Cousin claims Zimmerman molestated her for over a decade...

[HipChick]

A family friend of George Zimmerman told investigators he sexually molested her on and off for nearly a decade, newly released audio tapes in the Trayvon Martin shooting case reveal.

"He would reach under the blankets and try to do things," the woman—identified as Witness 9—told investigators.

Zimmerman's defense team later identified the unnamed woman as his cousin and said they plan to file "reciprocal discovery" in the coming weeks.
"Now that this statement is part of the public record, the defense will vigorously defend Mr. Zimmerman against the allegations," they said on a website dedicated to Zimmerman's defense.

The accuser said the molestation occurred at Zimmerman's parents' house when they were growing up.

"I would try to push him off, but he was bigger, stronger and older," she said during the interview conducted on March 20, less than a month after the Feb. 26 shooting. The woman, who contacted prosecutors after Martin's killing, said she was 6 and Zimmerman was 8 when the alleged molestation began. It continued until she was 16, she said.

Investigators asked the woman why she was coming forward now. "This is the first time in my life that I'm not afraid of him," she replied.

She said she eventually told her sister about her encounters with Zimmerman. The sister then told their parents.

The alleged victim said she and her parents tried to discuss the abuse with Zimmerman at a Lake Mary, Fla., restaurant in 2005. "He said, 'I'm sorry' and just got up and walked out."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/zimmerman-witness-sexual-molestation-160900334.html

[jberryhill]

1. Can he be charged with the molestatitutionerings at this date?

[uppityperson]

3. This article says"It depends on the nature of the alleged abuse, and where they took place."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/17/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-blotter-idUS92998051920120717

The location is important because each state has different laws about prosecuting child sexual abuse cases. Virginia, for example, has no time limit for prosecutors to charge someone with child sexual abuse, according to Virginia Statehouse News.

But the last of the alleged abuse happened in Florida, when the cousin was 16 and Zimmerman was around 18. In Florida, such an assault can be a first- or second-degree felony, depending on the amount of violence involved. Prosecutions must take place within four or three years, respectively, of a child victim turning 18. For the Florida incident at least, the woman's claim is likely too late to prosecute.

Time limits for prosecutions in other states can be found in FindLaw's collection of State Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws.

[tularetom]

2. Not sure what this has to do with the Trayvon Martin shooting

If it's true, it demonstrates that Zimmerman is a person of pretty low character but then we already pretty much knew that.

I'm not sure this little tidbit is admissible in court.

I'm not a lawyer but I watch them on TV. And my neighbor is a lawyer who no longer practices.

[JDPriestly]

4. It may demonstrate low character -- but only if proved to be true.

Why were these two under the same covers so much? The story seems odd to me.

[naaman fletcher]

7. it has nothing to do with it at all.

and is further proof of my theory that the prosecution is purposely throwing the case.

[MADem]

8. It has PLENTY to do with it--the same woman--a cousin--says the family is HUGELY RACIST.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/george-zimmerman_n_1676729.html?ir=Miami&ref=topbar

Witness 9 first made an anonymous call to law enforcement and shortly thereafter met with investigators with the State Attorney's Office. The revelations of alleged sexual molestation were buttressed by the woman's belief that Martin's race may have played a role in his killing by Zimmerman.

“I was afraid that he may have done something because the kid was black,” the witness told investigators. “Because growing up they’ve always made, him and his family have always made statements that they don’t like black people if they don’t act like white people. They like black people if they act white and other than that, they talk a lot of bad things about black people.”

The woman said that Zimmerman’s Peruvian mother was among the more boastfully racist of the clan.

“His mother protested it very loud,” the woman said. During one incident, the woman said that Zimmerman’s mother had come to the witness’s workplace, and during a discussion about President Obama, made it clear how she felt about him and his ethnicity.

[vaberella]

5. Not sure how this affects the case. But if true...ugh!n/t

[MADem]

9. Look just upthread at the link I provided--the cousin who endured this victimization is also telling

investigators that the Zimmerman family is VERY RACIST.

[Zoeisright]

6. Not surprising.

He acts like a bully. Most people never outgrow that.

[HarveyDarkey]

10. molestated?