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| Trayvon Martin's mother: Zimmerman trial tape screams are those of son | Trayvon Martin's mother: Zimmerman trial tape screams are those of son |
| (3 months later) | |
| The mother of Trayvon Martin told a jury on Friday she was certain it was her son who was heard screaming on a recording of a 911 call made the night the teenager was shot and killed by a Florida neighbourhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman. | The mother of Trayvon Martin told a jury on Friday she was certain it was her son who was heard screaming on a recording of a 911 call made the night the teenager was shot and killed by a Florida neighbourhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman. |
| Her emotional testimony came as the prosecution began wrapping up its case after nine days of evidence in Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial, in Sanford. Zimmerman, 29, denies murdering the unarmed teenager on 26 February last year, on the grounds of self-defence. He faces at least 25 years in jail if convicted. | Her emotional testimony came as the prosecution began wrapping up its case after nine days of evidence in Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial, in Sanford. Zimmerman, 29, denies murdering the unarmed teenager on 26 February last year, on the grounds of self-defence. He faces at least 25 years in jail if convicted. |
| Sybrina Fulton, who has been in court for every day of the trial, said it was "absolutely" her son whose screams were heard on the tape of an emergency call made by a resident of the Sanford housing development. Prosecutors say the call, which was played to the jury today, captured Martin, 17, yelling for help. | Sybrina Fulton, who has been in court for every day of the trial, said it was "absolutely" her son whose screams were heard on the tape of an emergency call made by a resident of the Sanford housing development. Prosecutors say the call, which was played to the jury today, captured Martin, 17, yelling for help. |
| "I heard my son screaming," Fulton said, responding to defence attorney Mark O'Mara's suggestion that she only hoped it was his voice and could not be certain. "What I hoped for is that this would never have happened and he would still be here." | "I heard my son screaming," Fulton said, responding to defence attorney Mark O'Mara's suggestion that she only hoped it was his voice and could not be certain. "What I hoped for is that this would never have happened and he would still be here." |
| In a tweet sent shortly before she took the stand, Fulton spoke of her apprehension about speaking in court for the first time. "I pray that God gives me strength to properly represent my angel Trayvon," she wrote. "He may not be perfect but he's mine." | In a tweet sent shortly before she took the stand, Fulton spoke of her apprehension about speaking in court for the first time. "I pray that God gives me strength to properly represent my angel Trayvon," she wrote. "He may not be perfect but he's mine." |
| Trayvon Martin's brother, Jahvaris Fulton, 22, said he was also sure whose voice he heard "yelling and screaming" on the tape. "Trayvon's," he said. "I've heard him yelling but not like that, but yes." | Trayvon Martin's brother, Jahvaris Fulton, 22, said he was also sure whose voice he heard "yelling and screaming" on the tape. "Trayvon's," he said. "I've heard him yelling but not like that, but yes." |
| Under cross-examination, he admitted that when he first heard the recording, a couple of weeks after the shooting, he was not so certain. "I guess I didn't want to believe it was him, so I said I wasn't sure. I said what was clouded by denial, shock and sadness," he said. After an objection by state attorney Bernie de la Rionda, the jury was not allowed to see a television interview with Fulton in which he said he was "not completely positive". | Under cross-examination, he admitted that when he first heard the recording, a couple of weeks after the shooting, he was not so certain. "I guess I didn't want to believe it was him, so I said I wasn't sure. I said what was clouded by denial, shock and sadness," he said. After an objection by state attorney Bernie de la Rionda, the jury was not allowed to see a television interview with Fulton in which he said he was "not completely positive". |
| The prosecution's final witness, medical examiner Shiping Bao, who performed the post mortem on Martin's body, testified that the teenager's heart kept pumping in the moments after it was pierced by a single bullet, and that he "was still in pain, was still suffering" for up to 10 minutes. "There was no chance he could survive," Dr Bao said. | The prosecution's final witness, medical examiner Shiping Bao, who performed the post mortem on Martin's body, testified that the teenager's heart kept pumping in the moments after it was pierced by a single bullet, and that he "was still in pain, was still suffering" for up to 10 minutes. "There was no chance he could survive," Dr Bao said. |
| The jury of six women was shown graphic photographs of Martin's unclothed body on the examination table. | The jury of six women was shown graphic photographs of Martin's unclothed body on the examination table. |
| Dr Bao's evidence prompted fiery exchanges with defence attorney Don West, over his recollection of the autopsy and his reading from private notes not admitted into evidence. Judge Debra Nelson ordered that the notes be copied for the defence to review before cross-examination continued. | Dr Bao's evidence prompted fiery exchanges with defence attorney Don West, over his recollection of the autopsy and his reading from private notes not admitted into evidence. Judge Debra Nelson ordered that the notes be copied for the defence to review before cross-examination continued. |
| Prosecutors are attempting to portray the defendant as an overzealous neighbourhood busybody who profiled Martin, a black youth wearing a hooded top, as a potential criminal. Martin was walking through Sanford's Retreat at Twin Lakes gated community, carrying sweets and a soft drink he had just bought at a nearby shop. | Prosecutors are attempting to portray the defendant as an overzealous neighbourhood busybody who profiled Martin, a black youth wearing a hooded top, as a potential criminal. Martin was walking through Sanford's Retreat at Twin Lakes gated community, carrying sweets and a soft drink he had just bought at a nearby shop. |
| The defence will argue over the coming days that Martin was the aggressor and was getting the better of Zimmerman in a fight, forcing him to fire to save his own life. The incident sparked racial tensions when Zimmerman, who is of white and Hispanic parentage, was not arrested for six weeks. | The defence will argue over the coming days that Martin was the aggressor and was getting the better of Zimmerman in a fight, forcing him to fire to save his own life. The incident sparked racial tensions when Zimmerman, who is of white and Hispanic parentage, was not arrested for six weeks. |
| Judge Nelson has indicated the trial could reach its conclusion by the end of next week. | Judge Nelson has indicated the trial could reach its conclusion by the end of next week. |
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