George Zimmerman Trial: Animation of Crime Scene to Be Admitted?
The defense team for George Zimmerman will attempt to show the jury a computer animation of the Trayvon Martin shooting on Tuesday.
A computer animation re-enacting the moment that Trayvon Martin was shot more than one year ago could be entered into evidence on Tuesday. The animation was created by the defense to demonstrate the angle at which Martin was shot.
The prosecution team has argued against admitting the animation, stating that it is inaccurate and based on Zimmerman's account of that night. Assistant State Attorney Richard Mantei has argued that the animation does not "represent a complete or accurate record of the evidence."
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Defense attorney Mark O'Mara defended the animation. Use of animation re-enactments, he argued, is not unusual.
"We know animations are very admissible and often used," O'Mara said.
Daniel Schumaker developed the animation. He testified in court on Monday that he had developed multiple other crime scene reconstructions using "photographs, measurements and motion capture suits" according to USA Today.
"I believe I had everything I needed to create the scene," Schumaker said.
Testimony about the amount of marijuana discovered in Martin's system was also scheduled for Tuesday. State attorneys had previously fought against evidence of Martin's marijuana usage, fearing that it would make the jury prejudiced. Zimmerman's lawyers successfully argued that the information would help give the jury insight.
Police tapes were played in court last week on which Zimmerman's voice was heard describing the night's events to police. Those tapes have become a focus of the case for the prosecution, which has argued that Zimmerman profiled Trayvon Martin.
Martin's mother also testified last week stating that the screams caught on tape belonged to her son and not Zimmerman. Martin's brother also testified that the screams belonged to his brother although Martin's father believed the screams to belong to Zimmerman.
