Testimony: Day 1

The 911 dispatcher who spoke with George Zimmerman the night he shot and killed an unarmed 17 year-old teenager took the stand in the first day of testimony in Zimmerman’s trial. Dispatcher Sean Noffke told jurors he is trained to give “just general directions” and not commands to avoid liability for a caller’s actions. On the night Zimmerman followed Trayvon Martin, Noffke testified he told Zimmerman that was not necessary and Zimmerman responded, “Okay.”

During the prosecution’s opening statement, Attorney John Guy used the obscene words Zimmerman used to describe Trayvon Martin the night he shot and killed Martin who was at his father’s girlfriend’s house at The Retreat at Twin Lakes. Guy says the neighborhood watch volunteer profiled Martin with the words “f****** punks” and shot him “because he wanted to.”

During an opening statement that lasted more than two hours, defense attorneys played the 911 tape of Zimmerman’s call to police. On the tape, Zimmerman describes Martin as “real suspicious.” The 28 year-old tells the dispatcher Martin “looks black” and seemed to be in his “late teens.” But defense attorney, Don West, says it was Martin who “decided to confront George Zimmerman”, asking why Zimmerman was following him. The defense maintains that Zimmerman killed Martin in self-defense.

Prosecutors say Zimmerman’s claim that Martin covered his mouth with his hand is false because Zimmerman’s DNA was not found on Martin’s body. Also, Guy told jurors Zimmerman’s allegation that Martin reached for his gun is not true because Martin’s DNA was not found on Zimmerman’s gun or holster.

Chad Joseph, the 15 year-old son of Tracey Martin’s girlfriend, testified that he and Martin were playing video games before Martin went to a nearby convenience store. Martin asked Joseph if he wanted anything from the store, and Joseph told jurors he asked for a bag of Skittles.

The case generated worldwide attention after Sanford, Florida police failed to file charges against Zimmerman for the February 26, 2012 fatal shooting. Protests ignited a firestorm of controversy, and weeks later prosecutors charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder. The case is being tried before an all-women jury of six with four alternates.