Trayvon Martin
About The Trayvon Martin Case
On the night of Feb. 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, 17, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, 28, a self-appointed watch captain in Sanford, Fla. According to the Sanford police report, Zimmerman was found armed with a handgun, standing over Martin. He had a bloody nose and a wound in the back of his head. Martin was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. He had no weapons on him, only a pack of Skittles and a bottle of iced tea, his cell phone and an ear piece. Zimmerman told police he killed Martin in self defense. The case captured national attention. Petitions and protests calling for justice for Martin exploded amid allegations of racism and scrutiny into how local police handled the investigation.
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Zimmerman's 5 Different Accounts Heard in Courtof george zimmerman , standing of killing trayvon morton It was george zimmerman 's day to encounter with trayvon martin . All those overcome that? George zimmerman testified him he was neighborhood watch ? Wonder there that trayvon martin could have
the latest in the high-profile trial of george zimmerman , standing accused of killing trayvon morton. The lead detective in the case, a witness for both sides. Taking the stand for his second day. Now, matt gutman is in stanford, florida, with the latest. Reporter: Good morning, josh. It was a pivotal day in court. That witness you mentioned serino, was the lead investigator. He said he thought zimmerman was being truthful. Jurors spent hours listening to the audio and videotapes of the man whose fate they are about to decide. It was george zimmerman's day to testify. And he kept punching me. Reporter: Only, he didn't have to take the stand. Instead, the prosecution rolling out five versions of his story. The statement and interrogations at the police department. Then, this re-enactment. He was hitting my head -- i thought my head was going to explode. Reporter: To the lead homicide investigator, chris serino, seen here, as he walks through the recreation of the encounter with trayvon martin All those remarkably consistent. Either h e was telling the truth, or he was a pathological liar. Were there they indications that you thought he was a pathological liar? No. Reporter: A fatal blow to the prosecution. The investigators said, i think he was telling the truth. How do you overcome that? George zimmerman testified thanks to the state. And now, doesn't have to take the witness stand to be challenged. Re. Reporter: And zimmerman's description, jarring sometimes, as he described that fatal moment. Reporter: Its 25th witness, a star prosecution witness, appearing to shine for the defense. You had fairly specific evidence that mr. Zimmerman was acting in self-defense that night, correct? I had information that would have supported that. Yes, sir. Reporter: Serino even admitting he buckled under the pressure to make an arrest. You were also under quite a deal of pressure to get this case moved forward, correct? Yes, I was. Reporter: While it seems to lose a round, the prosecution did score a few points. Did you tell him he was neighborhood watch Wonder what the hell was doing come out of your car, we probably wouldn't be here. Reporter: We expect serino to be back on later this morning. The person not to expect, is the person who knows exactly what happened, is george zimmerman . The analysts say he's unlikely to do better telling his story than the audio and videotapes. Josh? Matt gutman, thank you for that. We want to turn to dan abrams, also in sanford, florida. Covering this trial. I want to ask you about the star witness for the both sides. The prosecution has zimmerman's various accounts played in court. And once again, a prosecution witness seems to have helped the defense. What does it do to the prosecution's case? The purpose of introducing all of these statements was to show inconsistencies. And there are some. For example, were there bushes there that trayvon martin could have come out of? Why did he mention the bushes one time and not another time? Exactly what did trayvon martin say at the time? But when you look at the big picture, the statements are strikingly consistent about what happened that night. And you see that mark o'mara keeps bringing up one interesting point. And that is george zimmerman would not have known that the video surveillance system in the community wasn't working. Why is that important? If it had been working, it would have been able to support or disprove exactly what zimmerman was saying that night and the day after. I want to ask you about chris serino, again, the lead investigator. Back on
Latest Trayvon Martin News
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Prosecutors Want Inquiry Into Ice Cream Photo
judge in the George Zimmerman trial to conduct prosecution witness Rachel Jeantel . Jeantel was phone with Trayvon Martin in the moments fatally shot by Zimmerman during a fight. Zimmerman is pleading second degree murder , claiming
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Judge Strikes Detective Statements on Zimmerman
testified that he found George Zimmerman credible in his into a fight with Trayvon Martin . Judge Debra Nelson Serino was vetting Zimmerman 's veracity during his probe. Zimmerman is pleading not second-degree murder , claiming self-defense
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George Zimmerman Judge Strikes Cop's Statement That Zimmerman Not LyingProsecutors in the George Zimmerman trial today asked fight with teenager Trayvon Martin . The testimony details from the George Zimmerman murder trial . Nelson ruled murder . Timeline of George Zimmerman - Trayvon Martin Case "In your opinion
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George Zimmerman Alleged Trayvon Martin Said, 'You Are Going to Die Tonight'death of Trayvon Martin , said the second degree murder in Martin's the former neighborhood watch captain agreed from the George Zimmerman murder trial . Zimmerman to form a neighborhood watch team in his Zimmerman - Trayvon Martin Case Singleton that when Zimmerman entered the Sanford police department for his interview
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George Zimmerman Prosecution's Woes: Analysisstate in the George Zimmerman case would the night Trayvon Martin was killed from the George Zimmerman murder trial . What show that Zimmerman was an over-eager from the Sanford Police Department , testifying to recruit Zimmerman for a citizen's witness, Rachel Jeantel , who recounted Florida's " Stand Your Ground " law became
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Testimony to Begin in Week 2 of Zimmerman Trial
Testimony in the George Zimmerman trial is expected against a former neighborhood watch leader charged shooting of Trayvon Martin . Entering the handgun Zimmerman used to shoot Martin and Zimmerman at the time second-degree murder and has pleaded
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CNN, HLN Televising Dueling Zimmerman Trial Shows
Currently, HLN is doing it for the George Zimmerman murder trial in Florida. HLN executives Zimmerman is charged with murder in the shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin . Zimmerman says he acted in self-defense
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5 Key Moments From First Week of Zimmerman Trial
first week of George Zimmerman 's second-degree murder trial closed their case. Zimmerman is pleading 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February repeated words Zimmerman had uttered 8212; RACHEL JEANTEL VS. DON WEST
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First Week of Testimony in Martin Case Wraps Up
first week of George Zimmerman 's second-degree murder trial wrapped his back by Trayvon Martin before shooting straddling the neighborhood watch volunteer second-degree murder . Good, who second-degree murder . Zimmerman
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Zimmerman Trial Over Teen's Death Enters 5th Day
taken the witness stand in the George Zimmerman murder trial. Greg McKinney is the fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year. Zimmerman is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder , claiming self-defense
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George Zimmerman Witness Put Him on Top of Trayvon Martin Before Fatal Shot
encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin , appeared 29-year-old neighborhood watch captain second degree murder charges for from the George Zimmerman murder trial . She testimony by Rachel Jeantel . She was Zimmerman - Trayvon Martin Case "The
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Essay: A Racially Challenging Week in America
American culture — George Zimmerman 's trial in Florida black teenager Trayvon Martin , and celebrity president of the NAACP , recalled that president of the NAACP 's North Carolina state's first NAACP field secretary
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Martin Friend Resumes Testimony at Zimmerman Trial
friend of Trayvon Martin who was the encounter with George Zimmerman is back on day in the neighborhood watch volunteer's murder trial. Rachel Jeantel took the witnesses in the Trayvon Martin murder case killed. Rachel Jeantel testified
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Zimmerman Jury Sees Photos of Trayvon Martin and Hears 911 Tapestwo in the trayvon martin case. George zimmerman on trial evidence in george zimmerman 's second degree murder trial including 17-year-old trayvon martin covered with closeup of trayvon martin 's face I'm on the neighborhood watch . Ere's
want to take you in the florida courtroom, day two in the trayvon martin case. George zimmerman on trial. Today, a wrestling match over audio tapes. That through the years zimmerman called 911 again and again. Also in the courtroom, the ordinary objects carried by a dyingdo young man. Matt gutman was there. Reporter: Today the prosecution showed the jury the iconic items of a life cut short. The most powerful visual evidence in george zimmerman's second degree murder trial including that hoodie. And of course the pistol. Was that the gun and holster? Reporter: The prosecutors next walked the jurors, six women, five of help mothers, through the grisly pictures. Showing them the bullet and the bullet wound. 17-year-old trayvon martin covered with that yellow body blanket. Too much for martin's parents. Martin's mother can't bear it bowing her head. Both would walk out of court. Is that a closeup of trayvon martin's face? Yes, it is. Reporter: It seemed too much even for zimmerman . But the defense using photos, too, arguing that it was zimmerman who was attacked. You see the liumping on the back of his head. Reporter: The prosecution wants their minds focused on zimmerman's history of looking for trouble. They want the jury to hear the 50 calls he made to police over the years. The vast majority false alarms. I'm on the neighborhood watch . Ere's a -- two suspicious characters at the gate of my neighborhood. I have never seen them before. Reporter: The defense says -
Nightline 06/25: George Zimmerman Jury Sees Slain Trayvon Martin Photosneighbors. Was George Zimmerman set up as prosecutors self appointed neighborhood watch captain George an aggressive George Zimmerman who profiled About the murder of is going stomach. That George Zimmerman . Did not should
says he was just trying to protect himself and his neighbors. Was George Zimmerman set up as prosecutors say with punks getting away with crime. -- was the killing in self defense. That case ended itsmorning. -- They always get away repeating expletives over and over -- Zimmerman used when he called a non emergency dispatch line. The prosecutor painted a picture of an aggressive George Zimmerman who profiled -- included teen in his neighborhood. The truth. About the murder of -- -- -- is going to come directly from his ma. From those hate filled words. That he used to describe a perfect stranger. Jurors and spectators riveted to the prosecution's depiction of what happened that night you won't know. Your head. -- -- And your stomach. That George Zimmerman . Did not should -- on Martin because -- He shot for the worst of reasons. Because you -- take. The defense opened -
Trayvon Martin Friend Grilled by Defenselatest in the george zimmerman murder trial. An talking with trayvon martin just before tell us that rachel jeantel 's testimony standing between george zimmerman and an acquittal attorney kept rachel jeantel on the stand anything because trayvon martin started the
latest in the george zimmerman murder trial. An emotional and very difficult day for the prosecution's star witness, who was talking with trayvon martin just before he was shot. She got a grilling from the defense. And abc's matt gutman is in sanford, florida, with a look at it all. Good morning, matt. Reporter: Good morning, josh. Analysts tell us that rachel jeantel's testimony is the biggest thing standing between george zimmerman and an acquittal. That's one reason his defense team worked so relentlessly to discredit her. For the second-straight day, george zimmerman's attorney kept rachel jeantel on the stand to tear her down. You didn't do anything because trayvon martin started the fight and you knew that. Objection. Compound question. Badgering the witness. Reporter: Jeantel was on the phone with trayvon martins in the seconds before neighborhood watchman, george zimmerman , shot him. Martin told her that he was being followed. And she heard zimmerman confront him. During a heated cross-examination, lasting more than five hours. Are you claiming in any way that you don't understand english? I don't understand you. Reporter: Zimmerman's legal team tried to hack away at her ce credibility. You said you could have heard trayvon martin smashing george zimmerman in the face. By who? By you. Reporter: And in a jarring exchange, don west accused the 19 about lying about aagain and again, as he was trying to question her. We call rachel jeantel the most important witness for the prosecution's case. But there was more testimony yesterday that may help buttress the idea that george zimmerman was the aggressor hoop. That's the big question. Another witness said she believes that george zimmerman was on top when they were fighting. That's one of the key questions. Everyone agrees there was a confrontation. They don't agree when did it start, where did it start and who was on top? And the defense's position is that it was trayvon martin who attacked george zimmerman . If the prosecution can show zimmerman was on top, it's an important point. -
Friend on Phone With Trayvon Martin Testifieshigh-stakes george zimmerman murder trial. The stand today. Trayvon martin 's friend robin. Rachel jeantel sent 16 months battling george zimmerman 's attorneys witness, rachel jeantel , facing 17-year-old trayvon martin , the night
Now, to the high-stakes george zimmerman murder trial. The prosecution's key witness back on the stand today. Trayvon martin's friend who was on the phone with him until seconds before he was shot. A chilling testimony about the 17-year-old's final moments. Abc's matt gutman is there in sanford, florida, with the latest. Good morning, matt. Reporter: Good morning, robin. Rachel jeantel sent 16 months as a mystery witness. Her identity kept hidden. This morning, she'll spend a few more hours on the stand. Yesterday, her testimony began with tears. And ended with her battling george zimmerman's attorneys in court. This morning, the prosecution's star witness, rachel jeantel , facing more crosation from george zimmerman's lawyer against his will. I'm leaving today. No. Are you refusing to come back tomorrow? To you? Reporter: Jeantel, once known as witness eight, was on the phone with her friend, 17-year-old trayvon martin , the night he was shot and killed by zimmerman . On wednesday, she told jurors martin thought he was being followed. He just told me the man, the man looked creepy. He said the man looked creepy? Creepy, white, execute my language, cracker. Reporter: She says she told martin to run away from zimmerman . And 18-year-old watchman -- you better keep running. Nah, he lost him. Reporter: But martin didn't lose him. Instead, jeantel heard the teen asking zimmerman -- why are you following me for? And I heard a hard breath man come say, what are you doing here. I started to hear a little bit of trayvon saying, get off. Get off. Reporter: Prosecutors believe jeantel's story proves that zimmerman followed and confronted martin and shot him. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty, arguing martin assaulted him. And he only shot in self-defense. Jeantel's testimony, at times, hard to understand. But the emotional impact, undismakable. Defense attorneys challenging her on inconsistencies in her deposition. And why she lied about missing martin's wake. Under oath, was you created a lie and said you had gone to the hospital. Yes. Reporter: This morning, zimmerman's attorneys will suggest that jeantel has been lying to help martin's family. Was your purpose at that point to do what you could do, to assist to that george zimmerman got arrested? Yes. Reporter: And in less than two , she'll be back on the stand, facing those defense attorneys again. There -
Rachel Jeantel , Trayvon Martin's Friend, Testifiesthem from the defense. George Zimmerman on trial for second degree murder for killing by seventeen through the neighborhood where George Zimmerman was a neighborhood watchman the George attacked Martin Zimmerman says that he acted in self
and hours and hours of questions hundreds of them from the defense. George Zimmerman on trial for second degree murder for killing -- by -- seventeen year old man. Who was unarmed walking through the neighborhood where George Zimmerman was a neighborhood watchman on the stand the woman who was his friend. On the phone with -- -- -- that night she says. He was scared of a white man following him that he ran. At some point there was a confrontation she -- trip on Martin's phone go dead -- to the floor that's when it died. The basic issues at heart here in this trial are Dietrich -- Martin. Attack towards government or the George -- attacked Martin Zimmerman says that he acted in self defense but this witness Rachel Gentile says that it was. Zimmerman who began that fight that night. She was battered by questioned for hours and hours the defense even saying that she was -
Rachel Jeantel Testifies in George Zimmerman Trialby defendant George Zimmerman and a slew of show. Is that George Zimmerman was someone hell creating this neighborhood watch program to become The idea that Zimmerman was suspicious Second degree murder that Zimmerman
trade on -- case has heard 911 phone calls. Made by defendant George Zimmerman and a slew of witness testimonies also came in today the trial is now into its third day and we want tofatal gunshot and so what prosecutors are hoping to show. Is that George Zimmerman was -- -- someone hell bent on creating this neighborhood watch program to become a vigilante cop. Become someone who was so zealous in his pursuit of criminals that he thought weren't getting away with it punks as you heard the prosecutor -- quote. In opening statements that that he was feeling it was his duty to rid his neighborhood people he thought didn't belong. And so prosecutors are hoping the jury will take for some from some of these phone calls. The idea that Zimmerman was suspicious of a lot of people often in the calls that replaced the jury Tonya. Those suspicions fell on black people. -
Trayvon Martin's Friend on What He Said Before He Diedthree of the trayvon martin case. George zimmerman on trial to talk to trayvon martin , his friend Reporter: Rachel jeantel described moments of trayvon martin 's life watchman george zimmerman now facing a second degree murder charge
And now to florida, where it is day three of the trayvon martin case. George zimmerman on trial. The last person to talk to trayvon martin , his friend, took the stand. And abc's matt gutman was there for the intense and dramatic moment. Reporter: Rachel jeantel described the raw, final moments of trayvon martin's life as she says she heard them in his last phone call. Tell us, if you can, what he described happening? A man was watching him. Reporter: The prosecution a asking its star witness about the man she said martin spotted following him. He said the man looked creepy? Reporter: The man was neighborhood watchman george zimmerman now facing a second degree murder charge. He looked like a creepy -- Reporter: While her testimony was often hard to understand -- if you can't understand, just raise your hand. Reporter: The emotion in court, self-ette. Martin's father weeping. She was on the phone for the critical moment of confrontation between zimmerman and martin. He said, "why are you following me for?" Then I heard a hard breathing man saying what you doing around
