The defense attorney of George Zimmerman is accusing Florida prosecutors from keeping evidence from the defense, thus hampering their ability to construct a strong case to support their client's claim's to self defense in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
O'Mara says that the recently released bloody photograph was handed over to his team only after Judge Debra Nelson ordered so, when in actuality it should have been done long before as per the Florida State law. According to the state law, "prosecutors are required to provide original photographs among discovery," as reported by The Guardian.
O'Mara told the Guardian, "I get frustrated when certain evidence gets out and other evidence is withheld...It just seems like it's been pulling teeth for discovery in this case. This case is the opposite of any I've normally taken. Usually, discovery is dumped on your desk, because it's normally good for [the prosecution]. They usually try to shove it down your throat."
Prosecutors have refused to comment on these accusations.
The defense also requested Judge Nelson to order the Martin family to hand over the recorded interview of a witness who claims to be the girlfriend of Trayvon Martin.
The request was made for the judge to order Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump, to hand over the complete original interview of the girl described in records as witness # 8. According to the Orlando Sentinel, "the girlfriend was on the phone with 17-year-old Trayvon moments before he was shot by Zimmerman."
One of Zimmerman's attorney, Don West told Judge Nelson ""the original recording of her interview...it's "important that the original recording be available for expert examination," as reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
Judge Nelson will rule on the matter at the next court hearing on Dec.11
Earlier this month, Mark O'mara, head defense attorney of Zimmerman, disposed a witness list that mentioned two key investigators in the case.
According to Orlando Sentinel, O'mara wants to call upon Tim Smith, the first officer on the scene of the crime and Sgt. Randy Smith, the investigator who supervised the investigation, to the witness stand.
Officer Smith was the police who handcuffed Zimmerman and took him into custody. The police usually provide testimonies for the state. But according to The Hispanic Business, O'Mara will be using this unusual strategy in defending his client who is being charged with second-degree murder Martin.
Recently, prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda leaked the names of the witness. Whether this was an intentional move or accident remains unclear.
Earlier this month, O'Mara said that his witness would be given numbers as identities. O'Mara will submitted a list of witness to Judge Debra Nelson, while keeping their names unknown.
According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, Rionda filed a summary sheet, which is open to the public, on November 8 at the Seminole County Court. The summary has a list of a number of witnesses.
Whether Judge Nelson will take any action against the prosecutor is yet unclear.
The defense claims to currently have between 50-70 witnesses according to the Huffington Post. Zimmerman's legal team submitted a request to delay the trial, which is been set for June 10. O'Mara states that the defense needs additional time to prepare for the case.
Zimmerman was arrested in February for the killing of the 17-year-old, Zimmerman who was armed shot Martin after claiming that he was attacked by the teenager and fired in an act of self-defense. The 28-year-old Zimmerman has maintained the claim to self-defense from the beginning of the case.
In July, the Florida judge set Zimmerman's bail for $1 million, after previously revoking a $150,000 bond, for misleading the court about his finances.
He has been released from jail on bond, but under strict conditions including a round the clock GPS monitoring system.
Court hearing for trial has been set for June 10.
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