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Zimmerman trial: prosecutors portray defendant as neighbourhood busybody Zimmerman trial: prosecutors portray defendant as neighbourhood busybody
(3 months later)
George Zimmerman was an enthusiastic leader of his Florida community's neighbourhood watch programme, but turned down an invitation from the Sanford police department to don a uniform and go out on patrol as a citizen volunteer, a court heard on Tuesday.George Zimmerman was an enthusiastic leader of his Florida community's neighbourhood watch programme, but turned down an invitation from the Sanford police department to don a uniform and go out on patrol as a citizen volunteer, a court heard on Tuesday.
Prosecutors in Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial in Sanford have portrayed the defendant as an overzealous vigilante who profiled, pursued and shot Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old black youth he spotted in the Retreat at Twin Lakes gated estate on 26 February last year.Prosecutors in Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial in Sanford have portrayed the defendant as an overzealous vigilante who profiled, pursued and shot Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old black youth he spotted in the Retreat at Twin Lakes gated estate on 26 February last year.
But the volunteer programme co-ordinator for the city's police department told the jury that she found Zimmerman, 29, to be an always "polite, courteous and respectful" resident whom she tried to persuade to become law enforcement's formal "eyes and ears" for his community.But the volunteer programme co-ordinator for the city's police department told the jury that she found Zimmerman, 29, to be an always "polite, courteous and respectful" resident whom she tried to persuade to become law enforcement's formal "eyes and ears" for his community.
"He seemed like he really wanted to make changes in his community, to make it better," Wendy Dorival said under cross-examination by Zimmerman's attorney, Don West."He seemed like he really wanted to make changes in his community, to make it better," Wendy Dorival said under cross-examination by Zimmerman's attorney, Don West.
"I wanted to recruit him to be a citizen on patrol volunteer, but he said no."
She said that it would have involved a four or five week training programme after which Zimmerman would have been allowed to wear a polo shirt-style uniform and patrol the community in a marked car with amber lights.		"I wanted to recruit him to be a citizen on patrol volunteer, but he said no."
She said that it would have involved a four or five week training programme after which Zimmerman would have been allowed to wear a polo shirt-style uniform and patrol the community in a marked car with amber lights.
Dorival said she thought he possessed qualities that would have made him a good candidate for the program. "His demeanor, the way he interacted with me, his high interest in being involved in his community and the city of Sanford," led her to recommend him, she told prosecutor John Guy.Dorival said she thought he possessed qualities that would have made him a good candidate for the program. "His demeanor, the way he interacted with me, his high interest in being involved in his community and the city of Sanford," led her to recommend him, she told prosecutor John Guy.
Zimmerman, who denies murder on the grounds of self-defence, made a non-emergency call to police on the night of the shooting to report a "suspicious male" in the community who "looks like he's up to no good or on drugs or something".Zimmerman, who denies murder on the grounds of self-defence, made a non-emergency call to police on the night of the shooting to report a "suspicious male" in the community who "looks like he's up to no good or on drugs or something".
Dorival, who helped Zimmerman launch the development's neighbourhood watch programme in September 2011 after a series of break-ins, said it was exactly the type of call she encourages concerned citizens to make.Dorival, who helped Zimmerman launch the development's neighbourhood watch programme in September 2011 after a series of break-ins, said it was exactly the type of call she encourages concerned citizens to make.
"They are the eyes and ears of law enforcement, they are extension of law enforcement. They are not supposed to take matters into their own hands, [they should] let law enforcement take the risk approaching a suspect," she said."They are the eyes and ears of law enforcement, they are extension of law enforcement. They are not supposed to take matters into their own hands, [they should] let law enforcement take the risk approaching a suspect," she said.
She agreed with West's statement that "somebody walking around without any particular purpose in the rain", as he claimed during his opening argument on Monday that Martin was doing, could be construed as suspicious.She agreed with West's statement that "somebody walking around without any particular purpose in the rain", as he claimed during his opening argument on Monday that Martin was doing, could be construed as suspicious.
Earlier in her testimony, Dorival said that Zimmerman told her that his homeowners association had asked him to lead efforts to establish a neighbourhood watch. She said she gave an hour-long presentation about the programme to about 25 residents from the development, after Zimmerman said he had distributed flyers to between 200 and 300 of the townhouses and apartments there.Earlier in her testimony, Dorival said that Zimmerman told her that his homeowners association had asked him to lead efforts to establish a neighbourhood watch. She said she gave an hour-long presentation about the programme to about 25 residents from the development, after Zimmerman said he had distributed flyers to between 200 and 300 of the townhouses and apartments there.
One of the slides she showed displayed the message that neighbourhood watch is: "NOT the Vigilante Police", which she said she followed up by stressing that citizens are told not to follow or confront anyone they considered suspicious.One of the slides she showed displayed the message that neighbourhood watch is: "NOT the Vigilante Police", which she said she followed up by stressing that citizens are told not to follow or confront anyone they considered suspicious.
"You call 911 when property, your liberty or you are in some kind of physical danger. If you don't know, call 911. Don't try to figure out, call 911 if there's anything," she said."You call 911 when property, your liberty or you are in some kind of physical danger. If you don't know, call 911. Don't try to figure out, call 911 if there's anything," she said.
Don O'Brien, president of the homeowners association of the Retreat at Twin Lakes, disputed that Zimmerman was asked or appointed to form a neighbourhood watch. "I found out there was a course he went through with the Sanford police department to start a watch. It was totally separate from the HOA, we had nothing to do with altogether," he said.Don O'Brien, president of the homeowners association of the Retreat at Twin Lakes, disputed that Zimmerman was asked or appointed to form a neighbourhood watch. "I found out there was a course he went through with the Sanford police department to start a watch. It was totally separate from the HOA, we had nothing to do with altogether," he said.
"He went to the police, he got this whole thing started, it was his programme so he was running it.""He went to the police, he got this whole thing started, it was his programme so he was running it."
O'Brien added that Zimmerman was quick to volunteer when he needed somebody to help enforce the rules of the association's parking committee.O'Brien added that Zimmerman was quick to volunteer when he needed somebody to help enforce the rules of the association's parking committee.
Prosecutors say that Zimmerman was a neighbourhood busybody who made five non-emergency calls from August 2011 to February 2012 to report suspicious people in the community.Prosecutors say that Zimmerman was a neighbourhood busybody who made five non-emergency calls from August 2011 to February 2012 to report suspicious people in the community.
Attorneys spent the first hour on Tuesday arguing over the relevance of the calls, with prosecutor Richard Mantei suggesting they helped explain Zimmerman's frustration on the night of his confrontation with Martin when he told a police dispatcher: "These assholes, they always get away."Attorneys spent the first hour on Tuesday arguing over the relevance of the calls, with prosecutor Richard Mantei suggesting they helped explain Zimmerman's frustration on the night of his confrontation with Martin when he told a police dispatcher: "These assholes, they always get away."
But defence lawyer Mark O'Mara said the calls were prior actions that had no bearing on this case and were therefore inadmissible. "You're asking the jury to make a quantum leap between normal responsible behaviour and seething anger," he said.But defence lawyer Mark O'Mara said the calls were prior actions that had no bearing on this case and were therefore inadmissible. "You're asking the jury to make a quantum leap between normal responsible behaviour and seething anger," he said.
Nelson said she would review the tapes overnight and decide if the jury should hear them.Nelson said she would review the tapes overnight and decide if the jury should hear them.
The jury of six women, five white and one Hispanic, is being sequestered at a secret location for the duration of the trial.The jury of six women, five white and one Hispanic, is being sequestered at a secret location for the duration of the trial.
Nelson has ordered that their location should be kept secret while court officials will say only that everything possible is being done to ensure their comfort.Nelson has ordered that their location should be kept secret while court officials will say only that everything possible is being done to ensure their comfort.
Zimmerman's lawyers assert that Martin, who was staying with a family friend in the Sanford development, attacked their client, who had to fire the single shot to save his own life. The case sparked civil rights protests when Zimmerman, of white-Hispanic parentage, was initially freed without charge and not arrested for six weeks.Zimmerman's lawyers assert that Martin, who was staying with a family friend in the Sanford development, attacked their client, who had to fire the single shot to save his own life. The case sparked civil rights protests when Zimmerman, of white-Hispanic parentage, was initially freed without charge and not arrested for six weeks.
He faces at least 25 years in jail if convicted after a trial expected to last between two and four weeks.He faces at least 25 years in jail if convicted after a trial expected to last between two and four weeks.
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