'Thank God' Said Zimmerman After Being Told Police Had Footage of Trayvon Martin Killing
The lead police detective who investigated the George Zimmerman case testified on Tuesday that he believed Zimmerman's story after the suspect showed relief when told that police had captured surveillance footage.
"Thank God," Zimmerman said, according to Sanford Police Det. Christopher Serino, when informed that video surveillance footage had been captured the night that Trayvon Martin was killed.
Serino returned to the stand on Tuesday in the second week of trial, confirming that George Zimmerman's story had remained "consistent." While acknowledging that the defendant appeared to suffer no serious long term injuries, Serino testified that he found no reason to doubt that Zimmerman's story was false.
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Questioned by the prosecution about the strong language that Zimmerman used when dialing police, Serino suggested that he did not believe the defendant was showing "ill will" when making those remarks. Zimmerman defense attorney Mark O'Mara clarified those statements by asking Serino if he agreed the term "a------" was used as slang.
"I have used it before," Serino responded.
Serino initially wanted to charge Zimmerman with manslaughter. His faith in Zimmerman's story was altered after he informed Zimmerman that police had captured security footage of his actions and the defendant responded "Thank God."
Zimmerman could face life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012. In a case that has become widely publicized, Zimmerman has been accused of racially profiling Martin. In previous statements, Zimmerman attested that he shot Martin in self-defense because he was going for his gun.
Zimmerman also claimed that he was being beaten by the teen, his head pounded against the concrete.
