On Monday, prosecutor John Guy delivered a compelling and emotional opening statement in the George Zimmerman second degree murder trial, telling the jury what was in Zimmerman’s mind just before he followed, profiled and shot Trayvon Martin to death on February 26, 2012.
“F****ing punks,” Guy said in open court as he quoted Zimmerman’s own words to a 911 dispatcher. “These a**holes, they always get away.”
Guy told the jury these are the hate-filled words they would hear Zimmerman use to “describe a perfect stranger and the lies he told to justify his action.”
Guy apologized to the 6 female jurors saying that the words were not his, but those used by Zimmerman.
He told jurors how Zimmerman wanted to be a police officer, had called police numerous times regarding a number of burglaries and believed it was his right, as a neighborhood watch, to rid his neighborhood of anyone who he believed didn’t belong.
Guy also told jurors that physical evidence and DNA evidence will refute Zimmerman’s claim that he was attacked by Martin and shot the teen in self-defense. He said Zimmerman’s various statements to police undermines his credibility.
“George Zimmerman didn’t shoot Trayvon Martin because he had to,” Guy told jurors. “He killed him because he wanted to.”
Before opening statements began, Zimmerman’s parents and his wife who will testify, were asked to leave the courtroom. The Martin family attorney, Benjamin Crump was also escorted out of the court. As is customary, under the rules of sequestration, witnesses who will testify are not allowed to hear court proceedings and testimony.
The parents of Trayvon, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin were allowed to remain in the courtroom.
Before court began, Fulton told media reporters: “I am here today as Trayvon Martin’s mother. As I have been every day, I will be attending this court to try to get justice for my son. I ask that you pray for me and my family, as I don’t want any other mother to have to experience what I am going through now.”
The defense’s opening statement will be made by Don West.
Last weekend, Circuit Judge Debra Nelson ruled that audio experts won’t be able to testify about the screams that were heard on the 911 call made by a neighbor on the night of the shooting. She ruled that the methods used by experts were unreliable, although the 911 call could be played for the jurors.
Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Martin, an unarmed black teen. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense.
Prosecutors maintain that Martin was followed, profiled and killed by Zimmerman who suspected that the teen was up to no good.
