Witnesses change stories ahead of Zimmerman trial

[AnCap Dave]

Source

Four witnesses in the Trayvon Martin case have changed their stories, some "in ways that may damage" George Zimmerman, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

According to records released last week in the second-degree murder case, the witnesses—all of them neighbors—were interviewed multiple times by police and special prosecutors about what they saw on Feb. 26, the night Zimmerman fatally shot Martin in Sanford, Fla.

Four days after the shooting, one woman told police she "saw two guys running" and then "a fistfight—just fists, I don't know who was hitting who." But on March 20, she told investigators she saw just one person.

"I couldn't tell you if it was a man, a woman, a kid, black or white," the woman, "Witness 2," said. "I couldn't tell you because it was dark and because I didn't have my contacts on or glasses. I just know I saw a person out there."

Another witness, who was initially interviewed on March 20, said she saw two people on the ground immediately after the shooting but was not sure who was on top.

But in another interview with investigators six days later, the paper reported, she was sure: It was Zimmerman on top.

"I know after seeing the TV of what's happening, comparing their sizes, I think Zimmerman was definitely on top because of his size," the woman, "Witness 12," said.

A third witness, "Witness 6," told police on the night of the shooting he saw a black man on top of a lighter-skinned man "just throwing down blows on the guy, MMA-style." He said the lighter-skinned man was calling for help. Interviewed later by investigators, he said he was not sure who was calling for help, and was not sure any punches were thrown.

A fourth witness also interviewed on the night of the shooting said he heard the shooting, ran outside, and saw Zimmerman standing with "blood on the back of his head." According to "Witness 13," Zimmerman told him that Martin "was beating up on me, so I had to shoot him."

A month later, the same witness described Zimmerman's demeanor: "[It was] not like 'I can't believe I just shot someone!' It was more like, 'Just tell my wife I shot somebody,' like it was nothing."

I wonder why the sudden change in their stories. I wouldn't be surprised if it was due to manipulation from police and prosecutors. As it has been pointed out before, you should never talk to police or prosecutors on your own as they are trained to manipulate everything you say to make someone seem guilty.

[MrBogosity]

It could be False Memory Syndrome. That happens with repeated questioning.

This trial's gonna be a fiasco, I can already tell...

[FSBlueApocalypse]

If Zimmermann has any attorney worth a damn, a change of venue is almost a given at this point. Where will be interesting.

I imagine the defense will want it moved to somewhere in the Panhandle because it is much more culturally associated with the Deep South.

[Virgil0211]

Am I the only one who gets the feeling that this case's media attention is just another sign of the depravity of the mainstream media?

[Gumba Masta]

What puzzles me is how can these witness accounts be more damaging to him than actually having shot a unarmed man with skittles in his pockets?

[evensgrey]

What puzzles me is how can these witness accounts be more damaging to him than actually having shot a unarmed man with skittles in his pockets?

Having all kinds of versions of events that don't mesh with the prosecutions theory raises doubt.  All Zimmerman needs is for the jury to have reasonable doubt about the case presented by the prosecution, and he gets found not guilty.  He didn't need to be in ACTUAL danger, he just needs to be believed that he could reasonably think he was in danger.  The prosecution wants to make sure nobody says anything that makes fear seem reasonable.  For instance, if there was two guys, even if they didn't look like they were associated, that's much more threatening than just one guy (because two guys who coincidentally come along at the same time could be a pair of cooperating muggers who are good enough at it to make sure the intended victim doesn't see them associating beforehand).

[Gumba Masta]

If I'd kill anyone who'd make me feel threatened I'd be the only man left on the world.