Never before seen evidence in the case against George Zimmerman will be released after 5 p.m. today, according to Special Prosecutor Angela Corey's office.
The evidence will reveal new details of Zimmerman's fatal encounter with 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26 in Sanford. Expected among the documents: Trayvon's autopsy, eyewitness accounts, cell phone records and police records.
The documents are to be released as a result of the discovery process, during which state prosecutors were required to turn over their evidence in the case to the Zimmerman's defense.
The Sentinel will review those documents as soon as they become available.
We will finally know the Truth.
I don’t understand why O’Mara wanted to keep this stuff a secret. If public opinion turns in favor of Zimmerman on the basis of the real evidence, the feds probably won’t prosecute him for a “hate” crime, and Judge Lester may feel more comfortable dismissing the case before it even goes to a jury.
You keep that stuff secret pre-trial in order to avoid the potential of further "reporting" of the type of the edited 911 call.
The jury pool is already fairly tainted, and now it is about damage control. While it is likely that the evidence, viewed objectively, is good for Zimmerman, unless the evidence is completely, and I mean completely, overwhelming proof of innocence this case will still go to trial.
So what's the best case scenario for agreeing to the release of the discovery? That the jury pool is accurately informed that Zimmerman is likely innocent but they still have to have the trial. What's the worse case scenario? A jury pool that hears biased reports based on what they think is "all the evidence" and now you've got all the jurors poisoned.
The jury's not guilty verdict will be Zimmerman's only true vindication.
Posted by: Josh | May 17, 2012 at 04:57 PM
Are you really confident in predicting what Holder will "probably" do?
Posted by: alonzo portfolio | May 17, 2012 at 05:01 PM
If Eric Holder does get involved again it will force Obama to answer some questions about the case.
That will not be good for Obama's electoral chances.
Posted by: Camlost | May 17, 2012 at 05:16 PM
"this case will still go to trial."
Zimmerman is entitled to a self-defense hearing, in which the burden is on him, but only the preponderance of the evidence. He'll be released at this point; no trial.
Posted by: Van | May 17, 2012 at 05:28 PM
is there anyway the prosecution can pack the jury with blacks and SWPLs? Because Zimmerman is a symbol now. Blacks and SWPLs want his head no matter what happened and will certainly vote guilty. The prosecution must be hoping for a hung jury.
Posted by: Otis the Sweaty | May 17, 2012 at 05:40 PM
Traces of THC found in Trayvon's urine.
Posted by: Truth | May 17, 2012 at 06:15 PM
The documents released Thursday also include Trayvon’s autopsy report, which showed he had a single gunshot wound to the upper chest. It also showed the 5-foot-11 teen weighed 158 lbs, smoked marijuana and had a 1/4 x 1/8 inch abrasion on his left fourth finger.
From here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/17/2804442/law-officers-set-to-release-evidence.html#storylink=cpy
What, Trayvon was only 5 ft 11? Even in death, other men lie about their height! Okay, from now on, I'm 6 ft 1 inch.
Marijuana was found in his system. Looks good for Zimmerman.
Posted by: Matt in RTP | May 17, 2012 at 06:20 PM
The comments on the Orlando Sentinel article are fun to read. One reader suggested that Zimmerman's wounds were self-inflicted.
Posted by: BlogRaju | May 17, 2012 at 06:50 PM
"Witnesses, whose names were redacted from the report, also lent support to Zimmerman's version of what happened.
"He witnesses a black male, wearing a dark colored 'hoodie' on top of a white or Hispanic male and throwing punches 'MMA (mixed martial arts) style,'" the police report of the witness said. "He then heard a pop. He stated that after hearing the pop, he observed the person he had previously observed on top of the other person (the male wearing the hoodie) laid out on the grass." "
"MMA style".
I wonder if this is enough to get the You Tube 'fight club' videos introduced.
No way a jury convicts with the portrait that is going to paint.
Posted by: Turambar | May 17, 2012 at 07:30 PM
BlogRaju writes: "The comments on the Orlando Sentinel article are fun to read. One reader suggested that Zimmerman's wounds were self-inflicted."
That's why no amount of exculpatory evidence will get Zimmerman off the hook. If you thought he was a racist murder in February, you still think so today, and it won't matter what evidence is released.
Posted by: lil mike | May 17, 2012 at 07:52 PM
As already noted, there was THC in Trayvon. Is there a way to determine if he smoked it that day or not?
He was suspended for having an empty bag with marijuana traces in it. This is just confirmation that he was a user. But do we know when he last lit up?
Which then raises the question of whether the skittles run was motivated by the munchies.
Posted by: half canadian | May 17, 2012 at 09:03 PM
The truth doesn't matter. All that can matter is the next outcome. While it would be nice to see that self defense is still a respected right, ultimately, what happens between two people in Florida is of so little consequence to anyone here's life, it doesn't matter.
Keep your eyes on what matters: the shit about to hit the fan and the testimony of Diamond of JPM. It will help indicate how much power the occupy movement has and how well the banks are holding on to the politicians.
Posted by: money muscle and math | May 17, 2012 at 10:03 PM
It doesn't matter if Trayvon was high, anyway. Not legally. Unless the defense can show it made him act crazy or something, rather unlikely, as benign as its effects usually are.
Posted by: jeanne | May 17, 2012 at 10:18 PM
So the FBI lab came to the conclusion that no definitive answer could be made about the voice analysis.
Yet we had the media bringing along so called "experts" claiming with "scientific certainty" that it was Trayvon's voice.
Posted by: tg | May 17, 2012 at 10:23 PM
Otis the Sweaty wrote:
::is there anyway the prosecution can pack the
::jury with blacks and SWPLs?
No. Both the prosecution and defence participate in jury selection. So, assuming Z's attorney isn't asleep, he won't let the jury to be packed with unfriendly characters exclusively.
Posted by: MoogaBooga | May 18, 2012 at 04:27 AM
I saw footage of Trayvon Martin at 7/11 before the shooting on CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2012/05/18/vos-trayvon-martin-surveillance-7-11.7-11?iref=videosearch
Trayvon Martin was huge! I would be intimidated too if I were in a conflict with him.
What's interesting is that he walked through 7/11 and didn't even take his hoodie off. I find that to be strange because it just seems like common sense that you shouldn't cover your head when you're walking into a convenience store. I bet that he probably was carelessly walking around and looking suspicious.
Posted by: AE | May 18, 2012 at 05:23 AM
It doesn't matter if Trayvon was high, anyway. Not legally. Unless the defense can show it made him act crazy or something, rather unlikely, as benign as its effects usually are.
Actually it corroborates zimmermans statement, recorded by the 911 operator, that martin looked like he was on something. This then lends credence to his later statements about what happened leading up to the shooting.
And I believe that a urine test for thc has an upper limit of 1 week, but blood shows it up to 24 hours after ingestion. Presumably the medical examiner used a blood test, but the news hasnt bothered to really cover that kind of helpful detail ;)
http://www.canorml.org/healthfacts/drugtestguide/drugtestdetection.html
Posted by: John VI | May 26, 2012 at 12:32 AM
hmm, no italics, Im quoting jeanne there in my first paragraph. :(
Posted by: John VI | May 26, 2012 at 12:33 AM