Sorry Zimmerman defenders: legal experts say mark on Zimmerman's head isn't proof of anything

[Cali_Democrat]

George Zimmerman head wound gives little clarity to Trayvon Martin case
By Mark Trumbull, Staff writer / April 3, 2012

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The latest tidbit – an enhanced image from a police video, which seems to show an injury on the head of George Zimmerman – adds another piece to a puzzle that's still unresolved.

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But legal experts say this newest drop of evidence falls far short of being proof that Zimmerman's whole story is correct.

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A wound on the head could be consistent with Zimmerman's story of being attacked after losing sight of Martin and heading on foot back toward his vehicle. But if Zimmerman instigated the confrontation, an injury would also be consistent with Trayvon struggling to defend himself, says Gary Kleck, a criminologist and gun-crime expert at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

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The Martin family's attorney, Benjamin Crump, says the girlfriend has reported hearing Trayvon say, "Oh, he's right behind me again," and "Why are you following me?"

"Assuming that's accurate then it most assuredly suggests Zimmerman was initiating the contact," Kleck says.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0403/George-Zimmerman-head-wound-gives-little-clarity-to-Trayvon-Martin-case

I have a strong feeling it will be Trayvon's girlfriend and Zimmerman's own 911 call that ultimately puts Zimmerman behind bars for a long time.

Sorry Zimmerman defenders, your boy is going down.

[southernyankeebelle]

1. Don't bet on it. I hope and pray your right but Zimmerman's dad went with 3 cops back to the scene

to re-enact what happened. Oh that just gets my goat. I hope the law does the right thing.

[Hugabear]

3. How the fuck is Zimmerman's dad going to reenact ANYTHING

Zimmerman's daddy wasn't there. The cops weren't there. The only ones who were there were Zimmerman and Trayvon. Zimmerman is in hiding, and he made damned sure that Trayvon wouldn't be able to tell his story.

The fact that the cops would even do this "reenactment" based on hearsay speaks volumes to their incompetence and bias.

[FarPoint]

6. Who paid the cops to do this for the Zimmerman's anyway? I assume they were on duty....or volunteers?

I have never, ever had heard of such an action by law enforcement when no chargers were ever brought....maybe later for the prosecution to clarify their case; or the defense pays for time when building their defense but never for this situation.

[Kaleva]

7. Zimmerman's dad watched the re-enactment from nearby.

He didn't re-enact anything.

"Mr. Zimmerman’s father watched from nearby. “They started where his vehicle was,” he recalled. “They walked him down the sidewalk and to the end of the sidewalk, to the street where he got an address and then walked him back towards his vehicle, near where the incident occurred.” "

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/us/trayvon-martin-shooting-prompts-a-review-of-ideals.html?_r=2&pagewanted=7&hp

[southernyankeebelle]

14. totally agree.

[Catherina]

24. [phone] n/t

[Lost-in-FL]

2. And even if there was a wound it only proves that...

Trayvon was defending himself or like republicans call, 'standing his ground'.

[leveymg]

4. Assumes facts not in evidence. I didn't see ANYTHING on his head in the non-"enhanced" video

Zimmerman has no case and a lousy lawyer, but a very capable crew of vigilante PR at ABC, the Orlando Sentinel, and some other Right-wing media who want this to just go away. Sorry, George, it's not.

[Skittles]

8. CORRECT

[obxhead]

9. Enhanced aka Photoshoped.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. The police CCTV video is irrelevant and the fuss being made over it is inane

Real documentation including the EMS report, photos, and his clothes will be used.

All the noise being made over which video showed what with or without enhancement are a silly waste of time. I can't see a reason why the police video will even be introduced.

The reason many are wasting their time over it is that it was the last juicy thing to get out before the State Attorney clamped down. If we had what was being sat one, the video would not get any mention.

[leveymg]

19. As you said, the police CCTV's the best evidence the State Att'y's allowed the public to see. So,

it's hardly irrelevant at this stage, as far as the public debate is concerned. The point you're making isn't really relevant.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. Keep making meaningless noise if that is what entertains you

The rest of us will be amused

[leveymg]

27. Do you use the Royal "we" as an affectation, or are there

several you's in there? In any case, stick to the point, "Professor."

[ProgressiveProfessor]

29. There are many who realize that the video is irrelevant

Yes it is keeping some buzz going, but that is about it. That buzz is not important, no matter how much you think it is.

[csziggy]

20. Even in the enhanced video the screen shots I took show nothing

The ONE still shot that ABC News put up:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/george-zimmerman-enhanced-video-shows-injury-trayvon-martin-16053206?tab=9482931§ion=1206833

Here are my screen shots from the video at the above link:



No "gash", no blood, no bruising.

I particularly like this one - the lighting is better, any blood or bruising on the right side of the back of the head would show, and his nose is very straight, not broken, bloody, swollen or packed to stop bleeding.

[ohheckyeah]

25. I call bullshit on their

"enhancement". They enhanced it all right - they added a gash. There is nothing like what they are showing on his head.

[CJCRANE]

5. If it is a wound or mark it may have been there already

from something else.

[Cali_Democrat]

26. Yup

I would assume that massive head wounds received via repetitive pounding on concrete for a minute would be more visible.

I don't even see a band-aid.

[iemitsu]

10. zimmerman could have

inflicted this wound on himself after the fact and before the police arrived.
the wound means nothing.

[jillan]

23. I was thinking the same thing. He knew he f-ed up and did it to claim self defense.

I wouldn't put it past him.

[Matilda]

12. This case has been making the news even in Australia.

Something about it appears every day.

The cops aren't looking good at all - it's time they moved into salvage mode and realise they can't postpone an arrest forever.

[Honeycombe8]

13. Well, there is the 911 call, where Zimmerman tells the cop that Trayvon is looking at him,

then is walking toward him carrying something in his hand. So if that's correct (and I doubt Zimmerman is a highly intelligent conspirator who planned all this ahead of time), then Trayvon did approach Zimmerman, when he noticed GZ was following him. How I wish Trayvon would have hurried on his way to his destination, although he had every right to question the man following him. Because of his youth, he may not have made the best decision there.

But even if Trayvon had been the one to push or hit first, it's hard to make a case for self defense. GZ wouldn't have been afraid for his life because of being pushed or hit by the small Trayvon. GZ looks pretty muscular to me.

But everyone has to admit now that GZ had SOME injuries, no matter how slight. At first, people were denying he had any injuries adn there was some big police conspiracy with Zimmerman, which doesn't seem to be the case.

[Honeycombe8]

15. I haven't seen one post that defends Zimmerman. Care to provide links?

Or are you referring to posts urging the flame throwers to calm down and wait for the investigation to be done.

As you can see, the investigation by the FBI and DOJ is proceeding and they've made significant progress. Details are starting to come out. Witnesses are being interviewed. Videos are being clarified and reviewed, and 911 calls are being analyzed. That is all that some posts, incl. mine, have been urging to others who wanted him not just arrested, but charged immediately, before the investigation was done. Arrested, yes. Charged? You only do that AFTER an investigation and a showing that there is enough evidence for a finding of guilt in a court of law, in the opinion of the District Attorney's office.

Thank God we have a legal system, or Zimmerman would've been killed by the angry masses by now. And that is wrong, by any standard.

It's starting to calm down, thank goodness. For awhile there, it was getting scary, with the angry mobs. Angry mobs are very dangerous. The anger was understandable. But the rush to judgment and the "get him" attitude was mob-like. Even the address of an elderly couple was tweeted for others to seek them out and do whatever to them. We now know that elderly couple is not related to THIS Zimmerman. Famous people are standing on their soapboxes talking about things, when they don't even have the facts.

Reminds me of the Duke lacrosse incident. Remember that? Sharpton and the others were in large part responsible for that overreaction by the masses.

[got root]

16. exactly, the only one entitled to 'syg' based on all we know is Trayvon

and it didn't save him, either.

time to ditch this gun lobby law, ASAP.

[Swagman]

17. the 'wounds' are on the very top of his head..not the back

unless Trayvon was holding him upside down and bouncing him on the pavement...how would those wounds be consistent with banging his head on the pavement...it doesn't make sense.

This must be the wrost police investiagtion in history.

[gkhouston]

28. If there's even a wound there, it looks more like what might happen if you dinged your head

getting into a car.

[JDPriestly]

18. I think the evidence that we know about makes Zimmerman's

case a difficult one. But we have far too little evidence to know the outcome.

It's best not to get hopes up. Juries are unpredictable. That is why so many cases are settled.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

22. The problem is that we very little

and the State Attorney is glad to keep it that way and leave Zimmerman free

[Cali_Democrat]

30. I think I might need to kick this for today