The following is a LIVE, ongoing rundown of the day's testimony in the George Zimmerman trial for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
The most recent updates from the courtroom Wednesday are on top.
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5:40 p.m.
Judge Nelson requests a proposed verdict form for the state.
She asks how long it would take to go over the instructions.
O’Mara asks to delay closing arguments to prepare.
Judge Nelson says closings will begin at 1 p.m. and the defense can go Friday morning.
De la Rionda says any changes to the instructions will be put in his closing argument, so he asks for an earlier time.
They’ll be back at 9 a.m.
5:31 p.m.
The prosecution and defense go over the jury instructions.
5:24 p.m.
Mantei says if the counsel knows the witness was present, the testimony must be excluded.
He says the knowledge that he was there was not disclosed to the court or the state.
Mantei says Benjamin Crump was forced to leave, but was also never called.
Judge Nelson says the rule says the court will determine a violation occurred and exclude a witness only if the testimony was affected.
She says the court is “very, very, very, very” concerned about the abiding of the rule.
She says she doesn’t believe Donnelly had the knowledge.
She doesn’t find his testimony was changed.
The motion for sanctions is denied.
She asks the counsel to approach.
5:19 p.m.
Judge Nelson asks about O’Mara saying Shellie Zimmerman wanted Donnelly with her in court, but she was subject to sequestration.
O’Mara says she had asked Donnelly to go to support Zimmerman.
He says he has only seen pictures and knows he was on the right side.
West says he met Donnelly at his deposition and was able to recognize him. He saw him while leaving for a recess and shook his hand and said good morning.
That’s when he says he told Donnelly he would have to leave the courtroom. He says Donnelly apologized and didn’t express knowledge of knowing the rule was invoked.
West says efforts were made to contact witnesses that would likely be called.
He says he or anyone with his office didn’t talk to Donnelly, telling him the rule.
The violation was inadvertent and the responsibility lies with him, West says.
O'Mara says Donnelly was seated in the second row.
5:12 p.m.
O’Mara says the most severe decision would be to exclude the witness from testifying.
O’Mara says they had no intention of calling him until a Saturday when he learned there was relevant testimony.
He says there’s been no finding Donnelly gained knowledge that would affect his testimony.
5:05 p.m.
O’Mara says Good and Schumaker never spoke.
O’Mara says he spoke to Good, showed him the animation and then went to talk to his expert.
O’Mara says Selene Bahadoor changed her testimony too.
Judge Nelson says this is related to the issue of Donnelly.
O’Mara says he was here for day 2 and part of day 3. He heard from Wendy Dorival, O’Brien, Bahadoor, Ramaindo, and Smith.
On the second day, he heard from Surdyka, but then West noticed him in the courtroom and had him leave.
O’Mara says Donnelly didn’t change his testimony, but added to it by listening to the recording.
O’Mara says the testimony he heard might’ve prompted to make the decision to listen to it.
4:59 p.m.
Before testimony continued, Judge Debra Nelson gave her rulings on two issues that kept court going extra long the Tuesday.
She ruled the animation will not be admissible as evidence, but can be used as a demonstration.
Mantei says there is no way to un-ring the bell but to give instruction to the jury.
He says the cumulative nature of the issues renews the state’s request to court to strike Donnelly’s testimony and instruct the jury.
O’Mara begins argument.
O’Mara says they are opening the door to potential violations with Dr. Bao.
Judge Nelson says the court is very concerned about three possible violations and the possibility of another person not called to testify violating the rule.
4:51 p.m.
Judge Nelson proceeds with the motion for sanctions regarding Mr. Donnelly.
Mantei says he previously indicated to the court the witness was present in court. He says he has since confirmed it. He says the witness was present on the 25th and 26th of June.
He says since he sat through two days of testimony of the crime scene tech and Surdyka’s and went home and listened to the recording.
Mantei says they learned yesterday Good met with defense counsel and Schumaker to adjust the animation.
Bertalan told the court she watched the trial, including the testimony of the defendant’s uncle.
Mantei says Donnelly took it upon himself to turn him from a non-witness into a witness. He says Good was certainly in contact with and discusses a defense exhibit in violation of the rules of sequestration.
He says relevant case law says what should be done to enforce the rule.
4:45 p.m.
Judge Nelson dismisses the jury for the evening. She tells them they anticipate closing statements Thursday and will have them back at 10 a.m.
4:43 p.m.
O’Mara says he would get his instructions to the state tonight.
O’Mara says he would need 30 minutes for the jury instruction argument.
Judge Nelson proposes a schedule for closing arguments.
Mantei says he is trying to check now if the witness is available.
Judge Nelson says she will excuse the jury and then they will begin on the Donnelly issue.
4:40 p.m.
Judge Nelson says she doesn’t think it’s allowed and will sustain the objection.
Mantei says the website advertisement was the purpose of him.
O’Mara says there similar objections to the next witness.
Mantei says the next witness is David Lee.
After talking with De la Rionda, Mantei says they will not call Lee.
O'Mara says he objects to the third witness too.
The witness for Thursday is Arthur Fleischmann. Mantei says he is the agent with ATF there when Zimmerman was arrested. He says the agent would offer a different perspective on Zimmerman's ability to fight.
O'Mara says it is a prior bad act the state is trying to get in and more facts of the case are needed. He says in 2005 the agents were undercover at a UCF party and had taken a friend out. O'Mara says Zimmerman went outside to ask what was going on and they arrested him. He says he never heard Zimmerman attacked, but was arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer. He says the charge was dropped to a misdeaeanor and went to pre-trial diversion.
O'Mara says it bears no probative value because it was so long ago and was a non-event.
He says if the state brings in this prior bad act, there are 30 witnesses that can counter.
Judge Nelson says she doesn't like the 'if you do this, I'm doing that" statements.
Judge Nelson says there can be argument if the witness is available.
She says they will take the issue up Thursday. She would like to inform the jury as to where the case is going. Closing arguments should start tomorrow.
The state says they expect to take three hours. The defense says three hours is enough.
O'Mara says he would like an addition in the jury instructions that would slightly modify the self-defense instruction.
4:29 p.m.
Mantei says he is not necessarily calling Pollock to impeach him. He says Pollock might contradict Root’s testimony.
Mantei says Root placed extra weight in Pollock’s statements and Pollock could help explain.
O’Mara says impeachment is impeachment. He says evidence of trying to make money because Zimmerman went to his gym and the court should look at it with common sense.
He says Pollock testified that Zimmerman went from .5 to a 1 and wouldn’t further the value for making money.
Witness: Adam Pollock - Gym owner
4:00 p.m.
The jury is excused. The court is in recess for 15 minutes.
3:47 p.m.
Mantei asks if Pollock is marketing the training he gave Zimmerman.
O’Mara objects.
Judge Nelson asks them to approach.
3:44 p.m.
The jury is seated.
O'Mara tells the jury the exhibits were submited. The defense rests.
The state calls Adam Pollock for rebuttal.
3:42 p.m.
Mantei says while the defense present people to enhance the dispute of facts, the state has submitted that the facts and inferences would support a jury verdict of second-degree murder or the lesser charge of manslaughter.
O’Mara asks the state to present the theory of the case that suggests the judgment of acquittal should not be granted.
Judge Nelson rules there is evidence to allow the charge to go to a jury.
She asks for the jury to be brought back, the defense to rest and the state to call their rebuttal witness.
She says they have to deal with the Donnelly issue.
3:38 p.m.
The state will call at least two witnesses today for rebuttal, possibly one tomorrow.
She asks for a copy of the jury instructions.
O’Mara sys the defense cases has presented evidence his client acted in self-defense.
He asks the charges to be dismissed in full.
Mantei argues Dr. Di Maio portrayed at least one alternative scenario of possible second-degree murder.
3:35 p.m.
Another is a picture of the back of Zimmerman’s head, the front of his head, a still photo of Martin at 7-Eleven, a picture of Martin’s pants, another still of Martin at 7-Eleven, an aerial view of the housing complex, a larger aerial view of the area, a large aerial of the housing complex, a ME investigator’s photo of the scene.
O’Mara says they have a more accurate report for the weather the night of the shooting and another is one for the next day.
O’Mara says there is an exhibit still in need of submitting that was used during the questioning of Jeantel.
De la Rionda says it wasn’t played in front of the jury.
Judge Nelson addresses Zimmerman.
He has decided after consulting with counsel not to testify.
He says he understands it is his decision.
3:27 p.m.
O'Mara submits exhibits for the court. One is a timeline. De la Rionda says he would just like to verify the time.
3:14 p.m.
The defense says they will not call any other witnesses. Judge Nelson says after the recess she will ask Zimmerman if he wants to testify.
She asks him if there were any other witnesses he wanted his attorneys to call.
Witness: Robert Zimmerman Sr. - George Zimmerman's father
3:12 p.m.
De la Rionda cross examines.
He says he has listened to the recording at least six times.
He is excused, but subject to recall.
O’Mara asks for a break.
Judge Nelson dismisses the jury for a 15 minute break.
3:09 p.m.
Zimmerman Sr. says he listened to the 911 call with the screams at the state attorney's office.
He told the interviewers it was his son.
Witness: Olivia Bertalan - Retreat at Twin Lakes resident
3:07 p.m.
Bertalan says she was appreciative and Zimmerman offered that she could spend time with his wife during the day.
She says her husband went to the homeowner’s association to discuss the break-in.
She also talked about it with other neighbors.
Zimmerman brought her a lock to help with the sliding glass door, she says.
She says the men got inside through the back sliding glass door.
She also got a dog, she says, because the police told her to.
She says she got a letter after moving out that Burgess was re-arrested.
Zimmerman’s behavior was helpful, she says.
O’Mara finishes questioning.
Bertalan is excused.
The defense calls Robert Zimmerman Sr.
3:03 p.m.
She says it was confirmed by police that one of the suspects lived in the housing complex.
She confirms the person was arrested and released before February 2012.
Bertalan says she watched part of the trial when Zimemrman’s uncle testified.
She confirms she has a Twitter account and follows O’Mara and the legal defense account.
She was on Nancy Grace more than a year ago, she says.
Guy finishes questioning.
O’Mara redirects.
2:59 p.m.
Guy repeats his questions before the jury.
2:56 p.m.
Bertalan says the break-in happened on Aug. 3, 2011.
She says she talked to Zimmerman about it.
She described the suspects to Zimmerman. She says she talked to Zimmerman about 20 times and discussed the person not being caught.
She says Burgess was arrested in December because he was a minor, and then he was arrested again after they moved out.
Guy says he is done with his proffering.
Judge Nelson asks for the jury to be brought back.
2:54 p.m.
Bertalan says she was home with her 9-month-old son when someone rang her doorbell repeatedly. She says two African-American were at the door.
She says she hid and the police came, and the men left.
She says they took her camera and laptop.
One of the suspects, Emmanuel Burgess, was arrested and charged.
It is the reason she moved, she says.
Guy begins cross examination.
O’Mara asks for the witness to be proffered. The jury is excused.
2:50 p.m.
The defense calls Olivia Bertalan. She lived at Retreat at Twin Lakes. She has two young children.
Witness: Dennis Root - Law enforcement expert
2:48 p.m.
O’Mara says the door was opened to ask about Martin.
Judge Nelson says her ruling remains the same.
Root says he saw nothing that indicated the attack stopped.
Root is excused but subject to recall.
2:46 p.m.
Root says as Martin left during Zimmerman’s non-emergency call, the tension diminished.
Guy asks about Zimmerman saying he didn’t want to give out his phone number on the call.
Root says if Martin is still in the area it is still a concern for Zimmerman and he doesn’t want to give out his phone number.
He is aware Zimmerman was trained to shoot by a federal marshal.
Root says it is a common practice to delay an interview because of known memory issues in law enforcement.
He says a police officer asks for an interview right away and an individual says they want a lawyer they get the time to wait.
Root says he is aware Zimmerman spoke with his friend eight hours later.
Root confirms he is not a memory expert.
Guy finishes questioning.
O’Mara re-redirects.
He asks about the warrior mindset.
Root says he talked to Pollock and the description of him was not confrontational and not the type of a warrior mindset.
2:40 p.m.
Guy asks if Root knows what Martin was doing the moment he was shot.
Root says yes, based on the information and his opinion.
Guy says he only asked if he knows what Martin was doing.
Root says he specifically doesn’t know because he wasn’t there, but can only base his opinion on the information.
He says the perception of the individual must be taken into the totality of the event.
Root says he’s been consulted before by defense attorneys.
Guy asks if he knows when Zimmerman was punched in the nose.
Root says he doesn’t know the exact time of the punch.
He says an impact concrete would’ve created more injuries to the face.
Root says he’s seen people struck and not able to continue the fight. He says not everyone has the internal fire to be involved in a fight, but someone with a warrior mindset will return in like fashion.
Guy asks him about his hand movements in demonstration the position of Zimmerman and Martin.
Root says at some point there were in alignment to create the angle for the gunshot.
Guy asks if someone could angle their wrist to shoot.
“Anything is possible, that doesn’t make it plausible,” Root says.
Guy lay on the ground and points with his hand how someone could fire at different angles.
2:30 p.m.
Root says he would encourage anyone who wants to make a difference and has the ability to take on the stresses to become an officer.
He says force training is to explain the variables into deciding how to apply force and what justifies it.
It depends on the environment and other things, so all of it must be taken into account.
O’Mara finishes questioning.
Guy re-cross examines.
2:21 p.m.
O’Mara asks if Root took on the case for the notoriety of it.
Root says no. He says the same type of negative comes from the case as the positive coverage.
Root says he has never been cross examined by a prosecutor before and normally sits on the opposite side.
Root says the primary elements are the event as it was unfolding and the perception the individual had at the moment of the use of force.
He says the keychain flashlight helped him create in his mind where the event possibly started.
Root says a variety of things happens after a nose strike: tearing of the eyes, bleeding which can have an effect on the ability to breath, plus the stunning effect.
O’Mara says he will do foundation questions in order to ask a question about a punch being an effective first blow.
Root says he did kickboxing.
He says getting the first shot can let the other person know you’re serious and can be devastating.
It can also set the rhythm of the fight.
O'Mara shows an enlarged picture of Zimmerman with a bloody nose.
2:05 p.m.
O’Mara asks about the non-emergency call and the expletives Zimmerman said.
Root says he has heard people use them in his experience as a law enforcement officer. He says his interpretation of the comments was in general that “they always get away.”
Root says he didn’t think there was ill-will. He didn’t initially hear the “[expletive] punks” comment and had to re-listen for it.
West asks about Guy’s questions about a responsible gun owner.
Root says there was nothing in Zimmerman’s use of the firearm as reckless.
Guy objects based on a motion already heard.
The attorneys approach for a sidebar.
2:00 p.m.
Root retakes the stand and the jury is reseated. O'Mara resumes questioning.
Recess for lunch
1:52 p.m.
O’Mara submits a declaration from the city of Sanford for evidence.
The next exhibit is a letter documenting the existence of Zimmerman’s concealed weapons permit.
The last one is the CD and report for the sixth call Zimmerman made to law enforcement.
A layout of the crime scene is also submitted.
O’Mara says he will finish with the current witness and have two more short ones.
Judge Nelson checks with Zimmerman about if he will testify in the case.
He is sworn in.
West objects to the question of if Zimmerman wants to testify.
Zimmerman says not at this time.
West asks for an opportunity to speak and the case hasn’t concluded yet.
Zimmerman says the end of the day might be enough.
West objects to the court inquiring with Zimmerman about if he will testify.
Judge Nelson says his objection is overruled. She will give him more time before deciding.
O’Mara asks to approach on an unrelated matter.
Witness: Dennis Root - Law enforcement expert
12:12 p.m.
Root says most anything can be a weapon and he teaches classes about it.
O’Mara asks Root to explain how Zimmerman could not have landed a striking blow on Martin.
Root says if it is Zimmerman screaming, he was physically incapable of it.
Root says Zimmerman is not a confrontational person.
Judge Nelson says there are plans for the jury to go out for lunch. She dismisses the jury until 1:45 p.m.
12:06 p.m.
Root says he didn’t see any indication a weapon was used on Zimmerman.
He says Zimmerman told him he was trailing Martin.
Guy asks about the non-emergency call and the dispatcher asking about it.
Root says he is confident he saw Zimmerman’s handwritten statement, but doesn’t remember the term he used to describe Martin.
Root confirms it is a police and crime prevention term.
Guy finishes questioning.
O’Mara redirects.
Root confirms concrete could be a weapon.
O’Mara grabs the same mannequin Guy used and demonstrations the pushing down of someone on the bottom.
Root says Zimmerman’s injuries caught his eye.
O’Mara asks about the angle of the gun if Martin was pulling away. Root says it’s a possibility.
Root says he’s interview officers that didn’t recall how they did something.
He says it is possible Martin was over Zimmerman near his armpits and farther down near the hips.
11:53 a.m.
Guy asks if someone seeing a person with a gun would yell for help.
Root says he would hope someone would yell for help.
Guy asks about the verbal competent to use of force.
Root says an officer can give commands. He agrees it could be identifying who you are.
Root says if he was in the situation there was a lot he would do differently.
Guy asks if Root asked Zimmerman about how long he took classes.
Root explains that it wouldn’t change the fact that Zimmerman was not in a grappling ring or boxing with a partner.
Guy asks about Martin playing football.
Root says there was information in the media.
O’Mara asks to approach.
11:45 a.m.
Root says he went to the scene to get an idea of the lighting, but didn’t take into account the change in season.
Root says Zimmerman said he felt Martin move toward the gun.
Root says he focused on witness accounts, not hearsay of what people are seeing, in response to a question about Osterman’s statement.
He says he reviewed everything to look at the totality of the event.
He says the human mind likes to fill in the blanks.
Guy asks him to explain the force continuum.
Guy asks if Martin backing up would be de-escalation.
Root confirms.
Root says if he takes into the consideration the 911 call and based on Good’s statement who believed the yells were coming from the person on the bottom; it leads to his conclusion of considering all the components.
11:36 a.m.
Guy shows person-shaped figured and demonstrates on the ground a mounted position.
Guy asks where the gun would be on the mannequin if someone was in that position.
Root says Zimmerman indicated he slid down and his jacket came up exposing his firearm.
Root says a dynamic event requires taking into account the movements of both people.
Guy asks about the gun angle at the time the shot was fired.
Guy demonstrates the mounted position again and how the defendant could have raised his gun and fired at 90 degrees.
11:26 a.m.
Root says it would’ve been his failure to ask which direction Martin approached him from, but he got the impression he was approached from the front.
He says the imperial part of the event is how it began.
Guy asks if Root asked Zimmerman about losing personal property.
Root says he doesn’t remember asking it.
Guy asks if he asked Zimmerman if he lost his flashlight.
Root says no. He confirms it could be used as an impact weapon.
Guy asks about Zimmerman saying his head was slammed into the concrete.
Guy asks about Zimmerman’s statements about Martin being over him.
11:15 a.m.
Root explains his billing fees.
This is his first time testifying before a jury as an expert in a criminal case, he says.
He has never been involved in a police shooting.
Guy asks about Zimmerman describing Martin as having something in his hands.
Root says he watched the walk-through Zimmerman did.
He says Zimmerman’s statements to him only account for a small portion of his considerations.
He says everyone’s concept of time is different.
Guy asks if Root knows what time Martin’s phone call ended.
Root says he is not sure if he saw them. He didn’t see the weight in the value of the cell phone records and evaluating the use of force event.
Root says the timeline creates a lot of questions and there were a lot of things that didn’t line up from Jeantel.
11:05 a.m.
O’Mara finishes questioning.
Guy begins cross examination.
Guy asks if Root heard Zimmerman’s non-emergency call and the expletives said in it.
“I think people like to give a little too much weight,” Root says. He says Zimmerman was clearly frustrated from previous calls when subjects got away.
Guy asks if the target of his frustration was Trayvon Martin.
Root says it was a comment and doesn’t see that variable showing ill-will.
Guy asks if Zimmerman ever swore during a conversation with Root.
Root says he was not called an expletive.
Guy asks if an irresponsible person with a firearm can be dangerous.
Root agrees.
Guy asks him to tell the jury when he started his consulting company.
Root says he started consulting in 2011 and in 2013 he stared Dennis Root and Associates.
Guy asks if he thinks the media coverage would be good for his business.
Root says he is dedicated to the truth. He approached O’Mara because he knew the state would have access to someone like him.
10:58 a.m.
Root says any firearm is a good selection for someone that went through training to carry a gun for self-defense.
He says the gun Zimmerman would be a safe gun to carry because the most important safety of anyone carrying it is the person holding it.
The downside of guns with an external safety is the brain will not remember to flip the safety under stress.
O’Mara asks about the internal holster.
Root says the idea behind the permit is to keep the weapon concealed and it’s a common type of holster.
O’Mara asks about having a round in the chamber.
Root says having a round in the chamber means it can be fired immediately.
“Carrying a magazine full and one in the chamber is the best way to carry a firearm,” Root says.
He says he trains people to load the chamber and make sure the magazine is fully loaded.
O’Mara asks about the hollow point bullets and if they are appropriate for self-defense.
Root says a bullet is designed to widen out and stop inside the soft tissues and a hollow point will be less likely to “over penetrate.”
10:49 a.m.
O’Mara resumes questioning.
He asks if he knows the distance the gun was fired.
Root says he know it was within 6 inches.
O’Mara asks if that seems like it showed ill-will, spite or hatred.
“No,” Root says.
O’Mara asks about law enforcement shootings.
Guy objects on relevance.
Judge Nelson says he can put it in context.
Root says he has experience with law enforcement and non-law enforcement shootings.
He says memory issues are the primary concern for people involved in a high-stress event and it can take up to 72 hours for someone to recall what happened.
He says someone can remember something a little differently the next day and make slight variations and be thought of as lying.
O’Mara asks about the best practices for investigating a law enforcement shooting.
Root says they teach about use of deadly force in classes and that it can take 72 hours to remember everything.
O’Mara asks if delaying taking the statement can increase its accuracy.
Root says a better statement would be received.
O’Mara checks if the jury needs a break. He asks for a moment.
10:39 a.m.
Root says his opinion is that Zimmerman would find himself lacking when compared to Martin’s physical abilities.
He says the longer the fight take places, the more fatigue there is and the potential for injury.
Root says 40 seconds is a long time to be involved in a physical altercation.
He says the screams suggested a high level of fear and they lasted “forever.”
“Forty seconds is an eternity when you’re involved in any kind of physical conflict,” he says.
O’Mara asks if the firing of one shot is normal.
Guy objects to relevance. Judge Nelson sustains.
O’Mara asks if the discharge of a firearm shows Ill-will, spite or hatred.
Guy objects.
Judge Nelson asks them to approach.
10:33 a.m.
Root says the altercation was on the concrete and slid down the grass and was just outside Good’s townhome.
Root says he spoke with Zimmerman and the gym owner about his background training and experience.
He says he would expect a different response from Chuck Norris over Pee-wee Herman.
Root says Zimmerman didn’t have physical abilities and was described as not a fighter.
He says grapping is different than boxing because someone can tap out. He says he learned Zimmerman didn’t have the physical fitness to interact with another boxer.
O’Mara asks what knowledge Root had about Martin.
Root says the physical size of someone is more telling than age.
His review was that Martin was physically fit, but Zimmerman wasn’t even though he lost a lot of weight.
He says he read in the discovery that Martin was estimated to be in his 20s by a paramedic.
10:25 a.m.
He calls Lauer’s 911 call the most clear call to what was happening in the background.
He explains how one witness’s observation of flailing arms could coincide with what another witness saw.
Guy objects to invading the providence of the jury.
Root says when he looks at a dynamic event, he looks at the beginning and it continued with an unrelenting attack with injuries. He says he takes into account the witness statements that someone was on their back and another person was in a mounted position.
He says the lighting was poor and it was wet out.
Guy object to an improper question.
O’Mara asks if Root looked at anything that supported that Zimmerman was struck
Root says he looked at the photographs and they were consistent with the information Zimmerman provided.
He says a small flashlight found near the “T” intersection is an indicator something caused him to drop it at that location.
He says the injuries were consistent with that of a fist fight.
10:14 a.m.
O’Mara asks if he saw the diagram of the scene.
Root says has seen the TV interview since being asked by the state about it.
He says he focused on background training experience, knowledge of the law and his own background.
He says he listened to every audio recording of the 911 calls and the witnesses.
Root says he has a theory called the “hot pot” theory explaining perspective. He says he could stick a pot in the freezer and then put in on a stove and ask someone to move it and they would still think it is hot.
“Conflicting statements are normal,” Root says.
He says statements with a slight deviation should be taken into context of when they were taken.
O’Mara asks if Root read Surdyka’s statement.
Guy objects as to the improper comment of a witness’s testimony.
O’Mara says he has a response. Judge Nelson asks them to approach.
9:58 a.m.
Root says he reached out to O’Mara when he saw the case unfolding in the media.
He says he thought he could offer his perspective and reached out to the defense. He reached out to O’Mara because he reviewed the material and if he couldn’t be of assistance, he wouldn’t hinder anything.
He says as a use of force expert he has to look at the situation from as many perspectives as possible.
Root says he requested to review the 911 calls, reports from law enforcement, medical examiner’s office and more.
He says he had written witness statements and interviews conducted.
He believes he received everything, including Martin's autopsy and pictures of him and Zimmerman.
9:42 a.m.
Root explains the reason for his short time in Jupiter. He then took a position with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office as a drill instructor for the juvenile boot camp.
Root says he continued his education there.
He says he got his two-year degree in criminal justice, as well. He was given the position as the use of force specialist with the agency.
He became a state-licensed firearms instructor.
He also took over a training course called “Verbal Judo” which taught tactical verbal commands.
Root says there are techniques for handcuffing someone because it is restraining someone and potentially could cause injury.
9:33 a.m.
Root says he instructed courses on pepper spray use.
He explains a force continuum as a systematic approach to the escalation and de-escalation of use of force options.
Root says the continuum remains the same for non-law enforcement individuals but the options change because an officer usually has tools with them like pepper spray, handcuffs and more.
He says he was certified with DUI stops and created the training program for Riviera Beach.
Root describes the other certifications he has, including utilizing an ink pen for defense.
He says he worked for the Jupiter Police Department for a short time.
9:22 a.m.
Root says he is self-emloyed as a safety and law enforcement trainer. He worked in law enforcement for 22 years. He describes his work and training history for the jury.
9:19 a.m.
The defense calls Dennis Root.
9:15 a.m.
Judge Nelson says she has read the case law provided. She rules the state’s objection to the computer animation is sustained, but is can be used for a demonstration.
She says the state’s objection to the admissibility of the evidence from the phone is sustained.
Judge Nelson addresses Zimmerman and makes sure he has the right to remain silent. She tells him he also has the right to testify and he should discuss it with his attorneys.
West says the evidence code is not the only basis, but the constitutional right was also used.
Judge Nelson says the court made a previous ruling and it will stand.
She asks for the jury to be brought in.
8:59 a.m.
Judge Nelson is seated at the bench. The attorneys enter a sidebar.
A ruling on the admissibility of an animation recreation and Trayvon Martin's text messages is still expected.
8:20 a.m.
Despite saying court would resume at 8 a.m. this morning, court officials said late last night it was pushed back to 9 a.m.