The Trayvon Martin Killing, Explained
"Good initially told police the person on top was pummeling the other in mixed martial arts style, but backed off that account, later saying the person on top was straddling the other man, but his arms might have been holding the other down rather than punching.
Asked by state prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda if he saw the “person on top” grabbing the head of the lighter skinned man and slamming it into the concrete, Good replied “No."
An eye witness not seeing this part of the altercation doesn't mean it didn't happen. But its not even that crucial anyway because we already know based on other evidence that Martin was on top of Zimmerman when he was shot.
Forensic expert: Trayvon Martin shot leaning over George Zimmerman
"Di Maio said that he had examined the autopsy, toxicology and photographic evidence and concluded that the evidence was consistent with Zimmerman’s statements to authorities that Martin was straddling him and that Zimmerman fired his gun with his right hand. The path of the bullet ran from Martin’s left side through part of his heart and into a portion of the right lung, Di Maio testified.
“The medical evidence ... is consistent with his statement,” Di Maio said of Zimmerman’s version of events.
Di Maio also testified that the hole in Martin’s shirt showed that the muzzle of Zimmerman’s gun was touching the clothing, and that the wound on Martin’s chest showed that his skin was two to four inches from the muzzle.
Di Maio said he based his conclusions on analysis of debris from the gunshot, including what he called “powder tattoo marks” surrounding the wound, which give the appearance of a reddish, circular rash on the skin. Such marks, he said, would not be present if the muzzle had been held against Martin’s skin."
....Three residents have told the court that they saw someone who appeared to be Zimmerman on top during the incident.
Are Eyewitnesses in the Zimmerman Trial Reliable?
"Another witness, who was initially interviewed March 20, said she saw two people on the ground immediately after the shooting but was not sure which one was on top. In another interview with investigators six days later, she said it had definitely been Zimmerman on top, explaining that she was sure because she had been able to compare Zimmerman's and Martin's sizes after seeing them on TV.
A third witness originally said he saw a black man (presumably Martin) pinning down and punching a lighter-skinned man (Zimmerman) who was calling for help. Later, the witness wasn't sure any punches were thrown or that he had heard distress calls."
Eye witness accounts are notoriously unreliable which why I'm looking at all the evidence together.
...Lindzee Folgate, a physician assistant who treated Zimmerman the day after the shooting, said cuts he suffered on his head did not require any stitches.
Di Maio also said that there was “definite evidence” of six impacts that caused wounds to Zimmerman’s nose, the back of his head and his forehead. Those injuries were also consistent with Zimmerman’s account of events, Di Maio said.
Even if Zimmerman didnt require stitches he has obviously been injured in the fight and the marks are consistent with what he claims.
...Three residents have told the court that they saw someone who appeared to be Zimmerman on top during the incident."
Eyewitness describes Trayvon Martin's fatal struggle to Florida jury - Reuters
All of which points to an altercation, but doesn't necessarily support Zimmerman's story of self defense. For all we know Martin was attacking in self defense, and he got the best of Zimmerman.
- Zimmerman lost his job for being too aggressive.
- Two voice-analysis experts enlisted by the Orlando Sentinel have concluded that the screaming voice on a 911 recording of the Trayvon killing is not shooter George Zimmerman. The Trayvon Martin Killing, Explained
- The initial police report noted that Zimmerman was bleeding from the back of the head and nose, and after medical attention it was decided that he was in good enough condition to travel in a police cruiser to the Sanford, Fla., police station for questioning. His lawyer later insisted that Zimmerman’s nose had been broken in his scuffle with 17-year-old Martin.
In the video an officer is seen pausing to look at the back of Zimmerman’s head, but no abrasions or blood can be seen in the video and he did not check into the emergency room following the police questioning.
Zimmerman losing his job as "part time under the table security job" in 2005 is irrelevant to that night. If it isn't, then we can get into Trayvon Martin's history of aggression prior to that night.
There is enough physical evidence that I highlighted earlier to show Martin had the better of Zimmerman in the fight. Also, from the Judge in the trial, "There is no evidence to establish that their scientific techniques have been tested and found reliable."
As the photo I posted earlier, Zimmerman was clearly bleeding from his head/face.
Being punched int the face is not a good reason to shoot someone dead either. And again, you don't know what went down. As far as you know, Zimmerman made his presence known, Martin showed some anger, the got close to each other (which they'd have to in order for Zimmerman to be so caught by surprise) and then they came to blows. Lots of time to de-escalate the situation if that were the case.
"They came to blows' but no evidence Zimmerman ever laid a punch on Martin.
“This guy looks like he’s up to no good or he’s on drugs or something,” Zimmerman told the dispatcher. “It’s raining, and he’s just walking around looking about.” The man tried to explain where he was. “Now he’s coming towards me. He’s got his hand in his waistband. And he’s a black male…Something’s wrong with him. Yup, he’s coming to check me out. He’s got something in his hands. I don’t know what his deal is…These *******s, they always get away.”
If that doesn't tell you what his mindset was when he approached Trayvon, then I don't know what does. In that statement, he specifically pinpoints that he's black. Then he says something is wrong with him... that he could be armed... and that he's angry at Trayvon, because he's another example of a bad guy who gets away. Well, not on his watch. This demonstrates that all the initial aggression was on Zimmerman's side. He went into the situation having a clear bias... at the exact order of the 911 dispatchers not to do so.
The first thing the dispatcher asks Zimmerman is if the person Zimmerman sees is White, Black, or Hispanic. Zimmerman responds, "He looks Black".
"Dispatcher: Sanford Police Department. ...
Zimmerman: Hey we've had some break-ins in my neighborhood, and there's a
real suspicious guy, uh, [near] Retreat View Circle, urn, the best address I can
give you is 111 Retreat View Circle. This guy looks like he's up to no good, or
he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking
about.
Dispatcher: OK, and this guy is he white, black, or Hispanic?
Zimmerman: He looks black."
The dispatch asks for further information on Martin's appearance...
Dispatcher: Did you see what he was wearing?
"Zimmerman: Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie, and either jeans or
sweatpants and white tennis shoes. He's [unintelligible], he was just staring..."
A bit later...
"Zimmerman: Yeah, now he's coming towards me.
Dispatcher: OK.
Zimmerman: He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male.
Dispatcher: How old would you say he looks?
Zimmerman: He's got button on his shirt, late teens.
Dispatcher: Late teens ok."
At this point, Zimmerman is confirming that the person he sees is black to the dispatch who has repeatedly asked for information on the appearance of said person. He did not make it a point to mention Martin's race on his own.
The dispatcher ordered Zimmerman to not have a clear bias? That doesnt make sense. Or did you mean they ordered Zimmerman not to follow Martin, which is another lie.
Police Dispatcher Testifies That George Zimmerman Did Not Seem Like a Man on the Verge of Violence
"After we hear the sound of door chimes and wind, we hear Noffke say, "Are you following him?" Zimmerman says yes, and Noffke replies, "OK, we don't need you to do that." Noffke testified that, because of liability concerns, police dispatchers are trained to make suggestions to callers rather than issue commands."
It's night. You're in another person's neighborhood. This weird guy is following you and feels threatening. You take off. The threatening dude chases you, and finds you, and confronts you. Trayvon is just supposed to be like... "this seems totally cool. Not cornered at all."
But how did Zimmerman find Martin? Martin had a lead on Zimmerman, was running to an area with two clear pathways that would let him escape because he is in fear of Zimmerman at this point, right? He isn't cornered at all, because he has multiple exits. Its dark but not that dark because eye witnesses see part of the confrontation from their apartments. But Martin doesn't go to his nearby residence. He ends up in confrontation with Zimmerman.
