Page 4
Fortiani» (Observer
lune 26. 2013
L aw
Trail Opens in Trayvon Martin Death
Prosecutor says neighborhood
watchman wanted to shoot teen
(AP) — A prosecutor told jurors
in opening statements Monday that
George Zimmerman fatally shot
T ray v o n M artin "because he
wanted to," not because he had to,
while the neighborhood watch
volunteer's attorney said the deadly
shooting of the Miami-area teen was
carried out in self-defense.
The opposing attorneys squared
off on the first day of testimony in a
trial that has attracted international
attention and prompted nationwide
debates about gun control, race,
and equal justice under the law.
Included among the millions likely
to be following the case are civil
rights leaders the Revs. Jesse Jack-
son and A1 Sharpton, who joined
national protests in the weeks be­
fore prosecutors filed second-de­
gree m u rd er c h a rg e s a g ain st
Zimmerman 44 days after the shoot­
ing.
Zimmerman, who identifies him­
self as Hispanic, has denied that the
shooting had anything to do with
race. His mother was bom in Peru.
His father is a white American.
Martin was black.
Prosecutor John Guy's first words
to j urors recounted what Zimmerman
told a police dispatcher in a call
shortly before the fatal confronta­
tion with Martin: "F------ punks.
These a........... They always get
away."
Zimmerman was profiling Martin
as he followed him through the gated
community where Zimmerman lived
and Martin was visiting, Guy said.
He said Zimmerman viewed the teen
"as someone about to a commit a
crime in his neighborhood."
"And he acted on it. That's why
we're here," the prosecutor said.
Zimmerman didn't have to shoot
Martin, Guy said.
"He shot him for the worst o f all
reasons: because he wanted to," he
said.
Defense attorney Don West told
jurors that Zimmerman was being
viciously attacked when he shot
Martin. Zimmerman was sucker-
punched by M artin, who then
pounded Zimmerman's head into the
concrete sidewalk, West said. He
played for jurors the call to a police
dispatcher in which Zimmerman
used the obscenities.
Martin had opportunities to go
home after Zimmerman followed him
and then lost track of him, West
said, but instead the teen confronted
the neighborhood watch volunteer.
"I think the evidence will show
that this is a sad case," West said.
"There are no monsters here."
T he p ro se c u to r d e sc rib e d
Zimmerman as someone who wanted
to be a police officer, and he dis­
mantled the story Zimmerman has
told investigators about what hap­
pened during the fight between the
neighborhood watch volunteer and
the Miami-area teen that left Martin
dead from a bullet to his chest.
Zimmerman's claim that Martin
had his hands over the neighbor­
hood watch volunteer's mouth is
false since none of Zimmerman's
DNA was found on Martin's body,
Guy said. The prosecutor also said
Zimmerman's claim that he had to
fire because Martin was reaching
for his firearm is false since none of
Martin's DNA was on the gun or
holster.
Zimmerman is pleading not guilty
to second-degree murder, claiming
self-defense.
On Feb. 26, 2012, Zimmerman
spotted Martin, whom he did not
recognize, walking in the gated
to w n h o m e c o m m u n ity w here
George Zimmerman stands trial
in the death o f Trayvon Martin.
Zim m erm an and the fiancee o f
Martin's father lived. There had been
a rash o f recent break-ins and
Zimmerman was wary of strangers
walking through the complex.
The two eventually got into a
struggle and Zimmerman shot Mar­
tin in the chest with his 9mm hand­
gun. He was charged 44 days after
the shooting, only after a special
prosecutor was appointed to review
the case and after protests. The
delay in the arrest prompted pro­
tests nationwide.
5th Annual Soleful Strutters & Soleful Brothers Walk in f Relay
Fundraiser Dance Party • Save The Date: Saturday, July 13,2013
Elks Lodge
N. Williams Ave & NE Tillamook
Sat., July 13th
9 P M - 2 AM
$ 15 Advance - $20 at the Door
$25 for Couples
DJ DocRock 1
Hors D ’oevres
No Host Bar
21 + Event
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photo by D onovan
Door Prizes: 50/50 Raffle will go to Oklahoma Rescue Relief
for Ticket Information Contact Georgann (503) 702-1825
•
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ATTORNEYS
Local Lawyers fo r
Your Legal Needs
(503) 288-5522
3537 N. Williams Avenue, Suite 101
www.petersonlevine.com
Family Law
Bankruptcy
Criminal Law
Expungements
Animal Law
Real Estate M atters
Wills & Trusts
Probate
M. S mith /T he P ortland O bserver
Peninsula Park and Community Center was the first such facility in
Portland’s public parks system when it opened in 1913. A
centennial celebration on Thursday will bring a day and evening o f
family-friendly events that will range from an ice-cream social,
circus performances, rock climbing, and music by both Portland
Teen Idols and local blues legend Norman Sylvester.
Showcase
continued
from front
land Teen Idols and local blues leg­
end Norman Sylvester.
Portland Parks and Recreation
Coordinator Debbi Harris has spent
a majority of her life residing in the
adjacent neighborhoods to the land­
mark park. Excited to see the park
turn 100, she says of the festivities,
“This is going to be great for the
community; it’s going to be a place
where everybody of all cultures are
welcome.”
The day will also include a docu­
m entary show casing Peninsula
Park’s legacy throughout the years,
and a movie at dusk.
The park has a lush history;
not only is it home to the c ity ’s
first public rose garden it also
continues the city ’s first com m u­
nity center. Open throughout the
year, the com m unity center m ain­
tains an im portant link to the
people o f Portland.
Though the neighborhoods sur­
rounding the lush green landscapes
of Peninsula Park has had notice­
able demographic shifts since its
inception, Harris says the celebra­
tion is a good opportunity for all
these diverse cultures to unify un­
der the fact that they have all shared
memories in the same venue.
She said the centennial celebra­
tion is about being together and
supporting each other.
More information on Thursday’s
festivities can be found by visiting
portlandoregon.gov/parks.