, addresses forensics animation expert Daniel Shumaker, center, with Assistant State Attorney Richard Mantei, far left, and Judge Debra Nelson looking on Tuesday during the George Zimmerman trial in Sanford, Fla.

Judge Debra Nelson listens to testimony in the George Zimmerman trial in Seminole Circuit Court, in Sanford, Fla., Tuesday. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teen, in 2012.

Defense counsel Mark O’Mara gestures while describing the possible angle of the gun shot that killed Trayvon Martin, during a hearing before the start of the George Zimmerman trial in Seminole CIrcuit Court, in Sanford, Fla., Tuesday. Zimmerman is charged with SECOND-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teen, in 2012.

Defense counsel Mark O’Mara and an assistant carry Trayvon Martin’s hooded sweatshirt in the George Zimmerman trial in Seminole Circuit Court, in Sanford, Fla., Tuesday. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teen, in 2012.

SANFORD, Fla. — The trajectory of the bullet and gunpowder on Trayvon Martin’s body support George Zimmerman’s account that the teen was on top of him when the defendant shot and killed Martin, an expert on gunshot wounds testified Tuesday.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent DiMaio also used photographs of Zimmerman to point out where he appeared to have been struck during testimony that took up a significant portion of the day’s hearing. Defense attorneys, who said they may wrap up their case Wednesday, were hoping DiMaio’s testimony would help convince jurors of Zimmerman’s claims that he shot Martin in self-defense.

DiMaio, who was hired by the defense, said the muzzle of Zimmerman’s gun was against Martin’s clothing and it was anywhere from two to four inches from Martin’s skin.

“This is consistent with Mr. Zimmerman’s account that Mr. Martin was over him, leaning forward at the time he was shot,” said DiMaio, the former chief medical examiner in San Antonio.

DiMaio testified that lacerations to the back of Zimmerman’s head were consistent with it striking a concrete sidewalk. Later, when looking at photos of Zimmerman’s injuries taken the night of the shooting, DiMaio identified six separate impacts to Zimmerman’s face and head. He said he believed Zimmerman’s nose had been broken.

“It’s obvious he’s been punched in the nose and hit in the head,” he said.

Under cross-examination, DiMaio conceded that the gunshot could also be consistent with Martin pulling away from Zimmerman, and that he reached his conclusion without factoring in statements from some neighbors who say Zimmerman was on top of Martin. DiMaio, who has testified at high-profile trials including that of record producer Phil Spector, said witness accounts are often unreliable. The pathologist said he had been paid $2,400 by the defense.

DiMaio’s testimony also addressed the difference between Zimmerman’s account that he had placed Martin’s arms out to his sides and a photo taken after the shooting that shows Martin’s arms under his body. The pathologist said Martin would have been conscious for 10 to 15 seconds after the shooting as a reserve supply of oxygen ran out of his body, and during that time he could have moved his arms.

After DiMaio testified, the 911 calls that captured sounds of the fatal encounter were discussed again. Defense attorneys called Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte to the witness stand to describe the circumstances of how Martin’s family came to hear the 911 tapes. Bonaparte said he played the 911 tapes while members of Martin’s family sat together at City Hall. He played them as a courtesy before they were released publicly.

Defense attorneys are trying to show that Martin’s family members may have influenced each other in concluding the screams are those of the Miami teen. Police officers testified for the defense that it’s better for someone who is trying to identify a voice to listen to it alone.

Convincing the jury of who was screaming for help on the tape has become the primary goal of prosecutors and defense attorneys because it would help jurors evaluate Zimmerman’s self-defense claim. Relatives of Martin’s and Zimmerman’s have offered conflicting opinions about who is heard screaming.

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and says he shot Martin in self-defense during a scuffle in the townhome complex where he lived. Martin was there visiting his father and his father’s fiancee.

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara also told Judge Debra Nelson that the defense would likely finish putting on its case on Wednesday. Zimmerman, so far, hasn’t testified. But jurors saw repeated video recordings of Zimmerman telling his side of the story to police investigators. The defense started its case last Friday, and if it keeps to the schedule anticipated by O’Mara, its presentation will take about half of the time of the prosecution.

Nelson considered prosecutors’ request to bar the defense from showing animation depicting the fight between Martin and Zimmerman. Nelson held an evidence hearing with jurors out of the courtroom, but ultimately postponed her decision and more arguments on the matter until later in the afternoon.

Prosecutors object to the animation, saying it isn’t an accurate depiction.

Defense attorneys called the man who created the animation to testify. To recreate the fight, Daniel Schumaker went to the crime scene. He had employees in motion-capture suits re-enact what happened based on coroner photographs, police reports, the coroner’s report, witness depositions and photos taken by responding police officers, he said.

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Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://twitter.com/khightower.

Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.