George Zimmerman defense team responds to cousin’s molestation claims

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A family friend of George Zimmerman told investigators he sexually molested her on and off for nearly a decade, newly released audio tapes in the Trayvon Martin shooting case reveal.

"He would reach under the blankets and try to do things," the woman—identified as Witness 9—told investigators.

Zimmerman's defense team later identified the unnamed woman as his cousin and said they plan to file "reciprocal discovery" in the coming weeks.

"Now that this statement is part of the public record, the defense will vigorously defend Mr. Zimmerman against the allegations," they said on a website dedicated to Zimmerman's defense.

The accuser said the molestation occurred at Zimmerman's parents' house when they were growing up.

"I would try to push him off, but he was bigger, stronger and older," she said during the interview conducted on March 20, less than a month after the Feb. 26 shooting. The woman, who contacted prosecutors after Martin's killing, said she was 6 and Zimmerman was 8 when the alleged molestation began. It continued until she was 16, she said.

Investigators asked the woman why she was coming forward now. "This is the first time in my life that I'm not afraid of him," she replied.

The woman also told state investigators that she anonymously called Sanford police after Martin's death.

"I was afraid that he may have done something because the kid was black," the woman says on the recordings. She said she had no direct knowledge of the shooting death, but wanted police to know Zimmerman had made negative comments about blacks when they were growing up.

As for the molestation allegations, her family would get together with Zimmerman's at least once a year, she said. "Every time that we would go up there, I could just look at him and he would give me a certain look and I would just know it was going to happen when we got together for family gatherings. ... He just got this look in his eye like he was going to [molest me]."

The woman said she was not the only victim. "It's not just me that he would do these things to," she told investigators. But the other alleged victim would never come forward, Witness 9 said, declining to give investigators her name: "She said she would deny it either way."

Georgie, she said, would tell her to tell others that they were just lying down or playing hide-n-seek. "Georgie just sucked up to my dad," she said. "He was like the son he never had."

The audio was released on Monday along with dozens of recordings from phone calls Zimmerman made while behind bars in April. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara fought until the last minute to keep the recordings from Witness 9 a secret, but Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. ruled the evidence is public information and ordered them to be made available.

"This irrelevant statement should be withheld from public dissemination because of the substantial risk that public disclosure will lead to widespread hostile publicity which would substantially impair the Defendant's fair trial rights, and would pose a serious threat to the administration of justice," the defense said on its website.

Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder in Martin's death.

"He was very charming and personable with everybody in the family," the woman said of Zimmerman. "But he was different behind closed doors with me. ... He was very intimidating."

She said one of the last incidents occurred when she was 16. Zimmerman, who had graduated from high school and moved to Florida with his family, massaged and kissed her, causing her to run out of the home. The woman said she eventually quit attending family functions if she thought he was going to be there.

"I couldn't take it," she said. "I didn't want to be around him anymore."

She said she eventually told her sister about her encounters with Zimmerman. The sister then told their parents.

The alleged victim said she and her parents tried to discuss the abuse with Zimmerman at a Lake Mary, Fla., restaurant in 2005. "He said, 'I'm sorry' and just got up and walked out."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/zimmerman-witness-sexual-molestation-160900334.html

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/zimmerman-witness-sexual-molestation-160900334.html

The woman, who contacted prosecutors after Martin's killing, said she was 6 and Zimmerman was 8 when the alleged molestation began.

The woman also told state investigators that she anonymously called Sanford police after Martin's death.

"I was afraid that he may have done something because the kid was black," the woman says on the recordings. She said she had no direct knowledge of the shooting death, but wanted police to know Zimmerman had made negative comments about blacks when they were growing up.

Edited July 17, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[X Factor 1,112]

This is a case for Ricki Lake or Jerry Springer...

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

......shakes head.....this is why murder trials shouldn't be tossed about in the media.....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

......shakes head.....this is why murder trials shouldn't be tossed about in the media.....

Under normal circumstances, where both the Defendant and the victim's family kept a low-down on bringing the trial to the media, I would agree that such witness testimony should be kept from the public until after the trial, but George Zimmerman took his fight to the media right away in hopes of garnering sympathy or support and hey, he got himself a decent fundraiser going. Too bad that it's a two way street and after all the character assassinations of the Martin family's dead son, Trayvon, they're finally getting their turn in the media. But looking beyond that, this witness testimony is definitely relevant to the case as it pertains to Zimmerman's character.

Edited July 17, 2012 by Mister Fancypants

[DaveE 178]

Ahh another indication of the fairness of this trial.. Angela Corey: Hey, Maybe I Should Release Some Completely Unrelated, Legally Inadmissible, Uncorroborated Claims that George Zimmerman Sexually Abused a Female Relative, Eh?

[AmyWrites 593]

If he did, that's terrible, but I don't see how this has to do with the murder.

[DaveE 178]

Under normal circumstances, where both the Defendant and the victim's family kept a low-down on bringing the trial to the media, I would agree that such witness testimony should be kept from the public until after the trial, but George Zimmerman took his fight to the media right away in hopes of garnering sympathy or support and hey, he got himself a decent fundraiser going. Too bad that it's a two way street and after all the character assassinations of the Martin family's dead son, Trayvon, they're finally getting their turn in the media. But looking beyond that, this witness testimony is definitely relevant to the case as it pertains to Zimmerman's character.

Do you know anything about Florida rules of evidence?

90.404 Character evidence; when admissible.--

(1) CHARACTER EVIDENCE GENERALLY.--Evidence of a person's character or a trait of character is inadmissible to prove action in conformity with it on a particular occasion, except: (a) Similar fact evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is admissible when relevant to prove a material fact in issue, including, but not limited to, proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident, but it is inadmissible when the evidence is relevant solely to prove bad character or propensity

Since this latest Nancy Grace moment has no application as to "proof of motive", "oportunity", "intent", "preparation", "plan", "knowledge", "identity", or adsence of "mistake or accident", in the Trayvon Martin death, it will not be allowed.

Edited July 17, 2012 by DaveE

[james&olya 1,121]

If he did, that's terrible, but I don't see how this has to do with the murder.

The sexual abuses implied are diverting attention from the real reason this witness is relevant and that has to do with the oft-repeated claim that Zimmerman could not have been motivated by racism. This corroborates a previous witness that has come forward with stories of how Zimmerman's family was avowedly racist against blacks in particular. This testimony also goes to Zimmerman's character but I think that is already quite obvious!

[james&olya 1,121]

Do you know anything about Florida rules of evidence?

Since this latest Nancy Grace moment has no application as to "proof of motive", "oportunity", "intent", "preparation", "plan", "knowledge", "identity", or adsence of "mistake or accident", in the Trayvon Martin death, it will not be allowed.

Ah, but it does go directly to motive! She can testify as to Zimmerman's racism!!! You also missed that little nugget in your fascination with the sexual abuse details!

[james&olya 1,121]

Went back and re-read the OP's post. It appears he left out the parts of the story reported elsewhere where this witness has corroborated the details of racism openly espoused by the Zimmerman family. It is out there but not detailed very much in this post.

Edited July 17, 2012 by james&olya

[DaveE 178]

The sexual abuses implied are diverting attention from the real reason this witness is relevant and that has to do with the oft-repeated claim that Zimmerman could not have been motivated by racism. This corroborates a previous witness that has come forward with stories of how Zimmerman's family was avowedly racist against blacks in particular. This testimony also goes to Zimmerman's character but I think that is already quite obvious!

For every witness that claims Zimmerman is a racist, there are several who dispute it. Heck, in todays society if you have nothing else you just scream racism or discrimination, and the media will come running. This was released for one reason only. Corey has no case and is trying to frighten Zimmerman into a plea deal. She knows she doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of getting a murder 2 conviction. Why do you think there was no Grand Jury - the Murder 2 case would have been thrown out.

Bottom line - If this goes to trial there is no way they will ever get an unanimous jury to convict. I suspect it will never go to trial.

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Zimmerman racist narrative implodes

Posted by William A. Jacobson Friday, July 13, 2012 at 12:44pm

It probably will not stop those who want to portray the case as racial from continuing to make claims of racial motivation in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, but the FBI has confirmed that there is no substantial evidence that George Zimmerman was racist.Via Orlando Sentinel, FBI interviews: No evidence Zimmerman a racist

Federal civil-rights investigators interviewed dozens of George Zimmerman’s friends, neighbors and co-workers, and no one said he was a racist, records released Thursday show.

FBI agents spread out across the state, talking to three dozen people, including gun-shop employees, Zimmerman’s ex-fiancée and the Sanford police detective who led the investigation into the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old.

And as the Sentinel further reports, additional evidence released mostly supports Zimmeran:

The new batch of evidence includes nearly 300 pages plus police-dispatch audio and crime-scene photos. Defense attorneyMark O’Marareceived it last month.

There was little new that appeared to help the state’s case. Two witnesses said they heard an argument, then the voices moved away then they heard cries for help and a gunshot.

That does not match Zimmerman’s version of events. He told police there was a very brief exchange of words, then Trayvon punched him in the nose with such force that he fell to the ground. He said the teenager climbed on top of him and began punching him and pounding his head into a sidewalk.

Most of the new evidence appeared to favor Zimmerman.

A new witness whose name was blacked out told a prosecution investigator March 27 that she saw the fight and that the person on top was the one who wound up dead.

That makes two witnesses — one from an earlier evidence release — who back up Zimmerman’s version that Trayvon had overpowered him.

The Martin family’s attorney still is pushing the racism theme:

[DaveE 178]

Ah, but it does go directly to motive! She can testify as to Zimmerman's racism!!! You also missed that little nugget in your fascination with the sexual abuse details!

I don't appreciate your little "fascination with sexual abuse bu!!#######". I am concerned only with a person getting a fair trial, and it my opinion that will not happen (if it goes to trial). PS - I was responding the comment, "But looking beyond that, this witness testimony is definitely relevant to the case as it pertains to Zimmerman's character".

So, this little snippet goes to motive? She said she had no direct knowledge of the shooting death, but wanted police to know Zimmerman had made negative comments about blacks when they were growing up You want to know something, I am Native American, and I made lots of negative comments about other races when I was "growing up". Does that mean I am a racist now?

Edited July 17, 2012 by DaveE

[james&olya 1,121]

I don't appreciate your little "fascination with sexual abuse bu!!#######". I am concerned only with a person getting a fair trial, and it my opinion that will not happen (if it goes to trial). PS - I was responding the comment, "But looking beyond that, this witness testimony is definitely relevant to the case as it pertains to Zimmerman's character".

So, this little snippet goes to motive? She said she had no direct knowledge of the shooting death, but wanted police to know Zimmerman had made negative comments about blacks when they were growing up You want to know something, I am Native American, and I made lots of negative comments about other races when I was "growing up". Does that mean I am a racist now?

Well EXCUUUUUSSE ME! Good for you being Native American. That does make you an expert on racism, no doubt. I suffer from being Danish/German/English, etc so I obviously cannot know of such things. Yes, I do agree with you that the OP might be wrong as to whether the character implications of this testimony is where the relevance is. But the allegations of racism are relevant as that goes to motive. And seriously, you think that most racist's friends and families would say that, yeah, my friend over there is a racist? First, they probably share the same attitudes and most racists do not believe they are racist themselves. Second, most people are understandably reluctant to throw a friend or family member 'under the bus'! A jury will need to sort all this out. Zimmerman should be able to get at least one juror to hang in there with him and block a murder conviction. I predict he walks. If the evidence presented so far in the media is accurate (a huge 'if') then I personally think he should be locked up!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Society's obsession with this case is amusing.

** the economy, and everything else wrong with the country today, we care about some punk kid getting shot and the idiot who shot him.