Posted on 07/15/2013 10:32:10 AM PDT by DonaldC
(SANFORD, Fla.) -- Florida prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda had "prayed that [George Zimmerman] would have the courage to take the stand," he told ABC News in an exclusive interview on Sunday, adding that Zimmerman's "inconsistent statements" would have made him the prosecution's star witness.
In the interview with the four Florida prosecutors who fought to convict Zimmerman, lead prosecutor de la Rionda said, "I prayed that he would have the courage to take the stand but, as we all well know, he's got the right not to."
"Anytime you put in a defendant's statements and a lot of those are self-serving, then usually a defendant will make the decision not to testify because you've got his story out. We felt it was important to get his story out because there were so many lies," he added.
De la Rionda, who would have cross-examined Zimmerman had he taken the stand, said he would have been interested to see how the former neighborhood watch captain answered several of his questions:
"Why did you assume because [Trayvon] Martin was wearing a hoodie, he was committing a crime? Why did you assume that because he was walking he was doing something improper? Why didn't you identify yourself? Why did you assume he didn't belong in the neighborhood?"
(Excerpt) Read more at kvor.com ...
Apparently the prosecutors were so desperate to have Zimmerman testify that they did so for him by playing the Hannity interview.
I’m sure he was, the evil bastard!
If those were the questions he would have asked Zimmerman, it would have gone like the rest of the trial, or worse. You don’t get to prove the defendant’s state of mind by presumptive questions. Also, if you are questioning an adverse witness, it’s best to stick to yes/no questions to the extent possible. Your questions are the real testimony, and his answers are only to confirm it. His cross would have been riddled with objections to the point that even the biased judge couldn’t have saved it. What a blowhard and a jackass.
That should say “when it comes to conservatives”.
Mr Potato Head is fantisizing about his imaginary heroic cross examination of George Zimmerman. I guess that, to him, such fantasy (i.e., that Zimmerman would be even dumber than Potato Head & take the stand) is better than the reality that he revealed himself to the world to be completely inept as an attorney.
And,
Oh please make me stop doing “The Freddie” when I ask questions!
and then puts all his statements into evidence precluding the necessity of him having to take the stand.
He wasn’t preying very hard.
I think I disagree, primarily because at that time, there was a media firestorm that was explosive to force a trial. Now there has been one and almost all now agree that the original Seminole County "Law and Order" establishment had it right! At 'best', there never should had been any felony murder charge and even at manslaughter there wasn't much there.
So 'if' Scott & Bondi chose this team and Zimmerman is free, how bad is their damage? Once that pressure for a trial was on, it was going to be either Florida or, as demonstrated by the current Dept. of Justice NAACP collusions, a Federal case. Acknowledging the expense and exposure of Zimmerman here, it would have been much worse in a Federal Court although that seems to still be in play.
Could we wittily alliterate this as; The prosecutors prayed for Zimmerman to testify so that they could prey upon him as they persecute him?
Well, since his prayers weren’t answered, then it looks like God must have been on George’s side, hey?
de la Rionda,”I know you all are disappointed in what a fool I made of myself and how I failed you, but if Z had testified, whoa buddy I soooo would have shown you how good a lawyer I am, yeah that’s the only reason he made it, he escaped my incredible skills by not testifying, I was robbed of my glory just like you all.”
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