George Zimmerman Trial: Judge to weigh possible prosecutor sanctions post-trial
(CBS) A court information technology director took the stand at a pre-trial hearing in the George Zimmerman case Thursday and testified that he found more than 1,000 additional photos -- including photos of marijuana and a hand holding a gun - and some deleted text messages and on Trayvon Martin's phone.
PICTURES: George Zimmerman in court
READ: Trayvon Martin Shooting: A timeline of events
Defense attorney Mark O'Mara has maintained that prosecutors didn't turn over the information, and has asked the court to sanction prosecutors. During a hearing Thursday, a judge ruled that the issue of possible sanctions should be taken up after trial.
The hearing is the last before Zimmerman stands trial in Martin's February, 2012 shooting death, and proceedings could stretch into Friday.
Fourth Judicial Circuit Information Technology Director Ben Kruidbos said that he discovered the additional texts and photos that weren't included in a report sent to the defense team after requesting a source file from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The photos, he said, included images of marijuana, a hand holding a gun, naked girls that appeared to be underage, and a clump of jewelry on a bed.
Deleted text messages, he said, appeared to be referencing a gun transaction.
Kruidbos said that after discovering the new information, which he handed over to prosecutors, he hired a lawyer because he wasn't sure whether the information would be turned over to the defense and he was afraid he might be implicated.
"I think all information shared in the process is important to make sure it's a fair trial," Kruidbos said.
Kruidbos has since been placed on administrative leave.
His lawyer, Wesley White, a former employee of the Fourth Circuit State Attorney's Office and former co-worker of prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda, testified Thursday that he called defense attorney Mark O'Mara to ask whether O'Mara had received the new information. O'Mara replied that he hadn't, White said.
On cross-examination, de la Rionda asked White about bias against the State Attorney's Office after resigning from his post there, but White denied that and said he felt obligated to report potential misconduct.
The judge was set to hear testimony regarding a state audio expert who claimed he heard Trayvon Martin yelling "I'm begging you" in the background of a neighbor's 911 call. If allowed, the state expert could prove key for prosecutors.
Complete coverage of the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case on Crimesider
