Witnesses in Zimmerman trial testify on struggle, cries, gunshot

SANFORD, Fla., June 26 (UPI) -- Residents of the Sanford, Fla., community where Trayvon Martin was shot testified Wednesday they heard cries, a struggle and a shooting.

Jeannee Manalo, a resident of the community, said she heard "howling" sounds on the night of the shooting, and later heard cries for help, a struggle and a gunshot, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Looking out the sliding glass door of her home, she saw two people on the ground, one atop the other, and said she did not have an opinion at the time which person may have been Zimmerman, but after seeing television news coverage, concluded Zimmerman, the larger of the two, was on top.

Another Zimmerman neighbor, Jane Surdyka, testified she heard two voices before the shooting, one a dominant male voice, the other softer.

She added she saw two people "wrestling" outside, and heard the softer voice, which she called "the boy's voice," cry out. Surdyka said she heard three "pop" sounds although evidence indicates only one gunshot.

When Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, was not immediately arrested after Martin was shot and died on Feb. 26, 2012, it prompted widespread civil-rights protests. Zimmerman, 29, was later charged by a special prosecutor.