Defense receives Trayvon Martin evidence against George Zimmerman

O'Mara says he got a 'credible threat' as discovery delivered


SANFORD, Fla. - The attorney for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, announced on Monday he has received the evidence against his client and a "credible threat."

Attorney Mark O'Mara posted on his defense website, GZLegalCase.com, that he received the discovery for the Zimmerman case just after 5 p.m. on Monday. According to the website, the discovery package included, "67 compact discs and numerous hardcopy documents, including the State’s Discovery Exhibit and Demand for Reciprocal Discovery. The discovery also includes witness statements, 911 calls, non-emergency calls, photos, video, medical records, and more."

"All the evidence has to be looked at in conjunction," O'Mara told Local 6.

O'Mara also told Local 6 that as he received the discovery, two police officers were at his law firm in response to a credible threat against him. The threat was checked out and police have since left O'Mara's office. No other details on the threat have been released.

O’Mara and staff said they will "now begin the process of examining the information that has been provided."

Earlier Monday, the special prosecutor in the Martin case released a preview of the evidence built against Zimmerman.

Local 6 confirmed the eight-page document was filed by special prosecutor Angela Corey’s team just before the Seminole County courthouse closed at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Among the witnesses listed were Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin; Martin’s brother, Jahvarius Fulton; Zimmerman’s neighbor, Frank Taaffe; his friend, Joe Oliver; and his father, Robert Zimmerman.

Many of the witness names were redacted, but 18 Sanford police officers were listed as primary witnesses, four FDLE investigators, three investigators from the office of State Attorney Norm Wolfinger and two from Corey’s office. Also included is Sanford Police Department lead investigator into Martin’s death, Chris Serino.

Acting Police Chief Richard Myers said he plans to questions the officers himself to help them prepare for trial.

"What were the different activities by the responding officers and supervisors that were on the scene? Were there any decisions made at the scene? What decisions were made downstream so to speak," said Myers.

Under Florida law, discovery would normally be made public at the same time its handed over to the defense team.

O'Mara says if witnesses are hounded by the media it might jeopardize Zimmerman's chances of getting a fair trial.

Zimmerman, 28, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 shooting of the 17-year-old Martin. Zimmerman claims he shot the teenager in self-defense.

SOURCE: http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Defense-receives-Trayvon-Martin-evidence-against-George-Zimmerman/-/1637132/13377548/-/9b474/-/index.html