The three women who will determine the fate for George Zimmerman are white, black and Hispanic women who do not sit on the jury, sit on the judge’s bench or in the prosecutors’ or defense attorneys’ chairs. They are Selma Mora, Jenna Lauer and Rachel Jeantel who testified from their different perspectives but when viewed collectively together as a whole will seal the fate of George Zimmerman. The Zimmerman trial has been all about women from the beginning with Special Prosecutor Angela Corey bringing the charges to Judge Debra Nelson hearing the case and deciding the motions and rulings and of course, the six all women jurors who will ultimately render the verdict. The most compelling evidence when viewed as a whole may have already occurred. Looking at the case on a day by day basis does not give an accurate view when dissecting each individual’s testimony. No one person’s testimony stands alone. They are all pieces of a greater puzzle that when pieced together will yield … [Read more...] about Three Women Who Will Determine Zimmerman’s Fate
Archives for June 2013
Rachel Jeantel’s Testimony in Zimmerman Trial Speaks Volumes
Rachel Jeantel’s testimony, a key witness in the George Zimmerman trial and the last person to speak to Trayvon Martin, speaks volumes about the Zimmerman defense and race and gender attitudes in America. Her testimony is a teaching moment on issues of grief, guilt, race, gender, class, education, obesity, beauty, and plain common sense, if only we will listen. Rachel Jeantel’s testimony is seen as crucial to the prosecution. She is the young woman who was on the phone with Trayvon Martin when he noticed that George Zimmerman was following him, whom he described as a “creepy ass cracker”. She stated that she and Trayvon had continued discussions about Zimmerman, who continued to follow and watch him. Jeantel thought he might have been a “rapist” since he kept looking at Trayvon. She testifies about how Trayvon Martin tried to get away but told Jeantel that “he’s behind me”. And she testified that Trayvon was close to his house when she lost contact with him via telephone. And … [Read more...] about Rachel Jeantel’s Testimony in Zimmerman Trial Speaks Volumes
Dissecting the Zimmerman Trial
Monday, June 24th marked the first day of opening statements in the George Zimmerman trial. Last week concluded with an all women jury. In court circles, an all women jury is quite an anomaly. And that’s not the only one so far in the case. The second anomaly occurred during the defense’s opening statements when the defense attorney tried to tell a joke to the jury. There’s no place for humor in a murder trial. One person was killed and the other person, the defendant, is in jeopardy of losing his life in prison. I am clueless as to why a joke was inserted in the beginning of West’s opening—right after he said that it was a tragic case involving two grieving families. Everyone in legal circles is dissecting the all- female jury and wondering which side will benefit from this rarity. And there’s no way at this point to tell which side the jury will ultimately favor. At this juncture, it does appear that this jury favors the defense. And that’s primarily because the women … [Read more...] about Dissecting the Zimmerman Trial
Did Pre-Trial Publicity Pollute The Zimmerman Jury Pool?
As the jury selections continue for a second week in the George Zimmerman trial for the killing of Trayvon Martin, the pre-trial publicity is front and center in the process. During the first week of the trial, prospective jurors were questioned on their knowledge of the case through their information received in the media. One juror indicated that she did not have cable or Internet. Most others had varying degrees of knowledge of the case and some have preconceived notions about the case through print, online, TV and radio. To date, 29 prospective jurors have passed the first hurdle in the process and will move on to round two. According to the Associated Press, of the 29, 19 are white; six are black; two are Hispanic; one is Asian-American; and one describes himself as mixed race. Judge Debra Nelson wants 40 prospective jurors to continue on to round 2 and to further traditional jury questioning. Ultimately, 6 jurors and 4 alternates will be chosen. The … [Read more...] about Did Pre-Trial Publicity Pollute The Zimmerman Jury Pool?
The Role in Race in the Trayvon Martin Case
For supporters of Trayvon Martin, race is everything in the Zimmerman trial. For supporters of George Zimmerman, race is much ado about nothing. Zimmerman's supporters believe that he is being railroaded into a trial . To say that the Zimmerman trial is not about race is like saying the O.J. Simpson or Rodney King beating cases had no racial overtones. And one need only read the comments left on just about every article written about the case to come to the same conclusion that the case is about race. The vitriol and hate mongering that is being spewed at Trayvon Martin by the Zimmerman defense team to ratchet up support for George Zimmerman is despicable at times. The attempts to smear a 17 year old who lost his life has everything to do with race and just about nothing to do with self defense as the defense claims. As jury selections continued on Tuesday, June 11, Debbie Hines appeared on The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann to discuss the role of race in the case. The video … [Read more...] about The Role in Race in the Trayvon Martin Case
The Role of Women in the Trayvon Martin Case
Women will play a critical role in the murder trial of George Zimmerman. From the judge, special prosecutor, jurors, Travyon's girlfriend identified only as witness number 8 and the quiet presence of Trayvon’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, women will have a major impact on the outcome of this case. Beginning with Governor Rick Scott’s appointment of Special Prosecutor Angela Corey, women have been at the helm of this case. Republican Governor Rick Scott assigned the case to Angela Corey to investigate last year after no immediate charges were filed against George Zimmerman. Her team of lawyers conducted a thorough investigation. It was due to her diligent efforts and those of her office that second degree murder charges were finally filed. And thus, the case against George Zimmerman began through the efforts of an aggressive yet compassionate woman. State Prosecutor Angela Corey is known for being an advocate for victims and an aggressive prosecutor. She has often been … [Read more...] about The Role of Women in the Trayvon Martin Case