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Zimmerman Prosecution Tries To Restore The Credibility Of Controversial Witness

Christina Sterbenz   

Zimmerman Prosecution Tries To Restore The Credibility Of Controversial Witness
Law Order1 min read

Rachel Jeantel

Reuters/Jacob Langston/Pool

Witness Rachel Jeantel continues her second day testimony in George Zimmerman's murder trial for 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Seminole circuit court in Sanford, Florida, June 27, 2013.

During closing statements in George Zimmerman's trial, the prosecution attempted to salvage testimony of the woman on the phone with Trayvon Martin moments before he died.

The Zimmerman defense team tried to attack the credibility of Rachel Jeantel, 19, pointing out inconsistencies in her story and implying she was not bright by asking if she understood English.

Bernie De La Rionda, lead attorney for the prosecution, asked the jurors Thursday if they "disregarded" her words just because of her Haitian background, poor education, and inability to read cursive.

Da La Rionda even paraphrased Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I had a dream that my witness will be judged not on the color of her character but on the content of her testimony."

Zimmerman claims self-defense for shooting and killing 17-year-old Martin. Jeantel's testimony that Martin told her he was being followed by a "creepy-ass cracker" could be very useful for the prosecution.

Zimmerman's defense still needs to make its closing arguments. The jury will start deliberation tomorrow.

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