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| Zimmerman trial judge: prosecution audio experts cannot testify | Zimmerman trial judge: prosecution audio experts cannot testify |
| (3 months later) | |
| The judge in the trial of George Zimmerman for the murder of the black teenager Trayvon Martin said on Saturday that prosecution audio experts who point to Martin screaming on a 911 call moments before he was killed will not be allowed to testify. | The judge in the trial of George Zimmerman for the murder of the black teenager Trayvon Martin said on Saturday that prosecution audio experts who point to Martin screaming on a 911 call moments before he was killed will not be allowed to testify. |
| Judge Debra Nelson's written ruling was released after hearing arguments during a multiday hearing on whether to allow testimony from two prosecution experts. One expert ruled out Zimmerman as the screamer and another said it was Martin. A defense expert argued there was not enough audio to determine who the screams were coming from. Zimmerman's attorneys also argued that the prosecution experts' analysis is flawed. | Judge Debra Nelson's written ruling was released after hearing arguments during a multiday hearing on whether to allow testimony from two prosecution experts. One expert ruled out Zimmerman as the screamer and another said it was Martin. A defense expert argued there was not enough audio to determine who the screams were coming from. Zimmerman's attorneys also argued that the prosecution experts' analysis is flawed. |
| Opening statements are set for Monday in the second-degree murder trial for the former neighborhood watch volunteer, who says he fired on the unarmed black teenager in self-defense last year. Zimmerman is pleading not guilty. | Opening statements are set for Monday in the second-degree murder trial for the former neighborhood watch volunteer, who says he fired on the unarmed black teenager in self-defense last year. Zimmerman is pleading not guilty. |
| The screams are crucial pieces of evidence because they could determine who the aggressor was in the confrontation. Martin's family contends it was the teen screaming; Zimmerman's father has said it was his son. | The screams are crucial pieces of evidence because they could determine who the aggressor was in the confrontation. Martin's family contends it was the teen screaming; Zimmerman's father has said it was his son. |
| Audio experts from both sides testified at different times since the admissibility hearing started last month. Voice experts were hired by lawyers and news organizations to analyze the calls, which were made during the confrontation between the two. The experts arrived at mixed conclusions. In deciding whether to admit the voice-recognition technology used by prosecution audio expert Tom Owen, the judge had to determine whether it is too novel or whether it has been accepted by the scientific community at-large. | Audio experts from both sides testified at different times since the admissibility hearing started last month. Voice experts were hired by lawyers and news organizations to analyze the calls, which were made during the confrontation between the two. The experts arrived at mixed conclusions. In deciding whether to admit the voice-recognition technology used by prosecution audio expert Tom Owen, the judge had to determine whether it is too novel or whether it has been accepted by the scientific community at-large. |
| "There is no evidence to establish that their scientific techniques have been tested and found reliable," the judge said in her ruling. | "There is no evidence to establish that their scientific techniques have been tested and found reliable," the judge said in her ruling. |
| Owen was hired by the Orlando Sentinel last year to compare a voice sample of Zimmerman with screams for help captured on 911 calls made by neighbors. He said Zimmerman's voice doesn't match the screams. He only compared Zimmerman's voice to the 911 calls because he didn't have a voice sample for Martin at the time. | Owen was hired by the Orlando Sentinel last year to compare a voice sample of Zimmerman with screams for help captured on 911 calls made by neighbors. He said Zimmerman's voice doesn't match the screams. He only compared Zimmerman's voice to the 911 calls because he didn't have a voice sample for Martin at the time. |
| "The screams don't match at all," Owen testified during the hearing. "That's what tells me the screams aren't George Zimmerman." | "The screams don't match at all," Owen testified during the hearing. "That's what tells me the screams aren't George Zimmerman." |
| Owen also testified that remarks Zimmerman made in a conversation with a police dispatcher aren't a racial slur. He testified that Zimmerman said, "These fucking punks." | Owen also testified that remarks Zimmerman made in a conversation with a police dispatcher aren't a racial slur. He testified that Zimmerman said, "These fucking punks." |
| Expert Alan Reich testified in a report for prosecutors that the screams on the 911 tapes were from Martin and the defense does not want him to testify at trial. Reich's analysis also picked up words that other experts couldn't find. They include the words, "This shall be" from Zimmerman and "I'm begging you" from Martin. | Expert Alan Reich testified in a report for prosecutors that the screams on the 911 tapes were from Martin and the defense does not want him to testify at trial. Reich's analysis also picked up words that other experts couldn't find. They include the words, "This shall be" from Zimmerman and "I'm begging you" from Martin. |
| In contrast, a British audio expert testified for the defense that it would be extremely difficult to analyze voices by comparing screaming to a normal voice. "I've never come across a case in my 13 years where anybody's tried to compare screaming to a normal voice," said Peter French. | In contrast, a British audio expert testified for the defense that it would be extremely difficult to analyze voices by comparing screaming to a normal voice. "I've never come across a case in my 13 years where anybody's tried to compare screaming to a normal voice," said Peter French. |
| A second audio expert for the defense, George Doddington, also criticized prosecution experts who said Friday that screams and pleas on a 911 recording likely belonged to Martin. "It's all ridiculous," Doddington said. | A second audio expert for the defense, George Doddington, also criticized prosecution experts who said Friday that screams and pleas on a 911 recording likely belonged to Martin. "It's all ridiculous," Doddington said. |
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