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George Zimmerman Trial Continues
Aired July 01, 2013 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, DEFENDANT: He put his hand on his nose - on my nose and his hand -- other hand on my mouth and he said (AUDIO GAP)
He was hitting my head against it, it felt like my head was going to explode and I thought I was going to lose consciousness. So I tried to squirm so that I could get - because he only had a small portion of my head on the concrete. So I tried to squirm off the concrete.
And when I did that, somebody hear opened the door and I said "help me, help me." And they said, "I will call 911." I said, "no, help me. I need help." And I don't know what they did, but that's when my jacket moved up and I had my firearm on my right side hip. My jacket moved up and he saw - I feel like he saw it and looked at it and he said, "you're going to die tonight (EXPLETIVE DELETED)." And he reached for it. And he reached -- I feel like - I felt his arm going down to my side. And I grabbed it and I just grabbed my firearm and I shot him one time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After you shot him, what did he say?
ZIMMERMAN: After I shot him, he like sat up -- I shot him, and I didn't think I hit him. He sat up and he said, "You got me. You got it. You got me, you got it," something like that. So I thought he was just saying, "I know you have a gun now. I heard it. I'm giving up."
So I don't know if I pushed him off me or he fell off me. Either way, I got on top of him, and I pushed his arms apart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You flipped him over?
ZIMMERMAN: I don't remember how I got on top of him, but I got on his back and I moved his arms apart. Because when he was repeatedly hitting me in the face and the head, I thought he had something in his hands. So I just -- I moved his hands apart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You had him face down?
ZIMMERMAN: Yes, face down, and I was on his back.
And then somebody came with a flashlight. I thought it was a police officer. So, I said, are you the police? And I still had my handgun on -- and told him, I said, are you the police? My gun's right here.
He goes, No, no, I'm not. I'm calling the police. I said, Don't call the police. Help me restrain this guy.
And he said, I'm calling the police. I'm calling the police.
I said, I already called. They're on their way. They're coming. I need your help.
And that's when the police officer came around. I saw the police officer so I stood up and I holstered my weapon. He said, Who shot him?
And I said, I did.
And I put my hands up. I said I did it. And I don't know if he told me to. I just just automatically turned my back to him and I lifted my shirt and I said my gun's right there. And I told him a few times, I said, my gun's right there. And he goes, OK, I understand. Just need you to keep your hands up. And he put the handcuffs on me. And then he (INAUDIBLE) front arm (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anything else that --
ZIMMERMAN: No, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got no idea where he came from or whether he was over in this area? You walked by here, you never saw him?
ZIMMERMAN: No, I didn't see him at all. I looked as I was on the phone with the non-emergency. I looked. And I didn't him gone. I said, he's gone. I think I said something --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was the lighting about that time? It was dark.
ZIMMERMAN: Dark.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No porch lights were on, nothing out back here?
ZIMMERMAN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) 7:00, 7:15?
ZIMMERMAN: The only thing I saw was what's on my front door (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: I have a broken nose.
She said I could use stitches, but she'd rather not put them in, as long as I didn't mess with my head. The skin was already healing nicely. She said I -- she didn't have to put stitches in right away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: (INAUDIBLE) medicine and she gave me referral for an ENT because she said that the swelling wouldn't let her do anything to my nose right now, but once the swelling went down, if I had a deviated septum (INAUDIBLE) they would be able to fix it, but there's nothing they could do right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. (INAUDIBLE) see what this person has to say. (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) injuries documented, something like that, if possible.
(CROSSTALK)
ZIMMERMAN: Oh, I asked her for them. She made note.
(INAUDIBLE) I said, do you want me to move or (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's always better to say a couple words to her, rather than --
ZIMMERMAN: Oh, she said I have a --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Saw something that we needed to know.
(CROSSTALK)
ZIMMERMAN: Sprained S.I., something about my sciatic something.
She gave me -- the scrapes there. I don't think so, no. No, I had a long-sleeve shirt and a jacket on top. No, he was just focused on my head.
Bruising there. (INAUDIBLE) There's a cut here.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I remember seeing swelling right here, and I don't see it now.
ZIMMERMAN: My wife is an R.N. student, so she went to work.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Investigator Serino, I want to move now to February the 29th. Did you have further contact with the defendant?
CHRIS SERINO, SANFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT: Yes, I did.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And was that at the police -- Sanford Police Department?
SERINO: Yes, it was.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was an interview conducted of the defendant on that day?
SERINO: Yes, it was.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And were his Miranda rights given by Investigator Singleton?
SERINO: Yes, they were.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your Honor, in terms of time frame, we are going to play a recording now that's about 45 minutes or so. So, I'm fine, but --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Recess before we begin the recording or just go forward?
You're good? OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your Honor, at this time, we would move into evidence state's Exhibit 181 -- I'm sorry -- that was earlier. It is -- I apologize -- 182.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. No objection?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's correct, Your Honor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, 182 will come into evidence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your Honor, we would ask that the court read the same instructions --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I need it from the clerk.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the direction of -
(END LIVE COVERAGE OF ZIMMERMAN TRIAL)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, quick break. You have just watched the last 10 minutes or so. We weren't quite sure if this would be admitted into this courtroom, but in fact we have now seen the video evidence here, this reenactment that George Zimmerman gave, along with a number of detectives, including the man you see here on the stand.
Got a lot to talk about with regard to this specific video and obviously Detective Serino he is not finished yet either testifying.
Quick break. Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Right now, let show you some live pictures that they're showing folks in this courtroom and jury of six. This is George Zimmerman being re-Mirandized. We're about to see the interrogation video.
Before we go back live to the trial, Mike Brooks, HLN law enforcement analyst, you have been watching all this with me. Quick thoughts.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: So far all of his statements written and audio have been very consistent. So we will see how it matches up with this particular interview.
BALDWIN: OK. Let's watch this.
(BEGIN LIVE COVERAGE OF ZIMMERMAN TRIAL)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: (INAUDIBLE) She is surprisingly well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: Stronger than me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: Stronger than me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's stronger than you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: (INAUDIBLE) When that neighbor came up and was talking to you, you got up next to him. Did you get up next to him because you thought he was awake? Did you position yourself strategically like that?
BALDWIN: All right. It sounds like we can just sort of chat through this as they're -- they're getting the microphone in place before we really get to the crux of this questioning.
Sunny Hostin, let me bring you in. You are there in Sanford Florida. You have been watching all of this here play out. And to Mike Brooks' point, he says for the most part when you look at the written statement, the audio interviews, the video reenactment we just played and now we're about to see this video interrogation fairly consistent. What was your takeaway? Were you surprised that they played that video reenactment for the court today?
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I wasn't sure if they were going to play these audiotape statements and videotaped statements or were they going and force him to testify?
Because in a self-defense case, you have to testify that you acted in self-defense. But there was a sort of a 70/30 chance that they were going to do this. I think their point is not only one trying to show inconsistencies. And to be sure there are some inconsistencies here.
But it's not only what he said. It's sort of how he said it and some of the terms that he used. For example, for the statement, for example, he referred to Trayvon Martin as a suspect. That's police parlance. They're trying to say he was a wannabe cop.
So, instead of this kid that I shot or a victim, he's calling him a suspect and he's using police speak. Well, that's important to the state's theory of the case, right, because they're saying he took the law into his own hands.
There are some inconsistencies as well, because we know the 911 tape, 911 call, rather, he said we don't need to you do that, meaning we don't need to you follow him, while Zimmerman said yes. He's also now indicated in a couple of statements that he did still get out and start looking around, whether it be for street signs or not.
I think when you look at this altogether, the prosecution will try to point to those inconsistencies to say you can't believe a word he says.
BROOKS: But they're minor.
BALDWIN: But they're minor, to Mike Brooks' point.
We have to get a quick break in, and then I know we all want to hear this police interrogation video, so we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: So here is what they are playing right now live for the court here. Here is the current-day George Zimmerman. You're about to see it flashed over this video where a very much different looking, 120-pound lighter George Zimmerman is being questioned by this detective who is still on the stand, the lead detective, Detective Serino.
Audio is a little sketchy. But just try as best as you can here to listen, this interrogation happening three days after George Zimmerman fatally shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Take a listen.
ZIMMERMAN: And so I walked past him, and I called non-emergency.
And (INAUDIBLE) and they asked me if I could see where he was inside the house. And I said (INAUDIBLE) I really don't want to move from this area. And he needed the address.
And my adrenalin was rushing; 1,000 things went through my mind. I gave them what I thought was my address where I lived down on the 1900 building, instead of the 1400. And when I walked to see the address, I still at the end of the house and he was at the side of the house looking in a window.
(INAUDIBLE) He looked at me and threw a cigarette back and went right around the back. So I told non-emergency, I think it was non- emergency at that time, that, I'm aware you guys are coming from, but he's around back.
And I don't know where he went. And I stayed in front of house where the streetlight was, and I waited and I waited and I waited. And then it hit me. The police came and drove past me.
And that was when it hit me that I gave -- like that was the wrong address, instead of that address. So I called back and I said the correct address. The police officer came back.
I couldn't see because the house was completely dark. The window was open. So, and the front door wasn't -- the police later told me the front door was unlocked. All the windows were open in the house. And the front door unlocked. The garage was open.
And so they went in. They cleared out. So, they asked me for the owner's name, phone number, and then they asked him if a person went into the house, blah, blah, blah.
Then the next week, not at that building, but the next building on the end unit, the guy I saw broke in apparently stole a laptop, from what I understand, ran off.
But one of the maintenance guys saw him and was able to give the police the direction of where he was going. And he was actually arrested. So when I saw him in the same area in front of the guy's house (INAUDIBLE) and he was looking into the house, I just thought something (AUDIO GAP) doesn't fit right here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the one prior to this one, right?
ZIMMERMAN: No, this is -- I'm sorry. That's the one I thought this was suspicious.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. What did you see Trayvon doing that questioned as being suspicious?
ZIMMERMAN: He was looking at the house intently, and --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The same house?
ZIMMERMAN: The same house that, yes, that I had called about before.
He stopped.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In front of the house?
ZIMMERMAN: He stopped in front of the house.
And I drove -- there was a car like backing up, so I slowed down. And then I drove around him. And he kept looking at me. And then when I passed, it was raining and I said, you know what, he's not walking briskly to get out of the rain. He wasn't -- he kind of looked like a marathon runner that (INAUDIBLE) and that trains in the rain. He was just walking slowly and in the grass and on the sidewalk. And so I said, something is off. So, that's why (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
The profiling aspect of the whole thing. Had this person been white, would you have felt the same way?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) We're still working with that.
(INAUDIBLE) That right there, that's his cell phone.
ZIMMERMAN: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that's a camera. There's a very strong possibility that what's on there is either going to help you or not help you. And that's why I have got it clarify a few things about what happened out there. How (INAUDIBLE) do you weigh?
ZIMMERMAN: Five-eight, 194.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. (INAUDIBLE) Obviously, like I said, a lot of questions are being brought up. I guess (INAUDIBLE) anything that (INAUDIBLE) might be in that phone?
ZIMMERMAN: I pray to God that somebody videotaped it or that the neighborhood has a video camera that I didn't know about or something.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I guarantee you, like I said, that's one possibility. I'm hopeful myself. (INAUDIBLE) I find consistence with your injuries (INAUDIBLE) injuries.
How did he manage to bang your head into (INAUDIBLE) understood what you said here as far as smacking the head into the concrete? (INAUDIBLE) How did he do that?
ZIMMERMAN: I was on my back.
(CROSSTALK)
ZIMMERMAN: When he first punched me, I don't know if I immediately fell down and he threw me down or I was stumbling. I ended up on my back. And he was on top of me, mounted. And he just kept punching me. And then when I started yelling for help, that's when he grabbed my head and started to slam --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grabbed your head by your ears, by (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: I don't remember.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
ZIMMERMAN: Every time he punched my nose, it just (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many times did you get punched in the nose? A couple, six?
ZIMMERMAN: I don't remember.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) ZIMMERMAN: Doctor said I strained my S.I.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: Pardon?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you see his face like this when it happened?
ZIMMERMAN: No, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
BALDWIN: All right, so we have all been sitting here and listening. And I know some of you have been tweeting me on the quality, or lack thereof, here of this police interrogation video.
But, listen, it is what it is. We have been sitting here listening to it. Law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks here been sitting here with me listening to some of the questions, as best as we can hear me.
And you said, hey, did you hear that? And the question you noticed was what?
BROOKS: It was interesting because there was talking about what he thought was Trayvon being suspicious. And then the investigator asked, well, would you have thought the same thing if he was white? And George Zimmerman said yes.
BALDWIN: He said. Again, he's being interrogating by police, but he said yes.
BROOKS: Right.
BALDWIN: Quick break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Just about the bottom of the hour here. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
And you're watching this George Zimmerman trial play out just as those six female jurors are in this courtroom in Sanford, Florida. Again, they have been playing inside this courtroom this police interrogation video. So here you have George Zimmerman on the right side of this table, and this taking place exactly three days after he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
The most recent question just to get you back in, they're basically asking him, why did you confront Trayvon Martin in the first place?
Let's listen.
(BEGIN LIVE COVERAGE OF ZIMMERMAN TRIAL)
ZIMMERMAN: Because it only stays on for a few, I don't know how -- how long, but it stays on for -- UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) running. And you got in your car. (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: (INAUDIBLE) I think three.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) Are head of the neighborhood watch?
ZIMMERMAN: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
Once again (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: To be honest with you, I have a bad memory anyway.
That's why I gave --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, that might explain why you didn't know the street that you were in?
ZIMMERMAN: I just have a terrible memory.
And I gave -- when they asked me the address, I don't know why. I always think my address is 1960. And it's 1950. I don't know why.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought it was confusing (INAUDIBLE) I had a hard time (INAUDIBLE) myself also. (INAUDIBLE)
ZIMMERMAN: But one thing I can tell you is that the streets, those -- those streets, I don't -- I can't even remember the names now.
