Testimony continues today in the George Zimmerman murder trial. The prosecution’s star witness, Rachel Jeantel, is set to take the stand again today, after nearly two and a half hours of questioning yesterday.
During her often tense, emotional and awkward testimony, Jeantel (who is also referred to as Trayvon’s girlfriend) cleared up rumors that the two were dating and gave a chilling account of what happened during the 17-year-old’s last moments alive.
She told the jury that a man was following Trayvon, a man who he described as a “white ass cracker.” Then, she told him to run. By her account, when he was almost home, he turned around and a “hard-breathing man” asked him “what are you doing around here?” She then heard Trayvon say “get off, get off.”
The phone then went dead, Jeantel said.
During questioning, she and defense attorney Don West often bumped heads, exchanging snarky remarks and both remarking on how they didn’t understand one another.
While they hashed it out over a couple of lies Jeantel previously told – one about her age and another about why she didn’t attend Trayvon’s funeral – Trayvon’s parents could be seen weeping in court.
Cross examination continues today.
Check out the latest updates below.
LATEST UPDATES FROM THE COURTROOM:
2:49 PM EST: A woman who lived in the neighborhood, Jennifer Lauer, takes the stand.
– Lauer lived in Retreat at Twin Lakes for three years before shooting night. Was watching TV in living room. She heard a scuffle outside of her window.
– Her patio door was open and it was raining. She “I just heard voices” outside at first, couldn’t make out words.
– Then she heard a male voice yelling help.
– She heard “grunting noise… sounded like wrestling” and got “closer & closer.”
– She called 911 but was quiet. She didn’t want them to hear her snitching, she said.
– Lauer: Tried to keep husband from going outside while making call. “I didn’t want him to get involved.”
– Court listening to 911 call. You can hear the screams in the back. Gunshot goes off and screaming stops.
– Lauer scurries upstairs.
– She tells BDLR that she didn’t hear anyone say “you’re going to die tonight motherfucker.” But she did hear “I did hear someone says something along the lines of ‘I have a gun, take my gun.'”
– Lauer is shown a map of the complex. It seems Trayvon was shot right outside of her home.
– O’Mara for the cross.
– Discussing the cries for help. Lauer said, “It just sounded like they were desperate. Whoever it was really needed help.”
2:25 PM EST: The next witness is called to the stand. Ray MacDonald is an employee of T-Mobile which was Trayvon’s cell phone provider.
– Phone records displayed. Prosecutor Mantei directs MacDonald to two post-7 p.m. calls from night of shooting. He’s here to authenticate the calls.
– State is done questioning. O’Mara for the cross. He suggests that state could’ve had MacDonald bring more detailed records.
1:45 PM EST: Court back in session. Questioning for Jeantel continues
– Cross is over. Redirect proceeds and Jeantel tells BDRL that her first language is creole.
– About the use of slur “cracker:” BDRL: “Is that the way people speak in your culture?” Jeantel: “yes sir.”
– Redirect is over. West for recross asks Jeantel if English is her first language. “I learned how to speak creole first.” Mother doesn’t speak english that well.
– “Are you claiming in any way that you don’t understand english?” Jeantel says she understands English well.
– West asking Jeantel if she regularly uses the n-word and cracker in her language. She says yes.
– West trying to get Jeantel to say that Trayvon also “regularly” used racial slurs. “I don’t recall, sir.”
– Testimony over. Judge rules that Jeantel is allowed to go back to Miami. But, she might be called to testify again. “Yes ma’am,” she responds.
12:45 PM EST: Court recesses for lunch
11:05 AM EST: Break over. Jeantel is being questioned by West again.
– BDRL objects to map of Twin Lakes complex West shows Jeantel. She’s never been there so she can’t identify where Trayvon was running.
– Talks about the disconnected phone call again. Jeantel says when she and Trayvon were reconnected, he sounded tired.
– “You don’t know at that moment that Trayvon didn’t take his fist and drive it into George Zimmerman!” West raises his voice at Jeantel. Judge tells him to lower his voice.
– Attorney’s conference about whether or not to use the BDRL interview with Jeantel.
– West asking whether Jeantel said she “couldn’t hear” Trayvon. She says no, I said I “could hear” Trayvon saying “get off.”
– West: “Can you tell me how wet grass sounds? Jeantel after pause: “Wet…rolling all over…”
– Don West implying that Trayvon attacked Zimmerman. Jeantel’s response? “That’s retarded sir.”
– West: You didn’t call police or tell anyone because Trayvon started the fight? Jeantel: No. “That’s real retarded to do.”
– “Trayvon would have told me he’d call be back, sir, if he was going to approach him, sir.” Jeantel after West implies Trayvon approached Zimmerman.
– West is about to ask Jeantel about previous fights Trayvon had, BDLR objects.
10:35 AM EST: COURT RECESSES for 15 minutes. Jeantel told to stay seated.
9:00 AM EST: COURT RESUMES. Cross examination continues for Witness 8, Rachel
Jeantel.
– Don West asks Jeantel about a change of words in her deposition compared to what she said yesterday. “What are you talking about,” became “What you doing around here.”
– Bernie objects to Jeantel’s letter to Trayvon’s mom being admitted. It may be because a friend wrote it for Jeantel
– Jeantel is asked to write the letter, which she signed as “Diamond Eugene,” an alias. She says she cannot read cursive.
– West reads the letter.
– Jeantel said she believes the shooting was racial because the man following Trayvon was described as a “white ass cracker.” She says the slur is not offensive. But did not tell Sybrina Fulton about the slur during their interview out of respect.
– Also failed to mention that Trayvon said “get off get off” when relaying story to his mother because she wasn’t asked. Says that during the state interview, attorney’s asked her more detailed questions and that’s why she told them.
– West implies that the attack became racial because Trayvon made it racial with the statement.
– Jeantel: “I never thought I was a serious witness.” After being interviewed by law enforcement under oath.
– She also told the court that she was sensitive to the fact that Sybrina just lost a son. Cleaned up Trayvon’s language.
– Did not disclose all info in Benjamin Crump (family attorney) interview because he was not an officer.
– West and Jeantel now discussing dropped phone calls and Trayvon running. Jeantel confirms Zimmerman was in car at time of phone call. She told Trayvon to run.
– Jeantel not sure if Trayvon ran in a place where cars couldn’t go. Phone hung up when he ran. What’s clear is that Trayvon WAS running away.
WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:
– The state’s star witness, “Witness 8,” took the stand to testify about the last time she spoke with Trayvon. Rachel Jeantel, 19, is the last person he talked to before he was murdered.
– Jeantel told the court that Trayvon ran from Zimmerman and she could hear him ask Zimmerman “what are you following me for.”
– The defense succeeded in making Jeantel admit she lied about two things: one, her age, and two, the real reason she didn’t attend Trayvon’s funeral.
– A 911 call from witness Jane Surdyka is played. She says she heard a dominant voice and a softer voice. Says the softer voice was asking for help.
– For a full recap of each trial day, see below:
Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Week 2, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Week 2, Day 12, Day 13.
