# In which Stoid (The Prosecutor) Cross-examines Bricker (George Zimmerman) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561 "2012-04-22T05:35:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/161 "2012-04-25T20:01:02Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yes, a couple of things are not quite right. I saw him first when he was walking very slowly in front of, or actually at the side, of the clubhouse. So you should move points A and C north towards Retreat View. The other stuff looks about right, although it was dark and raining and I could be off a bit. All the building fronts look the same, and with the rain misting the windows it’s hard to be sure of exact locations. One thing that hasn’t been made clear was Traybon walking on the left side, The north side of the street, or the south/right side of the street? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/162 "2012-04-25T20:03:41Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > One thing that hasn’t been made clear was Traybon walking on the left side, The north side of the street, or the south/right side of the street? When I first passed him he was on my right, near the clubhouse. Then he started walking and crossed the street, so he was on the north side of Twin Trees, the side closest to Retreat View. It’s really helpful to have the map in front of me like this. Quite a difference from a dark, rainy night where I really didn’t know what was what. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/163 "2012-04-25T20:43:12Z")
I’m waiting for this line of questioning to reach the point of: “And so, as he was crossing the street, which foot did he step with first? Would you say he was walking slowly, or very slowly? And as he was walkin-ADMIT THAT YOU’RE MURDERER!!! MURDER MURDER MURDER! Now, as for the Skittles, could you tell if they were the tropical flavor?” ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/164 "2012-04-25T20:45:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’m waiting for this line of questioning to reach the point of: “And so, as he was crossing the street, which foot did he step with first? Would you say he was walking slowly, or very slowly? And as he was walkin-ADMIT THAT YOU’RE MURDERER!!! MURDER MURDER MURDER! Now, as for the Skittles, could you tell if they were the tropical flavor?” How are we supposed to know if Zimmerman really shot Trayvan unless we first examine all the facts? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/165 "2012-04-25T21:07:11Z")
I’m a bit reminded of the public defender in [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFOnB9ODRkA&t=10m7s) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/166 "2012-04-25T21:08:13Z")
Regarding following Trayvon, Mr. Zimmerman, you have failed to make certain things clear. This is your testimony thus far on this subject: NARRATIVE > [@](#): > > As the dispatcher said the police were en route,the individual began to move, and I was afraid he would get away before the police arrived. I started to follow him. The dispatcher realized I was following him and asked me not to. I QUESTIONS: > [@](#): > > Do you mean you followed him **on foot,** that you exited the vehicle, or do you mean that you drove after him somehow? Please refer to the map in explaining your answer. > > Do you mean us to understand, then, that you disregarded the dispatcher and persisted in following Trayvon,\*\* either on foot\*\* or your vehicle? Or should we take this simply as commentary? > > Presumably this is because at some point in the sequence of events you changed position, moving in some way from where you started? Or should we take this to mean that you had not moved the vehicle since you first saw Trayvon, you had only followed him **on foot?** Or something else? ANSWERS: > [@](#): > > First I followed him in the truck, then I got out of the truck to check the sign, and I did that at #3 circle on the map. > > The dispatcher didn’t say, “We order you not to follow him.” But, yes, I wish I hadn’t followed him. Your answers thus far have been incomplete and vague regarding following Trayvon on foot, if you did. 1. Did you at any time exit the vehicle to follow Trayvon on foot? 2. If you did, please tell us at what point in time you did so, and at what point on the map. 3. If you did follow him on foot, please tell us your path following him on foot. Please do not add anything else or explain anything else right now, answer these questions _ **only** _. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/167 "2012-04-25T21:24:23Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Hold on a second. I hope **bricker** is not doing any of this from work. You are using your porn site for uploading your map? WTF? Holy buckets, I’m glad you pointed that out since I am at work and I already clicked on it. :smack: I mean, yeah, I’m on a break but I’m going to have a hard time explaining away that URL. There’s got to be some sort of board rule against posting like that - I really don’t need “retro raunch” on my work or personal computer. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/168 "2012-04-25T21:30:05Z")
If anyone can post it elsewhere, please feel free. That’s the only immediately available server I can reach. I apologize, I didn’t realize that people had to worry about base URLS as long as all they looked at was the map image. (And if it becomes a problem for anyone, as long as you only looked at that image, that image is not a problem…) ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/169 "2012-04-25T21:35:27Z")
Thanks Stoid, I’m sorry if I overreacted. The maps have been helpful to the discussion. Our workplace is pretty cool about taking breaks and internet usage as long as we’re all productive; I don’t want to be the jerk that ruins that for everybody, hence my reaction. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/170 "2012-04-25T21:39:43Z")
Here are the two maps that **Stoid** has uploaded for this thread. They are hosted on a university server (.edu address). [First map](https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/mhender4/public_html/gen_images/zimmerman_1.png) [Second map](https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/mhender4/public_html/gen_images/zimmerman_2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/171 "2012-04-25T21:46:50Z")
And I just found my password for a safer URL. This is a [NEW map](http://stoid.org/mocktrial/newzim.jpg), updated according to Mr. Zimmerman’s answers. **Mr. Zimmerman** , again, please let us know if you feel the map is incorrect. And Chopper9760: no sweat on my end… and of course you can explain it and if it really does present any problem I’ll be happy to back you up and explain it. Goes for anyone. And of course… don’t look at anything other than the map, cuz then I can’t help ya. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/172 "2012-04-25T23:52:26Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Regarding following Trayvon, Mr. Zimmerman, you have failed to make certain things clear. > . > . > . > Your answers thus far have been incomplete and vague regarding following Trayvon on foot, if you did. _Object to the characterization. If the prosecution has questions, let them ask._ 1. Did you at any time exit the vehicle to follow Trayvon on foot? A: Yes. 2. If you did, please tell us at what point in time you did so, and at what point on the map. A: At the point I stopped, in the green circle. 3. If you did follow him on foot, please tell us your path following him on foot. A: roughly along the red line on your map. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/173 "2012-04-26T00:14:22Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > 1. Did you at any time exit the vehicle to follow Trayvon on foot? > A: Yes. You have told us that you exited the vehicle to assess your location, to look at the street sign. You told us it was at the green circle: > [@](#): > > 1. If you did, please tell us at what point in time you did so, and at what point on the map. > A: At the point I stopped, in the green circle. Does this mean that you only stopped and exited your vehicle one time? > [@](#): > > 1. If you did follow him on foot, please tell us your path following him on foot. > A: roughly along the red line on your map. For how long? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/174 "2012-04-26T00:23:12Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > You have told us that you exited the vehicle to assess your location, to look at the street sign. You told us it was at the green circle: > > Does this mean that you only stopped and exited your vehicle one time? Yes. > [@](#): > > For how long? I don’t know. I was on my way back when Treyvon confronted me. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/175 "2012-04-26T00:33:12Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yes. You have told us that you exited the vehicle to look at the street sign: > [@](#): > > I got out of my vehicle to check the street sign because the light wasn’t good enough to see it from my car, especially in the rain. And now you have told us you exited the vehicle to follow Trayvon, whom you say was running at the time. Why did you exit the vehicle, Mr. Zimmerman? Was it to follow Trayvon, or was it to look at the street sign? > [@](#): > > I don’t know. I was on my way back when Treyvon confronted me. On your way back from where? Where had you gone? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/176 "2012-04-26T00:36:34Z")
If i’m a member of this jury, i’m getting pretty damn stabby by now. Seriously, **Stoid** , if this dog-and-pony show is actually going somewhere, the destination will have to be pretty damn spectacular to justify the hours spent in traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/177 "2012-04-26T00:42:35Z")
If I’m a juror, I’m rapidly falling into a coma and, with my last bits of consciousness, wondering if I can make an appeal for a dismissal of the case to the judge on the grounds that this is worse than waterboarding. And if the prosecutor is trying to PROVE that the defendant has contradicted/impeached himself, she’s failed miserably as A) the answer to “Why did you exit the vehicle, Mr. Zimmerman? Was it to follow Trayvon, or was it to look at the street sign?” can be “both” and B) the prosecutor’s ongoing attempt to get the defendant to account for every single stray thought, every step, second-by-second\* is pointless because I, as a juror, don’t expect someone who was in a traumatic situation to remember every! single! minute! detail. \*This is hyperbole. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/178 "2012-04-26T00:56:53Z")
This thread may well be what is acted out on a continual loop in the eighth circle of hell. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/179 "2012-04-26T01:43:02Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > If i’m a member of this jury, i’m getting pretty damn stabby by now. > the hours spent in traffic. > [@Fenris](#): > > If I’m a juror, I’m rapidly falling into a coma… Your honor, today’s testimony has taken us 20 minutes\* but jurors 7 and 12 have informed the bailiff that they are at the limits of their patience. Given that this trial is likely to take a great deal longer than that, I move that they be released from service and replaced with alternates whose attention spans are better suited to the admittedly slow pace of a murder trial. (Actually, 12 minutes, but that was straight through at a good clip. Allowing for pauses and slower speech, ok, 20. Let’s double it and say 40.) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-stoid-the-prosecutor-cross-examines-bricker-george-zimmerman/619561/180 "2012-04-26T01:48:02Z")
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