After a one-day break for the Fourth of July holiday, the mothers of George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin both testified that the screaming heard in the background of a 911 call was their respective son.
The state rested its case against Zimmerman on Friday after testimony earlier in the day from Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton. The defense, meanwhile, started its case by calling Zimmerman's mother, Gladys Zimmerman.
Gladys Zimmerman listened to the 911 call and defense attorney Mark O'Mara questioned her about the voice in the background.
"That's my son, George," she said.
O'Mara then asked how she knew whose voice it was on the call.
"Because he's my son," she replied.
Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda asked Gladys Zimmerman if she heard her son screaming before.
"Not for help," she said, but added that she is "sure that is George's voice."
Gladys Zimmerman was then excused from the courtroom.
The defense's second witness was Jorge Meza, an Orange County Courthouse deputy and Zimmerman's uncle.
Meza also testified that the voice was that of his nephew. Meza said he heard the 911 calls on the TV, unaware the news was on and immediately recognized the voice as Zimmerman.
"It hit me the way that I heard that, but more than I heard that, it hit me inside my heart, I said, 'That is George,'" Meza said.
Meza said he has heard George Zimmerman scream while playing with Meza's sons and called his scream "unique."
De la Rionda cross-examined Meza, questioning him of how much he knew about the case when he heard the calls on TV. He also asked if Meza had heard Zimmerman scream for help before.
"Not the way I did that day," Meza said, referring to the call.
Judge Debra S. Nelson then recessed court for the weekend. Court will be back in session at 9 a.m. on Monday.
Earlier Friday, prosecutors started the day by calling the mother of Martin, the teen shot and killed by Zimmerman, to the stand.
"My youngest son is Trayvon Benjamin Martin. He's in heaven," a very composed Sybrina Fulton said as she was questioned by de la Rionda.
Fulton said Martin was right-handed and described tattoos on Martin's body.
The state then played the 911 call, which included the sounds of screams in the background and the fatal gunshot, for the jurors while Fulton was on the stand.
"Who do you recognize that to be?" de la Rionda said.
"Trayvon Benjamin Martin," Fulton said.
Defense attorney Mark O'Mara cross-examined Fulton, starting off by saying, "I apologize for your loss." The state objected and Nelson instructed O'Mara to only ask questions.
REST OF STORY HERE: http://www.clickorlando.com/news/mother-of-trayvon-martin-testifies-at-george-zimmerman-trial/-/1637132/20849458/-/item/1/-/82w24f/-/index.html
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