After a one day break for the Fourth of July the jury returns to hear the prosecution bring their testimony to an end in the George Zimmerman trial. Taking the stand to start the day is Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Judge Debra Nelson had indicated on Wednesday that the prosecution would likely rest at the end of the day but this proved incorrect as testimony over DNA evidence ran long. The prosecution should call its last witnesses today. While it is unknown who they will be calling it is assumed by experts that Dr. Shiping Bao, the doctor who performed the autopsy on Martin, will be called before the state's case rests, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Fulton was asked to identify the screams in the background of the 911 call that has been central to the case. After prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda asked Fulton if she had ever heard her son yelling the 911 tape was played. Fulton said that the screaming voice belonged to her son. Zimmerman's father has claimed that the voice screaming belongs to George Zimmerman, reports Fox News.
Crime lab analyst Anthony Gorgone had the most important testimony on Wednesday. Gorgone testified that he found no evidence of Zimmerman's DNA under Martin's fingernails. The defense's case rests on the theory that Zimmerman acted in self-defense when he shot Martin and often DNA under a person's fingernails is a tell-tale sign that they were in an altercation, according to Fox News.
Gorgone also testified that Martin's DNA was not found on the grip of Zimmerman's pistol; Zimmerman has claimed in the past that Martin attempted to grab his gun. Defense attorney Don West was able to raise some doubt in the minds of the jury about the accuracy of the DNA evidence when it was revealed that some of the evidence, notably Martin's sweatshirt, was mishandled by police at the scene, Fox News reports.
When the state rests the defense will begin calling witnesses, assuming that Judge Nelson turns down the defense's likely request for an acquittal. It is not yet known whether or not the defense plans on calling Zimmerman to the stand, reports the Orlando Sentinel.
To watch a live stream of today's proceedings click here.