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Continuing Zimmerman Trial Coverage; Trayvon Martin's Girlfriend Testifies
Aired June 26, 2013 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: While you were growing up in Miami, did you become friends with a person by the name of Trayvon Martin?
RACHEL JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In fact, did you go to elementary school with him?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection, leading.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll be glad to rephrase it. While you were in elementary school, did you meet Trayvon Martin when he was in school with you?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, and later, specifically in February of 2012 last year, did you end up having contact with him again?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, specifically, in February 2012, did he end upcoming by your neighborhood and did you end up talking to him?
JEANTEL: He came around my area.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, did you ever actually formally go on a date with him?
JEANTEL: No. We were just friends.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to focus on February 26th of 2012. That Sunday. Were you living in Miami and were you in Miami on that date?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And were you aware that Trayvon Martin was up in Sanford on that day?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you talk to Trayvon Martin that day on the telephone?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And during that day did you talk to him several times on the phone?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back in February 2012, was your phone number 786- 419-3726?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was Trayvon Martin's number 786-312-9558?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, having interacted with Trayvon Martin prior to talking to him that day, do you know what type of phone did he have? Did he have a cell phone?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, and did he have a cell phone that had -- I don't know what you call this --
JEANTEL: Headset.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Headset?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And do you know how that was controlled?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How was it controlled?
JEANTEL: He had a headset.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Plugs going into your ear?
JEANTEL: Yes, a button to talk to -- like a speaker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, that evening were you all talking on the telephone?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did he describe something to you that occurred?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, I want to focus when you were talking to him on the phone, did he describe being in a particular place and the weather conditions?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell us about that if you could. JEANTEL: At the store or --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, at the store.
JEANTEL: He was going to the store for his future step-brother, I think, named Chad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, did he say what he was going to go get at the store?
JEANTEL: A candy and an Arizona.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he tell you the particular store that he was going to or --
JEANTEL: No, corner store. That's what he said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did he describe the weather conditions, whether it was sunny, rainy, snowy or what?
JEANTEL: It was about to rain when he was going in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, did that conversation with Trayvon Martin continue throughout there and then also what followed?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, and during your conversations with Trayvon Martin, at some points did your phone and his disconnect?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And did either he call you back or you call him back?
JEANTEL: He called me back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Now, at some point did Trayvon Martin describe going back to the neighborhood -- I'm sorry. To the retreat at Twin Lakes, the complex where he was staying at?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. I want to pick up from there. Did he describe when he was at the complex something happening?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell us if you can what he described happening?
JEANTEL: A man was watching him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he told you that a man was watching him, did you say anything to him?
JEANTEL: No. I didn't think -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry?
JEANTEL: I did not think it was -- I did not think it was a big idea. So I did not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happens is sometimes you've got two microphones. It might be a little confusing. Either move or -- that's all right. Just get closer. You're doing fine. You have to get close to the microphone so everybody can hear you especially this lady right here in front. She's taking everything down so she needs to be able to hear you. And did he then say something was happening.
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
JEANTEL: He said the man kept watching him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Tell us what happened then.
JEANTEL: He kept complaining that man was just watching him and I just said how did the man look like?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hold on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me object to the narrative form of the testimony.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll be glad to rephrase.
JEANTEL: Could you please speak up so everybody can hear? Go ahead and wait for the question. Ask the question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got a very soft voice. We make sure everybody can hear you, both sides. OK?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, he -- Mr. Martin, Trayvon Martin complained?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was he complaining about?
JEANTEL: That a man just kept watching him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your honor, I object to the narrative form of the testimony. As opposed to the questions of what was said and what the response was.
JEANTEL: OK. If your objection is narrative, it is overruled. You may ask your next question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After he said that, what -- did you say anything back to him or did he say anything back to you? JEANTEL: Yes. I asked him how the man looked like. He just told me the man -- the man looked creepy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said the man looked creepy?
JEANTEL: Creepy white. Excuse --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're having trouble hearing you. Take your time. Make sure everybody can hear you. OK.
JEANTEL: Can you repeat what you --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They want you to repeat your answer.
JEANTEL: Asked him how the man looked like. He looked like a creepy ass crapper.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Make sure we got that creepy ass crapper. Is that what you recall him saying?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does that to you mean like a white individual?
JEANTEL: Yes, Caucasian.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you say to him or what did he say to you after that?
JEANTEL: He kept telling me the man was looking at him. So I had to think it might have been a rapist.
JEANTEL: Were you --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry. I didn't hear the answer.
JEANTEL: OK. She's going to repeat it. Can you please repeat your answer?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go ahead.
JEANTEL: So he told me the man was looking at him. So I had to think it might be a rapist. She said something after that, but I didn't hear what she said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you repeat -- I'm sorry, madam court reporter. Tell me when you're ready.
JEANTEL: I'm ready.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you repeat your answer. You told him the man might be a rapist?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. What else did you say to him and what did he say to you? I'm sorry. Mr. Trayvon Martin told you stop playing with him like that, joking like that?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Then what happened next?
JEANTEL: I told him, OK. Then why he keep looking at you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Did Mr. Martin say the guy kept looking at him?
JEANTEL: Yes. He just told me he just wanted to try to lose him. By starting walking home, back home because the rain calm a little bit down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So Mr. Martin told you he was going to try to lose the man?
JEANTEL: Yes, by start walking home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And did you say anything to him?
JEANTEL: No. We were just talking and then he -- he told me the man following him now.
JEANTEL: The man following him?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The man kept following him?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Mr. De la Rionda misstated the witness's testimony in his question. Could we --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd be glad --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just restate your question and if you could give your answer slowly for us and loud.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mentioned the Trayvon Martin told you this man was looking at him.
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, you told him that --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is leading now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm trying to get to the point.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're objecting that you can't understand what she's saying. We're trying to get the answer in. If you could please give us your answer, after the question, give us your answer as slowly and clearly and loudly as you can. Have a seat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really hard for me to see the witness if I'm seated. We have an obstruction issue in the courtroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the first witness you're telling me you're having an issue with seeing. If you need to move your seat to another place at the table, you may feel free to do so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, your honor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Mr. De la Rionda, ask your question, please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mentioned that Trayvon Martin said something to you. You said something back to him. Follow up after you said about the man --
JEANTEL: He started walking home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
JEANTEL: He started walking home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me stop you. He said he started walking home.
JEANTEL: Yes. He's going to leave the area where the man --
JEANTEL: Say again.
JEANTEL: He's going to leave the mailing area where he was at.
JEANTEL: The mailing area?
JEANTEL: Yes, where you get your mail.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll make sure everybody understands what you're saying. Did you say he said he's going to leave the mailing area where he's at?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. What did you take that to mean?
JEANTEL: That he's leaving the area. He said he's going to start walking home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Then what happened?
JEANTEL: So -- and then we started talking about something else about the all-star game. Telling me go check for him if it's on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So Mr. Martin told you he was leaving the mailing area where he was at.
JEANTEL: Yes and then --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you started talking about something else.
JEANTEL: Yes. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you and Mr. Martin talk about?
JEANTEL: The all-star game.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The all-star game meaning what? The basketball all-star game?
JEANTEL: The basketball all-star game that was happening that day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Tell me what happened.
JEANTEL: And then -- then he said the (inaudible) still following me now.
JEANTEL: OK. Let's go slowly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he say the word (inaudible) to describe the man now?
JEANTEL: Yes. That's slang.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's slang?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. -- describe the man following him still?
JEANTEL: Yes, now following him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now following him. What I want you to do, Rachel Jeantel --
JEANTEL: He is now following? I'm sorry. I just couldn't hear.
JEANTEL: OK. Can we one more time please give that answer again.
JEANTEL: Now the man is -- start following him like, follow him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can't ask the questions. If you can't understand, just raise your hand.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I apologize, your honor. We have an obstruction here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to wait until Mr. West's in position with the court's permission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your honor, I think the witness changed her answer from the first time. Could we have it read back rather than having the answer just repeated differently.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. She can answer the question. Ask the question again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Miss Jeantel, you mentioned -- what happened next. Tell me what happened next. JEANTEL: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need the last question after -- after you started talking about the all-star game, you started to say what Mr. Martin said to you on the phone. Could you please repeat it slowly and loudly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After Mr. Martin said the "n" word and said he's following me, what happened then?
JEANTEL: And then he just told me and then I just told him, run. And he said --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You told him to run?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what did, if anything, did Mr. Martin say?
JEANTEL: He said, no, he almost right there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said?
JEANTEL: He almost right by his daddy's fiancee's house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So Mr. Martin, you told him to run, and he said, no, he's almost by his daddy's --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your honor, I object. It's a misstatement of the witness's testimony.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please sit down. Could you please give your answer again? You have to say it slowly and loudly. OK?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's what you need to do. Move that microphone if you could a little bit -- the one in the middle, the small one. You've got two of them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's not the one. Bobbie, could you lift the other one up just a little bit. I think we've been having problems with that microphone all along. I think it has to be tilted up. Could you speak into there and see if we can hear you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Tell us what he said.
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go ahead.
JEANTEL: And then he start -- he told me he's almost there. So as he was walking, he just complaining the man still following him and then he told me he's going to run from the back. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me stop you a second.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Run from the back?
JEANTEL: Yes. Run from the back. I said, then a second later, he say he about to run from the back. That's when I hear him and the phone just shut off. I had to call him back --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop a second. Make sure everybody's got it. Some people are taking -- writing down notes. Take your time.
JEANTEL: Then the phone just shut off. Then I had called back. He answered.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait, wait, wait. The phone just shut off. Then I had called back and he answered?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Let me interrupt you a second. When you say the phone cut off, meaning your connection with Mr. Martin?
JEANTEL: Cut off because he started running from the back area.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you call him back or did he call you back?
JEANTEL: I called him back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And when you called him back, were you able to, again, start talking to him on the phone?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did Mr. Martin then when you called him back, did you say something to Mr. Martin or did he say something to you? Take your time when you're answering.
JEANTEL: He said he from -- I asked him where he at. He told me he at the back of his daddy fiancee house like in the area where his daddy fiancee -- by his daddy fiancee house. I said, you better keep running. He said, no, he lost him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Just stop a second. This lady's got to take everything down. Make sure you're -- OK. So after he said he lost him, what happened then?
JEANTEL: And he say he by the area that his daddy house is. His daddy fiancee house is. I told him, keep running. And he said, no, he'll just walk faster. I could still hear him breathing hard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened after that?
JEANTEL: And then a second later -- yes -- that the -- behind me --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- at that time.
JEANTEL: I told him, you better run. And he had told me he already -- he almost by his daddy fiancee house. So I said and I just shut my room door that connects to my door in the bathroom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me make sure the jury understands that. You're not talking to Mr. Martin at that time. You're actually in a room. And you did what in your house?
JEANTEL: I was in my bathroom. I was trying to fix my hair for school the next day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So you were talking -- how were you able to talk and fix your hair at the same time.
JEANTEL: On Bluetooth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're on Bluetooth?
JEANTEL: Bluetooth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So while you were talking to him, you had a Bluetooth connection.
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did you tell him, hold on, I'm going to go fix my hair or you just did it? You're just telling the jury what you did.
JEANTEL: I just did it because the phone was just in my pocket.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. What happened then after you went to another room, closed the door, and fixing your hair?
JEANTEL: I just closed the door.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry. You closed the door.
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you still talking to him at this point?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Tell us what happened then.
JEANTEL: And then I say, Trayvon. And then he said, why are you following me for? And I heard a hard breath man kind of saying, what you doing around here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then I said Trayvon, and he said why are you following me for and then I heard?
JEANTEL: A hard breathing man say what you doing around here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A hard breathing man say?
JEANTEL: What you doing around here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me interrupt you. Is what you just told us a conversation you're having with Trayvon or Trayvon's having with someone else?
JEANTEL: Having with someone else.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what you're hearing?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Then what happened?
JEANTEL: Then I started saying Trayvon, Trayvon, what's going on. I heard a bump. I have a feeling it was the bonk of the headset. Trayvon had a headset.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You heard a bonk?
JEANTEL: Yes, a bonk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you assume that was?
JEANTEL: The headset.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened then?
JEANTEL: Then I started hearing grass sound. And grass sound -- wet grass sound.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean you heard grass sound?
JEANTEL: Like, grass, wet grass.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Then what happened?
JEANTEL: Then I kept calling Trayvon, Trayvon. I started hearing a little bit of Trayvon saying get off, get off.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me stop you a second. You heard a grass sound and then you said something. What did you say?
JEANTEL: I was trying to say Trayvon, Trayvon, what's going on?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you hear?
JEANTEL: Trayvon -- I heard Trayvon say, get off. Get off.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then what did you hear?
JEANTEL: Then suddenly the phone hung up. Shut off.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. When the phone shut off, what happened then?
JEANTEL: And I had called him back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You called Trayvon Martin back?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were you able to talk to him again?
JEANTEL: No. No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he, Trayvon Martin, ever call you back.
JEANTEL: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you ever talk to Trayvon Martin again?
JEANTEL: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At some point you found out that Trayvon Martin had been killed. Is that correct?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Do you recall in relation to that Sunday when you had a phone call with him when it was approximately that you found out that something had happened to Trayvon Martin?
JEANTEL: It was a rumor --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry?
JEANTEL: It was a rumor that Monday when I went to school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry. It was a rumor.
JEANTEL: That Sunday he passed. Monday it was a rumor going around his school. I have friends that go to his school. That go to his school saying that he passed away. I didn't believe it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me interrupt you a second. At school people were saying something happened to him?
JEANTEL: Yes. That he died.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you did not believe it?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When did you officially find out that he was dead?
JEANTEL: That Tuesday afternoon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And do you recall how you found out that he died?
JEANTEL: Because my friend texted me the article.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you found out in the media or people told you? JEANTEL: Yes. My friend had sent me the text of an article saying Trayvon name, that he died. And I had asked him what time he died. I had looked at my phone. My phone said 7:16 that the phone hung up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you found out that Trayvon Martin was dead, and then you were trying to figure out whether in relation to the last time you spoke to him --
JEANTEL: Yes. I was trying to figure out how he died. How he died.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You stated that a fight broke out. Tell us what you mean by that. Tell the jury what you mean by that?
JEANTEL: It was just a fight broke out. It was not taken serious. It was just a fight broke out and I had thought he was already by his daddy house. That somebody would come help him because by another area you could have heard sounds and stuff. And I thought the daddy was there, so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You didn't realize that the last time you spoke to him was the day he died?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. At some point did Trayvon Martin's dad call you up and tell you in terms of figuring out that you were the last person to have spoken to him on the phone?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, ma'am, did you find out that Trayvon Martin had a wake or a funeral, too?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And you did not go to that, correct?
JEANTEL: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. When Trayvon Martin's dad called you up, did you tell him that you were the last person to have talked to him? Are you all right, you need to take a break?
JEANTEL: No, no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Do you want some water or something?
JEANTEL: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. At some point you found out that people wanted to talk to you about this case, about what you had heard?
JEANTEL: When his father called?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. JEANTEL: Really much I did not know what my -- if I was in any way in this case. Like, my friend did go to the wake and they did -- they say they had talked to him there. She went to the wake.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A friend of yours went to the wake?
JEANTEL: Yes. Like, some of my friends went to the wake. They had said -- they had said his -- his body was down, that his body dead, he dead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why didn't you go to the wake and to the funeral? I'm sorry. What?
JEANTEL: I didn't want to see the body.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You didn't want to see the body?
JEANTEL: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You ended up speaking to Trayvon Martin's -- Trayvon Martin's mother and to the parents, right?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And did you end up lying about not going -- why you didn't go to the wake, the funeral?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And why did you lie about not going to the funeral or to the wake?
JEANTEL: I felt guilty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You felt guilty about what?
JEANTEL: Because I was the last person -- I was the last person who he talked to. That I was the last person to talk to their son and I didn't go to the wake, no respect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ms. Jeante, since that time, have you heard the recording -- telephone recording where there were cries for help and then a shot? Have you heard that on TV and stuff?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. The cries for help, are you able to say whose voice that is or voices that is?
JEANTEL: Trayvon. Sounded like Trayvon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me have a moment, your honor. I don't have any further questions. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Cross?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would this be a good time for a short break for everyone?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you OK if we take a short break?
JEANTEL: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll take a 15- minute recess.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Wow. Well, that was Rachel Jeantel being questioned by the state so far. They're taking a quick break before she is cross-examined by the defense team. But as you saw at the very end there, getting emotional when she was questioned as far as why she wasn't at her friend's wake and funeral.
Let's talk about a number of things that she said with Vinnie Politan, host of HLN's "After Dark." You've been all over this. Sitting here with me, you and I have been talking through this whole thing, sort of. Begin with what the state was trying to do in their line of questioning. What were they establishing with her initially?
VINNIE POLITAN, HOST, HLN'S "AFTER DARK": This is the most -- I think their most important witness.
BALDWIN: Yes.
POLITAN: Because this is the closest person you have to an eyewitness to the moment of the confrontation because there's no one in that neighborhood who sees it. The only person who has said anything about that moment is George Zimmerman. So this is the other side of it. This is the closest you're going to get to Trayvon Martin speaking in that courtroom. And it was through his friend who he's on the phone with just moments before the confrontation when he was shot and killed.
BALDWIN: This is why, clearly, both teams are hanging on her every word. You hear the judge's voice to repeat. Making sure they're moving the microphones to make sure they understand her every word. Let me just be clear to you, our viewer, there were parts in there, I know some of you were tweeting me that we at CNN, you couldn't hear some of the language.
It was language because of that it just wasn't fit for cable television. So we hit the mute button basically on that.
