New evidence was released over the course of this week in the Trayvon Martin Case. It all started with the medical report released by George Zimmerman’s family doctor, which is a result of Zimmerman going to the doctor for a medical exam the following day, after his altercation with Trayvon, that ended in Trayvon’s death. The medical report states that Mr. Zimmerman had two black eyes, a fractured nose (a “closed fracture”) and two lacerations to the back of his head. This report seems to support Mr. Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense, or at the very least it shows there was, indeed an altercation between the two men.
After that medical report was released, then came a release of evidence in the case. Though many things were blacked out in the release of documents that followed that medical report, Trayvon’s autopsy report was not. What did it say? It said that Trayvon was shot in the chest, right through the heart at an intermediate range (which is still relatively close and according to some reports that would be between 1 and 18 inches). The bullet did not exit his body. This supports the reason why he was found face down with his hands underneath him. As I have said before, I believe that Trayvon likely died before he hit the ground. We were told prior to this release by the funeral home director that he was shot in the chest, so I have felt that he was shot, grabbed his chest and fell dead to the ground. The only other mark that was found on Trayvon’s body was a cut or scrape just below one of his knuckles on his left hand, which would be indicative of him possibly hitting someone. The next thing that was revealed by the autopsy is that Trayvon had THC (found in marijuana) in his body, both in his blood and in his urine (low levels). What does this reveal? To me, at best the only thing I could think that it might do, would be maybe make him more paranoid or fearful, but then it was low levels or traces and anyone would be fearful and paranoid in a situation like that. Note that it is also being said that Zimmerman was on prescription antidepressants that night. That said, the witness statements that have come out supporting Zimmerman’s story, the injuries that have come to light that support his story tell a tale. He did have a broken nose, though it was a minor fracture, not laid open. He had black eyes (according to his doctor, but that wasn’t apparent in the pictures from that night ???) and he did have injuries to the back of his head. The police interview with Trayvon’s girlfriend reveals his fear and running and then turning to confront his stalker. She told him to run when he regained sight of Zimmerman for the last time and he told her no (that last time) and after hearing him yelling questions at Zimmerman, like “Why are you following me for?” the phone went dead. What does this say? It lines up with him confronting Zimmerman. That said, it means that Zimmerman continued to pursue him after he was told not to. It is also important to note that some witness interviews did not exactly line up with Zimmerman’s claims. One witness said that the fight part of it appeared to be over when Trayvon was shot. Some claimed that Trayvon was on top and the gunshot happened very quickly after seeing that, while others were saying it was the heavier guy on the top, but they did base that on the photos shown on tv (at the time), though Zimmerman is shorter than Trayvon was, he is a good bit heavier than Trayvon was. I have found many articles in virtually every news site on the documents being released, but it took a while for most of them to put up links to the information released, in addition to their write-ups. I have done my very best to find as much of the information released as possible, it just took a while and while I have seen the video and listened to all of the audio, I am still working through the documents, though I have skimmed them to see what was there. I will tell you that it has come to light that what has been released is the meat of the prosecution’s case. It has also been reported that some of Zimmerman’s former coworkers have been speaking out and I did find an audio for one of them, but the other is such a chopped up piece of writing, with quotes and no real verification in fact that I left it out, but the link to the audio is included below. I haven’t listened to that entire audio yet. There will be more evidence coming out soon.
WFTV did have a link to 183 pages of documents.
The Orlando Sentinel has the audio from the witnesses. You can find their audio to the right of the article and once you click on the first one to listen it will auto-play through them all.
Wesh 2 has some of the surveillance video.
WFTV has the photos.
Trayvon in the store.
First responder describes scene to FDLE.
Girl describes being on the phone with Trayvon.
Zimmerman’s Father describes his son.
George Zimmerman’s attorney says more evidence to come.
ABC Exlusive on Zimmerman’s Medical Report
Former coworker of Zimmerman says he is a bully.
Here is my interpretation in all of this release of information………Obviously there was a violent encounter. Obviously Trayvon was shot by George Zimmerman. Obviously Mr. Zimmerman was following Trayvon, when he shouldn’t have and he did, according to Trayvon’s girlfriend, yell to Trayvon something along the lines of……..”Hey! What are you doing around here?” Some pundits are saying if he had been nicer, maybe it wouldn’t have happened, something like hey, I live around here, just wondering what you were doing. I’m not really sure on that either way. If Mr. Zimmerman was racing up to him, anything he said could have sounded like blah, blah, blah to Trayvon because of fear. It is really hard to tell how the two men lost sight of one another and then regained it, just about being on top of each other at that point. To me the most obvious things about the two personalities is that Mr. Zimmerman seems to have been a bit of a tough guy and was determined that Trayvon would be there when the police arrived. I don’t think he went after him with the intent to kill. Trayvon was fearful (rightfully so) and has also at times been painted as a bit aggressive, so this situation was like trying to put a match out with a can of gas. I’ve listened to many experts and pundits, as well as trying to find all of this and work my way through it myself. I do believe that Mr. Zimmerman should never have pursued Trayvon and I can understand Trayvon being scared. If I felt someone was following me in a stalking manner, I would be afraid, very afraid. Because there is so much conflicting information in the way of witnesses, I’m not so sure that we really know much more than we did as far as the fight. It was dark and many didn’t see the whole thing. I do think that Zimmerman found out he wasn’t so tough and got his butt kicked and reacted by shooting Trayvon. I still don’t believe he went after him with the intent to kill, but he was wrong to go after him. This was an avoidable tragedy. Many pundits are saying that 2nd degree murder is overcharging, some even saying he may walk. To me I still see manslaughter, but then again I haven’t seen all of the facts. This case has divided so many and caused a great deal of hate. I think we need to be respectful of the opinions of others and let this case be tried in the court of law, without rushing to complete judgement, because from the evidence I have seen, both sides have usable material. I refuse to hate in this, but I do think there is a lesson to be learned……….The lesson is that we should not take the law into our own hands, unless we are being directly threatened, then and only then we have the right to defend ourselves. We do have the right to defend ourselves and our families, but if it is just someone who looks suspicious, walking through the neighborhood, that is not a direct threat, then we should simply let the law handle it, if and only if we see that person appearing to be up to no good, that is what you call them for and that is what they are paid for. I do understand the crime rate in that neighborhood had been pretty bad, but still, what an awful result to an assumption made out of fear that prompted a reaction created by fear, which led to the death of a young man.
Other Source Of Information:
http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/video-showing-teen-encouraging-others-fight-was-no/nN854/
Please keep the debate civil on this and try to look at this logically, not emotionally.
