20:12
Tieng Anh Vui
A Florida court has heard hard-hitting opening statements in the trial of a neighbourhood watchman who shot dead an unarmed black teenager.
Prosecutors told a jury of six women that George Zimmerman, 29, shot Trayvon Martin "because he wanted to".
But defence lawyers said the accused acted out of self-defence after he was attacked by the 17-year-old in Sanford in February 2012.
The case fuelled debate about race, as police took 44 days to make an arrest.
Prosecutors alleged that Mr Zimmerman had racially profiled Martin as he walked from a convenience store to the home of his father's fiancee.
"George Zimmerman didn't shoot Trayvon Martin because he had to," prosecutor John Guy told the court.
"He shot him for the worst of all reasons: because he wanted to."
But defence lawyers said Mr Zimmerman had been attacked first. "There are no monsters here," Don West told the jury.
The trial is expected to focus on events leading up to the death.
Neither prosecutors nor defence lawyers dispute that Mr Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest with a 9mm handgun, and that the teenager died at the scene.
It is believed that Mr Zimmerman, who had a concealed-weapons permit, rang the police when he saw Martin, who had his hood up while walking in the rain.
At some point the defendant got out of his car and followed the teenager. Minutes later, a confrontation ensued.
Mr Zimmerman has told police he lost sight of the teenager and was attacked as he went back to his car.
But prosecutors say it was the defendant who started the argument.
There have been conflicting reports from witnesses about how the fight unfolded.
The trial is expected to last between two and four weeks, and the sequestered jurors will be constantly supervised by the local sheriff's office.
Đăng ký: Tieng Anh Vui
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