Testimony: Day 6

Prosecutors played the videotaped interrogation of George Zimmerman in court today. Sanford police investigator, Christopher Serino, is seen questioning Zimmerman about the details of the night Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman called 911 and described Martin as “suspicious.” On the tape, Serino asks Zimmerman, “Had this person been white, would you have felt the same way?”

Serino is the police investigator who wanted charges filed against Zimmerman for the fatal shooting of the 17 year-old. Serino tells Zimmerman during the interrogation that Martin’s family “has a lot of questions.” He also calls into question Zimmerman’s claim that Martin slammed his head into the sidewalk. Serino says, “It’s not quite consistent with your injuries. How did he bang your head?”

Another police officer, Doris Singleton, is heard on the tape asking Zimmerman if he thought Martin was scared, pointing out that Zimmerman never told Martin who he was. Both officers remind Zimmerman that he said Martin ran. They asked Zimmerman why he followed.

In an earlier interview with Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer told Officer Doris Singleton that Martin disappeared between two houses and he lost sight of him. Zimmerman acknowledged that he was told by the dispatcher not to follow him, but he did. On his way back to his car, Zimmerman said Martin jumped from behind a bush.

Zimmerman said Martin asked him, ‘You got a problem with me, homey?”

Zimmerman said he replied, “I don’t have a problem.”

The 29 year-old said Martin told him, “Now you have a problem.”

That’s when Zimmerman said Martin hit him. Zimmerman said he tried to sit up but Martin grabbed “my head and started hitting it into the pavement.” Zimmerman continued on the tape, saying Martin put his hand on Zimmerman’s mouth and uttered, “You’re going to die tonight, m***********!”

According to Zimmerman’s taped interview, he felt Martin reach for his gun, and he thought Martin would kill him. Zimmerman said he then pulled his gun and shot Martin. He told the officer Martin fell to the side and said, “You got me! You got me!”

Zimmerman said he was then able to sit up and put Martin’s hands out to his side. Zimmerman said a resident appeared and said, “I will call 9-1-1.” Zimmerman said he told the guy, “You don’t need to call 9-1-1, I already him. I need you to help me restrain this guy.”

A voice identification expert for the FBI told jurors it is scientifically impossible to identify the voice heard screaming for help in the background of the 911 calls because there are only three seconds of screaming uninterrupted by other voices. Dr. Hirotaka Nakasona testified that 30 seconds is the necessary length for accurate voice analysis. He said a 16-second of 10-second could be used, but those would be difficult to analyze for identification.