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June 28th, 2013
10:52 PM ET

Zimmerman Trial: Day five possibly crucial for prosecution

On Day Five , the prosecution’s witnesses may have helped the defense instead. George Zimmerman’s neighbor testified that Trayvon Martin was on top of George Zimmerman during the scuffle on the night of the deadly confrontation. He also said he believes the voice screaming for help in the dark was Zimmerman’s. Another neighbor testified that Zimmerman looked like he had been beaten up and said he took a cell phone picture of Zimmerman’s bloody head. CNN’s Martin Savidge reports.

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Filed under: Crime & Punishment • George Zimmerman • Trayvon Martin
soundoff (17 Responses)
  1. Kelly

    I would like to know why nobody ever asked why Zimmermand went to his vehicle? I think he went his vehicle to get his firearm because he knew that Mr. Martin was a tall individual and he wanted to make sure he had a backup. I have experienced this my self being a former police officer.

    July 2, 2013 at 2:47 am |
  2. Donna Coles

    I have question to ask Jeffrey Tobin & Mark Garagolo didn't they hear testimony from Zimmermann that was outright lie today Monday when he said Trayvon saw gun and said You are going to die & than said after he shot Trayvon , Trayvon said U got me. Do they think that was good for defense

    July 1, 2013 at 8:41 pm |
  3. gbeer

    DID ANYONE MISS THIS TODAY: When Singleton was interviewing Zimmerman and he was asked if there was anything Trayvon said after he was holding him down – Zimmerman said Trayvon said "ouw ouw"...hmm...a)was this before or after he killed Trayvon? b) is it possible that there was instant death and that there was no way trayvon could have talked after being shot? c) do we not think the pd interviews were shoddy or sloppy?

    July 1, 2013 at 6:57 pm |
    • Cleo Klages

      Zimmerman has said several times that Travon said you got me. That is not what he said. He said YOU......SHOT ME!

      July 3, 2013 at 12:36 am |
  4. Georgette Terrell

    I do not understand why Trayvon Martin's state of mind is not being explored. According to Zimmerman's 911 tape, Trayvon Martin was running away. Is it not possible that the youngster was afraid of the man chasing after him for no apparent reason and felt as if he was fighting for his life? Every citizen has the right to walk down a street without the fear of being pursued.

    July 1, 2013 at 1:18 pm |
  5. tim

    why is their any question about this. he was told by the true authorities not to get out and not to follow. he disobeyed and committed murder.

    July 1, 2013 at 10:26 am |
  6. Madinah

    I see this witness Johnathan Good as a paid liar for the defense (O' Mara). In the defense cross – examination of the prosecution witness Selma Mora, every attempt was made to get her to change her testimony. (O' Mara) the defense attorney, repeatedly put his hands in his pocket (seemingly to indicate she would be paid). O'Mara when cross – examine Johnathan Good, he helped him to tell the story to collaborate with the defense tales of what happen. It was so obvious of the amount of mis – leading, cheating lies that was told even a fool could tell. It seems like this witness was paid, to openly contradict (Selma Mora testimony) the complete opposite of what was said; detailing exactly was needed with O'Mara's guidance. An un – armed teenager shot dead, laying face down on the ground with a bag of Skittles and Arizona ice tea. (An adult man) slaughtered a (minor) is all that's needed to convict George Zimmerman for the crime and death of Trayvon
    Martin and given life in prison.

    July 1, 2013 at 9:56 am |
  7. Keane

    Yet another witness with a different story. These eyewitnesses are not making things easy for the jury.

    June 29, 2013 at 6:15 pm |
  8. Felicia

    Why is it a surprise that a young black man fights for HIS life when an unidentified white man follows him for no apparent reason? the same stand your ground law that protects 'Zimmerman' protects Trayvon. Let some unidentifiable person follow you and then confront you see what you would do.
    Another note when one hits his head on the cement full force the will be a fracture of the skull. Cement can be more compact than bone mass. Also the soft tissue swelling is greater, more extensive and greatly discolored The skin breaks from the mere force and the bleeding is perfuse. Requiring pressure dressing. It does not result in superficial lacerations with minor swelling to the scalp with some soft tissue swelling to the skin. I know this because I have attended many of these injuries in the E.R. I want to make sure that it is understood the difference between the skin covering the skull known as the scalp and the bone of the skull. This man did not have a skull fracture. The PA and the lawyer were not making this distinction. Zimmerman had injuries to his scalp.

    June 29, 2013 at 5:06 pm |
  9. Christine Peters

    Hi Anderson,

    Further to my last email concerning the Zimmerman case, the telephone call to the responders recorded shouts of 'Help' and then immediately a gunshot. I ask, how close were those two incidents?

    If somebody was in such peril, yet held a gun in their hand – would they be shouting for help prior to shooting the assailant. More likely they would be forcing the assailant at bay with threats of shooting them – as the Police or anybody would do.

    More than likely the real 'victim' would scream 'Help' upon seeing a gun thrust upon them.

    Christine Peters

    June 29, 2013 at 3:47 pm |
  10. M Laxa

    ONE FACT makes all this nonsense about who was punching who totally moot: A kid/young man was being followed at night by a grown man who was a stranger – who had been told by the police not to follow the kid. Trayvon Martin was not out walking around just hoping & waiting for someone of another color to follow him so that he could attack him. IF, IF, IF Trayvon Martin was seen striking Zimmerman then he was doing EXACTLY what we tell kids to do if being followed or approached by a stranger – fight! I have a 16 year old nephew and he has been taught since he was a toddler that he should never ever go with a stranger and should fight, yell and do whatever he needed to do to protect himself.
    Bottom line: if George Zimmerman had done what he was told to do by the authorities, and stopped following this kid, none of this would have happened. Case closed. He deserves to have a fair trial for sure. Then hopefully he will sit in jail and think about this the rest of his life.

    June 29, 2013 at 9:43 am |
  11. William james Brewster

    When Zimmerman made the first contact to police he was told not to give chase. Although, he did, Trayvon was the one being pursued. In his minds eye, he would have a choice, "Flight or Fight". He, being a young man, decided to fight.
    In many states in the Union we have a statute called "Stand your Ground". Doesn't society dictate that we should defend ourselves.

    William J. Brewster

    June 29, 2013 at 4:30 am |
  12. Rubin

    THE BIG PICTURE
    You stalked me (only because I was a teenager you were confident you could make an example out of) ... You trapped me in my own back yard... i defend myself, I get on top and fearful that you may get up and hurt me..... I fight harder you... you shoot
    and kill me.... And now you say it's self defense?????????????

    June 29, 2013 at 2:39 am |
    • Marie

      I totally agree I think Zimmerman started the fight and Trayvon got the best of him. I think Trayvon was the one that was fighting for his life and was getting the best of Zimmerman who actually provoked the fight in the first place. I think if anyone was been followed in the dark whether the individual had a gun or not would defend them self. I was in a car and was followed and I was terrified, it is not a good feeling. Put your self in Trayvon shoes or your kids, doesn't seem so pretty now doesn't it.

      July 2, 2013 at 4:45 pm |
  13. Dave Voiles

    Has anyone considered that Trayvon Martin may have been ""standing his ground"" , not with a gun but with his fists?

    June 29, 2013 at 1:29 am |
  14. Wendy B

    One other thought on the self-defense claim on Zimmerman's part; It's never self-defense when you deliberately walk into a confrontation. I found myself imagining seeing a pit bull in the neighborhood and deliberately following it, confronting it and when it finally feels threatened and turns on me, I have no choice but to shoot it because frankly I have a gun to kill it and it has more than fists and Skittles to fight me, it has a jaw with teeth that could kill me.

    Treyvon was not a dog or a bear or a monster. He was just a kid walking on a path to get somewhere. He didn't come armed with a machete or knife of gun or even (heaven forbid) a box-cutter! Zimmerman had a gun and he was ready and willing to use it. This was his chance to be a hero. He could have gently reasoned with Treyvon. He could have even shot the kid in the hand or leg. No, he had to shoot him in the heart. He had to kill him and make certain he was dead. He was so certain he accomplished the objective that he didn't even wait for a coroner to confirm it. Treyvon was dead and Zimmerman knew it.

    June 29, 2013 at 1:21 am |
  15. Jeanne Warp

    I would like to ask, IF Zimmerman was on the bottom, as 1 witness testified, and he shot up into Trayvon's chest, how did he get up from under him so fast, and NOT be covered in Trayvon's blood? If anyone can answer that, I would like to know.

    June 29, 2013 at 12:34 am |
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