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Once George Zimmerman's vocal defender, Frank Taaffe said Wednesday that he wanted to "make amends" with the family of Trayvon Martin by testifying for a federal grand jury convened in downtown Orlando.

The grand jury is believed to be hearing testimony in the civil rights probe into 17-year-old Trayvon's shooting in Sanford. Zimmerman said he shot the teen in self-defense. He was found not guilty of second-degree murder at trial last year.

Taaffe, a former Zimmerman neighbor, was subpoenaed by a U.S. Department of Justice attorney to testify Wednesday.

Before entering the courthouse, Taaffe spoke to reporters, offering a complete about-face from his original stance on the case. Asked why his views had changed, Taaffe's reply was blunt: "Death."

Taaffe explained both of his sons died recently, leading him to reflect on the loss felt by Trayvon's parents.

"This is a young man who didn't deserve to die," Taaffe said.

Zimmerman was driving through his neighborhood when he saw Trayvon walking through the rain Feb. 26, 2012, and called police to report the teen as suspicious.

Zimmerman left his vehicle. During a confrontation that left Zimmerman bloodied, he fatally shot the teen.

Trayvon's killing became a cause clbre after Zimmerman initially wasn't arrested, sparking protests and a national debate about self-defense laws. Many believed that Trayvon was racially profiled by Zimmerman.

Taaffe said he now counts among them.

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Former Zimmerman supporter appears for grand jury, says ...

Former George Zimmerman supporter Frank Taaffe testified before a Grand Jury Wednesday (Nov. 12) to disclose a racially charged conversation he had with a man he believes was George Zimmerman. Taaffe spoke with reporters outside of a downtown federal courthouse in Orlando.

While Taaffe didn't go into detail about the specifics of the conversation, he said he thinks Trayvon was targeted because of race and has decided to come forward to make amends with the Martin family as well as repair a broken relationship with his daughter in the U.S. Marine Corps, who was ostracized because of her father's support of Zimmerman.

Although Zimmerman, 31, was found not guilty of second degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin almost a year ago, Taaffe said it was during the trial he was able to glean some of what life is like for black men America, which helped him to come forward.

"During the Zimmerman trial, I heard that African-American men need to have a talk with their sons...it shouldn't be that way," Taaffe says. "It's none of your business. If the music is too loud, move!, Michael Dunn. If there's a young man not doing anything but talking on his phone in the rain, sauntering about let it go. That's why we have law enforcement. Do the right thing."

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Former George Zimmerman Supporter Says Trayvon Martin Was Profiled Due To Race

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Nearly three years after George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin, a grand jury is considering whether he violated the unarmed teen's civil rights.

A federal grand jury convened Wednesday to consider whether there is enough evidence to indict Zimmerman, who was acquitted of second-degree murder last July. Zimmerman maintained he acted in self-defense.

One of Zimmerman's supporters from his first trial has turned against him, saying he wants to "make amends" with Martin's family. Frank Taaffe, Zimmerman's former neighbor, says he now believes Zimmerman's actions were racially charged.

"This is a young man who didn't deserve to die," Taaffe told reporters before he testified on subpoena by a U.S. Department of Justice attorney Wednesday.

Taaffe said the recent deaths of both of his sons changed his perspective on Zimmerman's actions.

"If there's a young man not doing anything but talking on the phone, in the rain, sauntering about, let it go," he said, of what Zimmerman should have done the night he saw Martin walking through a Sanford neighborhood. "You know, that's why they have law enforcement. Let them handle it."

Taaffe said he expected to testify about a phone call he received in the days before Zimmerman was arrested. The caller, who claimed to be Zimmerman, made a "racial comment," but the number was unregistered and Taaffe said he can't be sure it was Zimmerman on the phone.

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George Zimmerman grand jury considers civil rights case

Once George Zimmerman's vocal defender, Frank Taaffe said Wednesday that he wanted to "make amends" with the family of Trayvon Martin by testifying for a federal grand jury convened in downtown Orlando.

The grand jury is believed to be hearing testimony in the civil rights probe into 17-year-old Trayvon's shooting in Sanford. Zimmerman said he shot the teen in self-defense. He was found not guilty of second-degree murder at trial last year.

Taaffe, a former Zimmerman neighbor, was subpoenaed by a U.S. Department of Justice attorney to testify Wednesday.

Before entering the courthouse, Taaffe spoke to reporters, offering a complete about-face from his original stance on the case. Asked why his views had changed, Taaffe's reply was blunt: "Death."

Taaffe explained both of his sons died recently, leading him to reflect on the loss felt by Trayvon's parents.

"This is a young man who didn't deserve to die," Taaffe said.

Zimmerman was driving through his neighborhood when he saw Trayvon walking through the rain Feb. 26, 2012, and called police to report the teen as suspicious.

Zimmerman left his vehicle. During a confrontation that left Zimmerman bloodied, he fatally shot the teen.

Trayvon's killing became a cause clbre after Zimmerman initially wasn't arrested, sparking protests and a national debate about self-defense laws. Many believed that Trayvon was racially profiled by Zimmerman.

Taaffe said he now counts among them.

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Former Zimmerman supporter appears for grand jury testimony

ORLANDO, Fla.

One of George Zimmerman's most outspoken supporters in the days surrounding his murder trial has changed course, testifying Wednesday in front of a grand jury that Zimmerman could have called him and made racially charged comments.

In 2012, shortly after Zimmerman claimed he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense in his Sanford gated community, friend Frank Taaffe said, "I'm going to go on camera and say George is not a racist."

On Wednesday, Taffe, said he's had a change of heart, saying he testified against Zimmerman in front of the grand jury that will decide whether Zimmerman will face federal charges for violating Martin's civil rights.

File Video: Neighbor says George Zimmerman 'is not a racist'

Raw Video: Zimmerman supporter changes course, testifies

Evidence Photos: Bloodied George Zimmerman, gun used in shooting

Taaffe said his flip came after he got a call from an unknown number two years ago by a man claiming to be Zimmerman. He said the man made a racist comment about Martin, which he first thought was a prank call at the time, but now he's not so sure.

Taaffe said he had already publicly defended Zimmerman on national television when the call came. He said he faced death threats, but claimed Wednesday that his personal losses have led him to identify more with the Martins.

Taaffe now views the mystery call differently, he said.

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Man known for defending George Zimmerman has change of heart, testifies for grand jury