George Zimmerman Trial: Former neighborhood watch volunteer shot Trayvon Martin "because he wanted to," prosecutors say
(CBS) -- In opening statements Monday, prosecutors portrayed George Zimmerman as a vigilante who profiled Florida teen Trayvon Martin as someone who was about to commit a crime in his neighborhood, followed him, and decided to take the law into his own hands.
PICTURES: George Zimmerman in court
READ: Trayvon Martin Shooting: A timeline of events
Prosecutor John Guy pointed to Zimmerman's call to non-emergency dispatchers the evening of the deadly altercation, during which the former neighborhood watch volunteer called to report Martin as a suspicious person.
"'[Expletive] punks,'" Guy said. "'These [expletive,] they always get away.' Those were the words in that grown man's mouth as he followed in that dark a 17-year-old boy who he didn't know....those were the words in that man's chest when he got out of his car armed with a fully loaded semi automatic pistol and two flashlights to follow Trayvon Martin, who was walking home from a 7-Eleven armed with 23 ounces of Arizona brand fruit juice and a small bag of Skittle candies."
VIDEO: Zimmerman trial: Prosecutor opens with profanity
Prosecutors told the jury there was "overwhelming" evidence that Zimmerman is guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin last year in gated Sanford, Fla gated community. Guy spoke during opening statements of the case, which were underway in Florida Monday.
Guy told that jury that Zimmerman spun a "tangled web of lies" for police in his self-defense claim. He said examiners didn't find George Zimmerman's blood on Trayvon Martin's hands or on the cuffs of his sweatshirt, though Zimmerman claimed Martin attacked him.
Guy also said investigators didn't find Trayvon Martin's DNA on Zimmerman's gun, though Zimmerman told investigators Martin had reached for it.
"We are confident that at the end of this trial you will know in your head, in your heart, and in your stomach that George Zimmerman did not shoot Trayvon Martin because he had to," said prosecutor John Guy. "He shot him for the worst of all reasons - because he wanted to."
Zimmerman's defense team was expected to deliver their opening statement Monday morning following a recess. Zimmerman is pleading not guilty.
Complete coverage of the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case on Crimesider
