Circuit Judge Debra Nelson ruled Friday that prosecutors could use the terms “Vigilante,” and “Wannabe cop” in opening statements Monday in the George Zimmerman second-degree murder trial.
Defense attorney Mark O’Mara had earlier filed a motion to have these terms barred from use by the prosecution, including “racial profiling,” because, according to him they are “inflammatory.”
State prosecutor John Guy argued that a person can be profiled not solely on the basis of race, but by age, clothing and the car they drive, among other factors. He added that the state didn’t intend to make “profiled” a racially charged term.
Nelson warned the state should refrain from using the specific term “racial profiling,” but prosecutors can describe what they believe the evidence will show.
Nelson is yet to rule on what could be central to the prosecution’s case – whether audio experts can testify about the screams heard in the background on a 911 call made by a neighbor the night 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was fatally shot. At least one prosecution expert has said the screams were those of Martin and another has said it wasn’t Zimmerman.
Zimmerman’s defense attorneys have said the methodology used by the state’s experts is flawed and don’t want the audio expert to testify.
Nelson said she may issue her ruling later on Friday or on Monday morning before opening statements at 9:00 a.m.
Zimmerman, 29, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old black teen. He claims he shot Martin in self-defense after the teen attacked him.
