theGrio

Back to the Top

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • Health
    • Ask Dr. Ty
    • Black Men’s Health
    • Black Women and Breast Cancer
    • Back to School Health
  • Living
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Living Forward
    • Books
  • Politics
    • Perry on Politics
  • Sports
  • News
    • Good News
  • Opinion

News

Conservative blog Zimmerman’s lawyer sought ‘chat’ with outs Witness 9

by Joy-Ann Reid | July 17, 2012 at 12:32 AM
Comments
Print
Zimmerman, O'Mara

SANFORD, FL- JUNE 29: George Zimmerman (L) sits during his bond hearing with his attorney Mark O'Mara (R) in a Seminole County courtroom on June 29, 2012 in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. (Photo by Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel-Pool/Getty Images)

Related Posts

  • Blogger who outed 'Witness 9' in George Zimmerman case unmasked
  • Zimmerman's lawyer seek a 'chat' with conservative bloggers?
  • Zimmerman relative, 'Witness 9' accused Zimmerman of racial bias
  • Zimmerman relative 'Witness 9' alleges he sexually molested her
  • Trayvon Martin shooting: New evidence in George Zimmerman case released

A website which George Zimmerman’s lawyer Mark O’Mara suggested “setting up a chat session” with has published the identity of a witness who claimed Zimmerman molested her as a child.

The site has become a hub for Zimmerman supporters. One reader of the site, calling himself GZtheCourageous, even reached out to Zimmerman’s attorney to express displeasure with the way O’Mara was handling the case, prompting O’Mara to reply in an email that he’d like to see “if we could set up a chat session so I could respond directly to q’s.” A spokesman for O’Mara told theGrio previously that the email was the only contact he or his firm had with the website, and a spokesperson for the website maintained that they had no contact with O’Mara.

Now, another reader, called “Menagerie,” has posted identifying information about the accuser, whom prosecutors and media outlets have identified only as Witness 9, along with the names of her family members, and photos of the woman, her husband, and even her young child.

The site’s editors, owner and readers maintain their own anonymity. However in the past, they have published the names, addresses and phone numbers of various members of Trayvon Martin’s legal and public relations team.

The site, which theGrio will not link to, also posted information that could be used to locate the woman. It is not known how the person who posted the information obtained it. The judge in the second degree murder case against Zimmerman ordered statements from Witness 9 released on the condition that her identity remain anonymous. And media outlets, including theGrio, have declined to identify her. O’Mara did give details on the nature of the family relationship between the woman and the Zimmermans in a statement on the GZLegalCase website, in which the law firm vowed to “vigorously defend” Zimmerman against the allegations of sexual abuse.

The woman, who is a younger relative of George Zimmerman, alleged in a March interview with state attorneys investigators that that Zimmerman and his family disliked black people, and that Zimmerman sexually molested her from age 6 to age 16.

Both prosecutors and the defense in the Zimmerman case had objected to releasing Witness 9′s second statement, which came weeks after she first contacted Sanford, Florida police to speak to the lead homicide investigator in the case about her concerns regarding Zimmerman’s potential to “start something.” In fighting the release, O’Mara had expressed concerns that her allegations could harm Zimmerman’s ability to obtain a fair trial, and prosecutors expressed concerns about her privacy.

TheGrio reached out to O’Mara’s law firm, and to the website, requesting comment, but had received no response as of this writing.

Follow Joy Reid on Twitter at @thereidreport

  • at Verizon Center on February 8, 2012 in Washington, DC.
    Next Story:

    Rockets await Knicks’ decision on Jeremy Lin

  • (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
    Previous Story:

    Millions spent on upkeep of empty Katrina lots

Filed in: News | Related Topics: Conservative Websites, George Zimmerman, Mark O'Mara, Trayvon Martin, Trayvon Martin Case, Zimmerman Defense
  • Learn about our User Panel

    Read More
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • Chicago Board of Ed votes to close 50 schools Chicago Board of Ed votes to close 50 schools
    • Cash Money Records signs Paris Hilton? Cash Money Records signs Paris Hilton?
    • First lady makes Forbes’ ‘Most Powerful Women’ First lady makes Forbes’ ‘Most Powerful Women’
    • Comedians pay tribute to ‘Bill Cosby: Himself’ 30 years later Comedians pay tribute to ‘Bill Cosby: Himself’ 30 years later
    • Ray J a ‘huge fan’ of Kanye West
    • Funeral program for Malcolm Shabazz released
    • Darius Rucker responds to racist tweet from country fan
    • Is Beyoncé really a feminist?
  • What Your Friends Are Reading

  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks at the New Hampshire Republican State Committee Liberty Dinner, Monday, May 20, 2013 in Concord , N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

    GOP leaders say Obama impeachment talk premature

  • Desiree Rogers appointed to Choose Chicago Board

  • Obama pledges urgent aid to Oklahoma town

  • South Africa: Mandela name becomes political football

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • cash-16x9.jpg

    Payday loans: A debt trap in disguise

  • Tiger Woods makes a comeback on the course, and in video game sales

  • A timeless classic: Top career lessons from ‘The Great Gatsby’

  • Boyz II Men appear in new Old Navy commercial

» Read More in Business

Living

  • Using a cheek sample or blood sample, Myriad’s laboratory delivers a report to the person’s physician, outlining the person’s risk.

    The breast cancer genetic test folks are talking about

  • Young black producer shakes up Great White Way

  • Essence, MSNBC unite for live coverage of the 2013 Essence Fest

  • Black anti-abortion activists see 'houses of horror' everywhere

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • Abdulah Salim, Jr. hold the photograph of his father Dr. Reginald A. Hawkins who was a prominent Charlotte civil rights leader, in Silver Spring, Md. In the spring of 1963, a Hawkins led 65 people on a four-mile march from an African American college to the center of Charlotte’s downtown. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

    Charlotte remembers 1963 desegregation 'eat-in'

  • Tornado survivor saved by teacher

  • Obama speech makes Morehouse grads 'proud'

  • Twins named Spelman valedictorians

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • Dr. Conrad Murray sits in court after he was sentenced for the involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson at the Los Angeles Superior Court on November 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mario Anzuoni-Pool/Getty Images)

    Lawyer: No background check done on Michael Jackson doctor

  • Holy hologram! RIP rappers making a comeback

  • Hulk Hogan ♥'s Miguel's 'leg drop'

  • Eminem's publisher sues Facebook over song usage

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • Gywan Levine Jr., 12, was fatally shot during a robbery. (Courtesy NBC New York)

    Boy, 12, killed in robbery attempt

  • Durant makes $1M pledge for tornado victims

  • Court decision pending in NYPD stop-and-frisk case

  • Farai Chideya: Journalism is heading for ‘GOP-style problems'

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Living
  • Video
  • Inspire
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2013 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP