Posted on 06/15/2012 4:22:41 PM PDT by marktwain
Edited on 06/15/2012 5:25:39 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
SANFORD, FLA.—A new list of evidence in the George Zimmerman case includes, for the first time, the names of several civilian witnesses—including several local firearms dealers and instructors—but it remains unclear what their roles will be in the neighbourhood watch volunteer’s prosecution, if any.
Among the newly named witnesses is Khaled Akkawi, owner of Shoot Straight, and several of his employees. Why? Akkawi told the Orlando Sentinel the Federal Bureau of Investigation paid him a visit several weeks after the shooting with a photo of Zimmerman, wanting to know if Zimmerman had been to the chain’s gun stores and ranges.
But according to Akkawi, there is a stronger connection to Zimmerman’s shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
“He bought the gun from us,” Akkawi said.
Earlier Friday, Akkawi—who stresses that he is a strong supporter of Florida’s stand-your-ground law, which has come under fire since the Feb. 26 shooting—expressed surprise when told he was named as a witness in the case. But after thinking about it further, he said there were several possible reasons.
In addition to the gun sale, Akkawi said, Zimmerman visited Shoot Straight’s Casselberry location on multiple occasions, had fired on the ranges and interacted with employees. The store also is a major National Rifle Association recruiter, he said, and his employees have testified in court as experts in the past.
Excerpted, read more at The Orlando Sentinel
This is an extremely prejudicial statement, as Zimmerman claims that he was on his back, being pounded into the pavement, when he shot Martin.
FYI
I know the manager of Shoot Straight and have met the owner Khalid a few times. It’s my understanding they are one of the top volume dealers in the US.
I think it’s pretty ridiculous for the FBI to have gone over there to interview them concerning Zimmerman. They must literally have thousands of people a week on their ranges and in their stores. What exactly is it they are all supposed to remember?
Side note: Some may remember the Shoot Straight in Casselberry on these pages a few years ago. A spate of suicides on the range to include a mom shooting her son. Haven’t had one in awhile now :-)
now that's troubling. So a person's guilt or innocence (or having new charges created) could depend upon what emails you've received/sent and the websites you've looked at?
I'd be fried, many times I've stated on FR that I'd blow the heads off of anyone the threatened my family or my person.
His lawyer ought to contact Massad Ayoob as a potential expert witness.
This whole damned case is severely prejudiced and twisted against GZ, and now his wife. It should never go to trial. If his (apparently) slip-and-fall lawyer doesn’t demand a change of venue, and demand a complete dismissal of all charges, GZ should get another atty for representation. Or shop for a new judge. He’s already been tried, convicted and sentenced before he ever enters that corrupt courtroom, IMO.
Unarmed, but otherwise perfectly capable of lethal levels of aggression. Screw the lying Communist MSM!!!
They sent TEN FBI agents to FL to investigate Zimmerman.
I doubt they would typically use that much manpower to investigate a serial killer.
“Did you sell him the gun?”
“Yes”
“Did you teach him how to use it?”
“Yes”
“OK...throw him in a cell next to Zimmerman’s wife. Next!”
Was does this have to do with whether Martin was slamming Zimmerman’s head on the pavement when he was shot?
I would keep the original venue. The voters there are the most informed, and you want an informed jury in this case. The more informed, the better.
“A spate of suicides on the range to include a mom shooting her son.”
Not to be argumentative, but that wouldn’t technically be a “suicide.”
Can the defense still “shop” for jurors for a jury? It seems that there’d be too many there - like in the PSU Jerry Sandusky molestation case jury, from that immediate area - in that town who are prejudiced and influenced. But then, who hasn’t heard of this now-already-infamous case?
I object to the word "unarmed". Fists can be deadly weapons and Trayvon was clearly good with his fists..
That’s an excellent idea! I hope O’Mara knows to do that. I still haven’t seen any results from the test of Zimmerman’s 9mm KelTec.
Gee, ya think that list might put a target on these witnesses?
Here we go:
“The parents of slain teen Trayvon Martin asked the state task force reviewing Florida’s controversial self-defense law to revise it and make it harder for someone who starts a fight to end it with deadly force. They call their proposed revision “The Trayvon Martin Amendment.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/12/2845374/jude-to-task-force-clarify-self.html#moreb
Very good point Slim. He is the subject matter expert I would seek as well.
Stay safe ...
Why is the FBI involved? This tells me they’re already gathering evidence for a civil rights violation charge.
Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.220 - Discovery
3.220(b)(1)(A)(iii)Category C. All witnesses who performed only ministerial functions or whom the prosecutor does not intend to call at trial and whose involvement with and knowledge of the case is fully set out in a police report or other statement furnished to the defense
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