Trayvon Martin Case: Judge denies state motion for gag order on George Zimmerman's attorney

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

George Zimmerman, left, walks into court with attorney Mark O'Mara, Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 in Sanford, Fla.

/ AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, George Skene, Pool

(CBS) SANFORD, Fla. - The judge in the George Zimmerman case has denied the state's request to issue a gag order for Zimmerman's attorney, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

On Friday, Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda argued that he believes Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara has been using a website, social media and news conferences to influence potential jurors.

O'Mara launched a website, as well as Twitter and Facebook accounts in April, citing a need to diffuse fraudulent Internet entities that claimed to come from Zimmerman.

O'Mara contends he doesn't discuss specific evidence on the sites and has been compliant with all bar rules. He said he put up the website manage the press "ethically and properly."

Judge Nelson also ordered Zimmerman's stand your ground hearing must be filed and heard on before April 26, 45 days before the trial is schedule to begin.

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty, citing Florida's "stand your ground" law as his defense to shooting the unarmed teenager in February.

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by Millennial November 5, 2012 3:48 PM EST: Chuck,

Again you're lying or obviously inept and/or incompetence about this case. So WE THE PEOPLE, can just wait long enough and you'll recant what you've said before in defense of Zimmerman(like you stated in your previous comment) basically denying you'vee said such things before. So its nothing new with you other than changing your TAG NAME on this thread from time to time, which is no secret nor are you fooling ANYONE, actually demonstrating how delusional you are in general.

ANYWAY... minus this KNOWN FACT- back to your non-sensical comment response.

If GZ followed the suggestion of the PD as he agreed. HE WOULDN'T BE CHARGED WITH 2nd degree murder, those are the FACTS of COMMON sense.

Zimmerman laid in wait for this KID, and yes by LAW--TM is a KID, whether you like this FACT or NOT under Florida law states as such that TM was a Minor. SO I will continue to defend the LAW, Trayvon was A KID by age under the law.

This case does matter in evidence, TM didn't have a weapon, Zimmerman DID. TM didn't have a knife, NOTHING, he didn't even use the can of tea as an weapon against Zimmerman, which would had made SENSE to magically attacked zimmerman.

Zimmerman, -- MADE calls for weeks PRIOR to this shooting, calls to the PD on what he FELT were suspicious black males, NOT ONE called placed by Zimmerman was found to be TRUE, not ONE, which SPEAKS VOLUMES about Zimmerman's intent, character/ demeanor with regard to black males.

Like I said, you DON't know FACTS UPON LAW with regard to murder cases. ALL you keep talking about is an assault, let me tell you dummie, this murder CASE is more than an assault, this is about evidence gathered, leading to the shooting, about character and demeanor, as Zimmerman's defense is trying to say about TM, so likewise, it will be for ZIMMERMAN.

But of course you want to make this KId out to be suspicious, otherwise, you HAVE NOTHING and neither does the defense that's why they want TM school RECORDS, a KID in SCHOOL, get it?

Not ONE thing Zimmerman told the POLICE about this KID was true.nor did TM had a RECORD of any violence WHAT SO EVER, can you say the SAME about ZIMMERMAN, HELL no you CAN'T! Get a Clue!

You keep crying about an assault, an assault happened as far as I'm concerned to TM as well by zimmerman, that's WHY TM was defending himshelf and HE got the BEST of zimmerman who acosted and asaulted HIM (IMPO) Only if he had left the location to meet the PD as he agreed!

So you & your kind can continue to profile according to your race based agenda idiocy of character assination, its apparent and stupid, and really no one cares but you and your kind.. its senseless IGNORANCE and FRANKLY SAD and a disgrace to humankind.

Zimmerman is no credit to the community, none what so ever, YET again here he is AGAIN in trouble with the LAW AGAIN for violence, his record has demonstrated this TIME AND TIME AGAIN, and I could care less if it was yesterday or (7) years ago, he still demonstates he's a asSINine wannbe FAILURE and a menace to society, who doesn't have the intellect of SNAIL and on top of that, he's a habitual LIAR, and for that reason ALONE, he's not to be TRUSTED as to ANYTHING he states as the truth with regard to this case. SO AGAIN that's WHY he's being charged with MURDER. He's a RECKLESS person and has been most of his life by document records.

I was raised to believe and told to me by my parents, if a person is habitual LIAR, this person will steal and eventually KILL, Zimmeran is habitual liar PROVEN, he STOLE money from his donors and lied to the court how much money was actually donated to his case. His bail was revoked because of this and we now KNOW Zimmerman has KILLED.

Furthermore, LETS not forget the ORIGINAL TRAINED INVESTIGATOR on the scene & case didn't believe Zimmerman either and wanted zimmerman ARRESTED because zimmerman's statemnt wasn't consistant with the evidence at the scene(again) get the FACTS STRAIGHT-- ALL OF THE FACTS not the so called facts that make Zimmerman look innocent in YOUR EYES.

Some further KNOWN facts since you went there ..as if this fact has no bearing to the CASE! The dumbazz Chief of PD and the ORIGINAL prosecutor FAILED UNDER THE LAW in due PROCESS with this CASE and that's WHY both Chief and PROSECUTOR were REMOVED and should have BEEN which STATES this CASE was FLAWED under the LAW, THOSE ARE THE FACTS! GET A CLUE!

So you can say what you want to SAY and spin and ignore SOME FACTS, as if the assault is what this case is all about, trust me ITS NOT, that WHY Zimmerman was FINALLY ARRESTED as he should have been for the START and wasn't- especially when a TRAINED INVESITGATOR stated as such.

When two authority personell are REMOVED from a case there's a legitimate REASON under the LAW for doing so as in this CASE, AGAIN, these are the FACTS.

WE the People, for the people FOUGHT for DUE PROCESS UNDER THE LAW for Trayvon Martin NOT TO BE DENIED.; Reply to this comment


by ReckonedTruth November 4, 2012 12:39 PM EST: by Chuck766 November 2, 2012 2:10 PM EDT
I have never claimed to know all the facts! Much of the evidence has been made public under Florida law! Just how much more evidence do you think there could be?

I've never claimed to able to read Zimmerman's mind! No evidence can prove what a person was thinking, so I stick to the solid evidence.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Liar, you have claimed to have known all the facts, and even claim the physical evidence is all that is needed to let george zimmerman off the hook for shooting this 17 year old KID who WASN't ARMED or doing anything against the LAW. Why didn't GZ go to meet the PD as he was instructed, and YES he was instructed to MEET the PD.
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Evidence, beleive me there is MORE evidences we haven't heard, for starters the witnesses ans how the sanford PD dealt with their LACK of due process, hence, why the Sanford chief of PD was FIRED. If you don't think this will have some barring on how this CASE will end? What can i say about you other than you have appeared to be ..let's say, not so smart.

You have claimed over and over again-- Trayvon Martin JUMPED or attacked GZ, the evidence have already PROVEN there was no surprize attack by TM to GZimmerman, here's the reason why, GZ stated that TM was coming towards him when the BOTH of them eyed each other, the 911 audio tapes PROVES this by zimmerman's own words via 911 audio tapes. GZ never stated anywhere inhis words immediately after the shooting that TM doubled back to attack GZ, he only changed his story when his LIES didn't pan out as the truth with regard tothis shooting. Then he stated, oh, by the way TM doubled back to attack me!

Furthermore, we do know what was on GZ mind, he said so during the 911 PD dispatcher's audio, he stated, TM was on drugs, carrying something in his pocket(a can of Ice tea)..just listen to the 911 audio, GZ made all kinds of accusations to the 911 PD dispatcher, simply to get the police out to the gated community.

We now KNOW that all the accusations that GZ made against TM to the 911 PD dispatcher on audio was FALSE, his comments were nothng but SHEER FRIGHT, insecurties, paranoria, by a PERSON with a weapon who HAS NO business with a weapon demonstrating a mental capacity as indept, who states "killing an unarmed 17 year old is God's will" .. really?

Get this insane person OFF the STREET and in prison where he belongs.; Reply to this comment


by protheist November 4, 2012 5:24 AM EST: This is all cool and all but where do I get some of those Trayvon range targets ? Anyone ?; Reply to this comment

by BigZimMan November 3, 2012 1:59 PM EDT

As a 70-year old Florida Senior Citizen I am just simply happy that Mr. Zimmer man got rid of that thar Big Tough Guy Gold-tooth Gangstra THUG! Now I feel much SAFER each day when I walk down to my neighborhood Walgreen's Publix or Win-Dixie! Far as I am rightly concerned this here Neighborhood Watch Patrol Officer is a Great American "HERO" bar none!!! Now I have one less Big Tough Guy Gold-tooth Gangstra THUG to worry about Mugging Molesting Robbing me as I go out to the Doctor's the Stores or to Bingo! THANK YOU George Zimmerman you shall always be a "HERO" in mine and millions of other Senior Elderly Floridian's like for sure!!!

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by dkt5331 November 3, 2012 2:32 PM EDT: If you're as old as you say, you're a low life racist! Trayvon had no criminal record. If you have any kind of a brain in your head, you should know this. However, George Zimmerman did have a criminal record. I do not believe that you were afraid of an innocent 17 year old kid. You're just blowing smoke. However it is obvious that you'er an inept racist.


by ReckonedTruth November 4, 2012 11:57 AM EST: @ BigZimMAN ..You're nothing but a FAKE sounding LIAR, 70? Sure you are, and if so, I will be happy when you PPL with your raised in racist views are put in the ground buried. And at 70 you're not walking no where at night, period, and its has nothing to do with safety, you fall the sleep before the sun goes down, LIAR!


by Millennial November 6, 2012 9:19 AM EST: Chuck,

No one should be ashamed to call a racist a racist no matter how old or young the racist may be.

What this person supposelly named BigZIM Man--needs to be concerned WITH- CHILD molesters primairly white males are in their neighborhood, child molesters and murderers by in large are white males in the nation as the number one crime against CHILDREN in AMERICA, just shift thru on the site(CRIMEINSIDER) and notice who the people ARE in larger precentage committing the most heinous CRIMES in america.


by dkt5331 November 3, 2012 1:04 PM EDT: This Chuck character is a real idiot! He says he believes Zimmerman's claim of self defense because he based it on facts. He writes a lot but has not mentioned any facts. He too inept to know that Zimmerman's story has changed everytime Zimmerman talks about it. Which version does he believe. Is it the one where Trayvon jumps out of some bushes or maybe when Trayvon jumps out of the darkness. How about the one where Trayvon attacked him from behind. Perhaps, it's the story where Trayvon walks up to him face to face and asks Zimmerman if he has a problem. Please tell us all Chuck: What trigered Trayvon's attack on Zimmerman? Was it for no reason at all? Chuck probably doesn't even know That Trayvon's girlfriend was an ear withess to the confrontation via their cell phones. Her version of what went down, does not match Zimmerman's version.; Reply to this comment

by Mick_from_Amsterdam November 2, 2012 1:18 PM EDT

For a person of your obvious intellectual limitations, Chuck...you're quite pompous...and more than just a bit ridiculous...

You claim that you and you alone have all the FACTS to this case, huh?

You claim to be capable of looking into Zimmerman's mind and determining exactly what his thoughts and motivations were...and of what his "justification" was before he gunned down an unarmed kid...other than not liking his looks

Yet you ridicule and disparage any opposing opinion as flying in the face of the "facts"...as determined by yourself and an unstable, confrontational, cop-wannabe bully who has since provided ample reason to doubt his credibility...about ANYTHING!

How in the hell can you claim to know the "facts" when none have been presented yet...and dismiss as "wild accusations" any comments that contradict Zimmerman's self-serving (and very flexible) account of events?

That's why they have trials, Chuck (that thing that Zimmerman and his fixer-father tried so desperately to avoid before going into the panhandling business)

If I'm wrong...if everything happened exactly as Zimmerman claims...than he's only guilty of manslaughter...as the one who set everything in motion with his willful and ego-driven actions...

But I don't believe I'm wrong...

A young person died, Chuck...granted not a person of much value as JUDGED by the likes of you...a person who was a "thug" who ASKED to be murdered for walking while black....one who refused to submit to Zimmerman's self-conferred "authority"

Since it's too late for you to grow a brain...you should concentrate on your soul...if it hasn't already been bartered away

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by Mick_from_Amsterdam November 2, 2012 3:16 PM EDT: EMOTIONS?

Well...you sure as hell have never allowed logic or intelligence to affect your thinking either!

And no Chuck, I called Zimmerman an unstable, confrontational cop-wannabe bully based on his arrest record and the comments of former co-workers he bullied before being fired from various jobs.

You said, "Don't forget, 50% of the witnesses to the incident (sic) is dead!"

From this you conclude that all the self-serving statements made by the survivor of a two party confrontation between an armed 28 year old and an unarmed 17 year old minor actually constitute "proof" that, "It was all the dead guy's fault...because his killer says so"

Or that Zimmerman was "brutally attacked"...the proof being a minute scratch on his head from being "repeatedly slammed into the pavement" but that didn't require a single stitch.

No one ever claimed that Zimmerman is a GOOD liar...just that he's a liar...

And a person who is AT LEAST guilty of manslaughter...

But that's not really his fault...IT WAS GOD'S WILL!

by mercymercyl October 31, 2012 11:20 AM EDT

Frankly, the behavior of Trayvon Martins family is not conducive to the disposition of this case in a fair and impartial way. The Judge is not going to be influenced by racist propaganda, neither will the jury. The division here is black and white, when it should be colorblind. Jesse Jackson and his team of supporters need to back off and let the court system prevail.They are trying to influence the jury pool in favor of Martin, which they may very well be able to do. Zimmerman has a right as an American Citizen to receive a fair trial, and to have an even playing field. Whether or not this is possible will remain to be seen, but if the black coalition keeps pumping bigotry and hatred into the community, I seriously doubt that this will be possible.

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by DevoutPlayerhater October 31, 2012 11:51 AM EDT: Please take Jesse Jackson and his team of supporters out of this because they had a right to advocate for the Martin's family. All they did, if any thing, was to coordinate and direct the Martin's call for Justice for George Zimmerman's killing of their son. They are, after all, advocates for equal justice. Once George Zimmerman was FINALLY arrested for killing Trayvon, you have NOT heard a word from them. Their jobs were done the moment that arrest was made. You however seem to suggest that they still have an involvement in the case when in fact they do not. The Martins have hired an attorney so that their rights are adequately protected, and YOU and/or your family would have done the same thing if George Zimmerman had bumped off somebody in your family. There is no such thing as a 'black coalition'..There is however a thing called Equality of Justice. A number of criminals like George Zimmerman go free because people too often accept NO for an answer when they are denied equal access to the judicial system. The first amendment of the constituion guarantees EVERYBODY the right to Petition the Government for Redress, and the Martins are exercising their right under the Constituion. Simple as that.

by DevoutPlayerhater October 30, 2012 3:24 PM EDT

The REAL reason George Zimmerman has put on so much weight is he hopes to mislead the Judge and Jury about his size when he claim to have been attacked by Trayvon. Clearly GZ was much thinner than he is now...When GZ chased TM down with his gun, he looked like a crack head that had smoked his knee caps out...

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by DevoutPlayerhater October 30, 2012 7:49 PM EDT: @Chuck766

Apparently you haven't been paying to much attention to the case if you didn't see where George Zimmerman has a GUN and according to Witness #2 was chasing Trayvon Martin. So, the next time you post anything you had better make sure you can comment without innuendo. The evidence is clear...George Zimmerman got out of his truck with a loaded Gun and began CHASING TM until he caught up to him, shot and killed him. That's the crux of what happened that night. There's nothing fancy about it.


by TucoRamirez1 October 31, 2012 12:47 AM EDT: @Devoutplayerhater: Stop hating, both your original post and the reply have absolutely no evidence. That is why we have a court of law instead of a court of newspapers and electronic made up news! Wait for the trial. Evidence has to be passed upon by the judge. The evidence has to be shared with the defense first or it is inadmissible. Have you ever been a juror in a criminal trial? I have and the jury gets to hear maybe 1/2 the "evidence" that the State's attorney wants admitted.


by DogzRule1 October 31, 2012 2:49 AM EDT: @TucoRamirez1

What evidence do you think they won't see? We have George's call where he admits to following, he obviously had a gun - he didn't shoot Trayvon with his finger - and Trayvon is dead. Which of that evidence will not be admissible?


by Rusty_Shackleford75 October 31, 2012 3:17 AM EDT: EPIC FAIL!!!!!
Witness #2 in the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case, has been highlighted in the media recently (along with a few other witnesses) as having recently changed her story-or at least that seems to be the interpretation of a lot of people after reading the coverage.

Before we get to how the details of her eyewitness account differ from law enforcement interview to interview, let's establish a few facts. The first thing you need to know is that she was interviewed on three different dates: March 1st and March 9th by Investigator Chris Serino of the Sanford Police Department, and on March 20th by Investigator John Batchelor of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. There are a total of four audio files for her interviews, because there are two recordings by Chris Serino on March 1, 2012.

In terms of her actual testimony, here's a quick summary of the contradictions:

She told authorities that she had taken out her contact lenses just before the incident. In her first recorded interview with Sanford police four days after the shooting, she told lead Investigator Chris Serino, "I saw two guys running. Couldn't tell you who was in front, who was behind."

She stepped away from her window, and when she looked again, she "saw a fistfight. Just fists. I don't know who was hitting who." [...]

That all changed when she was re-interviewed March 20 by a state agent. That time, she recalled catching a glimpse of just one running figure, she told investigator John Batchelor, and she heard the person more than saw him.

"I couldn't tell you if it was a man, a woman, a kid, black or white. I couldn't tell you because it was dark and because I didn't have my contacts on or glasses.... I just know I saw a person out there."
Source: LA Times

One of the interesting things about her testimony is that she seemed so certain of her original statements in her first interview with Investigator Serino on March 1st. If you're wondering why she wasn't interviewed until March 1st, the interview of her sister (Witness #1) seems to clue us in. She decided to come forward and tell what she observed the night Trayvon Martin was shot after attending the community meeting where the shooting was discussed. It's possible that her sister did the same, accounting for why the interview wasn't conducted sooner.


by ReckonedTruth October 31, 2012 8:47 AM EDT: @Chuck, don't pretend to not know the facts and hope others DON'T know the facts to contribute your conjecture.

..have you forgotten about the PD dispatcher call Zimmerman made?

Zimmerman admitted he was following TM, and was told not too and to MEET the PD at the recreation center at the FRONT of the gated community(audio) ZIMMERMAN did not do that, he sat there and followed TM instead who was fleeing away from Zimmerman that's a FACT as evidence according to the cell phone conversation TM had with witness #8..

.. and so Zimmerman waited for this 17 year old kid at the BACK EXIT of the gated community instead of going to the FRONT as he was told by the 911 PD dispatcher and Zimmerman agreed he would, not knowing that TM was a guest who resided at the town home @ the BACK exit of the gated community where is brother and step mother and father resided.

Zimmerman had one thing in mind, to confront TM with provocation when he was TOLD NOT too, and as result a 17 year young KId is dead and zimmerman needs to he HELD accountable and EXPLAIN why did he NOT do as he was instructed and as result a kid is shoot dead, when in fact the PD was on their way and he knew this.

Zimmerman was a train crash to happen eventually given his past with domestic violence, unfortunately, he crashed with a INNOCENT person, a 17 year old kid whose life was taken needlessly upon zimmerman's FEAR and paranoria that's race-based prejudice(evidence of what zimmerman stated to the 911 PD dispatcher about a KId he didn't know) and as result a kid is dead by zimmerman hands.

Talk about conjecture latitude? Zimmerman did just that before he shot TM, its murder (IMPO) he played Judge, jury and GOD and took a life, instead of doing the RIGHt thing as he was instructed too, go and MEET the PD as he agreed too and NOT CONFRONT this kid who had no ideal who he was in the dark following him home.

LEt me add, any evidence involving this case with the signature from the Chief of police - should be admissable, he conspired to cover-up this murder by not following DUE PROCESS UNDER THE LAW for this kid, basically, taking the word of the shooter and denying the civil rights of DUE process under the law for the decreased.

by andie52 October 30, 2012 3:05 PM EDT

Zimmerman must have some big money backers since a few month ago even his mommy and daddy were begging for funds.if only mommy and daddy hadn't covered for him all of these years Trayvon might still be alive

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by TucoRamirez1 October 31, 2012 12:51 AM EDT: On what facts do you base your conjectures? " Just the Facts Ma'am!" Sgt. Joe Friday.


by dkt5331 October 30, 2012 1:20 PM EDT: I dont know why the prosecution wants a gag order. Every time Zimmerman or his legal team runs their mouths they put another nail in Zimmerman's coffin.; Reply to this comment