Zimmerman said , `` f -- -ing punks '' in 911 call , his attorneys say . Forensic audio expert Tom Owen agrees the word was `` punks , '' not a racial slur . Owen provided CNN with a copy of the processed audio revealing `` punks '' comment . " Zimmerman has said he was yelling for help , according to his family members and his account to authorities , as first reported by The Orlando Sentinel and later confirmed by Sanford police . The recording is consistent with Zimmerman's account that he had been following Martin for some time and saw him walking down an empty sidewalk when he heard yelling from behind him.
Zimmerman said , `` f -- -ing punks '' in 911 call , his attorneys say . Forensic audio expert Tom Owen agrees the word was `` punks , '' not a racial slur . Owen provided CNN with a copy of the processed audio revealing `` punks '' comment . " The recording is consistent with Zimmerman's account that he had been following Martin for some time and saw him walking down an empty sidewalk when he heard yelling from behind him.