The prosecution and defense teams in the George Zimmerman second-degree murder trial went back and forth on Thursday, striking potential jurors until a 6-member all female almost all white jury was agreed upon and sworn in.
Identified only by numbers, the jury consists of: B-29, B-76, B-37, B-51, E-6, and E-60. Four alternate jurors – two men and two women – were also selected.
Prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda attempted to have E-6 and B-76 stricken, but Circuit Judge Debra Nelson disallowed the strikes.
De la Rionda said during questioning, E-6 had expressed the view that “Innocent people go to prison” and he was concerned that she would focus on the “penalty aspects” and not the evidence.
He was also concerned that B-76 might have pre-formed impressions, as according to De la Rionda, she had queried “Why was the kid out getting candy at night?,” in reference to Trayvon Martin.
The jury is composed of:
B-29: A non-white woman, possibly Hispanic, who was living in Chicago when Martin was shot and killed by Zimmerman in February 2012.
B-76: A white middle-aged woman who said she was aware Zimmerman had had an altercation with a young man and there was a struggle and the gun went off.
B-37: A middle-aged white woman.
B-51: A retired white woman who has a real-estate background. She said she knew quite a bit about the case, but could be flexible in her thinking.
E-6: A young white woman and mother who is currently unemployed. She has teenage children and used the case as a teachable moment in regarding them being out at night.
E-40: A white woman who is a safety officer. She was living in Iowa at the time of the shooting.
The alternate jurors selected were: E-54, a middle-aged white man; E-73, a middle-aged white woman; B-52, a white male and E-13, a white woman.
On Thursday morning, defense attorney Mark O’Mara spent much of the time trying to determine how potential jurors make their decisions and educating them on what their burden is. He discussed terms like “direct evidence,” “circumstantial evidence,” “guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” “self-defense” and drove home the point that Zimmerman is presumed innocent until proven guilty. He made clear too that it is the prosecution which has the burden of proof.
O’Mara at one point placed his hands on Zimmerman’s shoulders as he spoke, no doubt seeking to humanize him, thus making it harder for the jury to convict him.
The 6-member jury, along with 4 alternates, all of whom will be sequestered, was sworn in and dismissed.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Travon Martin. He has said that he shot Martin in self-defense.
Prosecutor say, Zimmerman profiled Martin and shot him, believing that the was going to commit a crime.
Opening arguments in the George Zimmerman murder trial will begin next Monday, June 24.
