May 15 2012
Trayvon’s Girlfriend Key To Martin Case
This should be the last post on the Trayvon Martin case for a while – unless some details pop out this week from the discovery. As I was doing my last round of news searches, something came out last night from the Zimmerman camp that caught my eye, and confirmed my suspicions (that it would be the testimony of Martin’s girlfriend that seals Zimmerman’s conviction). The source of the enlightening comment? Zimmerman’s father (apparently a judge):
He [Zimmerman’s father] believes medical records and photos – released to the defense on Monday – will prove his son was injured by Trayvon [1] when the two met in a gated community’s dark pathway. He said voice tests will show George Zimmerman didn’t lie and an eyewitness will back up his account. The girl who claims to have been on the phone talking to the teenager when the incident occurred will be proved a liar [2], Zimmerman insists.
Oh good Lord – this is how they plan to win a trial? First off, no one disputes the physical altercation or that George Zimmerman got some scrapes and bruises. The issue is who instigated the confrontation, who pushed this to a head. And in this situation we have ear-witness testimony that the instigator was Zimmerman, contrary to his statements to police. Here is what little we know about the girlfriend’s testimony:
In a dramatic press conference on Tuesday, the Martin family’s lawyer Benjamin Crump detailed how the unnamed girl – a minor who was so traumatised by Martin’s death she was taken to hospital at his wake – was talking to him on his cell phone in the minutes leading up to his death, and heard the altercation with his killer.
…
Crump said that during the final phone call with his girlfriend, who was back home in Miami, Martin told her that a stranger was following him, according to an affidavit she recorded. Martin had then tried unsuccessfully to get away from the stranger.
“He says: ‘Oh, he’s right behind me. He’s right behind me again,'” Crump said the girl told him. “She says: ‘Run.’ He says: ‘I’m not going to run, I’m just going to walk fast.’
She then heard Martin saying “Why are you following me” and another voice saying “What are you doing here?“ She told Crump they both repeated themselves, and then she thinks she heard Zimmerman push Martin “because his voice changes, like something interrupted his speech.” She heard an altercation and then the phone call was cut off, Crump said.
This does blow Zimmerman’s statement made to police at the time out of the water. I would suspect Zimmerman had no idea Martin was on the phone and someone was listening in. So he makes up a story about being ambushed from behind to augment his self defense claim. Little did he know a 3rd person was there that night – virtually.
This testimony is in complete contradiction to Zimmerman’s, and it is powerful (and of equal weight to anything Zimmerman claims). It indicates Martin tries numerous times to get away from Zimmerman who stalks the kid (armed of course). It indicates Zimmerman was not ambushed, but came up to Martin and challenged him. And it also implies Zimmerman started the physical altercation.
If Zimmerman’s father believes the defense will prove her a liar (which is way too harsh) and that will save his son – he is being foolish. She is going to be an unimpeachable witness. She is going to provide details Zimmerman thought he could cover up when he concocted his story.
And it is clear from the elder Zimmerman’s harsh statement it is the girlfriend’s testimony that is most dangerous to his son’s defense.
Zimmerman is now caught in a lie, and somehow must prove to judge or jury the girlfriend made up her testimony. Won’t happen. There is no motive. The defense has relied on this all about Zimmerman being attacked. Now we have confirmation it was Martin who was attacked.
And under stand your ground he had every right to beat Zimmerman’s head against the ground in self defense.
“Now we have confirmation it was Martin who was attacked.”
We do???
Well, then someone had better get this info to lead prosecution investigator Dale Gilbreath!
B/c he stated UNDER OATH that, he had no evidence, no witnesses, any statements that contradicted Zimmerman’s assertions that TM attacked Zimmerman.
“Here is what LITTLE we know about the girlfriend’s testimony”
You got that right.
All we have is what Crump says she told him.
But, we KNOW that her sworn statement does not contradict Zimmerman’s assertion that he had stopped following TM, when TM had attacked him.
B/c the state SWORE UNDER OATH, they had NOTHING that contradicted either of those key points.
Questions: If she heard what Crump says she did, why didn’t she call the police? Or how about anyone? Why did TM’s mother have to call her 2 weeks after his death?
Also, why did TM’s parents say they had a sworn affidavit from her around mid March, when Dee Dee hadn’t talked to any investigator from any agency until after April 2?
Marsh
Good questions. It seems to me that Zimmerman is simply being railroaded, no matter what happens. Now, there is talk that the Feds are getting into the fray by seeking to charge Zimmerman with a hate crime. Giving Zimmerman the death penalty would solve all their problems, by appeasing the media and the human black racist bull horns.
Jan, can an African American be charged if he hates African Americans?
http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/10/mark-nejame-on-new-zimmerman-family-photo-he-really-has-significant-multiracial-multicultural-roots/?hpt=pm_mid
This is insane.
Marsh
I’ve read, earlier, about the multi racial background of Zimmerman. I’ve also seen accounts where GZ and his wife have mentored AA youth, and where GZ protested the treatment of an AA by the police. So, there is plenty of history that seems to indicate that whatever provoked Zimmerman to be suspicious of Martin (including the call to the police) was more because of Trayvons aimlessness and actions rather than his color. But, in this racially sensitive culture, we have cultivated, will any of that matter?
Jan, I understand that there were prior incidents in GZ’s recent times inside the gated community that caused GZ concern in regards to Trayvon Martin’s presence.
The push could have come from Trayvon – just as much as GZ. The phone conversation does not yield useful information but then on the other hand, the title indicates that the girlfriend may be key to this case.
She may be key to this case favoring either side.
I’d hate to see that she happens to be the only key to this case. The prosecutor had better make sure she had sufficient proof beyond reasonable doubt.
So far, the evidence available to us is insufficient.
That is just me.
Obama sure has made our country racially sensitive, which is one campaign promise he broke to us. So many of us thought Obama would unite this country. Only, he’s dividing us further and further.
Jan,
I agree. Whatever drove Zimmerman only a little of it was racial. A lot of it was anger, insecurity, etc.
Lurker,
One witness is all it usually takes. And since it was Trayvon she heard interrupted by a shove or blow, it is clear who started it.
And yet it matters not, because Zimmerman claimed he was attacked from behind. He is already a liar because he made up a story the girlfriend’s testimony refutes.
That is all that is needed to blow Zimmerman’s defense out of the water. Remember, he admits to following, ignoring police direction, arming himself and shooting the kid. He has to prove she lied.
And that is impossible. He should be plea bargaining like mad right now.
A.J.
From the evidence I have seen, it is probable that Benjamin Crump lied about what the “girlfriend”, Dee Dee, actually heard.
Crump lied about Dee Dee being a girlfriend. She was only a friend. She was dating someone else.
Crump lied about Dee Dee being so emotional that she had to miss the wake, and had to be hospitalized. She tweeted all through the time of the wake and funeral. She was not emotional, upset, or hospitalized. We can conclude that she did not attend b/c she was not emotionally close to Trayvon, i.e. was not his girlfriend.
Mr. Crump lied. For purposes of aiding a future civil suit, Mr. Crump needed a criminal arrest of Mr. Zimmerman. Mr. Crump retained a PR firm; Mr. Crump exaggerated and lied in his initial press conference, the P.R. firm “worked with” media on the working of language in the initial stories.
Based on what is known at this time, this looks like the likely scenario. Your only misjudgment has been to give too much credibility to Mr. Crump, and to media assertions. Both lied to you, and to all of us. It will all play out.
gcotharn,
Dude – you have no proof Dee Dee lied. None.
If you were following links you would know ABC News was there and has talked to the girl.
If you were not trying to twist the evidence to a preconceived conclusion, you would realize Zimmerman did not know about Dee Dee being on the phone, and she more than likely did not know the details of his claims when police questioned her well after the event.
If you knew anything about interrogating witnesses, you would know that you do what you can to keep all details from other witnesses, so they cannot align their statements for or against other statements.
What is true as far as I know is Zimmerman made up his excuse without knowledge of Dee Dee, and she made her statement without details of Zimmerman’s statements.
Which means she destroyed his excuse.
AJ,
Shhhhh…. Don’t disturb them with facts. They’re keeping the meme alive.
George Zimmerman’s medical report sheds light on injuries in the Trayvon story.
These injuries were documented by a doctor who Zimmerman went to see the next day, in order to get a medical clearance for work.
I don’t agree that it makes the case against Zimmerman, on the basis of what the girlfriend believes happened. No matter who intigated the first push it would have jarred a person’s voice if they were talking on a phone, which I think is what Lurker also said above.
“Dude – you have no proof Dee Dee lied. None.” And, AJ, you really have no proof that what this girl said was accurate or true. She didn’t see anything. She only ‘heard’ sounds, and then interpreted those sounds.
A.J.
I have no agenda vis a vis guilt or innocence. Let justice be done, whatever the case turns out to be. My agenda is to point out that media has massively misled all of us.
I never said Dee Dee lied. I said Crump lied, and initial media reports were carefully shaped by a PR firm.
I couldn’t find link to ABC interview with Dee Dee. I googled it, and noted that all Dee Dee knows is that Trayvon was followed and was scared, and he put his hoodie on, and she heard initial words of confrontation: “Why are you following me?” “What are you doing here?” Then her line went dead. She knows nothing else. Crump lied about her relationship, her motivation for missing the funeral, and about what she knows.
Here is a massively researched, massively documented investigation into who Dee Dee is, and how Crump lied about who she is and what she knows:
http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2012/04/21/update-10-part-2-the-trayvon-martin-shooting-deedee-reveals-the-false-truths/
Here is an excellently documented investigation into the workings of the PR firm which shaped the initial media coverage of the story:
http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2012/04/26/trayvon-martin-shooting-you-will-never-meet-deedee-but-you-can-confront-the-media/
Finally, I emphasize: if George Zimmerman is a murderer, then let him face full justice. My agenda, at this time, is about media’s false manipulation of this story. And only that.
I enjoy your blog.
I accept that it could take just one witness to make a case. This case; however, has gotten national attention, much in the wrong way, that I question the lady’s credibility.
I don’t quite understand the timeline but maybe that might come later?
“One witness is all it usually takes. And since it was Trayvon she heard interrupted by a shove or blow, it is clear who started it.”
How long are you going to keep this absurdity up? The state admitted UNDER OATH…UNDER PENALTY OF LAW that they had NOTHING including any witnesses who could contradict Zimmerman’s assertion that TM started the fight!
Crump blathered on and on about what she supposedly told him. But, the proof is in the pudding. If she had actually heard Zimmerman begin the fight, then the state would have had a completely different answer to O’Mara’s question.
Jan, obviously Zimmerman was trying to break TM’s hands w/ his face.
Funny how statements can be interpreted more than one way. The girl heard some sounds on the phone, she interpreted them the way she thought the prosecutor wanted her to interpret them. A different scenario could be presented as the truth, creating reasonable doubt. reasonable doubt, by law, has to be given to the defendant. The prosecution has to prove their case, the defendant has to establish grounds for doubt.
“If you were following links you would know ABC News was there ”
and of course, if ABC reported it, then by golly it has to be true. LOL.
“If you knew anything about interrogating witnesses, you would know that you do what you can to keep all details from other witnesses,”
unfortunately for the offense, there is this little technicality called ‘discovery’ that will allow the defense to have all the details and evidence ‘prior’ to trial so they can un-align all the prosecution witnesses. The defense can not be ‘surprised’ by evidence during the trial.
Also, there is another ‘little technicality’ called ‘hear say’ Dee Dee can not testify as to what Trayvon told her was happening. If she didn’t see it, she can’t say it happened. She can testify as to what he said, but not as to what he did or was doing unless she saw it.
I’d say her testimony is a pretty big waste of time.
plea bargain? yep, they should agree to drop all charges in return for a promise not to sue for malicious prosecution.
So the justice department is continuing to play politics, pretending they have some reason to charge with a hate crime. this is purely political and has no chance of success.
BGG: “Don’t disturb them with facts.” are you the new blog clown?
I haven’t seen anything related to ‘facts’ about this case that would be damaging to Zimmerman. So everyone is doing a good job of NOT presenting ‘facts’.
I don’t consider it a fact, but if Zimmerman was really getting his head bashed on concrete, I’d say he has a motive to stop that from continuing. and he did.
Evidence: Trayvon Had Bruised Knuckles, Zimmerman Broken Nose
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/15/Zimmerman-medical-report
“The medical report from George Zimmerman’s family doctor after the Trayvon Martin shooting shows that Zimmerman’s nose was broken; he also had a pair of black eyes, two lacerations on the back of his head, a bruised upper lip, and a back injury. He was examined by the doctor the day after the shooting. The three-page medical report will likely be used as evidence for the defense.
Meanwhile, the Trayvon Martin autopsy shows that other than his gunshot wound, the only injury on Martin was that the skin on his knuckles was broken. Combined with the evidence from Zimmerman’s medical report, the logical conclusion is that Martin was beating up Zimmerman severely before Zimmerman shot him.”
AJStrata wrote:
“He is already a liar because he made up a story the girlfriend’s testimony refutes.”
What testimony? The girl’s lawyer held a press conference. That is not testimony. That is not even a signed statement of what she may or may not have said.
Your characterization that a lawyer holding a press conference where the girl is not present of being “testimony” is factually wrong. It is at best hearsay, which cannot be admitted into the trial. The press conference was made to poison the jury pool. Nothing else. The question then becomes “why are you supporting an effort to taint a jury?”
You make the another factual error when you write:
“That is all that is needed to blow Zimmerman’s defense out of the water. Remember, he admits to following, ignoring police direction, arming himself and shooting the kid. He has to prove she lied.”
He did not admit to “ignoring police direction.” That is a total fabrication on your part. I suppose you are saying that he ignored the 911 operator’s “instructions.” There are two problems with that. First, the 911 operator was not and is not a police officer. He was not then and is not now a member of the law enforcement community. There were no “police instructions” given to Zimmerman.
Secondly, you characterization is false in that the operators response was “we don’t need you to do that.” That is radically different from “don’t do that.”
Thirdly, the 911 operator, even if he were a police officer, had no legal authority to tell Zimmerman to stop what Zimmerman was doing. Zimmerman was acting in a legal manner that night. For that matter, so was Martin. But as Martin is not the one you are falsely claiming ignored the “police instruction,” one must wonder why you would make this claim up out of thin air?
“Zimmerman is now caught in a lie, and somehow must prove to judge or jury the girlfriend made up her testimony. Won’t happen. There is no motive. The defense has relied on this all about Zimmerman being attacked. Now we have confirmation it was Martin who was attacked.”
What lie? What testimony? Perhaps you have forgotten that the girl refused to speak to the police at the time of the incident. The defense will ask her the simple question of “if you were so concerned about what happened to Martin, why did you refuse to speak to the police?” There is no good answer to that question. AS to the motive? I can think of a lot of them. First she wants to see what she believes is “justice” for Martin. Whether that justice is apt or not does not matter. Secondly she could be hoping the family will get a large settlement from the community in which Martin was shot. She may be thinking “I can help them get money and they will give some to me.”
The bottom line is that when the trial takes place, the detectives have already testified that they have no idea and no evidence who started the altercation. This means they never interviewed the girl or the girl changed her story. Either way introduces more than enough doubt to challenge the veracity of the girl’s testimony, or that of the police detectives.
The detectives, along with ADA Corey and you, have misrepresented the facts of the case. It will come back to bite the detectives and Corey.
Frogg1,
Yes – Martin was winning the physical altercation – apparently initiated by Zimmerman. So what?
Look at the other FL cases, where the one claiming self defense pushed for the altercation and was NEVER in any threat of life until the physical altercation they initiated went against them.
You can pretend all day long that this is not key to the case, but it is.
And it has decades of precedence.
This case is not being misrepresented – it is being lost by Zimmerman because he made something up without realizing there was an ear-witness.
Watch for the plea bargain to manslaughter to come soon – with the mea culpa.