Courtesy of ABC News:
The Florida investigative journalist who is the first reporter to sit down with George Zimmerman’s wife, Shellie, said that during their “stunning” hourlong interview, the acquitted killer’s wife said that her husband has “beaten down her self-esteem,” but she is “looking forward to getting her life back.”
Christi O’Connor spoke with ABCNews.com today about her experience locking down an interview with Shellie Zimmerman as the media focused its attention on her husband, who was acquitted of second-degree murder charges in the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, in Sanford, Fla., in February 2012.
“When I asked her why she was doing [the interview], Shellie said, ‘I want to start my life back.’ George Zimmerman has beaten down her self-esteem,” O’Connor told ABCNews.com, adding that
Shellie is using this opportunity for a new start. “She has a moment in the spotlight. She wants everyone to know that she changed her life.”
Shellie also told O’Connor that the aftermath of the shooting and months until the trial put a major strain on the couple’s relationship.
“It put great stress on their marriage,” she said. “Constantly having to move. She got threats. A lot of threats. She doesn’t want to reveal from who…. They are constantly living under fear of being attacked.”
O’Connor, who is working on a book about the George Zimmerman trial, also hinted that there was evidence that was mishandled, saying that during the sensational trial, “there were so many untruths told.”
“What the jury never heard could have led to a different verdict,” she said.
I don't now about all of you but that last line sent a chill down my spine.
So Zimmerman and his wife had domestic problems, and she had removed herself from the home on the night that he killed the unarmed teenager. Isn't THAT interesting.
My friend Sarah Jones over at Politicususa certainly thinks so:
The sure thing that will set an abuser off is when the victim leaves. Domestic violence stats reveal that this is the most dangerous time for a woman living with an abuser. It can be lethal.
So Shellie leaves George and the next night, he’s out on the streets looking for someone else to control and abuse, as a substitute for his wife, whom he can’t control at that moment. Nothing irks an abuser more than having control taken away, even for a moment.
She's certainly NOT wrong there.
Just about any police officer you could speak to would tell you that the worst thing to introduce into a domestic argument is a hand gun. Zimmerman had one, and no target on which to take out his frustrations.
That is until young Trayvon Martin happened across his path that rainy night.
This all points to the shoddy police work and shoddy work of the DAs office. His mood would have shown "intent" to commit the crime and we are only hearing about it now. As for Mrs Zimmerman she CHOSE to go back and to lie for him, she gets no pass in my book. She LIED to defend her murderer husband, she could have stood up and made a difference, but it's too late now.
ReplyDeleteI'll make at least some allowances for a victim of domestic violence.
DeleteI still believe that the arrest and prosecution of Zimmerman was intentionally sloppy.
DeleteThe only reason he was ever arrested and brought to trial was because of the national publicity.
I agree that she could have made an enormous difference had she spoken up rather than cash in. I have no sympathy for her at all! In fact, I think she should be charged with lying to police shortly after the murder of Trayvon when they undoubtedly questioned where she was that night. But, she saw an opportunity to make some $$$ and she "forgot" to do the right thing. What a GREAT Christian.
DeleteShellie Zimmerman just handed the Martin family attorneys some very important additional evidence for them to use in pursuing a civil court verdict against GZ. Not only will GZ have to testify in civil court but SZ is now on record as to what could easily account for GZ's frustrated state of mind the night he murdered Trayvon Martin.
DeleteWell, well, well.
ReplyDeleteThis is hardly surprising given George's history of domestic violence.
The man is used to getting off because of the connections of his father. And he got off again. Wonder what will happen the next time he kills someone. The quick purchase of more guns shows he has learned nothing, and will kill again the first time he perceives a threat, or just needs to feel in control. Yes, Zimmerman is a bad actor, and Tray's parents handled the whole thing with far more grace than I could have.
ReplyDeleteTrayvon's parents should sue Zimmerman in civil court for wrongful death, like in the OJ second trial.
DeleteIf they are smart, and I think they are, they will wait until after the Feds make up their minds and if the Feds prosecute, wait until after that! Hit him with a triple whammy.
DeleteBesides, as time goes on, more and more information is coming out that will all weigh against him.
Want to bet whether or not the Feds will be wanting to interview her about this?
there will not be a federal case. almost zero chance of a civil case either.
Deleteim curious if all the readers here are just as up in arms over the Roderick Scott - Christopher Cervini case. surely you must be. a neighborhood watch guy- thought some teenagers were breaking into a car, shoots a teenager not just once, but twice- heck this teen didn't even touch Mr. Scott, who happens to be the size of a NFL football player, Mr. Scott just said he ran towards him. you are all outraged about this correct?
Zero chance of a civil case? LOL, don't you and all the other GZ supporters wish that were true. You don't want to see him have to get on the witness stand and try to defend his several different stories about what happened the night he shot Trayvon Martin. As for the other case you're referring to, an arrest was made in an expedient manner. In fact, after questioning Scott, he was taken to jail. In the case of GZ, only 20 minutes after the shooting, a SPD officer told GZ's best friend, a former cop, that it was a clean shoot and there was nothing for him to worry about. This is before they even started doing an investigation?! That's what people were outraged about, that GZ told his story and the cops believed him w/o question. I'm sure the fact that the State Attorney for Seminole Co, Norm Wolfinger, a very close friend of GZ's father, was on the scene and recommended that no charges be brought against him. He should have recused himself from the case from the moment he found out the defendant's name. There is no comparison between this case or any of the others that RWNJ's have tried to use.
DeleteFrom all the mass murderers I read about they murder when a life change happens...bundy, dahmer, SOS, zimmerman
ReplyDeleteAs I've said before, I think we are going to see horrible things done by or to George Zimmerman. His wife has just reinforced it! Have always thought the guy creepy.
ReplyDeleteWonder what his attorneys will say now? They've been so vocal making appearances on T.V. since the verdict!
Way, way O/T, but this is SO great, and so inspirational--enjoy:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/bill-watterson-advice-to-college-grads-illustrated-like-calvin-and-hobbes_n_3837271.html
I've known many police officers and they all agree that the calls they dread the most are domestic violence because of the volatility and unpredictability of the situation. They are usually the most dangerous for the responding officer because there is so much emotion and anger which can be turned toward the police in a moment's notice.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much wrong with that case, from the fact that Zimmerman was not arrested or processed immediately after killing Trayvon. It took several days and an outcry (bless Rev.Sharpton) for public opinion to force the police to "arrest" Zimmerman. No wonder evidence was "lost" in the process.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Todd has been on the receiving end of spousal abuse? Where did those dents come from on their refrigerator door?
ReplyDeleteBoy, oh, boy: Shelie -- get a new identity and move as far away from Florida as you can get. There's nothing good to be gotten from your "marriage" and a lot of bad that could come your way.
ReplyDeleteInstead of you, Trayvon Martin was the target, but you could be next.
Wonder how much "daddy" influenced the outcome.....subtle influence is difficult to pin down....shame on the entire law enforcement community for aiding and abetting this sham....
ReplyDeleteyes yes, let us all put total faith in the opinions of an 'investigative journalist'... because they never sensationalize or put a spin on anything for publicity, right?
ReplyDeleteLegal scholar Alan Dershowitz (one of many legal scholars who came to the same general conclusions) told the BBC that "the verdict was 'right' and that there was 'reasonable doubt' as to Zimmerman's guilt." In regards to the prosecution: "She (State Attorney Angela Corey) submitted an affidavit that was, if not perjurious, completely misleading. She violated all kinds of rules of the profession, and her conduct bordered on criminal conduct. Halfway through the trial she realized she wasn't going to get a second degree murder verdict, so she asked for a compromised verdict, for manslaughter. And then, she went even further and said that she was going to charge him with child abuse and felony murder. That was such a stretch that it goes beyond anything professionally responsible. She was among the most irresponsible prosecutors I've seen in 50 years of litigating cases, and believe me, I've seen good prosecutors, bad prosecutors, but rarely have I seen one as bad as this prosecutor."
"Legal scholar" Alan Dershowitz also defending OJ Simpson, author of "If I Did It."
DeleteAlan Dershowitz made a case for torture.
Still, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he speaking technically and not about absolute guilt or innocence. He says he would find George "not guilty," not that George was actually innocent.
Whatever. What about the stuff that Gryphen brought up about the gun being in his pocket and the ridiculousness of the fact that he claimed that he reached for it when there was a guy sitting on his chest banging his head against the cement? It is not feasible. He was clearly lying -- CUH-learly
DeleteHaving read the nauseating comments from members of the Zimmy Rah Rah crowd, I'm sure they are a-okay with a little (or a lot) of spousal abuse. It's a 'man' thing in their world. It fits right in with their love of hollow-points.
ReplyDeleteThe prosecution didn't try to convict Zimmerman. meanwhile Trayvon was found guilty of walking/talking in the evening, while black.
ReplyDeleteYup... show trial in response to public outrage.
DeleteZimmerman's demeanor when he walked in for the verdict was creepy (almost as creepy as the GIF Gryphen has posted of this POS). It was as if he already knew he was walking.
Poor Shellie! Can't imagine living in a 20 foot trailer in the woods and getting constant threats. I wonder how many of those threats were from Zimmerman himself?
ReplyDeleteYeah, that last line sends chills down my spine, but Shellie's got a lot more explaining to do. She lied under oath to save his butt, when is she lying and when is she telling the truth?
Now she's speaking up? If she had spoken up before, GZ would be in jail for murder and she would be safe. She's not speaking up, she's cashing in. Despicable.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so mad. Those defense attorneys kept this real quiet. He was never portrayed as an abusive husband, much less one all riled up. Florida really sucks.
ReplyDelete