George Zimmerman trial witness Rachel Jeantel testified today about her phone call with Trayvon Martin on the night of February 26, 2012, becoming visibly annoyed with defense attorneys in contentious questioning that captured the attention of Twitter.
Rachel Jeantel was rumored to be the girlfriend of Trayvon Martin , and at 19, the young woman was called to testify about her recall of the night the teen was shot to death on a street in Sanford.
Jeantel’s role was expected to be that of a star witness, but as the afternoon went on, her testimony captured the attention of Twitter due to some heated exchanges with Zimmerman’s lawyers.
Depending on the opinion of the person viewing, Jeantel seems to have come off as either having a poor attitude and being disrespectful, or as a very young woman thrust into a legally severe situation while coping with the fact she’d listened to a friend get shot and killed.
GlobalGrind’s Michael Skolnick said of the teen’s testimony:
Rachel Jeantel is brutally honest. A yng woman who did not ever want to be in this situation. She wears her anger and sadness on her sleeve.
Others felt that however frustrated Rachel Jeantel became with defense attempts to “trip her up” on then stand and paint her as an unreliable witness, her obligation to the Martin and Fulton families was not being filled by taking attorney bait on the stand:
I just pray Rachel comes back tomorrow more relaxed & civilized. Trayvon and his family need her more then ever right now
— Pretty (@CocoaPuffs_2) June 26, 2013
Many felt that her reaction was understandable, saying:
Rachel has got to be one of the sassiest witnesses I have ever seen. Say what you may re her grammar, but she is authentic. #zimmermantrial
— Nzinga Blake (@NzingaBlake) June 26, 2013
Jeantel reportedly articulated herself well in explaining her frustration and reluctance to speak:
RT @AVAETC: “You’re the last person to talk to him and he dies. I’m the last person. You don’t know how it feels.” – Rachel Jeantel
— NCJ (@NikkiCrystal973) June 26, 2013
What effect do you think Rachel Jeantel’s testimony will have on the George Zimmerman trial?