George Zimmerman Trial Analysis: Account Of Fight Won’t Hurt Prosecution Too Much

Analysis of the George Zimmerman trial, particularly testimony from a neighbor about the fight that preceded the shooting of Trayvon Martin, seems to suggest that it’s damaging but not devastating to the prosecution.

On Friday a resident of the Florida community where Zimmerman shot and killed Martin took the stand, telling jurors that he saw what appeared to be Martin holding Zimmerman down and punching him. The neighbor, Jonathan Good, said he saw the commotion between the two men taking place behind his townhouse and tried to yell at them to stop.

“It looked like there were strikes being thrown, punches being thrown,” said Good.

Good said he saw one person on top of the other, and it appeared the person being held down to the ground had a “lighter complexion” and wore red or white clothing, matching George Zimmerman’s description.

Other testimony from the first week of the trial focused on the aftermath of the fight. Jonathan Manalo, Zimmerman’s former neighbor, said Zimmerman said in the immediate aftermath of the fight that he shot Martin in self-defense.

But the most important testimony may have come from Good. Under cross-examination by defense attorney Mark O’Mara, Good said it appeared that Trayvon Martin was executing what is know in mixed martial arts as a “ground and pound,” a maneuver where one fighter straddles another who is on the ground and punches them.

But when pressed, Good said it was not clear if Trayvon Martin was punching George Zimmerman or merely trying to hold him down.

Analysis from the George Zimmerman trial seems to indicate that Good’s testimony backs up Zimmerman’s assertion that the 17-year-old Martin had attacked him. But because Good did not see any actual blows — and because other neighbors testified that they saw George Zimmerman on top — it is not believed to be too damaging to the prosecution’s case.