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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsZimmerman's Uncle is an Obvious Liar, and Here's Why:
First, he claims in his testimony that as he's working on his computer his wife is watching the news on the tv right behind him and that on the news they played the tape of the screaming but he claims the only thing he heard was the screaming and he knew immediately it was Zimmerman.
That by itself is too ridiculous to be believed. Just listening to that tape because the screams were background noise to a far louder noise of the witness and the person from 911 on the other end one had to strain to hear the screaming at all much less be able to identify who it was. He claims he heard nothing else but that screaming sound - didn't hear the lead in on the news for playing the tape nor the voices in the foreground of the tape. Further, he's never heard Zimmerman scream for help at all much less scream in terror of his life.
But what really hung him was that while being questioned on cross concerning his ethics (that he was very overblown about) because of being a sheriff of Orange County and the years he spent in the military he made sure that though he knew about Zimmerman being involved in a shooting he made sure he paid attention to no other details. But he then starts saying that because he knew he was going to be on the witness stand during Zimmerman's trial he wanted to be able to tell the jury the truth. That right there is basically a confession that he was groomed by the defense to do this testimony long after it was known there was going to even BE a trial and that he would be called as a witness about the identity of the voice screaming on the tape.
Dead silence. O'Mara was caught flatfooted and he LOOKED unbelievably uncomfortable when he said that. His saying that is an admission that his testimony was contrived for the trial because at the time the news started playing that tape was LONG before the investigation by Corey and LONG before anyone knew there was going to be a trial at all. At that time there was no REASON for this uncle to not be paying attention to the story because of his ethics because there WASN'T a case. At that time the case had been closed and Zimmerman was free as a bird. There was no REASON even for this uncle to not be paying attention because as Zimmerman's uncle he had ever reason TO pay attention.
I absolutely believe that the defense chose this uncle to be a witness BECAUSE they could harp on his credibility BECAUSE he was a sheriff's deputy and BECAUSE of that try to make him appear more ethical than the average Joe or Jane Doe. Otherwise why not use Zimmerman's wife, or best friend or someone that was far more familiar with the sound of Zimmerman's voice? But he ended up hanging himself by saying he knew he was going to be called as a witness for Zimmerman's trial and the reason being so highly ethical was because of that. And the camera shows Zimmerman swallowing REALLY hard as soon as he said that. Giant "oops" moment that shows his testimony to be transparent baloney. And both Zimmerman and O'Mara bloody well knew it.
You can watch his testimony here. It starts about about 8 minutes in:
jessie04
(1,528 posts)The defense screwed up . Now the rest of the defense witnesses will be suspect.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Last edited Sun Jul 7, 2013, 01:17 PM - Edit history (1)
and honestly- even if he thought he might- he can damn well testify to character or their history without having lived in a bubble. Everyone else does it just fine.
It amazed me how people thought he was so credible- solely because he was "well- spoken". This is the flip side of Rachel Jenteel. If she was totally phony and taken elocution classes- some people would have apparently found her more credible. Makes my stomach turned.
Isn't it his daughter Christina who accused GZ of being an attempted molester? What a great Dad he must be. (ETA_ It seems to be his niece- there's another Meza brother in FL, I guess)
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0716/George-Zimmerman-s-cousin-accuses-him-of-sexual-molestation-video
dmr
(28,705 posts)I found her totally credible, while the uncle made my bullshit meter go off.
When the newscast came on, wouldn't his wife call out, "hey this is about Georgie!"?
Zimmerman's family knows how crucial the 911 screams are. So, what happens? The uncle, over and over again, reminded the jury about his unimpeachable integrity. What a wonderful person he is having served our country in the military and continues on as a civil servant. That he has such credibility that no one can dispute his words.
This is such a contrast to Rachel. I believed Rachel immediately. Despite the humiliation she took under John West, Rachel never wavered on her testimony. If I could afford it, I'd try to send her a bouquet of flowers as a gesture of support.
What is the attempted molestation of Christina?
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)family coddling him. And she said they all used racist phrases. Not shocked her own family rallied around GZ instead of supporting her. Most people do want to sweep this kind of crap under the rug. Her own mother told her to drop it.
And they were GZs family that was already in Fl went they sent him down there unsupervised to live in there new house. I thought I heard this uncle say "my daughter, Christina". Although I know the CSM story doesn't ID her other places did- and I recall the name because GZ has a Christina or Xtina tattoo- but it was decided that was probably for his grandmother with the same name and not this accuser.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0716/George-Zimmerman-s-cousin-accuses-him-of-sexual-molestation-video
dmr
(28,705 posts)Heartbreaking.
Am I reading that article correctly that Zimmerman's family set him up in a house alone during his high school senior year? In another state?
As a parent, I don't get that? Was he so impossible to live with? We're they afraid to live with him?
The woman described Zimmerman molesting her during annual family get-togethers and trips.
The woman said she finally told her parents in 2005 when she was 20. She said her parents called Zimmerman to a meeting at a pizza restaurant in Lake Mary."
Instead of talking about it, all he did was come in the room, come in the restaurant, he sat down on the end of the booth and he said 'I'm sorry' and just got up and walked out ... my parents, their jaws dropped," the woman said.
She said her mother discouraged her from taking further action at the time, saying it would be his word against hers, and she would wind up in jail.
That's a hell of a thing to say to your daughter. That she'd wind up in jail. I feel so bad for her.
They are a toxic family.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)She seems forgotten now- but she did call the police to let them know she knew GZ was a racist, and capable of harming people.
This is why most molesting happens at home- fuckers know that their family will implode if they don't keep their mouths shut.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)something to do with assaulting his sister's ex BF. GZ thanked them on MySpace for not ratting him out and doing their time quietly.
The vigilante stuff started in HS. As did the racism, fighting with women, and legal troubles. So, maybe they thought some new scenery would help.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/02/zimmerman-myspace-page_n_1471818.html
Photos on Zimmerman's MySpace page show Zimmerman, who calls himself "Joe G.," with groups of friends. In his biographical blurb, he discusses things he doesn't miss about his former home in Manassas, Virginia:
I dont miss driving around scared to hit mexicans walkin on the side of the street, soft ass wanna be thugs messin with peoples cars when they aint around (what are you provin, that you can dent a car when no ones watchin) dont make you a man in my book. Workin 96 hours to get a decent pay check, gettin knifes pulled on you by every mexican you run into!
In an August 24, 2005 blog post, he boasts about his relief about the proceedings in a criminal case.
Im still free! The ex hoe tried her hardest, but the judge saw through it! Big Mike, reppin the Dverse security makin me look a million bucks, broke her down! Thanks to everyone for checkin up on me! Stay tuned for the A.T.F. charges......
A few days later, he expresses happiness that the other charges against him were reduced to misdemeanors.
2 felonies dropped to 1 misdemeanor!!!!!!!!!!! The man knows he was wrong but still got this hump, Thanks to everyone friends and fam, G baby you know your my rock!
truth2power
(8,219 posts)Too pat. Like it was rehearsed. And that he knew it was Z's voice is just baloney. Ugh!
pipoman
(16,038 posts)every good defense lawyer has mock trials/testimony before the actual trial. So do prosecutors. They call in witnesses and question them with the same vigor they expect from the opposing lawyer. They listen to the answers given by the witness, then say things like, 'is that what you really mean? , I thought it was like this....'..Happens every day in prosecutors offices and defense offices..I have seen many witnesses fumble with predetermined answers to questions..
avebury
(11,196 posts)I don't always pay total attention to what is on the tv. However, you had better believe that if I heard my last name or the name of a relative, my head would instantly pop up and I would be paying attention.
The uncle if full of BS if he thinks that anyone would believe that he tuned out the facts of the case while his wife had the news on the tv. And we are to believe that he and his wife did not discuss the case?
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Not beliveing a word of it. His testimony was designed to give maximum leverage to his "credibility".
Like his nephew often did, he over did it with the story he pulled out of his ass. Incredible.
avebury
(11,196 posts)credibility directly into question. It is a matter of "thou protests too much."
Now if the guy came on the stand and stated it as:
This was a really tragic time for my sister's family. As a law enforcement official I made a decision to stay away from my sister and her family until the situation was resolved so as to not be put in between the rock and a hard place of my family versus my career as a law enforcement officer.
Something like that would be both believable and understandable.
However, he posed it as he was going to totally cut himself from everything related to the case (including news) so that he could go into court and tell the truth. After trying to build up his ethical bona fides, he then blew it with that comment. Here he is supposed to be such an ethical person, yet if he heard anything about the case he would not be able to go into court and tell the truth?
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)testimony he thought he was going to be giving in court- since he was not there. Makes it an even bigger coincidence, LOL. I think they spent MONTHs honing it, and it shows. No one knows better than a cop how to say the "right thing" with authority, LOL. I cannot believe so many people found his tale credible.
dmr
(28,705 posts)They spent months honing in and it shows. Yup, everyone and his brother, knows the importance of the 911 calls.
BTW, I still think that when Zimmerman grabbed at Trayvon, he slipped on the wet grass and either smashed his nose or his head - and his over-sized manly-man ego, to boot!
madaboutharry
(42,032 posts)grok
(550 posts)The point of putting him up and all the family is to make sure the jury sees how fleeting
the testimony of the prosecution's witnesses as to who screamed is. Nothing else.
If the defense could have put up the family cat to say it was zimmerman screaming, they would have. And we all know how cats are such liars.
To let the jurors come to their own conclusions as to who is "coached", who has an agenda, who is biased by family connections, can actually be as powerful as stating it up front.
I don't find the defence witnesses any more believable about the scream than the prosecution's. Nor any less so. They are all equally biased.
The Jury was simply reminded of that. Reasonable doubt.
Calista241
(5,633 posts)They're also trying to make a statement that Racism isn't an issue. They've put up on the stand, as their first 2 witnesses, 2 Hispanic family members. Kinda puts the racist white dude that wants to kill black people motif to rest.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Anyone who has lived in a diverse community knows better.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Submariner
(13,360 posts)is what the murderer said during the 911 call before killing Martin. Kinda puts the racist white dude that wants to kill black people motif in perspective.
grok
(550 posts)It would been a heckofalot more effective that "F* punks" to put that nail in Zimmerman's coffin.
This myth came about due to CNN monkeying/enhancing with the recording and playing it on tv.They disavowed it the following day.
NBC also did something similar and is now being sued. Should be a good payday for GZ.
Boudica the Lyoness
(2,899 posts)I cannot find it on the audio.
Here's the audio of the call;
Thanks.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,651 posts)right before dispatch asks "are you following him"?
But some content he said "its fucking cold".
Boudica the Lyoness
(2,899 posts)No 'coo' sound, but a 'co' sound.
Thanks for the audio.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,651 posts)If prosecution was willing to drop the F-bomb in opening statements (along with "these assholes always get away" and "shit, he's running" indicating pursuit), I figure if "fucking coons" was viable, they would have mentioned it as well.
Arguably "fucking cold", but Florida in late February? Get some thicker skin. Heh.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,651 posts)that he claimed to be "keeping himself pure for trial" when this aired in March - yet Zippy wasn't arrested until April...
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)It spoke loudly all by itself. Had the prosecution belabored the point then O'Mara could come back on re-cross and make some plausible excuse for it. I did notice there was a big huddle at the bench after that. When the uncle said that both Zimmerman and O'Mara looked actually scared, and I don't think it had anything to do with losing the case but something else. There was also that long silence after he said it. Had it not been a huge whopper O'Mara could have filled in the silence with something - a bogus objection - anything. It's the only time he's ever been caught totally flat footed during this trial. That's one thing I have to give him credit for is he's always right on the ball with something to say even if it's petty and silly, but this one time so far he just had absolutely nothing. Even the cameraman realized the significance which is why they went straight to O'Mara's face and then Zimmerman's.
gtar100
(4,192 posts)The uncle is a liar and willing to lie in court to keep a murderer out of jail. Some cop he must be.
The lack of ethics and integrity in this family is astounding.
Stuckinthebush
(11,203 posts)My wife and I were listening to it in the car two days ago and both gave each other the "oh crap" look. I haven't watched the cross yet but will do so.
Unless the prosecution can effectively dismiss this man's testimony in the minds of the jury, then it would seem to be pretty powerful. The mothers effectively canceled out each others testimony. This leaves the uncle. It will be interesting to see how the prosecution handles this in closing.
grok
(550 posts)Pretty much anything they can use to dismiss his testimony can be used on cross examination by the defense on the prosecution's family scream witnesses. Heck, they might even bring up the financial stake the Martins have on this trial's outcome.
My guess is they won't even bother.
Would be interesting if they bring up Trayvon's dad. There is so much speculation on him being a former Crip(never seen proper documentation, just tattoo) And he changed hus opinion on the "scream" from being not his son to being his son only AFTER being informed of the ramifications of his former statement.
Both dads are loose cannons. No wonder neither were brought up.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)That would go over just great- like the knock knock joke.
grok
(550 posts)And there is quite a bit of speculation WHY West did that. It certainly was in bad taste He seems to relish being the "bad cop" of the defense side. Getting out ugly facts and theories the "good cop" won't come near. Allegedly a psychological trick to make the jury focus in a certain way. I don't really know.
But it DOES get facts and evidence out in a clear manner. And afterall, isn't a jury supposed to deal only with the facts and evidence and not emotional baggage handed to them?
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)He has no concept whatsoever that he's pissing off the jury more than anything else. How he ever imagined that joke would come off well is beyond me. And after he said it, he truly could not understand why it was taken so badly. Anyone that blind can't see when they are beating up on a witness so badly that the jury just feels sorry for the witness, hates him, and is more likely to believe the witness just because they feel bad for them. The way he tore into Rachel was abominable and likely why the prosecution never objected to any of it. The more he went on like that the more he looked like an ass beating up on a poor young witness which probably went a very long way in the jury feeling sorry for her and thus more likely to believe her.
O'Mara does the same thing but is sly about it. Or I should say trying to be sly but is way too transparent. Between the two I find him the more vicious because of that. I find O'Mara to be so full of himself that he can't see that this transparent slyness IS transparent. Truthfully, they're the worst two defense attorneys I've ever seen, and I thought I saw the worst with the Arias case. Those two were fabulous compared to these two.
CatWoman
(80,288 posts)Heddi
(18,312 posts)You know that because he's black he's a gang member. Duh. All black people are gang members. 'specially ones with tattoos!!!!!
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Or some other racist POS cess pool? Please link us up!
Hassin Bin Sober
(27,457 posts)bettyellen
(47,209 posts)but he's smarter than most of us, LOL.
zentrum
(9,870 posts)....the power of his testimony. His description of the moment of "hearing" GZ's voice was pretty well done. He was looking eye to eye to the jury. Using body language. He painted the moment. It sounded genuine.
Prosecution should have followed up on how much those years as a court deputy taught him about being a good witness: look at and talk directly to the jury. He was very skilled.
I'm really afraid it's going to be a hung jury.
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)You seriously believe that his guy with the tv news going on right behind him heard NOTHING but the screaming and knew immediately that it was Zimmerman though he never heard Zimmerman scream in pain or in fear in his life and when the screaming was so faint as background noise in the first place? That he never heard the news lead in to explain what the tape was before they played it and he had no idea it had anything to do with Zimmerman?
The only thing powerful about it was that his story was so unbelievable as to be ridiculous.
The prosecution really didn't need to do ANYTHING to refute his testimony since he accidentally did that his own self by claiming that because of his being oh so ethical he hadn't been paying attention at all to the matter KNOWING he'd be sitting in the witness seat testifying on Zimmerman's behalf at Zimmerman's trial when he had no way to know there would even BE a trial at that time, and at that time he had no reason to oh so ethically keep himself from learning any details about the matter because almost right after it happened it was closed and Zimmerman set free. At the time those tapes came out into the media the case had long since been closed and the only media story was the outrage that got it reinvestigated.
Oh it was powerful all right. So powerful that not only did it sink him as a witness but brings every single defense witness under scrutiny.
The most believable testimony about the identity of who was screaming was from Martin's brother because he was willing to admit outright that he wasn't certain at first and only became certain after many hearings of the tape. Seeing as anyone would have had to strain to even hear the screaming because it was background noise it makes the most sense that someone wouldn't be certain on the first hearing.
Stuckinthebush
(11,203 posts)I make a statement about something my wife and I experienced and you demean me? I'm on your side, pal, so back off.
I understand that this is a heated trial but at least on DU I think we can push down the emotions and discuss things rationally without invective.
Yes, I am serious. I thought it was powerful testimony for the jury. Remember that these jurors were picked because they were likely the ones who indicated that they had no or limited preconceptions about the case. I thought at the time that the jurors would hear that as very powerful testimony. I also said in my original post that I think it will be interesting to see how the prosecution handles this in closing. Can the prosecution question the veracity of the statement well enough to get the jurors to dismiss it? Probably.
Try to be more civil, please.
DallasNE
(8,002 posts)He was in the military and then lived in Florida. George Zimmerman was raised in Virginia so it wasn't like they lived 30 miles apart like they do today. Gladys Zimmerman said she had never heard George scream like that. In other words she couldn't be sure who it was meaning it could just as easily have been Trayvon Martin doing that screaming. When asked how she was sure it was George her answer was a weak "because he is my son". Nothing about a certain quality to the sound that she recognized but because she wanted it to be her son.
The defense couldn't use the wife because that would open up the issue of her perjury and who would believe her with that on her record.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)Not only did he admit he'd never heard Zimmerman scream in pain or terror before, but he couldn't have been so familiar with his voice and certainly not as those people that lived day to day with him. Why call this uncle rather than Zimmerman's wife or best friend or someone he worked with that heard his voice every day and been more likely to hear him scream or rant or say anything even marginally emotionally charged?
The defense wanted this uncle because of his JOB. They believed he would be more believable because of his being in law enforcement, and that is so obvious because they absolutely went hugely overboard on that point even though he was not testifying in his capacity of a law enforcement officer but as a family member. The greater part of his testimony was voluntarily extorting his own supposedly extraordinary ethics. When people go way overboard extolling their own virtues they're lying.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)In contrast- a reply like "That's retarded, Sir" is totally believable because it was surely not rehearsed.
cynannmarie
(114 posts)is that I haven't heard commentary/analysis saying that, overriding each mother's claim of it being from her son, why logic does not prevail here: why would a person who had a loaded gun scream for his life like that, knowing that they have the upper hand and ultimate defense vs someone who is unarmed and has no other means to escape imminent death? I just can't see how anyone would think the scream would NOT be from Martin. Am I missing something?
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)is that the scream abruptly cut off after the gunshot. Though I think the same way as you do that the person screaming for help isn't going to be the creep with a gun that chased a boy for doing nothing but walking home from the store. What the hell did Zimmerman need help for when HE had the gun???
You aren't missing anything. Everything logical points to Martin being the one screaming. I don't see any way to get around that.
csziggy
(34,189 posts)Because for that forty seconds before the shot he was in control and probably relished hearing that young man beg for his life.
Deep13
(39,157 posts)...his relatives always have reason to lie. Whether they are or not is another matter.
Tippy
(4,610 posts)Zimmerman lied and his family did the same. I can't help feeling that this was Racial...
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)That would only give O'Mara an open door to come up with some way to make it plausible.
The whole courtroom knew that he hung himself on that with that epic silence after he said it. It was like the knock knock joke all over again. Even the cameraman knew it was epic because they cut immediately to O'Mara's face and then Zimmerman's which said it all. Better to let it stand on its own to keep O'Mara from getting in any testimony to weaken or excuse what he said.
Tippy
(4,610 posts)However it is possible the Jury will find him guilty...Zimmerman screwed his attorneys and the people who raised money for his defense...
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)About his having lied about his finances in pre-trial hearings?
If they aren't allowed to know that I'll be furious. It goes directly to his credibility, that he and his attorneys have no problem lying in court under oath and it had everything to do with THIS very trial.
Did I miss this somewhere along the way during the trial? I didn't hear that much of the first day with the opening statements and other testimony, so maybe I just missed it.
Grammy23
(6,121 posts)and employment with the Sheriff's office was enough to prove his purity as a witness. He went out of his way to get in statements about wanting to "serve his country" and make it sound as if those things alone prove to anyone listening that there is no way he would lie. There are countless cases on the record that we can find where a person in the military or working in law enforcement lies and does not tell the truth. It is not an indictment against ALL in the military or law enforcement, just verifies what we all know to be true. There are liars in every walk of life. Serving in any of those positions in no way guarantees that everything you say is true.
His repeated comments about his desire to "remain pure" and just testify to what he knows to be true was very self serving and, in fact, made me trust him less.
dballance
(5,756 posts)He's such a horrible witness. He has obviously prepared a story that he made sure he stuck to and repeated over and over again. His acting out his office, using the computer and then pointing over his shoulder to where the TV would be was such a red flag of BAD. BS.
First of all, he's a court house officer in a different county, not an investigator or anyone who would have professional influence over the case in the county in which it happened. So there is nothing, nothing ethically wrong with him finding out facts about the case. There would have been no reason whatsoever for him to think he'd be involved in the case professionally or privately when it first happened.
It is not at all believable that he would not be curious about the case and try to find out details just because he's a court house officer in FL. Makes no logical sense at all.
SUCH UTTER BS FROM THE TIME HE STARTED UNTIL HE FINISHED.
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)in an entirely different county! Good grief, there's no way he had to have any "ethics" about the details of the case.
Thanks for bringing that up!