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 the final results. And the greater pieces of the puzzle may have already been placed.
Selma Mora is the Hispanic neighbor who gave her testimony in Spanish through an interpreter. In her emotional tone, she spoke of seeing Trayvon Martin on the bottom being beaten by George Zimmerman. She testifies to seeing Zimmerman get up after Trayvon was shot. And Mora’s testimony in Spanish will presumably resonate well with the one Hispanic juror who herself has children. Mora is the third witness to testify that Zimmerman was on the top of Trayvon Martin.
Jenna Lauer, another neighbor testified about hearing the commotion outside her house. She called 911 and because of her call, the desperate cries and screams for help are heard. And those cries and screams stop and fall silent when Zimmerman’s gun is shot. The jury will have the tape in evidence of Lauer’s call to replay during deliberations. It is expected that Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon’s mother will testify that those screams are the voice of her son.
The 911 operator was heard asking Zimmerman if he was following Trayvon Martin. And she unequivocally stated that the police didn’t need for him to follow. And we further know that he followed and pursued Trayvon Martin by the testimony of Rachel Jeantel, Trayvon Martin’s friend on the phone who discussed back and forth with Trayvon about the “creepy” person who continued to follow and watch him. While Jeantel’s testimony has been dissected on her looks, attitude and for inconsistencies and lies, she never changed her account of Zimmerman following Trayvon Martin. It is further corroborating evidence along with the 911 operator.
And even though another neighbor, John Good, contradicted Mora’s testimony by recalling seeing Zimmerman on the bottom, he did not support Zimmerman’s version that Trayvon Martin was viciously pounding his head to the cement as he cried out for help until he had to shoot in self- defense. That stand- alone version so far is only given by Zimmerman in his prior statements. And Good’s testimony, who stated that Trayvon was on the top pounding away in mixed martial arts style, was discredited or at least questioned by Zimmerman’s own doctor’s office. Medical assistant, Lindzi Folgate, who treated Zimmerman before and after the incident, said that he had been training “intensively” in mixed martial arts for three weeks before the incident.
The trial has only been going on for one week with testimony. But the fate of George Zimmerman may have already been sealed with three diverse women’s testimony who support the prosecution’s case.
Washington, DC based Debbie Hines is a practicing trial lawyer and former prosecutor. She is a legal expert in criminal law, high profile criminal cases and the legal system, having tried murders, rapes, assaults, burglaries, robberies and sex crimes with a high conviction rate. As a civil trial attorney, she has represented clients in court rooms across the country.
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