5/15/2012

Zimmerman's nose was broken, Martin's knuckles had broken skin

The news is as important for what it says as what it doesn't say.  Martin had broken skin on his knuckles, but note that there was no mention about Zimmerman having similar bruises on his knuckles. What does that tell you?  It means that Martin was hitting Zimmerman sufficiently hard and often to break the skin on his knuckles, but that Zimmerman didn't hit Martin back.  That means Zimmerman didn't throw the first punch.  That means that it is that much harder to believe that Zimmerman started the fight.  And that is extremely important.  It looks as if Zimmerman stopped following Martin when it was suggested, but even if he didn't, even if he asked Martin what he was doing, that doesn't justify Martin attacking him. From ABC News
A medical report compiled by the family physician of accused Trayvon Martin murderer George Zimmerman and obtained exclusively by ABC News found that Zimmerman was diagnosed with a "closed fracture" of his nose, a pair of black eyes, two lacerations to the back of his head and a minor back injury the day after he fatally shot Martin during an alleged altercation. . . .
WFTV in Florida reports on Martin's injuries, but again it is what injuries aren't reported that is also important.
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. . . .
So despite already facing being overcharged, the Obama administration continues to go after Zimmerman:

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. . . .
Hate crime?  Against a person who donated his time to mentor black kids?  Against someone who is part black himself?  Against a guy who tried to help his neighbors, some of whom are black, by volunteering to be the community watch leader.


Enough already!  Leave the guy alone!

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3 Comments:

Blogger John A. Visser said...

Does anyone know if this information was available to Angela Corey at the time of the probable cause affidavit? Shouldn't this information have been included?

Interesting that the popular media are not reporting the broken skin on Martin's fingers.

5/16/2012 11:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"That means Zimmerman didn't throw the first punch."

Not necessarily. It may mean if Zimmerman did punch Martin first, he didn't punch him hard enough to break the skin.

I do agree though that Zimmerman's case is continually getting stronger.

5/16/2012 2:41 PM  
Blogger John Lott said...

Dear Bill:
More precisely, it means that the punch wouldn't have created even a bruise. That isn't much of a punch.

5/17/2012 8:16 AM  

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