So reports surfaced yesterday stating George Zimmerman‘s family doctor diagnosed him with a fractured nose, 2 black eyes and 2 lacerations on the back of his head the day after he killed Trayvon Martin. This information is now being used to add credence to his claim of self-defense. On the other hand, the Martin family is disputing its validity, especially due to the fact Zimmerman didn’t receive any treatment for his wounds the night of the murder. So the tug of war continues. Was Zimmerman really that badly attacked on February 26, or is this just clever planning to inspire doubt and gain sympathy? Also, even if the former is true, does this excuse Zimmerman for profiling Martin and ignoring the 911 dispatcher’s suggestions to remain in his car? My answer to that last question is a resounding no, but I want to hear what you think. Does this new information change your opinion of this case? Sound off…
I teach a course in complaint resolution and one of my lessons is called “He who speaks first wins.” What I mean by this is that whoever reports a conflict first is generally seen as the truth-teller, and when the other side tries to defend themselves later, they often sound weak and disingenuous. “Yeah, right” we all say.
The problem in the Martin/Zimmerman case is that the WRONG info was what was heard first, and therefore everyone perceived it as truth. We all were told that Trayvon was a young boy standing 5’10″ and weighing 140 lbs. Only months later did we learn he was actually 6’2″ and 170. We all were shown a picture of a bulky and pale George Zimmerman only to find out much later that he is 5’9″, 180 lbs, and darker-skinned than Ben Jealous, head of the NAACP who also has a white father.
We were sold a bill of goods by the media that Zimmerman stalked and shot down Trayvon like a dog, and that it was Trayvon screaming for help like a little baby. Yet now we learn that there was an eyewitness (John) who gave testimony at the scene that Trayvon was indeed on top of Zimmerman, beating the crap out of him, and that those shrieks for help were definitely coming from Zimmerman.
We also have now learned, several months after the fact, that the medical report (not to mention the photo of the back of Zimmerman’s head) and the coroners report both seem to back up Zimmerman’s claims.
OK, so now we can all understand why it was not so mysterious why the police did not arrest and charge Zimmerman. But why did the Sanford police and the state attorney not share that information. The incompetence of local officials lies not in their investigative skills, but in their complete lack of understanding of why this information should have all been released in a press conference right after the event. How could they not have realized what a powder keg they were sitting on?
And what’s up with Angela Corey? Why no mention of any of the above facts in her indictmnet? Is she doing a Pontious Pilate and trying to say “Not my fault. I did my job”
Folks, what we have here is another Tawana Brawley/Duke Lacrosse incident, and what we are going to get is another Arthur McDuffie/Rodney King type result. And it did not have to happen.