Trayvon Martin's Mother Tells George Zimmerman Jury 'I Heard My Son Screaming'

[onehandle]

Last edited Fri Jul 5, 2013, 11:54 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: ABC News



Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin and his older brother took the stand today to tell jurors in the George Zimmerman trial that the voice screaming for help on the 911 calls was that of the slain Florida teenager.

"That scream, do you recognize that?" prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda asked Martin's mother.

"Yes, it's Trayvon Benjamin Martin," she answered.

Zimmerman, 29, faces second degree murder charges for Martin's death. He maintains he shot the unarmed teenager in self-defense after he was confronted and attacked by Martin, 17, on Feb. 26, 2012. Prosecutors allege the former neighborhood watch captain profiled, followed and then shot Martin as he was walking back to the residence where he was staying as a guest.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/trayvon-martins-mother-tells-george-zimmerman-jury-heard/story?id=19582338#.UdbsHhZH15g

[Sancho]

1. She was a very good witness...!

She identified Trayvon's voice immediately in front of a room of witnesses before she knew anything about the tape.

[csziggy]

2. O'Mara came off as badgering the bereaved mother

Disrespectful, condescending, and beyond rude.

[freshwest]

17. +1

[Nanjing to Seoul]

3. If the defense rips her apart as a "greiving mother" that is only out for blood, I would not be

surprised. I expect them to take the low road in cross, if the cross has not already happened. Remember, I'm 1/2 around the world.

Attacking grieving mothers is not popular with juries though.

[CatWoman]

9. here's a play-by-play

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/07/04/george-zimmerman-trial-trayvon-martin-day-9

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. O'Mara asked her a few times if her "hope" was that Trayvon

"didn't cause/wasn't responsible for" his own death.

It was a real WTF exchange.

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. And, his premise was wrong.

He suggested that if the screams were not Trayvon's, then he would be responsible for his own death. That is a false premise. Even if the screams were not his, he was not at fault for protecting himself.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. Exactly.

I still can't believe he tried to go there.

[Evergreen Emerald]

7. I thought she handled it well. n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. Indeed. She threw it right back at him.

As she should have. What a schmuck.

[TheMadMonk]

15. Of course not. His fault was his skin colour. And the sickenning thing...

...the number of "all sides" DUers excusing the inexcusable.

Facts are simple:
• FACT: An ARMED man chased down an UNARMED teenager;
• FACT: That armed man provoked a confrontation with the unarmed teenager;
• FACT: That armed man shot and killed that unarmed teenager.
• FACT: Zimmerman was operating under a number of PREJUDICIAL misapprehensions, which the "all siders" above excuse as legitimate.
• FACT: Zimmerman had multiple opportunities to modify his behaviour in a manner which ABSOLUTELY FUCKING GUARANTEED left a LIVE teenager to go home to watch the rest of the game with his dad.

END OF FACTS

Start of bigoted, racist speculation repeatedly raised in excuse. All Trayvon (the black boy) had to do was stop and totally submit to the will of a complete stranger chasing him in the dark, and he would have been allowed to go his merry way. Unless of course Zimmerman was:
• A stranger who might be intending to rob him;
• A stranger who might be intending to arse rape him; or
• (I don't know how the black v. Latino thing pans out in Florida, but I do know how it often is in California) Was just there to kill him on principle.

Zimmerman's misapprehensions were NEVER in any way shape or form legitimate. Trayvon's possible apprehensions were.

And (apart from the odd old fart who thinks kids should always submit to adults as a matter of principle) that pretty much leaves only two choices for those who'd give Zimmerman the least benefit of the doubt. they're either racists, or gun worshipers.

[The Magistrate]

16. Cold But Fair, Sir

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

32. Will you marry me? Brilliant analysis!!!

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. Here is the transcript of that unbelievable exchange

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023174362

[marshall]

10. At last a witness for the prosecution!

It makes sense to leave her for last, as she is the most compelling and the only one to actually give testimony that moves the state's case forward.

[CatWoman]

11. Medical Examiner on now

for the prosecution

[tblue]

13. That poor woman.

So much grief and courage, and really a tremendous amount of grace and dignity and restraint. No one should have to go through what she's gone through.

[jazzwineman]

25. Agree

and I wish that Trayvon's mother had responded to the question by O'mera about not wanting her son to have caused his own death, by saying that I never expected my son to be out at might doing nothing and have someone confront him about what he was doing and kill him.
Poor prosecution and not preparing witnesses properly.

[pacalo]

14. A screenshot of Zimmerman while Ms. Fulton testified...

[John2]

18. You think this

guy was calling for help or getting angry in a fight. I'll say this again, the prosecution needs to bring in Zimmerman's past criminal record and history of aggression. Everyone of them are relevant evidence to show Zimmerman's character and aggressive behavior.

He attacked a police officer.
He attacked his ex.
A motorist accused Zimmerman of tailgating his car, after he spitted gum out the window.
He said Zimmerman looked like he was going to attack him.
There are allegedly more, but the judge don't think this is relevant? The prosecution don't think this is relevant? This is relevant! It is evidence of Zimmerman's aggressive behavior and losing his cool. This isn't a person that would back down from anything or scream for help. He is also the son of a marine. He wanted to be a police officer which by nature, involves dangerous work. I would be demanding the prosecution bring in all the evidence, to convict Zimmerman.

Then I point to this man's physique and Martin's. In that picture, you see Zimmerman's broad shoulders and very thick neck. You also see him beside on of his lawyers and laying his hand on him, as if grabbing him. It tells you something about a person's personality. He doesn't seem to be a shy person, but very agressive and controlling type person. He gave his wife direction how to get funds, and told one of his witnesses to call his wife and what to say, when he thought that witness was saying too much. It showed that Zimmerman was thinking at the time and very much in control of things. He knew exactly what to say and do when the police arrived. It also shows, he knows how to manipulate a situation to his advantage.

Making this about race is to his advantage. I read most of the comments below, and this seems to be dividing along racial lines, just like the O.J. case. Only thing is, most of the people supporting Zimmerman seems to come from the conservative side and the more liberal voices seems to support finding him guilty. Zimmerman and his lawyers knew exactly what they were doing by going on FOX News. His father, brother and mother knew exactly what they were doing by appealing to particular audiences. They demonized the victim and have tried to paint Zimmerman as a law abiding citizen, trying to do good. That is not the case though.

[jeepnstein]

19. Be carefule what you ask for.

The State has done a good job of keeping Martin's background, drug toxicology reports, and cell phone contents out of the trial. Neither was an angel. The key is to figure out who was the aggressor in the fight.

[Voice for Peace]

21. I'm pretty sure he was a typical teenager, ffs

The judge herself will not allow Trayvon to be put on trial.

[pacalo]

22. There are those who believe that Zimmerman had the right to get out of his car, hunt down a teenager

based on assumptions & preconceived notions while carrying a concealed weapon, then kill the unarmed teenager -- who was just as afraid of Zimmerman -- because Trayvon bloodied his nose. You know what, John -- I wouldn't want any of those people as my neighbors. I know the type; there used to be one in my neighborhood, until he moved away after too many neighbors got to know him. People generally don't like the busybodies who want to make a name for themselves through taking matters into their own hands. Those who would approve of self-appointed policemen aren't my kind of people.

I'm disappointed, too, about Zimmerman's criminal record & history of aggression not being allowed because it would show that it's part of Zimmerman's persona to use force whenever he sees something he doesn't like (driver ahead of him spitting gum out of his window, which was not Z's business because Z wasn't a police officer). The jurors need to know this is a person who thrives on policing others & settles his anger with aggressive force.

Zimmerman's pre-trial appearance on tv during his Fixed News rabble-rousing tour has turned out to be a good thing for the prosecution. If you've missed this video, please watch it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023179558 (watch the "John Guy for the prosecution" video). John Guy gives us a good preview of what's to come.

[jazzwineman]

23. Sad Business about Martin Case and Progressives (so-called)

It is interesting to see the generational gap in this case. Very clear that this is an old story for someone that grew up in the South in the 60's and in small towns little has changed (See Selby County in AL. and Voting Rights Act).
However this case does get beyond the pale in discussions and not only with Fox and their gun obsessions, but the huge racial divide you see in this case is not brought about because of people getting along better.
People go around and spend much time wasted on the action of Crump or Rev. Al as if it is wrong to involve themselves in the daily activities of government. Wonder how many of the same people take the same notion when the Tea Party wants to bring weapons to a speech by POTUS??????????????

However and this is where I am calling out progressives and Democrats and how we should stand up for this murdered kid and call out those who seek to degrade him and one of the biggest is Jeralyn Merritt and her so-called Tall Left and clear racist views. I have no problem with everyone having their right to be protected against the power of government and the legal system, which growing up in Memphis was as corrupt as any I have seen. William Douglas is one of my heroes., however there is a question of support for the rights of the accused and in engaging in racial politics not that different from Sean Hannity , Fox and the rest of that right wing nonsense.

Before further details, I will state that my view is that Trayvon and every Black in this country has a right to profile what is going on in curtain situations with their associations with whites. The very history of this country is laden with nothing but violence, murder,rape, beatings, slavery, mutilation and dehumanizing of Blacks by whites, beyond the current movement to restrict voting rights. Every Black kid I grew up with and know now that grew up in that age was told to get home even if they had to run- before dark for their own safety. TM was caught in one of those situations.

Without trying to debate the merits of the case, what I find objectionable is the attitude of trying to help out the defense and demeaning Trayvon as a guilty party to his own murder. Further for a so-called and completely phony progressive like Merritt who even wants to be critical of pot usage by Trayvon after wanting POTUS to come out for legalization> One wonders why the hypocrisy except for race and I know many progressives who have due to times and cultural they were raised in that could not get by the racial issue. But int the event you do not know- read below and if you did not know who this was, you tell me if this sounds like a progressive we should be supporting when on the most fundamental of Democrat Party , liberal or progressive views. Of course, unlike Daily Kos, Merritt engages in the Nancy Grace, Sean Hannity , Bill O'Reilly tactic of cutting people out that do not agree with her. The statements below, I will let stand on their own:

---------------------
From Talkleft.com:

To donate to the George Zimmerman Defense Fund via PayPal, go here.
Regarding comments: If you don't approve of contributing to Zimmerman because you think he's guilty, don't bother to comment. When I get back to the computer, such comments will be deleted. This is about getting a fair trial and leveling the playing field between the state and defense. If you want to debate the merits of the case, do it on one of the Zimmermann case posts, not here.
-------
Rachel Jeantel: Court Antics and How Martin Profiled Zimmerman

-------------

Rachel Jeantel was a train wreck as a witness. She did not help the state's case. She exposed the manipulations of Team Crump. She was impeached on a few significant matters (see below the fold.) And she admitted multiple lies. It was cringe-worthy but you couldn't take your eyes off it.
Most strikingly, she made Trayvon Martin out to be the profiler of Zimmerman. She said (on direct exam no less by the prosecutor) that shortly after first spotting Zimmerman, Martin described Zimmerman to her as a "Creepy-A*s Cracker" and later, described Zimmerman a few times as "this ni*ga" (as in this ni*ga following him.) The two minute clip above is of Rachel and the prosecutor repeating creepy a*s cracker over and over as the court reporter struggles to make out what she's saying, Rachel explaining that creepy as* cracker means a white person, then and expressing concern the creepy guy might be a rapist.

------------

Lets see Trayvon profiled Zimmerman has a potential racist (think rapist is not correct) and might be dangerous to his life and who ended up dead????????

Come on People are you real progressives or do you make these moral compromises when they may be friends of yours?????????????????

TALKLEFT.COM should be boycotted.

[bettyellen]

27. Talk Left is always for the defendant, no matter what. They are incredibly biased and ruthless in

deleting pro prosecution comments all the time. Lawyer who runs it appears to be Libertarian, and not progressive at all.

[jazzwineman]

28. So is Rand Paul

But he does not claim to be "left." Sorry i have always found Libertarians to be generally a group that says: " leave us alone so we can discriminate against people of color and women and not be bothered with."!

Frankly I don't care what she is, she should not get the right to claim to be a progressive and not be called out for it.. She is no different than any of the right wings= nuts that want no op[position to their views. Not very progressive.

[bettyellen]

31. I totally agree- not sure why she self IDs as a lefty. her blog is bullshit.

she fools people because she knows the law really well- but she is slanted against the prosecution of the law at all times.

[jazzwineman]

33. We need to let

her know she is not welcome in the party. the Tea Party loves racists. She would be a perfect fit.

[jazzwineman]

34. She (talkleft.com) has even been

very critical of William Douglas, Robert Kennedy and Mario Cuomo. Does this sound like any Democrat we know??

Tom in Dallas

[jazzwineman]

24. Common Sense is the Real Issue for the Jury

All we know for a fact is that GZ saw a black kid who, without knowing anything about him, made certain assumptions chased him down, there was some sort of confrontation and TM is dead. However the jury has to ultimately rely on common sense to figure out what happened and that does not add up well for GZ

1.Why did he say he was looking for the name of a street or address. There are only 3 in his gated community. He had lived there for 6 years. Walked his dog every day and was a neighborhood watch guy and does know the name of the 3 streets and could not see the address above his head as shown in his own recorded replay.
2. We can argue about profiling, byt GZ did not call the police to say - let me go see if I can help a guy that may have lost his way? Whether the profiling was due to race or whatever, GZ was starting out with a negative mindset to TM.
3. If TM was on top of GZ then why do not the back of GZ's pants or red jacket show any signs of wetness, mud, grass, staining , ect, but his knees of when he indicated the straddled TM are wet?
4. What about the effects of the hydrostatic shock that would have taken place with the gunshot. I am sure TM lost conscious almost immediately and that his arms were found under him were not of his doing and that run counter to GZ elaborate story about straddling him (which his wet knees of his pants show) and spreading his arms out.
5. Why are the photos of GZ hands after the shooting showing no bruising, scrapes , cuts, abrasions or anything to indicate a grappling type of struggle that he described.
6. Why is there no indication on TM's hands of hitting a man over and over?
7. What did TM grab on GZ head to bang it against the concrete? GZ has no hair to grab. he did not grab his ears. If he had put his hands to the back of GZ head then his hands would be bruised. If he grabbed the skin of his head there would be marks on GZ head where that happen and GZ DNA underneath TM fingernails. Lots of questions here?
8. According to what GZ said, TNM was straddling him and had his knees in his armpits. Have someone do that with you and show me how he reached down and got a pistol at his waist and got it up to the point of shooting TM straight in the heart, not at an angle.
9. If you have been in a grappling wrestling match with fist/arms/legs kicking/ swinging, but with nails, teeth, bones you will get hands bruised, fingers scraped and scratched as well as forearms, wrists ect and that would apply to both. So with the '25 punches” that GZ claimed, why did he not have swollen lips, black eyes, cuts on his eyebrows or inside his mouth (teeth against lips usually yields blood, broken teeth. What did TM grab onto to bang GZ head to the ground- hair, ears what and what shows on GZ or TM the evidence of that??? It does not add up and I do not know what did happen, but it did not happen the way GZ indicated and that means he is a lair and I wonder why????

[Deep13]

26. Yup, people scream when someone shhots them.

Who shot whom again?

Oh yeah, that's right. Who was out looking for trouble that day, because I'm thinking it was the guy carrying a lethal weapon for no real reason.

[24601]

29. In this case, the screaming was before the shot. Both mothers testified that the screaming was

their respective sons. It would be astounding if that were not the case.

Conversely, Mr. Martin's father had told the investigator that the screaming was not his son.
(Source URL: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/05/19303036-mothers-testimony-opens-closes-day-in-zimmerman-trial?lite)

[Deep13]

30. interesting nt

[marshall]

35. What is the scenario that the State is suggesting?

Was Zimmerman pointing the gun at Martin, who was screaming and begging for his life? Or was Zimmerman beating him and causing him to scream in panic and confusion?