ESSENCE Poll: Are You Watching the George Zimmerman Trial?

In their opening statements in the Travyon Martin murder trial, George Zimmerman’s defense attorneys painted him as a cautious neighborhood watch volunteer who shot the 17-year-old in self-defense because after being viciously attacked. Prosecutors countered, arguing that Zimmerman was a trigger-happy police-wannabe who saw Trayvon as another one of the “punks” that “always get away.”

“When he saw Trayvon Martin, he didn’t see a young man walking home,” said prosecutor John Guy. “As he told the (police) dispatcher, he saw someone that was ‘real suspicious,’ someone who looked like he was ‘up to no good,’ again, to use his word.” Guy added that Zimmerman had a “depraved mind without regard for human life,” which is how Florida defines second-degree murder.

Several witnesses were called to the stand, including a convenience store clerk who worked at the store where Trayvon had gone to buy Skittles and a can of iced tea and the 911 dispatcher who took Zimmerman’s call when he was following Martin.

Television networks across the country are providing live coverage of the trial. Are you tuning in daily? [poll id=329031]