Rose Law Group Gripe of the Week
By Phil Riske | Managing Editor/Rose Law Group Reporter.
There are no physicians on the jury seated to decide whether George Zimmerman murdered teenager Trayvon Martin or killed him in self-defense.
Defense attorney Donald West began his opening arguments with: “Knock, knock . . . Who’s there? . . . George Zimmerman . . . George Zimmerman who? . . . Congratulations, you’re on the jury.”
The court remained quiet and jurors’ faces were blank.
Maybe West on Tuesday was trying to make up for his fauz pas by trying to simplify technical medical testimony for jurors to sympathy for his client. Rather, in this observer’s opinion, insulted the panel by inadvertently dumbing things down.
Two physicians testified in the trial about the fatal bullet wound to Trayvon Martin and to the head and facial injuries suffered by Zimmerman in a fight with Martin.
Dr. Vincent DiMaio, a forensic pathologist, pointed to a large photo of Zimmerman showing a very swollen nose on one side and testifying it suggested a “displaced fracture” of the nose.
West: “When you’re getting hit like that, are you feeling it?”
Dr. DiMaio got a funny twitch in his face when forced to answer yes.
West: “Are you in some appreciation you are being injured?”
(Me: Are you kidding?)
Dr. DiMaio: “Yes, if you get punched in the nose, you know it.”
West: “Does that continue to hurt for a while?”
Dr. DiMaio: “Yes, sir.”
(Me: But it only hurts for a little while, right?)
West: “How about when you get your head slammed on the concreate? Does that hurt then and continue to hurt?”
(Me: Nah, no harm, no foul.)
(Zimmerman claims he thought he was going to die during the fight.)
Dr. DiMaio: (trying to suppress a laugh) Ah, yes, especially if you have lacerations.”
West: When someone at that moment — when this is actually happening — be able to know what’s happening to them was life threating?”
The good doctor brushed that one aside.
I doubt jurors took any notes during the enlightening testimony.
