Zimmerman Trial Lead Detective Admits Likely ‘Ill Will And Malice’
As the George Zimmerman trial moves into week two, Sanford Police Department lead investigator Chris Serino has taken the stand again in a Florida courtroom.
In the Zimmerman trial, testimony from Serino has been regarded differently by trial watchers depending on their interpretation of events.
Those who believe Zimmerman should be jailed have been suspect of Serino’s feelings toward the defendant — but many on Twitter are also calling the testimony a blow for the defense.
Local station Bay 9 News is liveblogging Serino’s Zimmerman trial testimony, reporting an exchange that social media users are hotly debating this morning.
The line of questioning concerns George Zimmerman’s intent in following Trayvon Martin the night he was fatally shot, and state prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda probed Serino about what he truly believes the defendant meant to do the night he shot and killed the unarmed teen.
De la Rionda refers back to defense attorney Mark O’Mara’s questions about “ill will, disdain, and hatred,” and plays back some of George Zimmerman’s 911 call during questioning.
De la Rionda asks if the words are those used about someone a person feels friendly toward or would invite over for dinner, to which Serino says no. De la Rionda continues with a few more questions in that vein before asking if the words Zimmerman used about Martin indicated “ill-will and spite,” to which Serino says “yes.”
Twitter users reacted:
@TriciaJJones @Karen_T_1949 B/c they screwed up by not Charging #Zimmerman in the beginning, so now SPD is Trying 2justify their actions…
— #WeAreTRAYVONMARTIN (@T_H_E_F_A_C_E) July 2, 2013
#GZtrial RT @SunnyHostin: Huge score for prosecution. Serino says #Zimmerman‘s “f…ing punks” to describe #Trayvon =ill will, hatred, spite
— Corey Dade (@CoreyDade) July 2, 2013
Bernie de la Rionda is on FIRE today! #Zimmerman: ‘I Wasn’t following Trayvon’…Investigator: ‘Yes You Were’…BOOM!
— Bengeee (@MzBenge) July 2, 2013
The microblogging service also started blowing up when the prosecutor forces Serino to admit that the homes in the vicinity of the killing had clearly visible numbers, despite Zimmerman’s claims to the contrary:
State: When #Zimmerman points on video saying there r no addresses, isnt an address right there on front of house? Serino: Yes. #GZtrial
— Corey Dade (@CoreyDade) July 2, 2013
Are you watching the Zimmerman trial this morning?
