Star Witness Against George Zimmerman Flops Big Time

The New American ^ | 28 June 2013 | Alex Newman

[VitacoreVision]

Rachel Jeantel

Rachel Jeantel, the prosecution's "star witness" against George Zimmerman, endured an embarrassing grilling both inside the Florida courtroom and in the national media.

Star Witness Against George Zimmerman Flops Big Time

The New American
28 June 2013

The prosecution's "star witness" against former neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, accused of murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, endured an embarrassing grilling both inside the Florida courtroom and in the national media. From potentially incriminating social-media posts publicized by reporters to major gaffes during her testimony, Rachel Jeantel, 19 (shown), has sparked even more criticism of what legal experts say appears to be an overzealous bid to convict Zimmerman regardless of the evidence supporting his claims of self-defense.

First, reporters uncovered a Twitter account used by Jeantel, who was on the phone with Martin shortly before he was killed and has been repeatedly described as prosecutors' "star" witness in the case. While dozens of the expletive-laced and potentially incriminating messages were deleted or "scrubbed" in recent days, the controversial posts were captured by journalists before being taken down. Jeantel tweeted about everything from "getting high" and drug use to underage drinking and apparent drunk driving.

Inside the courtroom, matters went even worse for prosecutors. Among other controversies, the key witness was forced to admit in cross-examination that she could not understand the handwriting in a letter that she supposedly "wrote" about the killing. "I don't read cursive," she responded when Zimmerman's defense attorney asked Jeantel if she could read the document. The witness claimed that a friend had helped her write it, but media accounts said the explosive revelation sent a "hush" through the courtroom.

Jeantel's testimony also revealed other major holes in the prosecution's case. For example, while the establishment media and race-profiteers have been fiendishly trying to paint Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, as a racist, Jeantel said that Martin had in fact made a racist comment about Zimmerman over the phone. According to the witness, Martin told her there was a "creepy-a** cracker" following him. Cracker, of course, is generally considered a racist term used to describe whites.

There were also some apparent contradictions in Jeantel's story — major ones. During her testimony, for instance, she claimed that shortly before the shooting, she heard Martin ask Zimmerman "why are you following me?" After that, Jeantel claimed she heard Martin tell Zimmerman to "get off!" Under cross-examination by the defense, however, Jeantel alleged that she had not mentioned the supposed remarks in earlier statements because she did not think they were important. In a taped interview with prosecutors before the trial, Jeantel had also said she "couldn't hear" Martin tell Zimmerman to get off.

While on the witness stand, Jeantel even admitted to telling several lies under oath. Defense attorney Don West pointed out that the witness, who had known Martin since elementary school, lied to Martin's mother about her age, claiming she was 16 when she was in fact two years older than that. Jeantel also told Martin's mother that she did not attend the funeral due to hospitalization, which was untrue as well. The witness claimed the lies were told because of how she felt.

Unsurprisingly, defense attorneys seized on the testimony to argue that Jeantel was an unreliable witness. West, co-counsel for Zimmerman, also suggested that Jeantel did not call the police after hearing the confrontation "because Trayvon Martin started the fight, and you knew that." Jeantel responded by denying the accusation and saying she did not know what West was talking about. Eventually, Jeantel was finally forced to admit under oath that she did not know who started the fight.

In the court of public opinion, meanwhile, the "star" witness was being grilled as well. The Smoking Gun, an online service that publicizes "exclusive documents," managed to track down Jeantel's profiles on social media services. In a series of explosive reports, the site exposed numerous Twitter posts by the witness that were embarrassing at the very least — and incriminating at worst. The account was promptly scrubbed, but the damage was done.

"Party time let get high," one of the posts read. Another said: "Omg everybody high" followed by "Lol we going to hell for smoke on Sunday I need some more drink." Separate tweets apparently referring to driving while under the influence were also deleted. "I hope I dnt hit no one tonight lord plz watch my driving," Jeantel reportedly wrote. "Just got home thank u lord good night," she added later. Numerous pictures and expletive-filled comments were deleted as well.

Legal experts have been blasting the prosecution and its alleged ethical violations since long before the trial began. In the wake of Jeantel's embarrassing testimony, however, more than a few analysts even suggested the witness and her statements may have actually benefited Zimmerman. Kevin Martin, a member of the conservative-leaning Project 21 black leadership network, which was formed after the L.A. riots, was among the commentators suggesting that Jeantel could have hurt the prosecution.

"To say that Miss Jeantel's testimony was anything other than a fiasco would be an understatement,” Martin said in statement distributed by the National Center for Public Policy Research. "The prosecution did a real disservice to the memory of Trayvon Martin in apparently not preparing Rachel Jeantel well enough to testify. To the casual observer, it seems that Miss Jeantel did not have any understanding of the gravity of testifying in this trial."

Meanwhile, Jeantel's demeanor in court — described in media reports as "annoyed," "confused," "combative," "hostile," and more — was probably not helpful to prosecutors either. Among the more controversial comments: referring to the defense attorney as "the bald man" and answering questions with remarks like "that's retarded."

"Her seeming contempt for the proceedings of the court itself was detrimental," Project 21's Martin continued. "While some outside observers were very critical of the defense's tactics early on, it must be remembered that the burden is not really on the defense here as much as it is on the prosecution to prepare their star witness. It seems that did not happen here."

Some legal analysts suggested that West may have been too hard on Jeantel during cross examination — especially considering the controversial selection of an all-female jury, which might sympathize with her. At one point, for example, the defense asked the witness whether she was feeling OK after the previous day's testimony. In a question that might have sounded like it was aimed at making Jeantel sound ridiculous, West asked her "what wet grass sounds like," a question based on her previous statements.

The defendant has argued from the start that Martin brutally attacked him and bashed his head on the ground on February 26, 2012, leading Zimmerman, 29, to shoot in self-defense. Photographs of the injuries and other evidence appear to corroborate those claims, legal experts have said. Zimmerman was not even arrested until more than 40 days after the incident — not until race-profiteers and deceptive media coverage tried to inject alleged racism into the case.

The prosecution, meanwhile, is trying to prove that Zimmerman profiled the unarmed 17-year-old, followed him, and then murdered him with a "depraved mind showing no regard for human life." With much of the key evidence now out in the open — Jeantel's testimony, the 911 call, and more — the trial is expected to last at least another week, possibly more.

The judge ruled that defense attorneys cannot talk about Martin's history of drug use, school suspensions, and more. Also not admissible: testimony based on novel techniques that could supposedly identify Martin as the person screaming that night. If convicted by the jury on charges of second-degree murder, Zimmerman could face life in prison.


Related articles:

Amid Controversy, Zimmerman Murder Trial Begins

Judge in Trayvon Martin Case Rules Some Evidence Off Limits

First Anniversary of Florida Shooting Still Raises Questions

Zimmerman Injury Photo Raises Questions About Prosecution, Media

Racists Prepare for "Race War" Over Florida Shooting

Experts Weigh in After Four Witnesses in Trayvon Martin Case Change Story

Medical Report Shows Martin Attacked Zimmerman

Dershowitz: Prosecutor Should Drop Charges Against Zimmerman

Democrat Anti-Self-Defense "Trayvon Amendment" on Hold, For Now

"Stand Your Ground" and Self Defense

Florida "Stand Your Ground" Task Force Meets, Democrat Wants Changes

Anti-Gun Zealots Exploit Florida Tragedy

UN "Human Rights" Boss Questions Fla. Law, Demands Justice for Trayvon

Prosecutors In Zimmerman Case Release Affidavit, But Face Trouble Getting Conviction

Zimmerman Charged With Second-Degree Murder

[Rockingham]

Supposedly, there was an initial contact between the two, with Zimmerman later following Martin in order to see what he was up to, thinking that was what the police operator wanted him to do. At some point, Martin attacked Zimmerman, apparently catching him unawares.

Notably, even though Zimmerman did not identify himself as Neighborhood Watch and was following Martin to some degree, that did not give Martin the right to attack Zimmerman. Martin, by throwing the first blows and putting his opponent in fear of his life, moved the transaction to the point that lethal force could be used against him.

[zencycler]

You make a fair point, and I’d tend to agree. I think there’s reasonable arguments on both sides of that issue, which was mostly what I meant. On all other issues, I just listen to those against Zimmerman and think - what, are you insane?

[Rockingham]

Some months ago, I was astonished to hear even my level-headed mother make anti-Zimmerman comments. After some pushback from me, my mother fessed up: she had worried more than a little over the years about the kind of mischief that her three sons might get into when we were growing up, and Zimmerman made tangible again the worries she had once experienced for the safety and well-being of me and my brothers.

[trisham]

She looks like a thug.

[zencycler]

I wish I could say I had the same success when confronted with similar situations among some of the Democrat (but otherwise level-headed) members of my own extended family when discussing the Zimmerman case. I think their temporary insanity over this issue has resulted from the following:

1) Certain issues like guns and alleged racism are hot button issues among many on the left, which can immediately shut off their ability to think logically about an issue.

2) When your source of news comes from NYT, CNN and MSNBC, then the first impressions you got from all the misinformation they put out on this case is likely all that you still know about it.

3) Liberalism in general is a brain disease, and some of the more serious symptoms of this disease which can impair one's reason to think logically have been exacerbated by the factors mentioned above.

[Rockingham]

There is a solid body of political science research and opinion surveys that show liberals to be poorly informed as to the facts. Of course, liberalism is less about facts than about moral preening.

[KC_Conspirator]

"To say that Miss Jeantel's testimony was anything other than a fiasco would be an understatement,” Martin said in statement distributed by the National Center for Public Policy Research. "The prosecution did a real disservice to the memory of Trayvon Martin in apparently not preparing Rachel Jeantel well enough to testify. To the casual observer, it seems that Miss Jeantel did not have any understanding of the gravity of testifying in this trial."

Meanwhile, Jeantel's demeanor in court — described in media reports as "annoyed," "confused," "combative," "hostile," and more — was probably not helpful to prosecutors either. Among the more controversial comments: referring to the defense attorney as "the bald man" and answering questions with remarks like "that's retarded."

"Her seeming contempt for the proceedings of the court itself was detrimental," Project 21's Martin continued. "While some outside observers were very critical of the defense's tactics early on, it must be remembered that the burden is not really on the defense here as much as it is on the prosecution to prepare their star witness. It seems that did not happen here."

This is actually a very good point by Kevin. There are plenty of suspect things that the prosecution is doing, but NOT prepping your star witness would rank really high up there on incompetence. This woman appeared not to be prepped at all. This is a normal thing that is taught in law school.

I understand that once a person takes the stand its out of your hands. I have heard and sene nutjobs who reverted to lying and acting like a ranting, raving lunatic on the stand after spending countless hours of coaching.