Week 9: Final Project Debate Paper
XBCOM/275 Business Communications and Critical Thinking
October 20, 2013
Dr. Jim Burrescia

The issue that is the subject of my debate paper is the George Zimmerman trial. George Zimmerman, 28 years old at the time, shot and killed 17 year old Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012 in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman was the neighborhood watch patrolman and Martin was visiting his father who lived in the gated community where the shooting occurred. Zimmerman called the non-emergency number to report a suspicious male walking in the neighborhood. He was told by the non-emergency dispatcher the police were on the way and to not follow the individual. The police arrived on the
As far as the law is concerned, Mark O’Mara and Don West did a better job at persuading the jurors. They had one theory and they kept that theory throughout the whole trial. They presented “evidence” to support their claim. The state on the other hand were sort of on a fishing expedition. They were not consistent at all. They presented a few different theories and in the court of law, I find that jurors are more likely to be persuaded when there is evidence to support one story that tells what occurred. The jury had three options, second degree murder, manslaughter or not guilty. After approximately 16 hours of deliberation they came back with a not guilty verdict.
Both the state and the defense presented their opening statements, their witnesses and their closing arguments. After hearing all the information presented I believe the defense did a better job of presenting their argument and producing evidence to support their claims. I think that if the police department had done a better job of collecting evidence from the crime scene and from George Zimmerman, the state may have had a better case. For example, they could have tested Zimmerman for drugs and alcohol. They could have also done a better job of preserving any evidence that may have possibly been on the body of Trayvon Martin, like blood or skin on or under his fingernails.
Both the state and the defense had highs and lows during