The friend of Trayvon Martin returns to the stand in the George Zimmerman trial saying she believes the encounter was racially charged. Rachel Jeantel is a crucial witness for prosecutors as she was on the phone with Martin before his fatal fight with George Zimmerman in February 2012.
Jeantel said Martin complained to her that a man described as “creepy” was following him through the community. Martin said Zimmerman was behind him and she heard him ask: “What are you following me for?”
"He kept complaining that a man was just watching him," Jeantel said.
She heard Martin say, “Get off! Get off!” before the phone went dead. Jeantel said she thought race was an issue because Martin told her a white man was following him. It has been reported that Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic and his family claims the confrontation had nothing to do with race.
Cross-examination continues today, but the major question is whether George Zimmerman will testify. Defense attorney Mark O’Mara says he’s not sure if his client will take the stand.
In an interview on MSNBC, Former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey says the prosecution’s strategy will have to prove that there are inconsistencies and falsities in George Zimmerman’s statements.
“We all know that innocent people don't have to lie if someone is caught and trapped in a number of untruthful comments, it strongly indicates guilt…the young woman who was on the cell phone with Trayvon Martin in the final minutes of his life, those could be the major parts of the prosecution's evidence,” said Kendall Coffey.
For the defendant, Former U.S. Attorney Zachary Carter tells MSNBC that Zimmerman’s story must stay consistent. “If he did something at a certain time and you listen to 911 recordings in which certain things actually occurred and you can verify it, on a different timeline that is inconsistent with what he says then you can disparage his story.”
Jeantel said Martin complained to her that a man described as “creepy” was following him through the community. Martin said Zimmerman was behind him and she heard him ask: “What are you following me for?”
"He kept complaining that a man was just watching him," Jeantel said.
She heard Martin say, “Get off! Get off!” before the phone went dead. Jeantel said she thought race was an issue because Martin told her a white man was following him. It has been reported that Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic and his family claims the confrontation had nothing to do with race.
Cross-examination continues today, but the major question is whether George Zimmerman will testify. Defense attorney Mark O’Mara says he’s not sure if his client will take the stand.
In an interview on MSNBC, Former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey says the prosecution’s strategy will have to prove that there are inconsistencies and falsities in George Zimmerman’s statements.
“We all know that innocent people don't have to lie if someone is caught and trapped in a number of untruthful comments, it strongly indicates guilt…the young woman who was on the cell phone with Trayvon Martin in the final minutes of his life, those could be the major parts of the prosecution's evidence,” said Kendall Coffey.
For the defendant, Former U.S. Attorney Zachary Carter tells MSNBC that Zimmerman’s story must stay consistent. “If he did something at a certain time and you listen to 911 recordings in which certain things actually occurred and you can verify it, on a different timeline that is inconsistent with what he says then you can disparage his story.”
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