‘Georgie’s’ Friends Take the Witness Stand in his Defense

On Monday, George Zimmerman’s defense attorneys called five witnesses – friends and co-workers – of the defendant to the stand.  All testified that the voice in the background screaming for help on the now infamous 911 recording the night Trayvon Martin was fatally shot, is that of Zimmerman.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Martin, an unarmed black teen.  He has claimed self-defense.  Prosecutors say, Zimmerman followed, profiled and fatally shot Martin in February 2012, believing he was up to no good.

Sondra Osterman, a friend of Zimmerman’s and who co-authored a book about the shooting testified that the voice heard on the 911 was “Georgie.”

Asked if her friendship with Zimmerman would color her testimony, Osterman said it would not.

“I wouldn’t lie for him or anybody,” Osterman responded to defense attorney, Mark O’Mara. “That’s definitely Georgie.”

Prosecutor de la Rionda enquired of Osterman how many copies of the book she co-wrote with her husband, had been sold.  Osterman replied she didn’t know.

De la Rionda then played the non-emergency recording of Zimmerman’s call alerting that he had seen a “suspicious person” in the neighborhood of the Retreat at Twin Lakes, before he killed Martin.  During that call Zimmerman uses profanity.

“These a**holes, they always get away” and “F****** punks.” Osterman again identified that voice as Zimmerman’s.

On re-direct, O’Mara questioned Osterman as to whether anything on Zimmerman’s call could be construed as spite, hatred, anger or ill will.  Osterman responded in the negative.

Mark Osterman, also a friend of Zimmerman’s was next called to testify.  He said that he had advised Zimmerman on the type of gun he should purchase to protect himself and if he was getting a concealed weapons permit.

De la Rionda, on cross-examination, questioned Mark Osterman on what he taught Zimmerman regarding guns.  

“You made him a better shooter?” de la Rionda asked.

“I hope so,” Mark Osterman responded.

Geri Russo, another friend of Zimmerman’s testified.  She said she knew Zimmerman and that the two interacted on a daily basis.

Russo told jurors that she is familiar with Zimmerman’s voice and had listened to the 911 calls with the screams less than half-a-dozen times, mostly on the news.

The 911 call was again played in court.

“Do you have an opinion on whose voice is this?” O’Mara asked Russo.

“George’s,” she replied.

“How do you know its his voice?” O’Mara continued.

“I have heard his voice several times,” she said.

Russo said that her immediate reaction from the first time she heard the 911 call was that it is George’s voice.

Asked on cross-examination whether she wanted to believe it was George Zimmerman’s voice, Russo again confirmed that it was Zimmerman’s.  However, she did admit that she had never heard Zimmerman scream.

“Have you ever heard Trayvon Martin speak or yell?” the defense asked Russo.

“No, I have not,” Russo replied.

Leeanne Benjamin, the next witness said, her relationship with Zimmerman started out as a business one, then it grew into a friendship. She said she referred customers of her real estate company to the insurance agency where Zimmerman worked at the time, in the same office building. She said the friendship progressed and both couples would meet socially for lunches and dinners.

Benjamin said that Zimmerman’s interest in politics led the two of them to work on a political campaign together.  She said she knows Zimmerman’s voice in several settings, including when they were both on the campaign where they “waved signs and hooped it up.”

“I know what his voice sounds like when he gets excited or loud,” Benjamin said.

De la Rionda queried Benjamin on the contributions she and her husband had made to the Zimmerman Defense Fund.  The couple have contributed $2,500 in addition to another $500 to the website.  The couple also spent $1,700 to purchase clothes – shirt, pants and ties – for Zimmerman.

“Since you are contributors, you want to believe it is George Zimmerman’s voice?” de la Rionda inquired of Benjamin.

“It is George Zimmerman,” Benjamin reiterated.

De la Rionda also played the non-emergency call Zimmerman made on the night of the fatal shooting and in which he uses profanity.  Asked whether or not she heard a change in Zimmerman’s voice, Benjamin said no.  She also didn’t concede there is profanity on the tape.

John Donnelly, the husband of Leeanne Benjamin also testified.  Donnelly, a former combat medic described Zimmerman as “my dear friend,” telling jurors he is used to varying voice tones.

He confirmed that the voice on the 911 call is that of Zimmerman, after O’Mara played the tape in the courtroom.

“It is absolutely George Zimmerman and I wish I didn’t have to do that,” Donnelly said.