Posted on 03/05/2013 10:51:32 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
George Zimmerman's "stand your ground" hearing will not begin April 22 as planned, after his lawyer Mark O'Mara told a judge this morning he will not need the court time she'd set aside...
Attorneys for George Zimmerman were expected to ask his judge this morning to order the state's most important witness, the young Miami woman who was on the phone with Trayvon Martin just before he was shot, to produce medical records.
However, defense lawyer Don West made a startling claim shortly after the hearing began: The state had revealed, before the hearing, that there are no medical records.
The woman, the defense lawyer said, "misrepresented" in a sworn statement that she missed Trayvon's funeral because she had been hospitalized.
"In fact, she lied," West said.
Prosecutor John Guy confirmed there will be no medical records, effectively confirming that there was no hospital trip.
The defense had requested the records to challenge her story. Zimmerman is not in court today. The hearing started about 9 a.m.
The young woman, typically referred to as Witness 8, already had credibility problems: Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Trayvon's family, identified her as 16 years old when he played for reporters a recorded interview he conducted with her in March.
But she was 18 at the time and 19 now, O'Mara says....
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Funny, I haven't seen ANY OF THIS in the Miami media.....the media that is O SO ANXIOUS to see George Zimmerman sent to death row.
Are they doing this to discredit her or show that she’s an unreliable witness? It says that they found she lied about where she was for Trayvon’s funeral. That has nothing to do with her whereabouts or if she was on the phone with him the night he was killed.
I’m confused.
I don’t know about this stage of proceedings, but I believe (I’m not a lawyer), that if the jury determines that a witness has lied in one part of the testimony that they don’t have to believe any of it.
Somebody that knows correct me, please.
Moreover, the Martins refuse to allow their son's phone records to be released - so her testimony is the only evidence the prosecution has to corroborate their claims about the telephone call without giving up the phone records.
Hmmm... seems like everyone in this case is lying EXCEPT George Zimmerman.
yep.
How about the data on the drug-dealer’s phone? Or history of where he’d BEEN...?
Guess: His most frequent contact were people who have long histories of dealing drugs. And his physical hang-outs are places known as locales for drug-trafficking.
The little prick was a druggie, and drug-dealer.
And the cops KNOW it.
WHO was repeatedly trying to get into his phone...?
Both.By proving that she lied about *anything* the defense can hammer her relentlessly on everything she says...if she testifies.Seems to me that the state might now refrain from calling her.
Almost sounds like Martin was dating Tawana Brawley.....
Being lives are on the line, why couldn’t the prosecution or defense force the cell records to be produced?
The lack of Travon cell records smells to the heights.
Makes me think there are calls to other problematic gang members and probably what the girl says didn’t add up to the record.
Why block the cell phone records? What is wrong it showing the truth here in a matter of life, death and jail?
Being lives are on the line, why couldn’t the prosecution or defense force the cell records to be produced?
The lack of Travon cell records smells to the heights.
Makes me think there are calls to other problematic gang members and probably what the girl says didn’t add up to the record.
Why block the cell phone records? What is wrong it showing the truth here in a matter of life, death and jail?
“Moreover, the Martins refuse to allow their son’s phone records to be released”
Really? Seeing as the world is upside-down, and Zimmerman has to prove his innocence...shouldn’t he be able to get the records?
It isn't a capital trial.
My understanding is that the prosecution is offering the young woman's phone records and testimony as sufficient, and arguing that information from Martin's phone is potentially prejudicial as well as not material, and therefore inadmissible.
Why block the cell phone records?
Presumably because they would paint an ugly picture of the deceased.
“The woman, the defense lawyer said, “misrepresented” in a sworn statement”
Gee, I guess I’m just old school, I remember when we used to call it LYING!!
If I were the prosecution I would argue the following:
Zimmerman's own testimony is that to his knowledge he never saw Martin before in his life, therefore the only information about Martin relevant to his defense is what Martin said and did in Zimmerman's presence that night.
Therefore, whether Martin called a drugdealer or did something else questionable or illegal using his phone prior to the encounter with Zimmerman is immaterial to Zimmerman's defense.
A defense attorney can make arguments against this, but it is up to the judge.
Attention vikingkitties and fogbow people:
“Prosecutor John Guy confirmed there will be no medical records, effectively confirming that there was no hospital trip.”
Indirect confirmation. (”effectively confirming...”). Standard legal reasoning.
I rest my case.
LOLOLOLOL
Read the next quote. “In fact, she lied.”
I think if they call her to testify she will bring the cell phone calls into the trial. Thus the phone records would have to be allowed in the trial.
Just think... this story would have ended without Zimmerman even being arrested if only Obama would have kept his F***in’ pie hole shut.
But, he needs the distraction...so Zimmerman must die!
It certainly wasn't the father or his girlfriend since they never bothered to check on him during their night out or when they got home, nor was it the girlfriend's son whom he was supposed to be getting the snacks for and didn't find it out of the ordinary he never came home that night so didn't call the adults, it wasn't the mother since she'd sent him to his dad's to get him out of town since he'd been getting into trouble and suspended from school and it most certainly never was the composite girlfriend DeeDee.
I've wondered why he was acting suspicious and wandering around the apartment complex instead of going straight home. Perhaps he was looking for drugs he'd stashed along the way or maybe his dealer had hidden some in the bushes or he was waiting around for the dealer so the little kid back at the house wouldn't know. I've also wondered if the crime in the neighborhood has decreased.
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