And if it pleased the court, the defense would like to submit timestamped electronic evidence showing that Mr. Wells was physically present at the Milfield University Library at the time of the alleged sit down, Mr. Lester. Lester blinked. Your honor, I said, "Sit down.
I'll decide what evidence is relevant in my courtroom, not you." Lester sat. The prosecution called its first witness, Detective Ray Schultz. He walked the court through the footage. Blurry image, gray hoodie, approximate height, match. That was it.
No fingerprints at the scene, no DNA, no eyewitness who saw a face, no stolen merchandise recovered from Trayvon or his dorm room. When Lester stood to cross-examine, he tried again. Detective Schultz, did you verify Mr. Wells's student ID swipe log at the university library? I didn't consider it necessary.
The log shows he swiped in at 9:47 p. M. The robbery occurred at 9:52 p. M. 3 Mi away.
How do you explain? Cole's gavvel cracked. Mr. Lester, the court has already noted that electronic card swipes are easily falsified. A friend could have swiped on his behalf.
This evidence is inadmissible. Move on. Lester opened his mouth, closed it, moved on. Cole leaned back in his chair, and adjusted his glasses. He looked at Trayvon the way a man looks at something stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
Let me ask you directly, Mr. Wells. His voice was conversational, almost friendly. Almost. Do you have anyone, a parent, a mentor, a pastor, anyone of standing who can speak to your character?
Trayvon's lawyer started to respond, but Cole raised a hand. I'm asking him. Trayvon looked up. My mother is here, your honor. Third row.
Cole glanced at Diane up and down the worn purse, the old dress, the scrubs peeking out from under the hem where she hadn't changed completely. Anyone else? No, sir. Cole wrote something on his pad. No father in the picture, I take it.
It wasn't a question. It was a label. Noted, Cole said, and turned the page. The prosecution rested after 40 minutes. They had a blurry video and a detective's hunch.
That was all. Lester stood for his closing. He tried. He talked about reasonable doubt. He talked about the swipe log, the distance, the timeline.
He cited two precedents involving misidentification. Cole listened with his eyes half closed. When Lester finished, the judge didn't respond to a single point. Instead, he looked at Trayvon. Stand up.