By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
The Trayvon Martin Case is currently ongoing, and by request we have decided to write a few updates on what’s been going on in one of the most watched trials in years. Today was day three of the trial, but yesterday was an emotional one because jurors saw photos of Martin’s corpse as evidence against George Zimmerman. However, today was the day the Prosecution asked their key witness, Rachel “Diamond” Jeantel, to the stand and her first testimony didn’t go so well for the Prosecution. Although she was supposed to tell the jurors Trayvon’s frightening last moments of life considering she was the very last person he spoke to on the phone before his death, she was caught in several lies. She also became visibly frustrated when asked certain questions from Zimmerman’s attorney Don West and was hard to hear in some of her testimony according to jurors. The Sun-Sentinnel reports:
Jeantel then heard a “bump,” followed by something she described as “grass sound.” Trayvon said, “Get off. Get off,” then the phone went dead, she testified.
Jeantel’s account, though, was nearly lost amid the problems and spectacle she created. She used street slang, was sometimes defiant and talked so fast and so softly that it was often impossible to make out her words.
The court reporter interrupted her a dozen times, asking her to repeat herself. Jurors interrupted, too, although not as often, and stopped when Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson told them, “You can’t ask questions. If you can’t understand, just raise your hand.”
They did.
In addition to her issues on the stand, she was also not too happy to learn that she would have to get on the stand again on Thursday:
Jeantel, the most anticipated witness of the trial, spent 21/2 fascinating, frustrating hours on the witness stand and is to return at 9 a.m. Thursday for more, when West is scheduled to continue his cross-examination.
When West told the judge he expects that to last about two more hours, Jeantel blurted out, “What?”
She admitted Wednesday to two lies. She told Trayvon’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, and family attorney Benjamin Crump shortly after the shooting that she was 16 when she really was 18. She wanted Fulton to think she was a minor, just as Trayvon was, she said.
Other lies Jeantel was busted in includes lying about why she missed Trayvon’s funeral and wake.
Here’s day three of the trial, and the other two days are below as well for any of you who missed it.
Day Two
Day One
It was so sad seeing Trayvon’s dad crying in court today as Rachel Jeantel was on the stand reliving Trayvon’s last moments of life. Just heartbreaking.
Yeah my eyes watered up when I saw him sobbing. So sad.
I hope I’m wrong yall but I think Zimmerman is going to walk. I really do.
This is for Gabriella I see!
I had to stop watching after they showed his body. I just can’t do it. Too much. This whole thing still makes me so angry. If Zimmerman would have just listened to 911 and let the police handle it, Trayvon would still be alive today.
And that’s why this man should NOT be freed.
I can’t watch this. I just have such a bad feeling about it that I can’t do it.
I really take this case to heart not only because I am black but because I have 3 little nephews that I am scared for growing up in the world today. You can just see the hurt in Trayvon Martin’s parents face it is so sad. The prosecution needs to prep the star witness better she was all over the place she did terrible on the cross examination. It was embarrassing that she can’t even speak or answer questions properly. I understand she is 19 but this case is so important its bigger then her its bigger then me she has to do better. It is a serious issue of people killing black children and thinking they can get away with it. It just breaks my heart.
I feel you girl.
What can you really do though? This is telling. The fact that, on the main, black people really don’t like the police at all. The young woman lied about her age because she didn’t want to be involved with the police… I understand not wanting to be involved with them either. The young woman knew that this would be something big and didn’t want to be involved. She wasn’t thinking about the repercussions. She wasn’t thinking about the amount of scrutiny that would come her way. She was really only thinking about not wanting to be involved with the police. Selfish, I’m sure… but I understand.
Someone should have gotten to her before now to express to her the seriousness of this situation.
True.
Rachel Jeantel…I hope you didn’t blow this trial boo. Smh.
The crazy thing is this stuff happens everyday. Trayvon’s story just became a national one. Right now there’s a young black man’s family still fighting to find the murderer of their son in Valdosta and they think race played a role. Google Kendrick KJ Johnson.
I’m not feeling good about this trial y’all. The key witness was caught in too many lies and they have already discredited her. If the prosecution doesn’t save her tomorrow…it just doesn’t look good.
So she wasn’t his girlfriend? Bless her heart. It has to be hard to do this and know you were the last person he spoke to besides his murderer.
Have yall read a lot of the comments on the white sites? They are so racist and they are demonstrating why Trayvon was killed. This country is so ignorant when it comes to race. Just sad.
The jury is all female, 4 white and 2 Latinas right? And see, that’s MY problem. I don’t trust that.
Me either.
Yeah… I don’t trust that AT ALL!! Something is not right. Also, what’s your bet that Trayvon Martin will receive justice from a panel that is five-sixths white?
You think Zimmerman will get life in prison? I just don’t see it. I expect him to walk.
I really don’t know Erica. I believe that he should be severely punished for ending the life of Trayvon if for no other reason than Trayvon was unarmed however I’d be VERY surprised if this man does the time that he deserves to do and it’ll be based on some technicality or a loose interpretation of the Stand Your Ground law.
Maybe I’m jaded because of the MANY times we have been done harm to while the perpetrator of said harm has suffered little to no repercussions but my experience leads me to believe that this time will be no different.
That fat f-ck will get off. But he won’t have freedom though. He’ll be like Casey Anthony, free but never able to live a normal life ever again. And someone will try to kill him. Watch.
Thanks for posting this. I need to watch today’s clip.
Zimmerman is clearly wrong here. He pursued someone based off prejudices, initiated the confrontation even after the operator told him not to follow Trayvon and then lied to say it was all self defense. How come Trayvon hitting a stranger who followed and initiated a confrontation isn’t self defense?
Even IF Zimmerman gets off, God gets the last say and vengeance is always His.
Amen!! But Justice will be served.
Zimmerman is a murderer! Plain and simple! All these racist white people have no idea how it is to be a black man walking in a neighbor with people who expect you to be a gang member because they watch too much damn TV. I have nephews! They are smart. They don’t get in trouble but if they walk down the street in the “wrong neighborhood”, someone might kill them anyway!
Watch the bastard get off. It’s going to be a race war no matter what happens.
Thank you so much UB!!!!!!! Greatly appreciated y’all do an amazing job its not taken for granted!!!!!!!
Co-sign.
This young lady became agitated on the stand and the defense is trying to trip her up, but everything will be alright. My faith tells me that Zimmerman will be Convicted as charged. This trial has to be hard for the family but, God will continue to give the family strength to get through this horrible time in their lives. RIP!
The jury members are unlikely to reject her outright as a “liar” or “totally inconsistent.” Critical parts of her testimony are actually believable and useful to the burden of proof of guilt. I too think that everything will be fine with regard to her testimony.
Question: Do you think George is going to testify?
He doesn’t have to, and usually murder suspects don’t. If the defense has any feeling that they have put enough doubt into the juror’s minds, they will force him to stay off the stand because his testimony may open up all kinds of rabbit holes for the State to go into. That’s why Jose Baez didn’t put Casey Anthony up there.
She is an idiot, and each time she talked and the Camera was on Martin’s family, the Father cringed because he knew she was hurting the case more than helping it. She can’t even speak properly in a courtroom and kept saying axe instead of ask. It was ridiculous, and this whole trial is a circus.
If anyone is an idiot, my dear, it would be you! What is the purpose of calling her names? Better yet, what does her weight have to do with her testiomony? You don’t have to agree with the witness, nor the case, but to completly disrespect another human says a whole lot about your character. I only pray that you don’t have children of your own! You are what is wrong with the world today.