Rachel Jeantel Takes Aim at Don West in Interview With Al Sharpton on Zimmerman Trial

On his Politics Nation show on MSNBC on Wednesday, Al Sharpton interviewed Rachel Jeantel on her role in the George Zimmerman trial. Sharpton has been a defender of Jeantel who has been attacked on a number of fronts during the trial. During the interview, Sharpton praised Jeantel for keeping her composure during the trial.

The 19-year-old, who was famously on the phone with Martin the night he died, has been hitting the talk-show circuit in recent days, including talking to Piers Morgan on CNN. Jeantel has expressed her anger and sadness over Zimmerman's not guilty verdict.

Jeantel insisted Zimmermans legal team was trying to prevent her from speaking. The defense never wanted me there, she said. They had a plan for me.

Jeantel had harsh words for Don West, Zimmermans defense attorney. During her two days of testimony, Jeantel was told on numerous occassions to speak louder and West even asked if she understood him, noting English was not her first language. Jeantel jabbed West, noting she was a teenager while he was an adult. Sharpton and Jeantel even said she won despite Zimmerman being found not guilty.

Im a teenager, Jeantel said on Sharptons show. How does a jury think of an African-American teenager? Theyre supposed to be cussing. I didnt even curse Don.

I didnt show him a lot of respect because he was acting childish, Jeantel insisted. He was asking ridiculous questions.

But I kept my ground, Jeantel said, apparently oblivious to the irony of the stand your ground law which was an important part of the trial and public debate over the shooting. I stand strong, I never cursed.

While she might not have cursed during her two days on the stand, West had Jeantel retreating and pivoting, not keeping her ground, during her testimony. Jeantel said on the stand that Martin had been hit and West took advantage of the opening to get her to admit she had no idea if that was the case or if Martin had attacked Zimmerman first.

Wests aggressive questioning of Jeantel might have been one of the reasons Zimmerman was found not guilty. During an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN earlier in the week, Juror B37, one of the six women who sat on the jury, said Jeantel -- who was supposed to be the prosecutions star witness -- was a major dud. It wasnt very credible, the juror said about Jeantels testimony.