Why did he follow Martin, a police officer asks.
“These assholes, they always get away,” Zimmerman answers.
The officer asks, “What’s behind that?”
“These people who victimize the neighborhood,” Zimmerman answers.
In Zimmerman’s angry mind, without trial or jury, even after he killed him and learned he was a 17-year-old who was legitimately staying in the complex, Martin was an asshole victimizing the neighborhood.
The officer gets a little defensive at this point. “There was an arrest a week ago,” he points out, though it is also a gentle reminder that Zimmerman’s fear might be a tad misplaced. He continues, skeptically. “How was he running?” Zimmerman describes it and the officer says, “Sounds like he was running to get away… you jumped out of car to see which way he was running? That’s not fear … it’s going to be a problem.”
Then Zimmerman whispers something. “What is that you whispered?” the officer asks. “Fucking what?”
“Punks,” Zimmerman says.
This time, the officer seems genuinely taken aback. “He wasn’t a fucking punk,” he responds.
Holy hell. I totally agree with John H. Richardson that this will likely be the reason he’s found guilty.