Lauer Recording News Today

>> in this particular case then, did you ask to be present during the time that the recording was to be played for the family? >> i offered to be present, yes, sir. >> and that was accepted? >> no, sir. >> were you excluded from the room? >> yes, sir. >> nothing further, your honor. >> thank you. cross? >> good afternoon, sir. >> good afternoon. >> the mayor made a decision not to have you in there; is that correct? >> i believe i asked the city manager if he wanted me nobody the room and they d...

And i want to focus you at this point, simply were you aware that that decision had been made, that the tape was going to be played for the martin family? >> my recommendation was that the 911 -- >> i want to be careful a little bit, thats why i focused the question. i dont want to spend a lot of time dealing with the decision to play the tape. i want to focus once that decision was made and well talk about from that point forward. so you were aware, were you not, that a decision would be made t...

That time, too? >> i cant remember if it was all in the 911 call or just that last 911 call, but i do remember that i took control of the mouse or the clicker or whatever it was that they had and i was able to rewind that same tape over and over again. >> did you want to, i guess, hear your sons voice over and over just to -- at that point did you get any comfort i guess is what im trying to ask? >> object again, same objection as before. overruled. >> may i have the question read back for arg...

You were still dealing with this, his death? >> yes. >> now, this was back -- god, it was sometime in march. it was later it, it wasnt like days later you were dealing with his death? >> did you write down one, two, three, four five or are you estimated you played it 20 times? >> im estimating i played it 20 times. >> and you played it over and over. were you trying to deal with it? >> its not so much i was trying to deal with it. i was trying to official out the night of federal budget 26, 2012...

It was with the city manager. >> and the recording itself was played in the mayors office, correct? >> yes, thats correct. >> i apologize. did you finish answering? >> i did. >> and you were not present in the mayors office? >> i was not in the mayors office. >> you were in the same build bug not in the mayors office when that was played? >> that is correct. >> and you were asked about the lineup. youre talking about you dont want to have it suggestive, you dont want to have -- normally a lineup...

Turned upside down. >> lets focus on that day. then after you heard the cries for help, the recording thats been record to as the lauer recording and also the shot, at that same time investigator serino asked you about the recording, if you could recognize the voice, correct? >> correct. >> and im assuming that was difficult for you to even contemplate identifying or not identifying the voice; is that correct? >> correct. >> okay. and as best you could, you attempted to answer investigator serin...

In terms of your mind, what was going through your mind, can you describe to the jury what was going through your mind when you were listening to that. >> basically what i was listening to, i was listening to my sons last cry for help. i was listening to his life being taken. and i was coming, trying to come to grips that trayvon was here no more. it was just tough. >> and as mr. omara pointed out, the subsequent time, you were present when that recording was played again at the mayors office, i...

Martin family members? were you aware of that decision? and i want to focus you, at this point, simply, were you aware that that decision had been made, that the tape was going to be played for the martin family? >> my recommendation was that the 911 -- >> i want to be careful a little bit, thats why i focus the question. i dont want to spend a lot of time dealing with the decision to play the tape. i want to focus once that decision was made, and well talk about from that point forward. so you ...

Your previous ruling. >> were now on to the day of the phone calls being played. overruled. >> this was a very emotional time for you, in terms of this going on, im talking about the day the recording was played for you at the sanford police department, correct? >> correct. >> and you listened to the recording, and as you stated, describe to the jury, you pulled your chair back in disbelief that you were actually listening to voices for help and also, more importantly, also, a shot. >> correct. ...

Of that? >> in my position, my contract was with the city manager. >> okay. all right. and the recording itself was played in the mayors office, correct? >> yes, sir, thats correct. >> and you werent -- i apologize, did i interrupt you? >> no. >> did you finish answering? >> i did. >> and you were not present when the recording was played, correct? >> i was not present in the map mayors office? >> you were in the same building, but not in the mayors office when that was played, is that correct? ...