Originally posted March 5th upon finding out Witness 8 was never hospitalized:
ORLANDO – […] Attorneys for George Zimmerman were expected to ask his judge this morning to order the state’s most important witness, the young Miami woman who was on the phone with Trayvon Martin just before he was shot, to produce medical records.
However, defense lawyer Don West made a startling claim shortly after the hearing began: The state had revealed, before the hearing, that there are no medical records.
The woman, the defense lawyer said, “misrepresented” in a sworn statement that she missed Trayvon’s funeral because she had been hospitalized.
“In fact, she lied,” West said.
Prosecutor John Guy confirmed there will be no medical records, effectively confirming that there was no hospital trip.
The defense had requested the records to challenge her story. Zimmerman is not in court today. The hearing started about 9 a.m.
The young woman, typically referred to as Witness 8, already had credibility problems: Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Trayvon’s family, identified her as 16 years old when he played for reporters a recorded interview he conducted with her in March.
[…] And so it’s a situation where to know that you were the last person to talk to the young man who you thought was one of the most special people in the world to you, and know that he got killed moments after he was talking to you, is just riveting to this young lady.
In fact, she couldn’t even go to his wake she was so sick. Her mother had to take her to the hospital. She spent the night in the hospital. She is was one of the most special people in the world to you. And we all were teenagers, so we can imagine how that is when you think somebody’s really special, and you call it puppy love or whatever you want to call it.
[…] I will ask you — her parents does (ph) not in any way want to reveal her identity. She is a minor. Her parents are very worried about her. She is traumatized over this. This was her really, really close personal friend. They were dating.
[…] So I will ask you again on behalf of the family and on behalf of the young lady’s family if you would please respect their privacy. She is a minor. (link)
But she was 18 at the time and 19 now, O’Mara says. (continue reading)
Today’s Hearing Part 1 (start @11:45) Hat Tip DiwataMan
Hearing Part 2
Defense Attorney Mark O’Mara Post Hearing Press Conference
Prosecution Attorney Bernie De La Rionda Post Hearing Press Conference
SUMMARY – The constructed and manipulated evidence to support the claims of Benjamin Crump and consequently Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton appear highly manufactured. There wasn’t enough evidence there for the legal authorities to act, so they created a tempest in a teacup media storm replete with false information to create, non-legal ”media evidence”.
Media evidence does not need to be “real”, it merely needs to appear real, so as to pressure officials into bending to the demands of public opinion.
I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s very similar to the Tawana Brawley case with Al Sharpton, only this time its Benjamin Crump playing the role of Reverend Al.
Perhaps one of the reasons, maybe the primary reason, the special prosecutor Angela Corey didn’t go to the Grand Jury was because she would have either had to introduce DeeDee’s testimony, or avoid it completely. The probable cause affidavit does not outline anything that Benjamin Crump sold to the media during his March 20 press conference. Nothing.
In addition, the lead prosecution investigator Dale Gilbreath testified under oath during the bond hearing they had found no evidence to dispute George Zimmerman’s account of how the confrontation with Trayvon Martin started.
O’Mara – “Do you know who started the fight?”
Gilbreath – “Do I know? No”
O’Mara – “Do you have any evidence that supports who may have started the fight?”
Gilbreath – “No.”
O’Mara – “Do you have any evidence, any evidence at all, any witnesses, any statements, anything that would contradict Mr. Zimmerman’s assertion?
Gilbreath – Err, no. Well, do I know who punched first? No.
If investigator Gilbreath held an affidavit from “DeeDee” containing the narrative of hearing the fight start, the physical confrontation, the words exchanged, and Trayvon falling to the ground, he would have stated it under direct questioning.
Therefore one can only reasonably conclude no such sworn statement outlining the confrontation itself, from DeeDee or anybody else, actually exists.
If State Prosecutor Corey included the Benjamin Crump narration, and the obvious manipulations, within the affidavit, DeeDee would have been forced to bear witness at trial and O’Mara would be able to deconstruct or pull the lies out. Perhaps, that is why no Grand Jury was actually used.
I doubt, with considerable and reasonable certainty, they even intend to introduce her into any legal proceedings.
Corey and Crump wanted the media evidence from ”DeeDee’s” narrative to exist to get the arrest and probable cause. But they do not plan to use any “DeeDee” legal evidence, because it doesn’t actually exist.
That is why the Probable Cause Affidavit is merely implying that “a witness” might have heard something from Trayvon about being followed or watched; Again, go back and look at the affidavit.
It would appear Zimmerman was intentionally overcharged with 2nd Degree Murder, based on constructed, non-legally binding, media-evidence in an effort to get him to plead down to a lesser charge and avoid trial.
Either a plea, or a trial, provide the same ”probable cause” and culpability benefit to Benjamin Crump in a civil wrongful death lawsuit against various interests.
One thing is certain, you will not see anyone named DeeDee anywhere near a court room, EVER.