You are going to die tonight
Obviously, only George Zimmerman heard this statement, but usually one vividly recalls something that just happened.....as opposed to "later" when they can have time for embellishment.
Unfortunately for the 17 year old, who was not a child, the "climate" in the neighborhood was one of worrisome fear after other incidents.
By the way, that prosecutor was incorrect. He was not 16 years old and so many days.
When we "turn" a new age, we have just completed that many years.....such as birth to one year old.
So, he was not 16 and three days........nor was he eleven years old as was shown in some early photos.
He was 17 and just beginning his 18th year.
Eighteen year olds are adults now.
The prosecutor kept calling him a "child".
We have grandchildren that are still children and they have the mental capacity of super intelligent adults and they do know right from wrong......
To tell someone that they are going to die tonight, in my book, would be enough to put fear into the other person and provoke them to use "self defense".
It's a sad story.........but no way that George Zimmerman should spend life in prison; anyone can see he feared for his own life. It probably happened in a split second. Not premeditated, not on "the hunt".....see below...................
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN TO READ ABC NEWS: "You are going to die tonight"
July 2013 ABC NEWS
(SANFORD, Fla.) -- George Zimmerman, the Florida man accused of second degree murder for the death of Trayvon Martin, said the teen told him "you are going to die tonight" shortly before Zimmerman pulled the trigger.
Zimmerman made the statement in his first interview with police immediately after the Feb. 26, 2012 shooting. He is now on trial for second degree murder in Martin's death. He maintains he shot the teenager in self defense.
The recorded audio interview between Zimmerman and Sanford police investigator Doris Singleton occurred after the former neighborhood watch captain agreed to waive his Miranda rights and speak without an attorney present.
"He jumped out from the bushes and said what the f**k is your problem," Zimmerman said to Singleton. "I said I don't have a problem and then he punched me in the nose."
"As soon as he punched me I fell backwards. He was whaling on my head and I started yelling help," said Zimmerman. "He grabbed my head and started hitting me into the sidewalk. I slid into the grass to get out from under him. I was still yelling out for help."
Zimmerman, 29, said he was screaming for help and felt like he couldn't breathe as Martin allegedly attacked him.
Zimmerman said Martin, 17, told him, "You are going to die tonight" and kept banging his head into the sidewalk, and that he shot and killed the teen soon after.
Early in the audio interview Zimmerman talked about burglaries in the Retreat at Twin Lakes subdivision that led him to form a neighborhood watch team in his community. He said he had never seen Martin and that he appeared suspicious.
"It was raining out and he was leisurely walking looking at open houses," said Zimmerman. "I had called before and the police had come out but these guys know the neighborhood very well."
Zimmerman appeared stoic and jurors furiously took notes as the interview played in open court.
"I pulled my car to the side and I called the non-emergency line and I just reported that there was a suspicious person in the neighborhood," he told Singleton.
Singleton testified that when Zimmerman entered the Sanford police department for his interview that night he had crusted blood on his nose and was using tissues to stop bleeding. She said that he did not ask for further medical assistance and that if he had she would have moved to take him to the hospital.
Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda walked Singleton through a map of the Retreat at Twin Lakes subdivision. Court documents show that investigators believe Martin was running in the direction of the home where he was staying as a guest in the neighborhood.
Singleton pointed out where Zimmerman said he lost Martin behind bushes, but said she didn't see any indication of bushes on the map.
As the second week of testimony began Monday, the prosecution appeared to be moving away from neighbor witness testimony and are now focusing on forensics and the initial investigation in the early days of the case.
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