Trayvon Martin Shooting - George Zimmerman

[American Patriot]

/sigh

[vector7]

House to vote on Trayvon amendment

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By Stephen Dinan
May 8, 2012, 04:37PM

• Comments (1413)

House Democrats said Tuesday they will offer an amendment to push to overturn stand-your-ground self-defense laws in states like Florida.

The amendment, which would withhold some grants from states that have such laws, will come as part of the House's debate on the Commerce Department spending bill.

"'Shoot-first' laws have already cost too many lives. In Florida alone, deaths due to self-defense have tripled since the law was enacted. Federal money shouldn't be spent supporting states with laws that endanger their own people," said Reps. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the two Democrats who are offering the legislation. "This is no different than withholding transportation funds from states that don't enforce seat-belt laws."

Florida's law, which allows residents to use force in response to an attack without first having to retreat, has come under scrutiny after the nationally-polarizing death of teenager Trayvon Martin. George Zimmermann, a neighborhood watch volunteer, has been charged with murder in the case.

[Malsua]

Frickin Democrats.

Ellison is a mooslime to boot, big shocker there.

[American Patriot]

They are right... this is "just like withholding road funds" for seat belt laws.

Something else that should be done away with. In fact, if Florida was SMART they'd refuse to give any of their road taxes to the Feds and tell them to pound sand.

You see, the taxes charged for roads go to the Feds who then "dole it back out".

What a racket.

[Phil Fiord]

deaths due to self-defense have tripled since the law was enacted.

I'd be curious to know how many self defense claims are indeed legit. That statement itself is saying too many die from people defending themselves. This also implies that if they were unable to defend themselves, the person(s) who would have died, would instead be able to commit their crime.

Odd logic. Allow criminals to do their crimes because joe citizen is not allowed to defend themselves or family?


In any legislated matter there are flaws. Yes, if I had a family member killed by someone defending themself, I'd be upset, but not only because they died, but because they were attempting to do a criminal act.

It seems that second part is what gets overlooked.

By the the same logic, maybe we should ban wells because municipal water is tested and has additives that are legislated, so good for us. New pipes everywhere because we cannot trust a well will deliver clean water!

[American Patriot]

This is like the bullshit logic the left uses about Abortion....

Lefty: "If Conservatives are so 'pro-life' then why are they so for 'capital punishment'?"

Conservative: "So, Liberals would rather kill an innocent baby in the womb instead of stopping and punishing a murderer then?"

Lefty: "Sputter, stutter... ummm.. whatEVER!"



(That was an actual conversation between a Lib and my wife)

[vector7]

Updated: 6:31 p.m. Monday, May 14, 2012
FBI may charge George Zimmerman with hate crime

• comment (77)

SANFORD, Fla. —

VIDEO:

WFTV has learned charges against George Zimmerman could be getting more serious.

State prosecutors said Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman, profiled and stalked 17-year-old Trayvon Martin before killing him, so the FBI is now looking into charging him with a hate crime.

Zimmerman admitted to killing Martin in February during a confrontation. However, he claims the shooting was in self-defense. He's facing a second-degree murder charge, which carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. But if Zimmerman is charged and found guilty of a federal hate crime involving murder, he could face the death penalty.

FBI investigators are actively questioning witnesses in the retreat at the Twin Lakes neighborhood, seeking evidence for a possible federal hate crime charge.

Martin was unarmed when he was shot to death, police said, and some accuse Zimmerman of targeting the teenager solely because of the color of his skin.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said federal prosecutors would have to prove the hate crime to charge Zimmerman, though.

“What the government would have to prove is that Mr. Zimmerman acted out of hatred toward African-Americans. That's why he came into contact with him. That's why he shot and killed him," Sheaffer said.

Sheaffer said a federal hate crime murder charge could bring more serious consequences than the second-degree murder charge Zimmerman faces now.

“Mr. Zimmerman could be punished by up to life in prison or even the death penalty,” said Sheaffer.

Zimmerman said he used deadly force in self-defense after Martin punched him, knocked him to the ground and repeatedly slammed his head against a sidewalk.

As of late Monday, Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, told WFTV that he's gotten the first prosecution documents containing the evidence against his client. O’Mara said he's gotten a redacted witness list with 22 witnesses listed only as numbers.

O’Mara said he believes there are recorded interviews and some documents, but he said he hasn't even opened it yet.

Prosecutors are required to release information to the defense and the public

However, O'Mara, wants Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. to keep some of the key evidence, especially witness statements, out of the public eye by writing a motion to keep it sealed.

O'Mara posted a statement on Zimmerman's website that said, "We doubt any of them (witnesses) enjoy the scrutiny they are under due to the coincidence of their involvement in such a high-profile matter."

In the meantime, a photograph recently surfaced which is said to show Zimmerman's mother in the arms of her grandfather, who is black.

Zimmerman's mother testified at his bond hearing that she has met the black child whom he mentored and even risked his safety in a dangerous neighborhood to do it, because he didn't want to abandon the child.

State prosecutors said Zimmerman gave several inconsistent statements to Sanford police, which is, in part, their basis for charging him with second-degree murder.

[American Patriot]

Oh what utter BS.

Now they are working overtime trying to make self defense null and void.

[Malsua]

This has Eric "My people" Holder written all over it.

[American Patriot]

He's a fuckhead. An accident waiting to happen. He'll cause some "accident" someplace that causes "his people" to start just about June time frame.... being the smug, self righteous, overbearing, brainwashed individual that he is... it will be all the White Man's Fault.... for, you know, keep a bratha down.

[vector7]

Autopsy Results Show Trayvon Martin Had Injuries To His Knuckles

SANFORD, Fla. —

VIDEO:

WFTV has confirmed that autopsy results show 17-year-old Trayvon Martin had injuries to his knuckles when he died.

The information could support George Zimmerman's claim that Martin beat him up before Zimmerman shot and killed him.

The autopsy results come as Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O’Mara continues to go over other evidence in the case.

O’Mara wouldn't comment on the autopsy evidence, but WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said it's better for the defense than it is for the prosecution.

WFTV has learned that the medical examiner found two injuries on Martin’s body: The fatal gunshot wound and broken skin on his knuckles.

When you compare Trayvon’s non-fatal injury with Zimmerman's bloody head wounds, the autopsy evidence is better for the defense, Sheaffer said.

“It goes along with Zimmerman's story that he acted in self-defense, because he was getting beaten up by Trayvon Martin,” Sheaffer said.

The injury to Martin’s knuckle also fits with Zimmerman's story that before he shot and killed Martin, Martin had broken his nose and knocked him to the ground, slamming his head on the sidewalk.

But Sheaffer said there could be another explanation for Martin's knuckle injury.

“It could be consistent with Trayvon either trying to get away or defend himself,” Sheaffer said.

Zimmerman shot and killed the unarmed teenager almost three months ago after calling 911 to report the teenager was acting suspiciously.

Zimmerman said Martin threw the first punch and that he opened fire in self-defense after his screams for help went unanswered.

The FBI was not able to determine whether it was Zimmerman or Trayvon who could be heard crying out for help in 911 calls.

The defense is trying to decide what evidence it wants a judge to keep confidential before the media gets a chance to see it, but WFTV is being told that could happen in the next week or so.

In the meantime, there’s new information surfacing about Zimmerman.

ABC News said it has obtained Zimmerman's medical report from the day after the killing. According to ABC, the report shows Zimmerman had a broken nose and abrasions on the back of his head.

[American Patriot]

“It could be consistent with Trayvon either trying to get away or defend himself,” Sheaffer said.

Making that shit up on the fly....


Get away my ass. He was already GONE out of sight and came back. Why would he try to "get away" if he was already "gone"?

[American Patriot]

I'm hearing they released (*or should say "obtained") the day after medical report on G. Zimmerman.

He had wounds on the back of his head, his nose was broken, he had two black eyes... I forget what else they said though.

And that same assclown as above in the other article is still claiming "Zimmerman started it therefore has no defense".

[American Patriot]

Sources: Medical report says Zimmerman had broken nose, other injuries after fight

By Lateef Mungin, CNN
updated 9:15 AM EDT, Wed May 16, 2012




New evidence in Trayvon Martin killing



STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• The medical exam took place a day after Trayvon Martin was killed
• The report also says Zimmerman had two black eyes
• Martin's family has questions about the report
• George Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder

(CNN) -- A medical report by George Zimmerman's family doctor shows the neighborhood watch volunteer was diagnosed with a fractured nose, two black eyes and two lacerations on the back of the head after his fatal confrontation with Trayvon Martin.
The medical exam, which was taken a day after Zimmerman's February 26 altercation with the unarmed 17-year-old, says Zimmerman suffered a "closed fracture" of his nose, according to two sources who have detailed knowledge of the investigation.
Zimmerman, 28, is accused of killing Martin on February 26 as the African-American teenager walked back to the Sanford, Florida, house where he was staying, after visiting a convenience store. Prosecutors have said Zimmerman, who is a white Hispanic, killed Martin unjustly after profiling him.
Zimmerman, who acknowledges shooting Martin but claims self-defense, has entered a not guilty plea in the case, which has not yet been scheduled for trial.
New medical report may help Zimmerman
Mark Nejame with Zimmerman family photo
Why Zimmerman apologized in court
George Zimmerman leaves jail
Zimmerman faces a second-degree murder charge in the case, which has gripped the country, caused nationwide protests and has shined a light on race relations and gun laws in Florida.
After the shooting, Zimmerman told police that Martin rushed him after they exchanged words, knocked him to the ground and repeatedly hit his head against a concrete sidewalk.
The medical report appears to lend support to Zimmerman's claims. It also mirrors earlier statements made by Zimmerman's father, brother and lawyer.
Zimmerman's brother spoke of the medical reports in a March interview with CNN's Piers Morgan.
"We're confident the medical records are going to explain all of George's medical history," Robert Zimmerman Jr. said at the time. "You return force with force when somebody assaults you. George was out of breath, he was barely conscious. George (would have been) dead if he had not acted decisively and instantaneously in that moment."
The Martin family has questions about the medical report, said Benjamin Crump, the family attorney.
"The family has very strong positions about this family physician's report that was done the next day," Crump said. "What we do know is on February 26, the ER personnel did not believe his injuries were significant enough for him to go to the hospital. They didn't even put a Band-Aid on his head. That's important."
Also Tuesday, CNN affiliate WFTV reported that Martin's autopsy showed the teen had injuries to his knuckles when he died.
That evidence could also support the theory that Martin and Zimmerman fought.
Crump also responded to that report Tuesday night.
"He was fighting for his life," he told Anderson Cooper. "Let's not forget that Trayvon Martin was fighting a man with a 9-millimeter gun. We also have to remember that he didn't start this fight. George Zimmerman got out his car and pursued Trayvon Martin."
On the night of the shooting, Zimmerman had called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in the neighborhood, according to authorities.
In the call, Zimmerman said he was following Martin after the teen started to run, prompting the dispatcher to tell him, "We don't need you to do that."
Zimmerman apparently disregarded that advice.
A timeline of the case against George Zimmerman
Sanford police initially declined to arrest Zimmerman, saying there was no evidence to contradict his claim of self-defense under Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of serious injury or death.
After weeks of protests demanding his arrest, a special prosecutor appointed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott filed the second-degree murder charge against Zimmerman.
He was arrested on April 11 and briefly jailed. He has returned to hiding after his release on $150,000 bond.

[Malsua]

I stand by the statement that if George Zimmerman's last name was Sanchez or Rodriquez or any traditionally "Spanish" surname, we would have never heard about this shooting at all.

[Ryan Ruck]

100% Agreed.

[American Patriot]

Autopsy of Trayvon Martin reportedly shows fatal bullet fired from 'intermediate range'

Published May 17, 2012

FoxNews.com

A leaked autopsy reportedly shows that the bullet that killed Florida teen Trayvon Martin was fired from "intermediate range," which one forensics expert said means anywhere from one to 18 inches away.

The autopsy, conducted by the medical examiner in Volusia County, Fla., also showed that 17-year-old Martin had one small abrasion on his left ring finger below the knuckle, according to the news report. The report could back the account of George Zimmerman, the 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain accused of killing Martin, who has said he fired into Martin's chest in self-defense as the youth was straddling and pummeling him.

The autopsy report was reviewed by NBC News, but not made available to the public. A spokesman for Volusia County, Fla., told Fox News the report was not made public and was leaked by someone other than the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office. He noted attorneys for both Zimmerman and Martin had copies of it. He said the report will not be released while an active investigation of the Feb. 26 shooting remains underway.

Dr. Michael Baden, the former New York City medical examiner, said "intermediate" in such cases is defined as the muzzle of the gun being one to 18 inches away from the entry point when fired.

"If the muzzle is right against the skin, that’s a contact wound," Baden said. Anything beyond 18 inches is considered "distant" range in coroner's parlance, Baden said.

The autopsy results surface as court records indicate that Zimmerman sustained multiple injuries. Zimmerman, who is claiming self-defense in the fatal shooting on Feb. 26, had a pair of black eyes, a fractured nose and two cuts to the back of his head, according to a medical report prepared by his personal physician.

Some legal experts say the report on Zimmerman's injuries, first reviewed by ABC News, may bolster his claim that he shot Martin in self-defense.

Zimmerman, a 28-year-old Neighborhood Watch volunteer, has pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge in the shooting of Martin outside a gated community in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman, who is free on $150,000 bail and is living in an undisclosed location, claims he only fired his handgun because Martin attacked him.

The case has become a national racial flashpoint because the Martin family and supporters contend Zimmerman singled Martin out because he was black. It has also sparked renewed debate over "stand your ground" laws pushed by the National Rifle Association.

The police investigation into Martin's death also has been roundly criticized by his family and others. The New York Times reported Wednesday that the police investigation into the fatal shooting was riddled with missteps from the beginning, making it a difficult case to pursue. Police reportedly took only one cellphone photo at the scene of Zimmerman's injuries, and they did not test him for any alcohol or drug use that night. Local authorities were also unable to protect potential evidence at the scene -- like blood -- from getting washed away by the rain, according to the newspaper.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/17...#ixzz1v9ED5r6G

[American Patriot]

Man, these people are grasping at ANYTHING to try to prove a case against the Jew... I mean Hispanic.

and inch to 18 inches away.....

Good grief.

If you shoot someone who is pummeling you with his fists it certainly is going to be a close shot.

And it might be a "contact wound" or it might not. Might be as much as 12" away with someone sitting on top of me hitting me and I get the weapon up in front of me to shoot him, I likely would shove it up his ass and fire the gun at that point, but the chances are very good it wouldn't be right against his skin anyway, what with flailing around, trying to block with my other hand, shoving the guy back as best as I can, kicking, screaming for help and bleeding from my broken nose and the back of cracked skull.

[American Patriot]

Snell: Trayvon Martin shooting controversy could have been avoided

11:00 PM, May. 15, 2012 |
Comments









Trayvon Martin shooting controversy could have been avoided I am a retired Shreveport police captain with 25 years of service. The majority of my career was spent as a detective on the night shift. As night shift detectives, we were in charge of any major crime scene to which we responded. We made our own decisions without the necessity to call any assistant district attorney.


I had the good fortune to work with and learn from some of the "giants" of this era, during the early to middle '70s. Our cases were investigated and submitted by truly professional investigators to truly professional prosecutors. I managed to obtain a degree in criminal justice while working nights and spending many days testifying in court. My conviction rate was approximately 98 percent. Based on my experience, I can tell you that there was probable cause to arrest George Zimmerman on the night of the shooting in Florida. If that had been done, all of the controversy could have been avoided. The bottom line is that George Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch member, not a neighborhood "follow" member. When he armed himself and left his residence, against the instructions of the 911 operator, he put himself in the position of being the initial aggressor in this incident.
Whatever escalation that followed rests on his shoulders. Mr. Zimmerman appears to be a "wannabe cop." We in law enforcement know the type who hover around the edges of law enforcement, but just can't cut it to be the real thing.
The case detective had probable cause based on the facts to make an arrest, which should have been made that night on his authority. I assure you that this is the action which would have been taken by investigators of my era.
Under Louisiana law the proper and provable charge would have been manslaughter with a possible prison term of 40 years at hard labor. If this had been done you would simply have an officer doing his job as we did for years. The final determination of justice would be made by the judicial and other components of the criminal justice system, as it should be. This entire controversy was unnecessary.
- John Snell

Shreveport

Fortunately this is an opinion only.


Let me point some facts out here to Mr. Snell who might have been a cop, but is obviously misinformed.


1. Zimmerman WAS arrested/detained.


2. The Police as he rightly points out, made their own decisions based on their own experience - and let him go deciding they had nothing to hold the man on. Something Snell himself has just pointed out above - and I quote him: "As night shift detectives, we were in charge of any major crime scene to which we responded. We made our own decisions without the necessity to call any assistant district attorney."


3. Florida law is not Louisiana Law - and for a cop to use his own laws as the only example shows he obviously is misinformed on that as well.


4. Snell is pissy because he continued to call Zimmerman a "wannabe" cop - when it has already been SHOWN HERE by ME that Zimmerman indeed belonged to a Police supported Neighborhood Watch program and was not a "wanna be" anything, except he wanted to be a "Left Alone Citizen" who wouldn't be robbed in his own area of town... and took STEPS to prevent such robberies by calling the cops and 911 to do precisely that.


5. When the 911 Operator told Zimmerman "We don't need you to do that" (Follow Martin) Zimmerman OBEYED and pulled off the path of the kid, and was attempting to get an address as requested by the 911 Operator. Zimmerman was following directions from the 911 operator, not his own idea of what he ought to be doing.


This assclown that wrote the above letter to the newspaper and was subsequently published is:


1. Retired now
2. No longer in Law Enforcement
3. Doesn't even LIVE in the same state
4. Has no idea of what the true facts in the case actually are
5. Is an opinionated jerk

[American Patriot]

Lawyer says Zimmerman medical report leaked to boost case

4:23 PM, May. 16, 2012 |
Comments








George Zimmerman appears in court during a bond hearing in Sanford, Fla., on April 20. / By Gary W. Green, AP


By Marisol Bello, USA TODAY




The attorney representing Trayvon Martin's parents said Wednesday a medical report detailing injuries sustained by the man who said he shot Trayvon was leaked to bolster his claims of self-defense.


Lawyer Benjamin Crump said he has not seen the medical report but questions who leaked the information and why.


"It was leaked for a beneficial purpose," he said, "certainly to help George Zimmerman's claim of self-defense."


The medical report detailing George Zimmerman's injuries after he shot and killed Trayvon was first reported by ABC News on Tuesday.


Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting Feb. 26 of Trayvon, an unarmed black 17-year-old, in a gated Sanford community where Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch volunteer.


Zimmerman, whose father is white and mother is Hispanic, said he shot Trayvon in self-defense after the teen confronted him, punched him in the face and bashed his head on the sidewalk. Police 911 recordings after Zimmerman reported a person in a hooded sweatshirt who looked suspicious indicate that Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and followed Martin for 20 seconds before the dispatcher asked, "Are you following him?" Zimmerman said he was, at which point the dispatcher told him they did not need him to do that.


The three-page medical report is among the evidence the special prosecutors provided defense lawyers before Zimmerman's trial.


Zimmerman had two black eyes, a "closed fracture" of his nose and two cuts on his head after the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, according to the report and court records obtained by CNN, ABC news and other outlets.


Crump said Wednesday the injuries cited in Zimmerman's medical report do not clear him of shooting Martin.


"You have to look at this in the full context," he said. "George Zimmerman made the decision to get out of his car, profile Trayvon Martin, pursue Trayvon Martin and confront him."


He said the report shows that Martin was fighting for his life and the altercation never would have happened if Zimmerman had not pursued the teen.


He also questioned the severity of Zimmerman's injuries. He said Zimmerman refused to go to the hospital at the scene, was then seen on a police videotape at least 30 minutes later in which he had no visible injuries and went to his doctor the next day to get clearance to return to work.


"This report needs to be vetted with a keen eye," he said.


Michelle Jacobs, a defense attorney and law professor at the University of Florida, said the reports show there was a fight between the two men but it does not get to the central points of the case: Why did the fight occur, and was the use of deadly force justified?


"He may have gotten injuries, but it could have been because it was Trayvon Martin who feared he was at risk of death or serious bodily injury," Jacobs said. "The injuries themselves do not tell us anything about who initiated the contact. And that's what the case will hinge on."


Also Tuesday, CNN affiliate WFTV reported that Martin's autopsy showed the teen had injuries to his knuckles when he died.


"He was fighting for his life," Crump told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "Let's not forget that Trayvon Martin was fighting a man with a 9mm gun. We also have to remember that he didn't start this fight. George Zimmerman got out his car and pursued Trayvon Martin."