Medical Examiner: Martin Suffered After Being Shot, Lived Up to 10 Minutes
A medical examiner said on Friday that Trayvon Martin lived for up to 10 minutes after he was shot. The examiner's testimony came after the Martins took the stand.
The George Zimmerman trial began Friday with Sybrina Fulton taking the stand. Fulton was played a tape of a 911 call placed on the night Martin was killed. During the tape, a person can be heard screaming. Who the scream belongs to has become a focus because it could determine who the aggressor was.
After playing the tape for her in court, prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda asked Sybrina Fulton, "Who do you recognize that to be?" She replied, "Trayvon Benjamin Martin."
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Defense attorney Mark O'Mara responded by questioning whether or not Fulton would be capable of accepting that Martin might have done anything to instigate the situation. He also asked Fulton if she hoped it wasn't Martin making Zimmerman scream.
"I heard my son screaming," Fulton said. "I would hope for this to never have happened and he would still be here."
Jahvaris Fulton, Martin's brother, also testified the screaming voice was that of Martin.
"I didn't want to believe it was him," Jahvaris Fulton said.
Associate Medical Examiner Shiping Bao testified afterwards. During his testimony, he suggested that Martin had likely suffered just before his death; the judge halted testimony after it was overruled. In a new line of questioning, Bao stated that it was unlikely Martin died immediately. He estimated that Martin live one to 10 minutes after he was shot. The bullet entered the front of Martin's chest and exited out the back.
"There was no chance he could survive," Bao said.
Bao also stated that his opinion on the marijuana found in Martin's system had changed. He testified that he believes the drug could have had an impact on Martin physically. He had previously stated that it would not.
