George Zimmerman Murder Trial: Forensic Pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio Testifies that Trayvon Martin was On Top of Zimmerman When Teen Was Shot

Forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio may have been the best witness yet for the George Zimmerman defense team to date.

Dr. Vincent Di Maio has an impeccable vitae and credentials. Di Maio’s testimony supported  that the medical evidence was consistent with defendant George Zimmerman’s statement that Trayvon martin was on top of him when he fired the lethal shot that killed the teen. Di Maio also stated, “the clothing [Trayvon's clothing] is consistent with someone leaning over the person doing the shooting.”

Evidence supports George Zimmerman’s claim that Trayvon Martin was on top of him when Zimmerman fired the shot that killed the teen, a forensic pathologist testified Tuesday at Zimmerman’s murder trial.

“The medical evidence is consistent with Mr. Zimmerman’s statement,” said Vincent DiMaio, an expert witness for the defense. The pathologist also found that Trayvon lived no more than three minutes after the shooting and probably was conscious for at least 10 to15 seconds.

DiMaio also testified that Zimmerman’s head injuries could have been caused by coming into contact with concrete and that such injuries can be very dangerous. That testimony supported Zimmerman’s claim that Trayvon was slamming his head into a sidewalk.

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“If you are lying on your back your clothing is going to be against your chest,” Di Maio said, according to ABC News. “The clothing is consistent with someone leaning over the person doing the shooting.”

Di Maio also said that Martin could have been able to speak for 10 to 15 seconds after he was shot, but that he most likely died within one to three minutes of the shooting.

In that time, however, Di Maio said Martin could have moved his arms under his body. Zimmerman has said he spread the teenager’s arms after he shot him, but police on the scene said Martin’s arms were under his body.

Di Maio’s testimony regarding the time frame in which Martin died after the gunshot contradicted that of a prosecution witness who testified earlier in the trial. Shiping Bao, the associate medical examiner who conducted Martin’s autopsy, testified Martin likely lived for several more minutes after he was shot. Bao told the jury that Martin could have been suffering for up to 10 minutes and that the bullet wound would have instantly incapacitated him.

“His heart was still beating,” Bao said. “He was still alive, he was still in pain.”