{"id":48071,"date":"2013-07-05T18:05:21","date_gmt":"2013-07-05T17:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/zimmerman-prosecution-imploding-analysts-say-2\/48071\/"},"modified":"2013-07-05T18:05:21","modified_gmt":"2013-07-05T17:05:21","slug":"zimmerman-prosecution-imploding-analysts-say-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/zimmerman-prosecution-imploding-analysts-say-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Zimmerman Prosecution Imploding, Analysts Say"},"content":{"rendered":"

The prosecution of George Zimmerman for second-degree murder in the killing of Trayvon Martin last year appears to be collapsing, thanks in large part to testimony offered by witnesses called by prosecutors, according to legal experts and analysts. Even though the judge refused <\/a>to allow Martin\u2019s history of drug use, fighting, and school suspensions into evidence, explosive witness testimony provided during the trial may still prove devastating to authorities and their bid to convict Zimmerman. <\/p>\n

More than a few commentators have suggested<\/a> that the murder charges were concocted to satisfy race profiteers, the out-of-control U.S. Justice Department, and the establishment media. Critics of the prosecution, including heavy-hitting law professors and attorneys, say prosecutors have engaged in ethical violations in what appears, to many analysts at least, to be an over-zealous bid to convict Zimmerman in the absence of solid evidence. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe state of Florida\u2019s politically driven decision to charge George Zimmerman with murder has resulted, as some of us predicted it would, in a pathetically weak case,\u201d explained<\/a> Andrew McCarthy, a former attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice who has been following the case closely. \u201cIt has taken only a few days of trial to collapse of its own weightlessness \u2013 undone, in fact, by the direct testimony of a prosecution witness…. This case does not belong in a criminal court. That it has gotten this far is a sad triumph of demagoguery over due process.\u201d<\/p>\n

As The New American<\/em> reported<\/a> last week, the prosecution\u2019s so-called \u201cstar witness,\u201d 19-year-old Rachel Jeantel, proved to be a huge embarrassment for state prosecutors. The young woman \u2013 apparently the last person to speak with Martin, then 17, prior to his death early last year \u2013 actually ended up benefiting the defense, according to countless legal analysts and pundits commenting on the case. <\/p>\n

In addition to the public exposure of potentially incriminating posts on social-media services referencing drug use, drunk driving, underage drinking, and more, Jeantel\u2019s testimony in court appeared to make a mockery of the prosecution. The witness was forced to admit, for example, that she could not read a letter she supposedly \u201cwrote\u201d outlining the events of February 26, 2012, the night Martin was killed. \u201cI don\u2019t read cursive,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n

During testimony, Jeantel admitted to lying under oath, putting her credibility in serious doubt. She eventually conceded that she did not know who started the fight, too. Her demeanor in court, meanwhile \u2013 eye-rolling, referring to an attorney as \u201cthe bald-headed dude,\u201d answering questions with remarks like \u201cthat\u2019s retarded,\u201d and more \u2013 was widely criticized as well. <\/p>\n

The \u201cstar witness\u201d also revealed that Martin had described Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, as a \u201ccreepy-a** cracker\u201d over the phone on the night he was killed \u2013 a term widely understood as a racist pejorative used to describe whites. Jeantel testified that she did not think the term \u201ccracker\u201d was racist but that she thought Zimmerman\u2019s actions may have been motivated by race. <\/p>\n

Much of the establishment press and the race-profiteering industry, of course, have bent over backwards trying to paint Zimmerman as a racist \u2013 even using deception, as in the case of NBC\u2019s editing of Zimmerman\u2019s 911 call<\/a>. Prosecutors tried it as well, albeit in a more subtle manner, alleging that Zimmerman had \u201cprofiled\u201d Martin. Now, the \u201cracism\u201d allegations aimed at Zimmerman appear to have become less tenable at the very least, with critics of the prosecution suggesting Martin was in fact the racist.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Jeantel, however, was hardly the only prosecution witness to apparently hurt the state\u2019s case for murder. John Good, a neighbor who said he witnessed the fight between Zimmerman and Martin that preceded the fatal shooting, was also called to testify by prosecutors. Instead of bolstering the prosecution\u2019s case, though, the witness\u2019 testimony proved to be a major boost to Zimmerman and his claim of self-defense, according to analysts. <\/p>\n

In essence, Good contradicted a previous witness \u2013 and possibly the entire narrative of Zimmerman as the crazed, vigilante-type aggressor. Good told the court this week that he saw Martin on top pummeling Zimmerman seconds before the gunshot rang out, just as the defendant has maintained from the beginning. <\/p>\n

\u201cCould you describe who was on top and who was at bottom,\u201d asked<\/a> prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda. Good responded by saying that the color on top was dark, as Martin\u2019s sweatshirt was that night, and that the man underneath was wearing red, as Zimmerman was. The witness also testified that the person on the bottom during the fight had \u201clighter skin color.\u201d Martin, of course, was black. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe person on the bottom, I could hear a \u2018Help,\u2019\u201d Good said during the trial, suggesting that it was Zimmerman who was screaming for assistance, rather than Martin. Who cried for help amid the fight \u2013 Martin or Zimmerman \u2013 has become a strong point of contention, with prosecutors and at least one witness suggesting it was Martin while the defense team and Good say it was Zimmerman. Good also said he saw the person on top using what seemed like mixed martial arts (MMA)-style \u201cground and pound\u201d tactics against the person on the bottom. <\/p>\n

After Good\u2019s testimony, the prosecution called Jonathan Manalo, another neighbor. Manalo, who took the now-infamous photos<\/a> of Zimmerman\u2019s head injuries, testified that he talked to Zimmerman moments after the fatal shooting. The witness said that Zimmerman looked like he “got his butt beat” after the fight, also supporting the defense\u2019s claims of self-defense, according to analysts.<\/p>\n

Another witness who testified for the prosecution was Jacksonville medical examiner Valerie Rao. Her credibility has been questioned<\/a> by experts, reported the Huffington Post, in light of complaints filed against her. While Rao only reviewed photos and videos, she told <\/a>the court that Zimmerman\u2019s injuries \u2013 bloody wounds on the back of his head and an injured nose \u2013 appeared \u201cinsignificant\u201d and \u201cnot life-threatening.\u201d Under cross-examination by the defense, Rao said that grazes on Martin\u2019s knuckles were consistent with him having thrown a punch.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

To secure a conviction in the case, which attracted nationwide attention when race-profiteers and anti-gun zealots thought it could be useful, the state of Florida will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to jurors that the former Neighborhood Watch chief acted with a \u201cdepraved mind\u201d and disregard for human life. At this point, with prosecutors reportedly<\/a> about to rest their case, that seems like a long shot. Experts said pursuing manslaughter charges may have been more plausible, but even that would be a tough case to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.<\/p>\n

Zimmerman, of course, has maintained from the beginning that he shot Martin in self-defense following a series of burglaries in the neighborhood. According to Zimmerman\u2019s version of the story, Martin, who was unarmed, brutally attacked him, slamming his head against the ground. Photos of the injuries appear to corroborate the claims, legal analysts say. Finally, when Martin reached for Zimmerman\u2019s gun, Zimmerman was forced to shoot, the defendant argued. <\/p>\n

A crime lab analyst for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Anthony Gorgone, testified<\/a> this week that Martin\u2019s DNA was not found on the grip of Zimmerman\u2019s pistol. Under cross-examination by the defense, however, Gorgone admitted it was possible that Martin had touched the gun without leaving DNA traces.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Prosecutors are trying hard to attack Zimmerman\u2019s credibility, most recently putting a college professor on the stand who taught Zimmerman about self-defense laws as part of a criminal litigation course. The Seminole State College professor testified about the defendant\u2019s knowledge of Florida\u2019s \u201cStand Your Ground<\/a>\u201d law, which Zimmerman denied knowing about in a media interview. <\/p>\n

If convicted, Zimmerman could face up to life in prison, with a minimum of 25 years. According to news reports, the prosecution is just about ready to rest its case, making way for the defense to present its own witnesses and evidence. The trial is expected to go on for at least a few more days, and then the all-female jury will have to make its decision. What happens after that remains to be seen, but warnings of nationwide riots if Zimmerman were to be acquitted have been growing louder every day.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photo of wounds to the back of Zimmerman’s head on the night of the shooting: AP Images<\/em><\/sup><\/p>\n

Alex Newman is a correspondent for <\/em>The New American, covering economics, politics, and more. <\/em>He can be reached at
\n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
\n .<\/em><\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/em><\/p>\n

Star Witness Against Zimmerman Flops Big Time<\/a><\/p>\n

Amid Controversy, Zimmerman Murder Trial Begins<\/a><\/p>\n

Judge in Trayvon Martin Case Rules Some Evidence Off Limits <\/a><\/p>\n

First Anniversary of Florida Shooting Still Raises Questions<\/a><\/p>\n

Zimmerman Injury Photo Raises Questions About Prosecution, Media<\/a><\/p>\n

Racists Prepare for \u201cRace War\u201d Over Florida Shooting <\/a><\/p>\n

Experts Weigh in After Four Witnesses in Trayvon Martin Case Change Story<\/a><\/p>\n

Medical Report Shows Martin Attacked Zimmerman <\/a><\/p>\n

Dershowitz: Prosecutor Should Drop Charges Against Zimmerman <\/a><\/p>\n

Democrat Anti-Self-Defense \u201cTrayvon Amendment\u201d on Hold, For Now <\/a><\/p>\n

“Stand Your Ground” and Self Defense <\/a><\/p>\n

Florida \u201cStand Your Ground\u201d Task Force Meets, Democrat Wants Changes<\/a><\/p>\n

Anti-Gun Zealots Exploit Florida Tragedy <\/a><\/p>\n

UN “Human Rights” Boss Questions Fla. Law, Demands Justice for Trayvon<\/a><\/p>\n

Prosecutors In Zimmerman Case Release Affidavit, But Face Trouble Getting Conviction<\/a><\/p>\n

Zimmerman Charged With Second-Degree Murder<\/a><\/p>\n

Republished with permission from: The New American<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The prosecution of George Zimmerman for second-degree murder in the killing of Trayvon Martin last year appears to be collapsing, thanks in large part to testimony offered by witnesses called by prosecutors, according to legal experts and analysts. Even though the judge refused to allow Martin\u2019s history of drug use, fighting, and school suspensions into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[487],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-48071","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-breaking-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48071"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48071\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}