Sentence Correction

I dont understand the absolute phrase here as the subject is the defence lawyer and witness and the absolute phrase is about the accused.
Please explain.

The explanation provided is as belo:-

"The correct answer (A) in this sentence correction problem contains an unusual modifier structure (called an absolute phrase) so many students are hesitant to pick it. Anytime you place a noun followed by a participle ("his life uprooted") at the beginning or end of the sentence, it is a structure known as an absolute phrase, and it is used to give more information about the sentence as a whole. Consider this example of another absolute phrase and you will realize that you do see this commonly in language: Her arms folded across her chest, Mary was clearly upset by the decision. However even if you don't like (A), the other answer choices are all fatally flawed so you must pick it! In (B) the "and his life uprooted.." is not properly connected to the rest of the sentence and seems to be its own incomplete clause/thought. In (C), the same problem exists and it is made even worse with the addition of the unnecessary "being". In (D) what follows the semi-colon is not a complete sentence and in (E) the colon is not the correct way to link the portion at the end to the rest of the sentence (and "being" is again incorrect and unnecessary). Answer is (A)."

I dont understand the absolute phrase here as the subject is the defence lawyer and witness and the absolute phrase is about the accused.
Please explain.

Hi,
Absolute phrases DON'T just modify the SUBJECT of the main clause but the whole MAIN CLAUSE. In a Q having an ABSOLUTE PHRASE as the correct answer, we can easily spot, most of the cases I have seen, that other choices are just not working (as is the case here).
For more insight on these, go to -> https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/absolute-p ... -the-gmat/

~Binit.

An absolute phrase consists of COMMA + NOUN + MODIFIER.
On the GMAT, an absolute phrase must serve to modify the preceding SUBJECT and VERB.
Mary entered the room, her face beaming.
Here, the portion in red is composed of COMMA + NOUN + MODIFIER and is thus serving as an absolute phrase.
Note the following:
her face refers to Mary (the preceding subject)
The entire absolute phrase serves to modify entered (the preceding verb), indicating HOW Mary ENTERED the room.

A: The defense lawyer and witnesses portrayed the accused as a victim of circumstance, his life uprooted by the media pressure to punish someone in the case.
Here, the portion in red is composed of COMMA + NOUN + MODIFIER and thus seems to be serving as an absolute phrase.
But his life does not refer to the preceding subject (the defense lawyer and witnesses), and the entire absolute phrase does not modify the preceding verb (indicating how the defense lawyer and witnesses portrayed).
This use of an absolute phrase is not viable.

Ignore the SC above.
None of the answer choices is correct.

Two official examples of an absolute phrase:

SC100 in the OG12:
The stars are in motion, some of them at tremendous speeds.
Here, the portion in red is composed of COMMA + NOUN + MODIFIER and is thus serving as an absolute phrase.
Note the following:
some of them correctly refers to the stars (the preceding subject).
The entire absolute phrase serves to modify are (the preceding verb), indicating HOW the stars ARE IN MOTION.

From GMAT Prep:
Europa has long been considered far too cold to support life, its 60 square miles of water thought to be frozen from top to bottom.
Here, the portion in red is composed of COMMA + NOUN + MODIFIER and is thus serving as an absolute phrase.
Note the following:
its 60 square miles correctly refers to Europa (the preceding subject).
The entire absolute phrase serves to modify has long been considered (the preceding verb), indicating WHY Europa HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED far too cold to support life.