By Graham Winch
(CNN) — An eyewitness in the George Zimmerman trial testified Wednesday that she heard what sounded “like a boy” cry for help during the altercation that ended in Trayvon Martin’s death. [Watch LIVE coverage of the Geroge Zimmerman trial on WTVR.com]
Jayne Surdyka, Zimmerman’s former neighbor, said she heard screams and opened her window to look out into the courtyard on February 26, 2012.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for killing 17-year-old Martin in Sanford, Florida, that night. He told police he was pursuing the teenager because there had been a rash of crime in the area. A confrontation ensued, and Zimmerman said he was forced to kill Martin in self-defense.
Defense attorney Don West challenged Surdyka about what she heard that night, saying it is possible for a teenager to have a deeper voice, and for a man to have a higher-pitched voice.
“It sounded more like a boy to me,” said Surdyka.
Multiple times Wednesday, Surdyka said she saw two men struggling on the ground, one on top of the other, but she couldn’t discern who was on top, because it was dark and rainy that night.
Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda played for the jury the 911 call Surdyka made the night of the shooting. On the recording, Surdyka is heard crying and becoming hysterical. The 911 operator stayed on the phone with her to calm her down.
Prosecutors also called Jeannee Manalo, another eyewitness, to the stand Wednesday. Manalo testified that from her point of view inside her townhome, she could see two men struggling on the ground. She said she believed Zimmerman was on top of Martin during the altercation, and that she could see his hands moving.
During cross-examination, Manalo said photographs she saw on the news support her view that Zimmerman was on top during the altercation. She also said the bigger person was on top — and Zimmerman seemed to be the bigger person.
