Trayvon Case Investigation

**Jiro** · 04-01-2012, 05:08 AM

this thread is purely about discovery of new facts and nothing else because it seems that you do not know how to handle it with civility and honesty.

so it's best if we post only new findings. anything else will be reported and dealt with.

and this simple rule should be quite simple to follow. if you cannot follow this, then I feel sorry for you.

**Jiro** · 04-01-2012, 05:10 AM

Trayvon Martin George Zimmerman 911 call analysis: Two forensic experts say it's not George Zimmerman crying out for help - Orlando Sentinel

Quote:

A leading expert in the field of forensic voice identification sought to answer that question by analyzing the recordings for the Orlando Sentinel.

His result: It was not George Zimmerman who called for help.

Tom Owen, forensic consultant for Owen Forensic Services LLC and chair emeritus for the American Board of Recorded Evidence, used voice identification software to rule out Zimmerman. Another expert contacted by the Sentinel, utilizing different techniques, came to the same conclusion.

Zimmerman claims self-defense in the shooting and told police he was the one screaming for help. But these experts say the evidence tells a different story.

Quote:

Not all experts rely on biometrics. Ed Primeau, a Michigan-based audio engineer and forensics expert, is not a believer in the technology's use in courtroom settings.

He relies instead on audio enhancement and human analysis based on forensic experience. After listening closely to the 911 tape on which the screams are heard, Primeau also has a strong opinion.

"I believe that's Trayvon Martin in the background, without a doubt," Primeau says, stressing that the tone of the voice is a giveaway. "That's a young man screaming."

**Jiro** · 04-01-2012, 05:11 AM

Partial Report Only - Sanford Police Department

sara1981 · 04-01-2012, 12:09 PM

Where are the Trayvon Martin documents?
Where are the Trayvon Martin documents? | HLNtv.com

Trayvon Martin shooting: What do we know?
Trayvon Martin shooting: What do we know? - Crimesider - CBS News

Cowpuppy · 04-01-2012, 12:45 PM

in all this mess I've yet to hear about whther the kid knew what capacity the adult was approaching him. how is he too know it wasn't a kidnapper-molester. unmarked car, no badge, no identifying self. if this is the case where the **** does he get off approaching the kid? and then using a weapon and claiming self defense. how should the kid know he's a wannabe cop.
he was told to stand down and didn't.
all these protesters should wait till the evidence is out... although I think they have correctly gotten it pulled out from under the rug.... but let the process work now. it's not protesters place to convict.

sara1981 · 04-02-2012, 03:47 PM

Trayvon Martin's family asks feds to investigate
Trayvon Martin's family asks feds to investigate - CBS News

**Jiro** · 04-02-2012, 05:10 PM

Prosecutor: Account that he, police chief opted not to arrest Martin's shooter a 'lie' - CNN.com

Quote:

(CNN) -- An "outraged" Florida prosecutor fired back on Monday at the family of Trayvon Martin, describing as "outright lies" their account that he and a local police chief met and decided not to follow a detective's advice and arrest the teenager's killer.

Earlier in the day, the Martin family delivered a letter to the U.S. Justice Department through attorney Benjamin Crump's office requesting a federal investigation of the decision not to arrest George Zimmerman after the fatal February 26 shooting.

The 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer has said he killed Martin in self-defense, saying the teen punched him and slammed his head into a sidewalk before the shooting, according to family members and police.

Martin's family and supporters say Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, profiled the boy, who is black, as "suspicious" and ignored a police dispatcher's request that he not follow him. The 17-year-old had a bag of Skittles candy and an iced tea at the time of his death.

In the letter delivered Monday, the Martin family said that a Sanford police detective "filed an affidavit stating that he did not find Zimmerman's statements credible in light of the circumstances and facts surrounding the shooting."

The family said Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee and State Attorney Norm Wolfinger met the night of the shooting and disregarded the detective's advice, letting Zimmerman go.

Neither Sanford police nor prosecutors have confirmed the existence of such an affidavit, which ABC News first reported. Sanford officials and special prosecutor Angela Corey's office declined comment.

But Wolfinger, who stepped aside in the case last month, vehemently denies that any "such meeting or communication occurred" between him and Lee.

"I have been encouraging those spreading the irresponsible rhetoric to stop and allow State Attorney Angela Corey to complete her work," Wolfinger said in a statement Monday. "Another falsehood distributed to the media does nothing to forward that process."

**Jiro** · 04-02-2012, 09:45 PM

Trayvon Martin: Trayvon Martin case facts vs. rumors - Orlando Sentinel

Quote:

The Trayvon Martin case has generated hundreds of news accounts, scores of speeches, millions of online messages, discussions and tweets — and a good bit of misinformation. Here are some of the recurring items:

Trayvon was trying to defend himself against a man who outweighed him by 100 pounds.

Outweighed, yes. By 100 pounds, no. George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who says he killed Trayvon in self-defense, outweighed him by 30 or 40 pounds, according to family members. A Sanford police incident report says Trayvon was 6 feet tall and weighed 160 pounds. A spokesman for the family's lawyers gave a slightly different set of numbers: 6 feet 1 and 150 pounds. Zimmerman is 5 feet 9 inches tall, according to the police report, but it is silent about his weight. A family member says he currently weighs about 190 pounds. Zimmerman used to be far heavier. A 2005 police report put his weight at 250 pounds, but security-camera video released last week by Sanford police show him to be much trimmer.

The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a broad investigation into civil-rights abuses by the Sanford Police Department in the Trayvon Martin case and for years of past abuse.

Not so. Since Trayvon's death Feb. 26, the NAACP and others have alleged widespread and long-standing civil-rights abuses by the department and asked for a broad investigation. But last week, DOJ spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa and FBI spokesman Dave Couvertier told the Los Angeles Times that there's only one civil-rights investigation under way: whether Zimmerman violated Trayvon's rights when he shot him.

Trayvon had no business walking through the gated community where he was shot and should not have been out at 3 a.m.

Trayvon was where he was supposed to be. He and his father were visiting his father's fiancée, who lives in the gated community. Trayvon had walked to a 7-Eleven and was returning to her townhouse shortly after 7:15 p.m. when he was shot. He was not out at 3 a.m.

The reason George Zimmerman was not arrested is because his father is a former judge who pulled some strings.

Zimmerman's father, 64-year-old Robert Zimmerman of Lake Mary, is a retired magistrate from Virginia. He told WOFL-Channel 35 last week that no one involved in the investigation knew about his former job, and he didn't tell them. Magistrates in Virginia are not full-blown judges. They used to be called justices of the peace. They have limited authority and conduct no trials. Some are not lawyers. They typically issue arrest warrants, search warrants and set bail.

Trayvon Martin was shot in the back of the head.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson got that wrong at a rally in Eatonville on March 25. Trayvon was shot once in the chest at close range.

deafbirk · 04-03-2012, 01:55 AM

Right now most of the so called info you get from the media is bull. It is getting disorted and edited just to sell newspapers and web page hits. Wat for the special persecutor to dig through it. Yak it up here and you just keep the misinformation spewing out

CrazyPaul · 04-03-2012, 09:45 AM

It doe not matter how much people weigh or how tall they are. For example, a thin person can beat a fat person or a short person can beat a tall person. How? Talent!!! In other words, a small black boy can beat me because he knows how to knock me out. Black men are great at punching people. That's a fact. No wonder why there are alot of professional black boxers.

Grayma · 04-03-2012, 02:23 PM

Weight:

the NY Times quietly reported that Zimmerman weighed 170 pounds and Martin weighed 150.
JustOneMinute: The NY Times Quietly Takes Its Thumb Off The Scale Of Justice

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/us...pagewanted=all

The Police report put Trayvor's weight at 160: http://www.sanfordfl.gov/investigati...l%20Report.pdf

Grayma · 04-03-2012, 02:46 PM

The Orlando Sentinel reported that in the 13 months prior to the shooting, Zimmerman called 911 an astonishing 46 times.

But that was a widely circulated typo - per the City of Sanford website, Zimmerman made those 46 calls from January 2004 to the present, not January 2011.

This is information from a Zimmerman family member, which makes it as biased as the information from Trayvon's family (obviously, both families love their family members and are upset):

Quote:

“You will recall the incident of the beating of the black homeless man Sherman Ware on December 4, 2010 by the son of a Sanford police officer. The beating sparked outrage in the community but there were very few that stepped up to do anything about it. I would presume the inaction was because of the fact that he was homeless not because he was black. Do you know the individual who stepped up when no one else in the black community would? Do you know who spent tireless hours putting flyers on the cars of persons parked in the churches of the black community? Do you know who waited for the church-goers to get out of church so that he could hand them flyers in an attempt to organize the black community against this horrible miscarriage of justice? Do you know who helped organize the City Hall meeting on January 8, 2011 at Sanford City Hall?? That person was GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.” – from a letter to Turner Clayton of the Seminole County NAACP written by “a concerned Zimmerman family member”

Information from Jerrylyn Merritt, defense atty, on the voice recognition 'experts' and why their 'testimony' is unreliable and weak, esp in this case.

Grayma · 04-03-2012, 02:58 PM

Jeralyn Merritt from Talk Left again:

Quote:

ABC News acknowledged today that the police video of George Zimmerman being taken into custody following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin shows injuries to the back of his head. It says a forensic enhancement it commissioned allows the injuries to be seen.
Forensic enhancement wasn't needed. As I showed here, the injuries were noticeable from ABC's original footage. You just had to look. Here's the screengrab I got back on March 29. [More...]

Maybe ABC can ask its forensic analysts to look at Zimmerman's jacket and nose. It looks to me like there's a large vertical streak of blood on the front of his jacket, which could be from a nosebleed. It also looks like there may be a bandaid across his nose, although I can't tell that for sure because it's faint and could be the light.
As I've opined before, I don't think the police video tells us what happened that night. It is just a piece of the story. But the media has not been responsible in its reporting. Good for ABC for acknowledging the video does shows head injuries. I just don't buy that it couldn't have looked closer and seen them when it first obtained the video.

**Jiro** · 04-03-2012, 03:07 PM

for showing different perspective. keep on sharing it here.

Grayma · 04-03-2012, 03:29 PM

Jeralyn again:

Quote:

he does not have a (5.00 / 1) (#73)

"history of unnecessary violence." He was never convicted of a crime of violence. He was arrested in 2005 at a bar. He was with a friend and cops were conducting an undercover sting to nail minors getting drinks. He shoved an officer who had gotten into a beef with his friend. (The sting may have been blown, increasing the ire of the cops, but that's supposition.) The charge was reduced and then dismissed entirely after George took some alcohol classes. In his application to police academy, he said the officer shoved him first and he didn't know he was a cop. Regardless, shoving someone is not particularly violent and certainly not indicative of a tendency to shoot someone. In a second incident, he and his ex-fiance each filed for civil restraining orders against the other. Both requests were granted. There were no criminal charges or convictions.
He does not have an unnecessary history of violence.

**Jiro** · 04-04-2012, 11:22 PM

Trayvon Martin: The search for probable cause in the Trayvon Martin case - Orlando Sentinel

Quote:

In order to arrest George Zimmerman for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, the special prosecutor heading the investigation must show a judge that she has found probable cause.

Sanford police faced public outrage when they announced they found no probable cause to arrest the Neighborhood Watch volunteer.

So what exactly is it?

"It's a 'reasonable person' standard under the law," said John Tanner, former state attorney in the 7th Judicial Circuit, which includes Volusia County.

It is evidence that would convince a reasonable person that a suspect committed a crime.

For example: It's a rock of crack cocaine found in a man's pocket. It's a department-store security video showing a woman slipping a necklace into her handbag. It's a blood test showing a driver's blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.

Bob Dekle, who prosecuted serial killer Ted Bundy and is now a professor at the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida, characterized probable cause as "just above suspicion."

In the case of Trayvon's shooting death, it would be any piece of evidence that would convince a judge that Zimmerman probably committed a crime when he shot the unarmed teen in a gated Sanford community in late February.

That could be a witness, a piece of physical evidence or something else.

Sanford police were looking for evidence of manslaughter. Special Prosecutor Angela Corey will not say what charge or charges her team is reviewing.

Police can and do arrest suspects without probable cause, but judges must then order their release from jail. Senior Judge O.H. Eaton Jr. said that happened at least once or twice every weekend he was on jail duty reviewing Seminole County arrests for the previous 24 hours.

When that happens, police can rearrest the suspect, and prosecutors are free to file charges. But they must bring the case to trial within 175 days of arrest, according to Florida rules of criminal procedure.

That ticking clock is often an incentive for prosecutors to hold off on an arrest, they said. It gives them more time to collect evidence — for example, to get ballistics tests done if a gun is involved or to have fingerprints analyzed.

Prosecutors almost always demand more evidence than cops.

Though an officer needs only probable cause to make an arrest, prosecutors typically want enough evidence for a conviction — enough to convince a jury beyond every reasonable doubt that the suspect is guilty.

It is a natural point of friction between the two branches of law enforcement, said Ric Ridgway, chief assistant state attorney in the 5th Judicial Circuit, which includes Lake County.

"It's probably the single most frequent source of … disagreement between law enforcement and prosecutors, between victim's families and prosecutors," he said. "They look at it and go, 'We know he did it.' As a prosecutor, I say, 'Can you prove it?' "

Evidence standards

Because of those different evidence standards, prosecutors typically kick loose at least a quarter of the cases in which police make arrests, he said.

That happened in the case of four co-defendants in the Jessica Lunsford murder, Ridgway said. The 9-year-old Homosassa girl was abducted, raped and buried alive in 2005. Prosecutors convicted suspect John Couey, the kidnapper and killer, but Citrus County deputies and prosecutors disagreed about what to do with four of his roommates.

Deputies arrested them on charges of obstructing an officer — withholding information.

"We would not prosecute them," Ridgway said, because there wasn't enough evidence for a conviction.

Sometimes police and prosecutors work a long time to gather enough evidence before making an arrest.

A Seminole County grand jury in February handed up a murder indictment in a 21-year-old homicide: Betty Claire Foster was stabbed to death at the Casselberry computer store where she worked in 1991. David Lee Hedrick, 50, a computer and audiovisual specialist, is now in the Seminole County Jail, awaiting trial.

A Brevard County grand jury on Monday indicted a woman there on a first-degree-murder charge in a four-year-old homicide.

And in Orange County, Brett Ballard and his wife, Joy, have been waiting more than three years to find out whether the security guard who fatally stabbed their 20-year-old son, Marcus, in 2008 will be arrested and prosecuted.

Marcus Ballard was stabbed eight times in the torso and neck and several times on the palms of his hands, according to his autopsy. The security guard told deputies the men were fighting at a Pine Hills apartment complex and he used his knife to defend himself after Ballard had begun choking him.

Sometimes, mistakes

Police and prosecutors sometimes get it wrong.

An officer was dispatched to a Miami-Dade County neighborhood in response to a reported burglary. About that same time, a black 15-year-old, his brother and a friend ducked into a neighbor's carport because of a sudden rain, according to an appeals-court ruling.

The officer saw the boys, drew his weapon, and the 15-year-old took off running and hid. An officer soon found him, ordered him facedown in the mud, handcuffed him and arrested him on a charge of resisting an officer without violence, according to the ruling.

The Third District Court of Appeal in May 2010 reversed the juvenile court's finding in the case, ruling that the police officer should never have made the arrest.

There was no probable cause that the boys had committed a crime.

Grayma · 04-05-2012, 08:10 PM

Quote:

CNN Reporter Who Was Sure Zimmerman Said "Coons" Two Weeks Ago Now Very Sure He Says "Cold"

—Ace

Yeah, you wouldn't want to have been sure before your first report.
He finally gets the point I made a couple weeks ago-- if you are expecting to hear a word, you'll hear it. So this time he doesn't say what word he expects the audience to hear.
It does sound like cold, though.
Then again, it's sounded like coons, punks, and even phones (suggested by Dan Riehl).
Maybe the broader point is that when a word is unintelligible, it's unintelligible. And you shouldn't try to frame a man for racial murder based on your guestimates about it.

Ace of Spades HQ

**Jiro** · 04-05-2012, 08:17 PM

Lawyers: Zimmerman whispered 'punks' before shooting Trayvon Martin - CNN.com

Quote:

Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- George Zimmerman told his lawyers that he whispered "punks," not a racial slur, in the moments before he shot Trayvon Martin, his attorneys told CNN on Thursday.

Some people interpreted the police recording of Zimmerman's call to 911 as evidence the fatal shooting was racially motivated.

Zimmerman attorneys Hal Ulrig and Craig Sonner told CNN their client told them that he said, "F---ing punks."

Forensic audio expert Tom Owen, who analyzed 911 recordings, agreed the garbled word that raised controversy was "punks," not the racial slur some people said they heard

When Owen, chairman emeritus of the American Board of Recorded Evidence, used a computer application to remove cell phone interference, the word became clearer, he said. After discussions with linguists, he said he became convinced that Zimmerman said "punks."

Attorney: Martin had right to defend self
He provided CNN with a copy of the newly processed audio.

CNN also enhanced the sound of the 911 call, and several members of CNN's editorial staff repeatedly reviewed the tape but could reach no consensus on whether Zimmerman used a slur.

Martin's family and supporters say Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, profiled Martin, who was black, as "suspicious" and ignored a police dispatcher's request not to follow him. Martin did not live in Sanford, Florida, but he was there with his father, whose fiancee lives in Zimmerman's neighborhood.

Zimmerman, 28, fatally shot Martin, 17, on February 26. The case has triggered a nationwide debate about Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, race and racial profiling.

While Zimmerman's attorneys may welcome Owen's analysis of their client's 911 call, they disagree with his conclusions about what is heard on another 911 recording.

Zimmerman has said he was yelling for help, according to his family members and his account to authorities, as first reported by The Orlando Sentinel and later confirmed by Sanford police.

But Martin's relatives, including his cousin Ronquavis Fulton, have said they are certain the voice heard on the 911 call is Martin's.

Owen and another audio expert, Ed Primeau, analyzed the recording for the Sentinel using different techniques, and they said they don't believe it is Zimmerman who is heard yelling in the background of one 911 call. They compared the screams with Zimmerman's voice, as recorded in a 911 call he made minutes earlier describing a "suspicious" black male.

"There's a huge chance that this is not Zimmerman's voice," said Primeau, a longtime audio engineer who is listed as an expert in recorded evidence by the American College of Forensic Examiners International.

"After 28 years of doing this, I would put my reputation on the line and say this is not George Zimmerman screaming."

Owen also said he does not believe the screams came from Zimmerman.

He does not have a sample of Martin's voice for comparison, he said.

He cited software that is widely used in Europe and has become recently accepted in the United States that examines characteristics such as pitch and the space between spoken words to analyze voices.

Using it, he found a 48% likelihood the voice is Zimmerman's. At least 60% is necessary to feel confident that two samples are from the same source, he told CNN on Monday -- meaning it's unlikely it was Zimmerman who can be heard yelling.

The experts, both of whom said they have testified in cases involving audio analysis, stressed that they cannot say who was screaming.

rockin'robin · 04-09-2012, 12:50 PM

Investigation into case continues

SANFORD, Florida (CNN) -
Special prosecutor Angela Corey has decided against using a grand jury in the case involving the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, her office said Monday.

"The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case," the office said in a statement.

The grand jury, set to convene Tuesday, was "previously scheduled by the former prosecutor," the statement said.

Corey said the investigation into the case continues. The state attorney has maintained that a grand jury is not needed to file possible criminal charges against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed the teen February 26.

The case has triggered a nationwide debate about race in America and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury.

Prosecutors are trying to unravel what happened the night Martin was killed. Witnesses and attorneys for both sides have offered conflicting accounts. Two prosecutors are working to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring charges against Zimmerman, 28.

"We had hoped she had enough evidence without the need to convene a grand jury," said Benjamin Crump, attorney for Martin's family. "The family is trying to have patience and faith through all of this."

Crump said the family is hoping for charges against Zimmerman and an arrest as soon as possible.

"We want a very public trial so the evidence can come out and show people that the justice system works for everybody," he said.

Zimmerman's attorney, Hal Uhrig, texted his reaction to CNN's Martin Savidge: "Not surprised. Don't know what her decision will be. Courageous move on her part."

Corey said previously she has never used a grand jury to decide on charges in a justifiable homicide case.

"We do a thorough investigation. We make that decision ourselves," she said.

Sunny Hostin, legal analyst for CNN sister network HLN, said she was not surprised by Corey's decision.

"As a former prosecutor, I typically made my own charging decisions," she said. "... Many, many seasoned prosecutors use their judgment and make charging decisions, don't necessarily punt the ball to lay people, to a grand jury."

Corey's decision was "the smart thing to do," she said. "... Now Angela Corey is letting everyone know that this is her case. This is her decision."

Thousands have converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman's arrest and criticize the police department's handling of the case.

On Monday, a group of students calling themselves the Dream Defenders marched to the Sanford police station, singing and carrying a banner saying, "We are Trayvon Martin." The march began Friday in Daytona Beach, about 40 miles away, and continued through the weekend.

The marchers linked arms, sang and chanted as they faced the building's entrance Monday. Six of the demonstrators, wearing hoodies, were blocking the department's main entrance. Martin was wearing a hoodie when he was killed.

The Sanford Police Department said in a statement its office was "temporarily closed to the public ... due to the actions of student protestors. The students are currently occupying the space in front of the police department blocking the main entrance." The protest will not affect police and fire response to emergency calls, the department said.

"The city of Sanford hopes the actions of the students will be as peaceful and orderly as the previous rallies and marches have been," City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. said.

Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case | News - Home

**Jiro** · 04-09-2012, 01:18 PM

One day left....

sara1981 · 04-09-2012, 02:38 PM

Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case
Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case - CNN.com

Special prosecutor: No grand jury for Trayvon Martin case
Special prosecutor: No grand jury for Trayvon Martin case - CBS News

rockin'robin · 04-09-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara1981

Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case
Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case - CNN.com

Special prosecutor: No grand jury for Trayvon Martin case
Special prosecutor: No grand jury for Trayvon Martin case - CBS News

Sara...look at my post #19.....you're reposting!

**Jiro** · 04-10-2012, 01:03 AM

Zimmerman speaks, raises funds on new website - CNN.com

Quote:

Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- The man at the center of a firestorm over his shooting of an unarmed Florida teenager has launched a website, warning supporters about groups that falsely claim to be raising funds for his defense and soliciting donations for himself.

"I am the real George Zimmerman," declares the website, set up over the weekend.

"On Sunday February 26th, I was involved in a life altering event which led me to become the subject of intense media coverage. As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life. This website's sole purpose is to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries."

Zimmerman's "life altering event" was the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, an act that the neighborhood watch volunteer told Sanford, Florida, police was an act of self-defense. Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime in Martin's death, a fact that has provoked demonstrations and calls that he be prosecuted for killing the teen.

Witness to Martin shooting speaks out
The statement posted on therealgeorgezimmerman.com warns viewers that "some persons and/or entities have been collecting funds, thinly veiled as my 'Defense Fund' or 'Legal Fund.' I cannot attest to the validity of these other websites as I have not received any funds collected, intended to support my family and I through this trying, tragic time."

War of words continues in Trayvon Martin case

But the site includes a link through which viewers can donate money to pay for Zimmerman's lawyers and living expenses "in lieu of my forced inability to maintain employment." Zimmerman pledges to "personally maintain accountability of all funds received."

"I am grateful to my friends that have come to my aid, whether publicly or personally, never questioning my integrity or actions, understanding that I cannot discuss the details of the event on February 26th, and allowing law enforcement to proceed with their investigation unhindered," the 28-year-old Zimmerman wrote on another of the site's pages. "Once again, I thank you for your patience and I assure you, the facts will come to light."

Until now, only friends and relatives have come forward to speak on Zimmerman's behalf. His attorneys have said he wants to share his story but can't, because of threats to his safety and the possibility of criminal charges.

Zimmerman's lawyers and a friend confirmed the authenticity of the website. The friend, Frank Taaffe, told CNN sister network HLN that while the site is being used to raise funds for a legal defense, it doesn't mean Zimmerman expects to be charged in connection with Martin's death.

"That has nothing to do with it," Taaffe told HLN's "Issues With Jane Velez-Mitchell."

But Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for Martin's family -- which also has a site raising funds to support their efforts -- said it's unfair that Zimmerman is still free to express his views and solicit money.

"If the situation was reversed, Trayvon Martin would have been arrested day one, hour one," Benjamin Crump told CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" on Monday night. "We believe Zimmerman should have been arrested and put into jail. This situation with this website is a luxury that Trayvon Martin doesn't have and never would have had."

The special prosecutor assigned to oversee the investigation, Angela Corey, announced Monday that she would not present a case against the Zimmerman to a grand jury. But her office added in a written statement, "The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case."

Crump said earlier that Martin's family hopes to see charges against Zimmerman as soon as possible.

Understanding the spoken word in Martin case

"We were anticipating that there would be no grand jury, because the family has always been hopeful that there would just simply be an arrest," Crump said. "We believed, from day one, that they had enough evidence to arrest the killer of Trayvon Martin and now, as the evidence has continued to unfold, we think there has been a plethora of evidence to simply effect probable cause to do an arrest -- not for a conviction, but for an arrest."

He told CNN that the victim's mother, Sybrina Fulton, "said that she's prayerful" Zimmerman will be arrested.

"We want a very public trial so the evidence can come out and show people that the justice system works for everybody," Crump added.

And the Justice Department said the grand jury decision does not affect any federal role. "The department's parallel investigation remains ongoing," Justice spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said.

"We hope this decision signals the special prosecutor's intention to live up to her reputation as a passionate, justice-focused attorney and bring charges against Zimmerman herself," said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. "The future of this case now rests solely with her and we have faith that she will do her best to secure justice for Trayvon Martin."

Zimmerman supporters say he was protecting neighborhood

Florida Gov. Rick Scott appointed Corey as a special prosecutor as calls for "Justice for Trayvon" grew in the days following the shooting. She said previously that she had never used a grand jury to decide on charges in a case that hinged on questions of whether a killing was justifiable.

"We do a thorough investigation. We make that decision ourselves," she said.

Zimmerman's attorney, Hal Uhrig, told CNN that he was "not surprised" that Corey wouldn't present a case to a grand jury.

"Don't know what her decision will be. Courageous move on her part," he wrote in a text message to CNN's Martin Savidge. Uhrig said he and Zimmerman legal adviser Craig Sonner plan to meet with Zimmerman for the first time "probably later this week."

Martin's death has triggered a nationwide debate about race in America and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury.

Lawyers: Zimmerman whispered 'punks' before shooting

Sanford police questioned Zimmerman and released him without charges. Authorities have said Zimmerman was not immediately charged because there were no grounds, at the outset, to disprove his account that he'd acted to protect himself. But thousands have converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman's arrest and criticizing the police department's handling of the case.

On Monday, a group of students calling themselves the Dream Defenders marched to the Sanford police station. Six of the demonstrators wore hooded sweatshirts, as Martin did the night he was shot, as they blocked the department's main entrance; others linked arms, sang and chanted as they stood facing the building.

The demonstration closed the Police Department headquarters briefly, and City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. and Acting Police Chief Darren Scott met with leaders of the student group and community leaders.

Although details of the February 26 incident remain murky, what is known is that Martin, who was African-American, ventured out from his father's fiancee's home in Sanford to get a snack at a nearby convenience store. As he walked home with a bag of Skittles and an Arizona iced tea, he was shot and killed by Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, and who had called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in the neighborhood.

check out his website - The Real George Zimmerman

C.C.Sinned · 04-10-2012, 06:00 AM

I wonder how bad the riots will be if Zimmerman actions are declared justified...

rockin'robin · 04-10-2012, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.C.Sinned

I wonder how bad the riots will be if Zimmerman actions are declared justified...

yep.....that's been on my mind since the beginning. Feel that Angela Cory realizes that also. She's a "tough cookie" (met her once).....So if it comes down to favoring Zimmerman, looks like we are gonna have to keep a low-profile here in Florida (whites & hispanics).....until it's quietened down.

kokonut · 04-10-2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.C.Sinned

I wonder how bad the riots will be if Zimmerman actions are declared justified...

And they'll riot their "own" stores, too, and in the process hurt themselves in their own communities.

CrazyPaul · 04-10-2012, 10:03 AM

Of course, there will be riots IF Zimmerman remains free after the decision announced by FLA prosecutor today. That's why police and army are ready for it in case not like LA riot where LAPD did nothing to stop it. If you happen to shop at a mall during a riot and someone tries to hurt or kill you, kill him or her to defend yourself somehow. That's your rights. Be prepared to stand your ground.

**Jiro** · 04-10-2012, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPaul

Of course, there will be riots IF Zimmerman remains free after the decision announced by FLA prosecutor today. That's why police and army are ready for it in case not like LA riot where LAPD did nothing to stop it. If you happen to shop at a mall during a riot and someone tries to hurt or kill you, kill him or her to defend yourself somehow. That's your rights. Be prepared to stand your ground.

and cause more riots? good job.

**Foxrac** · 04-10-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

and cause more riots? good job.

I think that riot will cause FL economy to drive so down like CA did in 1992.

**Jiro** · 04-10-2012, 06:38 PM

Legal team drops Zimmerman in Florida shooting case - CNN.com

Quote:

George Zimmerman's former attorneys talk to Anderson Cooper about their decision to distance themselves from their former client, tonight at 8 p.m. ET on AC360° Trayvon Martin's parents talk to Piers Morgan about the latest developments in the investigation of their son's death. Watch live on CNN at 9 p.m. ET tonight.

Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- Attorneys for neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who authorities say fatally shot an unarmed teenager in Florida, said Tuesday they have lost contact with their client and will no longer represent him.

"He has gone on his own. I'm not sure what he's doing or who he's talking to," said legal adviser Craig Sonner. "If he wants us to come back as counsel, he will contact us."

Sonner, who said the last time they had contact with Zimmerman was Sunday, spoke to reporters in Florida with attorney Hal Uhrig.

Uhrig said Zimmerman contacted the office of the special prosecutor appointed to lead the investigation on his own.

Zimmerman's attorneys: We lost contact
"One of the things every defense attorney tells his client is don't talk to the prosecutors," said Uhrig, adding that he is concerned about his former client's "emotional and physical safety."

Uhrig also seemed to suggest that Zimmerman had left the state of Florida.

"For those of you engaged in the late Easter egg hunt looking for him, you can stop looking in Florida. Look much further away than that," he told reporters.

About Zimmerman, Sonner would say only, "He's in the United States."

"I still believe that he was acting in self-defense that night. Nothing that I've said about him, or this case, has changed in any way. I just can't proceed to represent a client who doesn't stay in contact with me," said Sonner.

Although details of the February 26 incident remain murky, what is known is that 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, an African-American, ventured out from his father's fiancee's home in Sanford to get a snack at a nearby convenience store.

As he walked back with a bag of Skittles and an Arizona Iced Tea, he was shot and killed by Zimmerman, who is Hispanic and who had called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in the neighborhood, according to authorities.

Zimmerman told Sanford police the shooting was in self-defense. The fact that he has not been charged with a crime has provoked demonstrations and calls for his arrest.

Martin's death has triggered a nationwide debate about race in America and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury.

Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for Martin's family, said the family, after hearing what Zimmerman's lawyers said, were concerned he could be a flight risk

"The family is deeply concerned that George Zimmerman could pose a flight risk if he does indeed face charges in the murder of Trayvon Martin. All the family has asked for from the very beginning is simple justice. It is their hope that George Zimmerman will face his legal responsibilities if arrested and charged," he said in a statement.

Special prosecutor Angela Corey has not indicated when she will decide whether to file charges against Zimmerman.

Corey, assigned to oversee the investigation, announced Monday that she would not present the controversial shooting case to a grand jury. A grand jury set to convene Tuesday was canceled.

"The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case," Corey's office said.

But some legal experts say Corey's announcement could signal an imminent decision on Zimmerman.

"I would anticipate she will move quickly on this," said Paul Callan, a former New York prosecutor. "I think you'll see her come down with charges probably very, very soon."

On Tuesday, Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, said they were somewhat relieved that a decision on charges would not rest with the grand jury, but rather with Corey.

"I have faith in her," Martin said.

Zimmerman recently launched a website to warn supporters about groups that falsely claim to be raising funds for his defense and to solicit donations for himself.

"The support has been overwhelming in volume and strength. I thank you all and ask that you permit me the time to respond to each one of you personally," he wrote on the site Tuesday.

He included a quote that he attributed to Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men do nothing."

"I am the real George Zimmerman," declares the website, set up over the weekend.

Zimmerman's now-former lawyers and a friend confirmed the authenticity of the website. The friend, Frank Taaffe, told CNN sister network HLN that while the site is being used to raise funds for a legal defense, that doesn't mean Zimmerman expects to be charged in connection with Martin's death.

"That has nothing to do with it," Taaffe told HLN's "Issues With Jane Velez-Mitchell."

Fulton said Tuesday that it's Zimmerman's right to have a website, but Martin said he feels Zimmerman is raising money off his son's death.

Crump, the lawyer for Martin's family -- which also has a site raising funds to support its efforts -- said it's unfair that Zimmerman is still free to express his views and solicit money.

"If the situation was reversed, Trayvon Martin would have been arrested day one, hour one," Crump told CNN's "AC360˚" on Monday night. "We believe Zimmerman should have been arrested and put into jail. This situation with this website is a luxury that Trayvon Martin doesn't have and never would have had."

Sanford police questioned Zimmerman and released him without charges. Authorities have said Zimmerman was not immediately charged because there were no grounds, at the outset, to disprove his account that he'd acted to protect himself.

Thousands have converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman's arrest and criticizing the police department's handling of the case.

A marked Sanford police car was shot several times early Tuesday, authorities said. The car was parked in an elementary school parking lot "as a visible deterrent due to tour buses using the school property to park during the day and evening hours," according to Sanford police spokesman Sgt. David Morgenstern. The buses have been frequenting the area since the shooting, Morgenstern said.

There was no one in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, thought to be about 4:30 a.m., police said. Residents called authorities to report shots fired, Morgenstern said.

The car was hit "several times," he said. Glass was shattered and the car's body was pierced. Police are inspecting the vehicle in an evidence processing unit, he said.

The shooting was the first violence reported that may have been related to Martin's death, Morgenstern said. There were no injuries, and the shooting is under investigation.

04-01-2012, 05:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jiro Aparecium Deletrius Legil Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Soprano State Posts: 60,502	Trayvon Case Investigation this thread is purely about discovery of new facts and nothing else because it seems that you do not know how to handle it with civility and honesty. so it's best if we post only new findings. anything else will be reported and dealt with. and this simple rule should be quite simple to follow. if you cannot follow this, then I feel sorry for you. __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

04-01-2012, 05:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jiro Aparecium Deletrius Legil Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Soprano State Posts: 60,502	Partial Report Only - Sanford Police Department __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

04-01-2012, 12:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
sara1981 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Little Rock,Ar Posts: 7,049	Where are the Trayvon Martin documents? Where are the Trayvon Martin documents? \| HLNtv.com Trayvon Martin shooting: What do we know? Trayvon Martin shooting: What do we know? - Crimesider - CBS News __________________

04-02-2012, 03:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
sara1981 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Little Rock,Ar Posts: 7,049	Trayvon Martin's family asks feds to investigate Trayvon Martin's family asks feds to investigate - CBS News __________________

04-03-2012, 01:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
deafbirk Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 616	Right now most of the so called info you get from the media is bull. It is getting disorted and edited just to sell newspapers and web page hits. Wat for the special persecutor to dig through it. Yak it up here and you just keep the misinformation spewing out VacationGuy234 likes this.

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04-01-2012, 12:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Cowpuppy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: On The Road Again Posts: 820	in all this mess I've yet to hear about whther the kid knew what capacity the adult was approaching him. how is he too know it wasn't a kidnapper-molester. unmarked car, no badge, no identifying self. if this is the case where the **** does he get off approaching the kid? and then using a weapon and claiming self defense. how should the kid know he's a wannabe cop. he was told to stand down and didn't. all these protesters should wait till the evidence is out... although I think they have correctly gotten it pulled out from under the rug.... but let the process work now. it's not protesters place to convict.

04-03-2012, 09:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
CrazyPaul Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,975	It doe not matter how much people weigh or how tall they are. For example, a thin person can beat a fat person or a short person can beat a tall person. How? Talent!!! In other words, a small black boy can beat me because he knows how to knock me out. Black men are great at punching people. That's a fact. No wonder why there are alot of professional black boxers.

04-03-2012, 02:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
Grayma Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 958	Weight: the NY Times quietly reported that Zimmerman weighed 170 pounds and Martin weighed 150. JustOneMinute: The NY Times Quietly Takes Its Thumb Off The Scale Of Justice http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/us...pagewanted=all The Police report put Trayvor's weight at 160: http://www.sanfordfl.gov/investigati...l%20Report.pdf

04-03-2012, 03:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
Jiro Aparecium Deletrius Legil Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Soprano State Posts: 60,502	for showing different perspective. keep on sharing it here. __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

04-09-2012, 12:50 PM	#19 (permalink)
rockin'robin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 15,279	Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case Investigation into case continues SANFORD, Florida (CNN) - Special prosecutor Angela Corey has decided against using a grand jury in the case involving the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, her office said Monday. "The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case," the office said in a statement. The grand jury, set to convene Tuesday, was "previously scheduled by the former prosecutor," the statement said. Corey said the investigation into the case continues. The state attorney has maintained that a grand jury is not needed to file possible criminal charges against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed the teen February 26. The case has triggered a nationwide debate about race in America and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury. Prosecutors are trying to unravel what happened the night Martin was killed. Witnesses and attorneys for both sides have offered conflicting accounts. Two prosecutors are working to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring charges against Zimmerman, 28. "We had hoped she had enough evidence without the need to convene a grand jury," said Benjamin Crump, attorney for Martin's family. "The family is trying to have patience and faith through all of this." Crump said the family is hoping for charges against Zimmerman and an arrest as soon as possible. "We want a very public trial so the evidence can come out and show people that the justice system works for everybody," he said. Zimmerman's attorney, Hal Uhrig, texted his reaction to CNN's Martin Savidge: "Not surprised. Don't know what her decision will be. Courageous move on her part." Corey said previously she has never used a grand jury to decide on charges in a justifiable homicide case. "We do a thorough investigation. We make that decision ourselves," she said. Sunny Hostin, legal analyst for CNN sister network HLN, said she was not surprised by Corey's decision. "As a former prosecutor, I typically made my own charging decisions," she said. "... Many, many seasoned prosecutors use their judgment and make charging decisions, don't necessarily punt the ball to lay people, to a grand jury." Corey's decision was "the smart thing to do," she said. "... Now Angela Corey is letting everyone know that this is her case. This is her decision." Thousands have converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman's arrest and criticize the police department's handling of the case. On Monday, a group of students calling themselves the Dream Defenders marched to the Sanford police station, singing and carrying a banner saying, "We are Trayvon Martin." The march began Friday in Daytona Beach, about 40 miles away, and continued through the weekend. The marchers linked arms, sang and chanted as they faced the building's entrance Monday. Six of the demonstrators, wearing hoodies, were blocking the department's main entrance. Martin was wearing a hoodie when he was killed. The Sanford Police Department said in a statement its office was "temporarily closed to the public ... due to the actions of student protestors. The students are currently occupying the space in front of the police department blocking the main entrance." The protest will not affect police and fire response to emergency calls, the department said. "The city of Sanford hopes the actions of the students will be as peaceful and orderly as the previous rallies and marches have been," City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. said. Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case \| News - Home

04-09-2012, 01:18 PM	#20 (permalink)
Jiro Aparecium Deletrius Legil Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Soprano State Posts: 60,502	One day left.... __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

04-09-2012, 02:38 PM	#21 (permalink)
sara1981 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Little Rock,Ar Posts: 7,049	Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case Prosecutor won't use grand jury in Trayvon Martin shooting case - CNN.com Special prosecutor: No grand jury for Trayvon Martin case Special prosecutor: No grand jury for Trayvon Martin case - CBS News __________________

04-10-2012, 06:00 AM	#24 (permalink)
C.C.Sinned Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,476	I wonder how bad the riots will be if Zimmerman actions are declared justified... __________________

04-10-2012, 10:03 AM	#27 (permalink)
CrazyPaul Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,975	Of course, there will be riots IF Zimmerman remains free after the decision announced by FLA prosecutor today. That's why police and army are ready for it in case not like LA riot where LAPD did nothing to stop it. If you happen to shop at a mall during a riot and someone tries to hurt or kill you, kill him or her to defend yourself somehow. That's your rights. Be prepared to stand your ground.

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