PARTIES’ DNA AT ISSUE
Testimony to resume Friday
Trayvon Martin’s DNA was not found on the grip of George Zimmerman’s gun, a law enforcement expert testifies Wednesday.
SANFORD, Fla. — Trayvon Martin’s DNA was not found on the grip of George Zimmerman’s gun, and Zimmerman’s DNA was not found under the unarmed teen’s fingernails, a law enforcement expert said Wednesday in testimony prosecutors hope will refute the neighborhood watch volunteer’s self-defense claim.
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to seconddegree murder and says he shot the 17-year-old in the chest to protect himself as Martin reached for his firearm during a fight.
Judge Debra Nelson dismissed jurors without the prosecution having rested its case, as it had hoped to do by day’s end. Nelson won’t resume testimony until Friday morning, giving jurors the Fourth of July off. They will remain sequestered during the holiday break.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement DNA expert Anthony Gorgone also testified that Zimmerman’s DNA was found among blood on a shirt Martin was wearing under his hooded sweatshirt.
In cross- examination, defense attorney Don West focused on the packaging of the DNA samples, suggesting it could have led to the samples being degraded. Gorgone said Martin’s two sweatshirts had been packaged in plastic while wet, instead of a paper bag where they can dry out, and when he opened the samples they smelled of ammonia and mold.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement analyst Amy Siewert also testified that tearing and residue on Martin’s clothing showed the gun was directly against him when it fired.
Prosecutors have sought to portray Zimmerman as a vigilante who profiled Martin as the teen walked home on a rainy night.
They also presented evidence that they say shows Zimmerman had aspirations of becoming a police officer and knew about Florida’s “stand-your-ground” law, which says a person has no duty to retreat and can invoke self- defense in killing someone if it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.
Zimmerman had main- tained in an interview with Fox News last year that he did not know about the law.
Prosecutors say he did have knowledge of it, however, because the subject was covered in a college class on criminal justice Zimmerman attended.
They called as a witness Alexis Francisco Carter, the military attorney who taught the class. Carter described Zimmerman as one of his better students and said he got an “A” in his class.