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Pranksters Disrupt Testimony in George Zimmerman Trial — Teaching Users What Not to Do on Skype

Jul 3, 2013  •  Post A Comment

A digital prank interrupted the televised George Zimmerman murder trial today, leaving the no-nonsense judge presiding over the case less than amused — and teaching viewers a lesson about Skype, the New York Daily News reports.

"Scott Pleasants, one of George Zimmerman’s former criminal justice professors at Seminole State College, was testifying remotely from Colorado. But no one blocked out his user name, and Skype users inundated his connection with dozens of calls. Incessant pings rang out in the courtroom," the story reports.

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara responded to the disruption, saying: "There’s now a really good chance that we’re being toyed with, just so you know."

The report adds: "Pleasants tried to laugh off the prank, but Judge Debra Nelson was not smiling. She told him to log off Skype, and the testimony proceeded without video — good old-fashioned speakerphone."

Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch participant, is accused of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.

The report summed up the takeaway for Skype users this way: "Skype alert: Displaying username during nationally televised trial not recommended."

One Comment

  1. A young man is dead, another is fighting for his life accused of murder and your first thought is let’s pull a prank? It’s scary that so many people have no conscience or empathy. Another reason to fear for the future of this world

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