Things are looking grim so far in the trial of George Zimmerman, the former neighborhood-watch captain accused of murdering teenager Trayvon Martin. At least, that's what The Daily Beast and the legal experts the publication interviewed have to say. In The Daily Beast's news story on the first two days of the trial, Miami-Dade County Criminal Defense Attorney Eric M. Matheny was one of the several knowledgeable lawyers who provided legal commentary for the story about how the trial is going so far and what is expected to occur in the future. Attorney Matheny specifically discussed the prosecution's solid performance so far, the limitations of the 911 recording and his expectations of what will happen to Zimmerman.
The Daily Beast article, which was published on June 26, was titled "George Zimmerman Is Off to a Rough Start, Legal Experts Say." It summarized the events that occurred over the first two days of the trial. One of those events was an "unusual" start to the defense's opening statement, which included Zimmerman's defense attorney telling a knock-knock joke about the difficulty of jury selection. This is how the joke went, according to article: "Knock, knock." "Who's there?" "George Zimmerman." "George Zimmerman, who?" "Alright, good, you are on the jury." The prosecution, on the other hand, was determined to have made a robust opening statement, which started with the statement of the phrase of profanity that the prosecutor says Zimmerman used shortly before the shooting occurred. Furthermore, the jury was shown graphic images of Trayvon Martin's dead body, his wounds and the gun that the defendant used in the shooting.
Attorney Matheny told The Daily Beast: "I think the prosecution has such a strong command of the courtroom. … Zimmerman should be scared right now." The lawyer noted that the prosecutor was able to show Zimmerman as a paranoid cop wannabe, according to the article.
When discussing the fact that it will not be possible to prove in court whether it was Zimmerman's voice or Martin's voice crying for help on the 911 recording of the altercation, Attorney Matheny stated that this this missing proof will probably be something the jury has a tough time with. He predicted that Zimmerman will be convicted of aggravated manslaughter instead of murder. He also noted that regardless of how the case turns out, Zimmerman will most likely undergo an experience much like that of Casey Anthony, a Florida mom accused of murdering her daughter. "He's a marked man," Attorney Matheny is quoted as saying. "He might as well leave the country. He is one person I wouldn't trade places with."
Attorney Matheny has experience handling various types of criminal cases, including those involving murder and manslaughter. As a former prosecutor and current criminal defense lawyer, Mr. Matheny has a wealth of knowledge about the criminal justice system and about how defendants can most effectively challenge their criminal charges. Contact The Law Offices of Eric M. Matheny, P.A.for assistance with your case!