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Thursday, April 18, 2024 | Back issues
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Prosecution Witness Helps|Defense in Murder Trial

SANFORD, Fla. (CN) - A witness on Friday confirmed accused murderer George Zimmerman's claim that Trayvon Martin had pinned him to the ground before Zimmerman shot the unarmed teenager to death.

John Good testified that he saw Martin straddling Zimmerman and ran out of his house before the gunshot.

Other witnesses have testified that they saw Zimmerman on top.

Zimmerman, 29, killed 17-year-old Martin in February 2012. He claims self defense under Florida's "stand your ground" law. He is charged with second-degree murder and could face life in prison if convicted.

Good said the two were in a "tussle" and that he believes it was Zimmerman screaming for help.

He said he saw the person on top moving his arms in a downward motion but wasn't sure if they were punches.

Good said he yelled during the altercation, "What's going on?" but no one answered. He yelled, "Cut it out!" then went to call police. As he was dialing he heard a shot.

"I'm pretty sure the guy's dead out there," Good said on his 911 call. "Holy shit!"

Good said he was fairly sure the man on the bottom was lighter skinned and wearing red. Zimmerman wore a red jacket that night.

The second witness of seven who testified Friday, Jonathan Manalo, the husband of a previous witness, said he was the first to encounter Zimmerman after the shot.

Manalo took pictures of Zimmerman's bloody face.

He said Zimmerman told him to call his wife and "just tell her I shot someone." He told Manalo he was defending himself.

Manalo said Zimmerman was compliant with police. He said Zimmerman was staggering and "looked like he just got his butt beat."

The state's next witness was Lindzee Folgate, a physician's assistant at Altamonte Family Practice, where Zimmerman was treated after the shooting.

Folgate said Zimmerman had black eyes but did not need stitches for his cuts. She said his nose appeared to have been broken.

On cross-examination, Folgate said Zimmerman's injuries could have been caused by hitting concrete, or could have been caused by being punched in the nose and thrown to the ground.

Sanford Police Officer Tim Smith testified Friday that Zimmerman did not seem angry or spiteful.

Smith handcuffed Zimmerman and took his gun away. He saw Martin lying face down in the grass with his hands under his chest. Grass was all over Zimmerman's back, Smith said.

Friday was the end of the trial's third week and was the fifth day of testimony. The state has called 22 witnesses so far for the six-woman jury.

Testimony resumes today.

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