Judge to rule in morning about Trayvon fighting texts after contentious nightime hearing
A hearing was held this evening, concluding just before 10 a.m., on the attempt of the defense to introduce expert testimony as to text messages regarding fighting found on Trayvon Martin’s cell phone. A large group of texts and photos were released in late May, but only some of them are at issue now.
The judge expressed concern about admissibility on ground of authentication, that the defense could prove that the texts were to and from Trayvon’s phone, but could not prove that Trayvon was using the phone at the time. “I don’t have any identifying marks that these text messages” were sent by or from Martin. “Another person may know that password.”
The texts in question were early in February 2012, just a week or so prior to the shooting at issue in the case.
One of the texts in question spoke about punching someone in the nose and making them bleed.
West: #TrayvonMartin texted on "how he was able to hit the person in the nose & make their nose bleed." #ZimmermanTrial #GeorgeZimmerman
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) July 10, 2013
As well as communicating with his half brother regarding fighting.
Connor: #TrayvonMartin's half-brother asked on Facebook when TM was going to "teach me how to fight." #ZimmermanTrial #GeorgeZimmerman
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) July 10, 2013
The testimony of Richard Connor showed a heavy flow of texts about fighting
Connor testifies he found another text convo from #TrayvonMartin's phone about a fight with rounds. #GeorgeZimmerman #ZimmermanTrial
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) July 10, 2013
Connor testifying about #TrayvonMartin texts. Says TM said he was sore from a fight. Lost 1st round, won the 2nd & 3rd. #ZimmermanTrial
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) July 10, 2013
The texts were kept in double password protected folders.
Oh, so the pictures were in a separate encrypted folder. So only Trayvon could have gotten access (deleted) them. #ZimmermanTrial #Zimmerman
— coreshift (@coreshift) July 10, 2013
Connor says he found app on phone designed to hide text messages in separate database. #ZimemrmanTrial #GeorgeZimmerman #TrayvonMartin
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) July 10, 2013
Connor: 2nd app hid pictures in what looked like French-language application folder. Also needed passcode for that. #ZimmermanTrial
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) July 10, 2013
The defense did not seek to introduce a photo of a gun found on the fun, stating that they had not yet connected it to the evidence introduced so far.
But the defense does want to introduce a photo on the phone showing Martin’s physique. Although the photo was not shown on camera at the hearing, I believe this is the photo:
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