Experts debate whether shouts are Trayvon Martin's

May 14, 2013 @ 10:35 am

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Audio experts differ on whether screams for help captured on 911 calls are those of defendant George Zimmerman or of shooting victim 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, according to reports released Tuesday.

One New Jersey-based audio expert said in a report that the screams came from Martin, while another Florida-based audio expert said the shouts were a mix of Martin and Zimmerman.

Attorneys prosecuting Zimmerman on a charge of second-degree murder hired the audio experts to compare samples of Zimmerman's and Martin's voices with the shouts from the 911 calls phoned in by neighbors of Zimmerman. The residents of the gated community heard the neighborhood watch leader struggling with the South Florida teen during a confrontation last year. Determining whose voice was calling for help could aid a jury in deciding whether Zimmerman's claims of self-defense were justified.

Zimmerman is pleading not guilty and his trial starts next month.

Martin's family claims the voice is that of the South Florida teen, while Zimmerman's father has said in court he believes the cries are from his son.

Zimmerman's defense attorney, Mark O'Mara, has asked a judge to determine whether the audio analysis can be used at trial. O'Mara said in a filing that he was concerned the analysis of the 911 calls would prejudice jurors.

"Counsel has significant and legitimate concerns that such evidence will confuse the issues for this jury to decide, and it may well mislead the jury in this area of inquiry," O'Mara said in the filing.

___

Follow Mike Schneider at http://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (97)


  • Add A Comment

  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Zimmerman may be guilty
    April 11, 2012 11:23 am
    But he will never get a fair trial now.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kata wrote...
    bring on the bread and circuses.
    April 11, 2012 3:22 pm
    -
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Zimmerman is innocent
    April 11, 2012 9:56 pm
    Here is how it works..until he is convicted of something he is INNOCENT.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • squzio wrote...
    Zimmerman All Lie's
    June 2, 2012 12:40 am
    This guy can't be trusted, he has been honest from day one, only deception and concern about his own welfare. He should have never got bail in the first place. I mean come on he killed a unarmed teenager, just a child in my book. I really believe when zimmerman realized he was losing the fight he started, young Martin was then shot to save his own butt. He must pay for it now end of story!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • squzio wrote...
    All Lie's
    June 2, 2012 12:43 am
    He has not been honest from day one!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    Zimmerman is innocent.....
    June 18, 2012 8:53 am
    "Here is how it works..until he is convicted of something he is INNOCENT." --------------Yup. Just like he convicted the kid that he pursued after being told repeatedly not to. And shot with a gun that neighborhood watch rules said he shouldn't be carrying. Yup. Zimmerman's real innocent alright. Innocent of having any real brains.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    This is the way it works.
    April 11, 2012 2:14 pm
    Bowing to the will of the loudest racisists. He will be found not guilty but the prosecutor can say they tried.A few more taxpayer $ down the drain. I wonder if they'll get the reward from The New Black Panthers? They should be called the Whining Black Kitties.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fourstringfuror wrote...
    .
    April 11, 2012 2:39 pm
    Racists everywhere rejoice!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GloScot wrote...
    But what if no conviction?
    April 11, 2012 3:18 pm
    So they have their arrest but what if Zimmerman is not guilty? Seems to me that the people who have boarded this bandwagon will settle for nothing but a conviction. If Zimmerman is declared not guilty, rioting will take place in the streets of Sanford, Florida. The truth doesn't matter in these cases, just the perception and what people want to be true. A kids is dead and the parents want justice, just like I would. But then the Sharptons of the world come to prey. Anyway, the guy is arrested but act two still has yet to play out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    trial is what was wanted.......by Trayvon's parents.
    April 11, 2012 4:02 pm
    Regardless of the Jacksons and Sharptons of the world, I think justice is what most reasonable people want to see. ... There are so many questions and conflicting versions of what happened that night that ONLY a trial can sort everything out. .. What WOULD cause rioting is if there were to be no trial at all. .. But now, thankfully, sanity can prevail. .. And whenever there is an outcome, things will remain calm.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CHJ(cliff hanger jr) wrote...
    wrong
    April 23, 2012 9:29 am
    i told you already Zimmerman's dead one way or the other, calm?you wish
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    still havn't seen a current picture
    April 11, 2012 3:35 pm
    Of poor little Trayvon
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    Ahhh this is just what our pres. wants.
    April 11, 2012 3:50 pm
    Laying the ground work for his voting base. Another divide and conquer move. His side will exploit anyone to get to their agenda.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    murr
    April 11, 2012 4:00 pm
    Better add another layer of foil. The waves are getting through to your head.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Don of the dead wrote...
    Drool
    April 20, 2012 9:17 am
    Murr is right and you're a sheepboy..Always remember if you don't vote for obama then you're a racist. this has been and still is is grand plan.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Derrol_o wrote...
    Don
    July 16, 2012 10:24 am
    No kidding. They say if you don't vote for obama then you're a racist but 95% of black voters voted for Obama (4% for McCain) while 45% of white voters voted for Obama (55% for McCain). Hypocrisy? Nah.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Right
    April 11, 2012 7:25 pm
    Obama has a part in this. The right wing mind at work.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    It is the Justice Department
    April 11, 2012 8:49 pm
    Making the move and Obama already made a statement on it. So maybe you should know what you are talking about before commenting wsualumn.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    daveis
    April 12, 2012 5:57 am
    Your first comment sounds like a question. Obama made a statement because he was asked a question. He response was a father simply showing empathy. No matter what he would do, the party of no would have a problem. If he says that he isn't going to comment, they would howl "what sort of a leader is this guy." If he said that he supports the police department, they would say "They did a terrible job. There was no thorough investigation." No matter what he would do, you would have complaints. This decision sounds like it was made by the state of Florida, not the federal government. I know the right wing will claim that The White House made the state do this. this guy should have been arrested. If this had been a black guy shooting Zimmerman, I will bet you he would have been arrested. The police department had blood tests done on the victim, but none on the shooter. That is just one of the many mistakes made by the department.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Derrol_o wrote...
    wsualumn
    July 16, 2012 10:37 am
    You remember the situation with the Duke Lacrosse team members getting falsely accused of raping the black stripper and the overzealous prosecutor who kept pursuing the matter even after it was clear to him that the dudes were innocent and suppressing information that exonerated them and violated his code of ethics just so he could get a photo op and folk hero status for being the "tough as nails" DA who took down the rich white kids for "raping" the black woman? After all of that played out the way it did I can't help but be skeptical of the prosecution's motives or objectives in a case like this and whether Zimmerman will get a fair trial.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Eric Holder
    April 12, 2012 7:37 pm
    THE ATTORNET GENERAL of THE USA is at a FUND RAISER right now, as I write this for Rev. Al Shaprton. Does anybody think there could be just the slightest Conflict of Interest? The head of the D.O.J is hob-nobbing with one of THE BIGGEST RACE Baitors in the Country? Yeah, the Obama administration isn't divisive....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CHJ(cliff hanger jr) wrote...
    what?
    April 23, 2012 9:44 am
    Holy crap your paranoid arnt you?i bet you believe in area 51 right?try not to get up-ducted by your alien buddies and watch for unicorns k?*takes a bow*
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jstumbo wrote...
    It should be based on the evidence.
    April 11, 2012 4:35 pm
    I hope they have they evidence to back it up. If they do not and he is found not guilty, I hope he sues them big time for malicious prosecution. This will bankrupt him.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 32coupe wrote...
    An investigation is called for...
    April 11, 2012 4:43 pm
    But the various self-appointed black "leaders" such as Al Sharlatan, Jesse "shake down" Jackson and the looney Farakhan have already set this up for failure. They have tried Zimmerman, found him guilty and in a bizzare twist have enlisted a lynch mob. There is no way that they will accept a not guilty verdict and there is no way that Zimmerman will receive a fair trial. And as far a murder charge, this looks more like a manslaughter at most. Everyone loses but the aforementioned schucksters...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    dont care - justice impossible.
    April 11, 2012 5:14 pm
    media has ruined both sides of this case. No possible fair trail available.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John E wrote...
    To all those claiming "racism"
    April 11, 2012 5:17 pm
    If the shoe was on the other foot.... An unarmed white person was followed and shot by a black person after the 911 operator instructed the black man to stop following the victim. Police do not charge because of "self defense" after a minimal investigation. Then self appointed white leaders, ( Franklin Graham, Jeb Bush and the looney Pat Robertson) lead a protest and media blitz to arrest and put on trial the black man. Would the white "lynch mob" be accused of racism, or fighting for justice? .....(Of course in reality, the black man would NEVER have been released without charges in a case like that. But let's say it did happen in an alternate dimension). Would there ever would have been an investigation, much less an arrest, if it were not for the outcries?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }