George Zimmerman trial defense attorney Don West: Controversial Instagram prompts rape threats

Day 10 of George Zimmerman trial

SANFORD, Fla. – George Zimmerman's trial defense attorney Don West recently reported he received e-mails from people threatening his daughters with rape over a controversial post on Instagram. Rachel West, who was not in the family picture, was in the courtroom Monday.

In a response to a July 2nd prosecution's request to investigate the social media post, West said the family photo prompted "threats of violence" that were "vicious." West also said he was distressed that in a request to investigate the post, the prosecution had made "reckless, dangerous and inaccurate allegations."

Prosecutors linked the motive for the post to witness Rachel Jeantel, also known as Diamond Eugene and Dee Dee. She was the last to talk to Trayvon Martin over the phone before Zimmerman killed him Feb. 26, 2012. Jeantel, who speaks both Creole and Spanish, did not speak English well and said she did not read and write cursive. 

West cross examined Jeantel in court on June 26 and June 27.  West claims he took the picture with his daughter's phone because he has the longest arm, but did not find out about the controversial Instagram post until June 28.

West's 23-year-old daughter Molly posted the photo at  6:58 p.m., June 25. The West family ice cream had a controversial caption: "We beat stupidity celebration cones (icons) #Zimmerman #defense #dadkilledit."

The "#dadkilledit" expression come from the slang "killed it," which means that some one performed well. Zimmerman, who is facing a second-degree murder charge, claims he killed Trayvon in self-defense.

"I apologized for my daughter's immature and insensitive behavior and confirmed that I did not approve of what had happened," West said in his response to the motion.