Questions That Need To Be Answered In The Trayvon Martin Case
Johnathan Capehart has a must read article. Must Read means go read it now!
It wasn’t until Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin, called to file a missing-persons report on Feb. 27 that police went to his fiancee’s house with pictures of his son’s dead body. News reports have said that Trayvon’s body was tagged as a John Doe. But the “Partial Report Only” that was completed at 3:07 a.m. on Feb. 27 lists Trayvon’s full name, city of birth, address and phone number. How did police get that information? Was Trayvon carrying identification? Did police try to contact that home number?
The timeline surrounding this case has always been problematic. We have Zimmerman pursuing (911 call) Trayvon Martin. We have Zimmerman saying he was walking to his SUV when Trayvon Martin jumped him. We have a cell phone record showing Trayvon Martin on the phone with his girlfriend.
And now we have a police report that adds questions instead of answering them. And if the Sanford Police had Trayvon Martin’s ID information and didn’t contact the family… words fail. Something is very wrong with the Sanford Police. And I can’t help but notice, whether you look at their statements at the beginning of this case or at their recent leaks, the Sanford Police promote George Zimmerman’s side of the story – and only Zimmerman’s side. They simply do not come across as a “Just the facts, ma’am” organization. This could very well be a face saving move, but it hardly makes them come across as fair… or professional… or competent.
Jonathan Capehart goes on:
Were any photographs taken of Zimmerman’s injuries?
Good question. It has now been stated that Zimmerman had a broken nose and had his head slammed against the sidewalk. Did he go to the hospital to confirm the broken nose or find out if he had a concussion? According to the Orlando Sentinel (link two sentences above): Paramedics gave him first aid but he said he did not need to go to the hospital. He got medical care the next day. Do authorities have the medical report on the care Zimmerman received the next day?
Here are more questions from Capehart:
Zimmerman was then taken to the Sanford Police Department and interviewed by an investigator. Was that interview recorded?
Was there blood splatter from Trayvon on Zimmerman’s clothing? Were any tests done on Zimmerman’s clothing? DNA? Gunpowder?
Were any photographs taken of Zimmerman’s clothing? Was the clothing taken into evidence.
What’s frightening about these questions is that they’re so… basic. Hopefully, they have answers. But here’s my piece of advice to the Sanford Police… your next leak should be answers to the following questions.
Tags: George Zimmerman, Sanford Police Department, Trayvon Martin
All good questions, and you can bet your ass that interview with Zimmerman was recorded. Statements from the on-scene paramedics should also be included. It would also be interesting to hear Trayvon Martin’s girlfriend’s take on what happened while she was on the phone call.
The police department’s post-shooting actions can’t fill anyone with warm feelings about their competence.
Just thought I’d put them on both threads.
BumpColley I’m marketing hoodies with this slogan: Neighborhood Watch! about 1 hour ago · reply · retweet · favorite
BumpColley I’m marketing hoodies with this slogan: Stand Your Ground! about 1 hour ago · reply · retweet · favorite
All good questions, and you can bet your ass that interview with Zimmerman was recorded.
I hope so, Mis, but, at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if they hadn’t.
Here’s what the girlfriend stated:
Cell phone records showed that Trayvon was on the phone with her 5 minutes before the police arrived.
J, as this case moves on I’m beginning to think that the Sanford Police should be on trial.
“Trayvon said, ‘What are you following me for,’ and the man said, ‘What are you doing here.’ Next thing I hear is somebody pushing….
Thats the flashpoint right there. Did Trayvon push Zimmerman? or the other way around?
Either way that moment would have been diffused if Zimmerman answered “I am neighborhood watch” and if Trayvon had answered “I live here” Both thought the other was the bad guy, and when that happens the unarmed man ends up losing.
Since we don’t have all the police reports yet, or the hospital report, questions will remain out there. And if we are just going to throw questions around how about “Why didnt Trayvon call 911?”
Actually, the flashpoint is when a gun was introduced.
And why do you assume the situation could have been diffused? I have no idea what was going on inside their heads.
Neighborhood “watch” – IMO the flashpoint was when he pursued someone after reporting the person to the police. That is what a watch program is designed to do. Report potential issues. The two should never have met. He is not law enforcement.
The flashpoint was the confrontation. Whether the gun was out before or after the scuffle remains unknown.
Sorry, the fact the gun was there was the difference between life and death. That’s the flashpoint, that’s where an assumed fistfight (assumed because we don’t know what happened) became deadly. And it doesn’t matter when it came out.
Altho… jenl is also correct. Had Zimmerman done what the dispatcher told him to do then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
BREAKING: Lead Investigator in Trayvon Martin case wanted to charge Zimmerman with Manslaughter on the night of the shooting.
It’s being reported that the Lead Investigator filed an affidavit saying he was unconvinced by Zimmerman’s version of events.
NOTE: This is breaking. Will search for confirmation.
“Both thought the other was the bad guy, and when that happens the unarmed man ends up losing.”
True, which is why it’s better if there are no arms involved. Not advocating, just sayin’. Real neighborhood watch volunteers don’t carry guns.
“The flashpoint was the confrontation. Whether the gun was out before or after the scuffle remains unknown.”
True again. And again, better not to have the gun in the first place. Just conjecture, but isn’t it possible that Zimmerman was emboldened by the gun? Would an unarmed Zimmerman have left the vehicle in the first place?
Good call Jeni.
I think its clear, if he didn’t have the gun ,he’d have been too busy wetting himself to follow the kid.
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MotherJones A history of fear, racism, and violence—the town where #Trayvon was killed has a particularly fraught past: ow.ly/9VbC9