Media Thread - NO DISCUSSION

http://www.local10.com/news/Fire-ca...rtin/-/1717324/13378732/-/2ipx55/-/index.html
Fire captain demoted after Facebook post about Trayvon Martin
A Miami-Dade County firefighter under investigation by his department for a controversial posting he reportedly made on his personal Facebook page about the Trayvon Martin case has been demoted, Local 10 has learned.
The controversial post read, "I and my co-workers could rewrite the book on whether our urban youths are victims of racist profiling or products of their failed, (expletive), ignorant, pathetic, welfare dependent excuses for parents."
The post caused a firestorm of controversy. Locally, black civic activists staged protests, demanding that Beckmann be fired. Some called him a racist and questioned his ability to serve the community.
More... Video included...

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/fbi-seeks-charge-george-zimmerman-hate-crime/nN5pR/
FBI may charge George Zimmerman with hate crime
WFTV has learned charges against George Zimmerman could be getting more serious.
State prosecutors said Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman, profiled and stalked 17-year-old Trayvon Martin before killing him, so the FBI is now looking into charging him with a hate crime.
More...

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/05/14/miami-dade-fire-capt-demoted-for-controversial-facebook-rant/
Miami-Dade Fire Capt. Demoted For Controversial Facebook Rant
A Miami-Dade fire captain under fire for his controversial Facebook comments in the Trayvon Martin case has been demoted. Captain Brian Beckmann fell from the top of the command in his firehouse to the lowest rank of firefighter.
More...

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/De...erman/-/1637132/13377548/-/9b474/-/index.html
Defense receives Trayvon Martin evidence against George Zimmerman
The attorney for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, announced on Monday he has received the evidence against his client and a "credible threat."
Attorney Mark O'Mara posted on his defense website, GZLegalCase.com, that he received the discovery for the Zimmerman case just after 5 p.m. on Monday. According to the website, the discovery package included, "67 compact discs and numerous hardcopy documents, including the State’s Discovery Exhibit and Demand for Reciprocal Discovery. The discovery also includes witness statements, 911 calls, non-emergency calls, photos, video, medical records, and more."
"All the evidence has to be looked at in conjunction," O'Mara told Local 6.
More...

The handgun George Zimmerman used to kill Trayvon Martin is a lightweight, inexpensive 9 mm semiautomatic manufactured in Cocoa.

The Kel-Tec 9 mm PF-9 is one of the lightest, thinnest 9 mm guns on the market — a gun so small and light you can carry it in your pocket undetected.

(snip)

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...-20120513_1_gun-shop-owner-gun-owners-kel-tec

ABC News Exclusive: Zimmerman Medical Report Shows Broken Nose, Lacerations After Trayvon Martin Shooting

By MATT GUTMAN and SENI TIENABESO
May 15, 2012

"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."

Much more...

Autopsy results show Trayvon Martin had injuries to his knuckles

Updated: 6:01 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012 | Posted: 5:54 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012

"WFTV has confirmed that autopsy results show 17-year-old Trayvon Martin had injuries to his knuckles when he died.

The information could support George Zimmerman's claim that Martin beat him up before Zimmerman shot and killed him.

The autopsy results come as Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O’Mara continues to go over other evidence in the case.

O’Mara wouldn't comment on the autopsy evidence, but WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said it's better for the defense than it is for the prosecution."

more...

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_...-shooting-likely-bolster-self-defense-claims/

Medical records showing that George Zimmerman was treated for a fractured nose and cuts to the back of his head after fatally shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin will likely bolster Zimmerman's argument that Martin attacked him, CBS News legal analyst Jack Ford said on "CBS This Morning" Wednesday.

Meant to post this article yesterday and forgot:

Zimmerman's Attorney Threatened, OPD Says
O'Mara's Office Recieves Threatening Phone Call
WESH UPDATED: 6:18 am EDT May 15, 2012

"Zimmerman attorney Mark O'Mara received the call, officers said, while waiting for evidence from prosecutors. The call came from a blocked number and an unidentified man made some sort of threat, mentioning Zimmerman by name, but officers did not elaborate further."

and

"The documents include Martin's autopsy report.

"I would imagine that report could be released quickly because there's nothing that could be said to be confidential within it," O'Mara said.

But O'Mara said some of the documents, like key witness statements, may need to be reviewed and redacted.

"If I look at it and want to restrict completely inflammatory and completely irrelevant evidence, I think I have a right to argue it and see what the judge says," said O'Mara."

Trayvon Martin Case Shadowed by Series of Police Missteps

There was only one photo taken by the police at the scene of any of Mr. Zimmerman’s injuries — a full-face picture of him that showed a bloodied nose — before paramedics tended to him. It was shot on a department cellphone camera and was not downloaded for a few days, an oversight by the officer who took it.

Much more at link

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/u...wed-by-police-missteps.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

The attorney for Martin's parents, Natalie Jackson, is questioning the release of the medical records Tuesday that prosecutors have in the second-degree murder case against Zimmerman.

Jackson said she feels the report was leaked to try and help Zimmerman's defense, but Zimmerman's lawyer denies any involvement.

"Did your office leak that to make Mr. Zimmerman look better?" reporter Bob Kealing asked Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's lawyer.

"Absolutely not," said O'Mara.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/trayvon-martin-extended-coverage/31072911/detail.html#ixzz1v4YcRJ1W

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/47453093/#47453093

florida teenager trayvon martin died from a single bullet wound to his chest. fired from a gun at intermediate range, according to an autopsy report prepared by a medical examiner and reviewed today by nbc news. there was one other fresh injury on martin's body, according to the report, an abrasion, no more than a quarter of an inch in size to his left ring finger below the knuckle.

Click to expand...

Follow up to New York Times article.

Reader Q. and A.: Police Missteps in Trayvon Martin Case
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Serge F. Kovaleski of The New York Times will be answering questions from readers about his investigation into how the police department in Sanford, Fla., handled Trayvon Martin’s death.

+

Readers can submit questions for the reporter in the comment box at the link above.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_...tin-had-injuries-to-his-knuckles-report-says/

Zimmerman told police he fired the shot at point blank range while on his back, as the 17-year-old straddled him. He also told investigators Martin did not die immediately but mumbled either "it's over" or "you got me."

Details from Trayvon Martin's autopsy show the bullet entered the left side of his chest and shattered the ventricle, one of his heart's two large chambers but the round did not leave his body.

Click to expand...

An NBC video report on the Trayvon Martin autopsy by Kerry Sanders on TODAY Show with a written transcription:

‘Intermediate range’ shot killed Trayvon Martin

snip

">> reporter: good morning, matt. trayvon martin's parents have not seen the medical examiner's report that was prepared here. but the fact that others have, including nbc news, has their attorney telling nbc news that it's enough. they now want all of the documents released."

"The very same report [ the medical examiner report ] was viewed by the special prosecutor who charged zimmerman in april. while the multipage autopsy is sealed by court order , nbc news was given access to read it. it says, in part, the teenager was killed by a penetrating gunshot wound to the chest, the entrance wound located on his left chest 17 inches below the head. the single bullet passed directly from the front to the back, through his lungs, creating perforations. the only injuries to trayvon martin are from the gunshot and to one knuckle, a quarter inch to one-eighth inch abrasion on the fourth finger in the ring area. trayvon's gunshot wound entrance of intermediate range. how close was that? the medical examiner's report says there was a soot ring abrasion and a two-inch by two-inch area of stippling. ..."

more...

Zimmerman: "This Will All Work Out For Me"
In letter from jail, accused killer pitched donation to his web site

"MAY 17--Days before bonding out of a Florida jail, George Zimmerman wrote that he believed “this will all work out for me in the future,” adding, “I have given my burden to the Lord and he has blessed me with tremendous patience!”

In response to a letter of support sent by an Ohio man who sought to deposit money in his jail account, the accused murderer of Trayvon Martin explained that he was only allowed to accept funds from individuals on his approved list of visitors.

“The best way to send your support is through prayer!” wrote Zimmerman, 28, who noted that, “if you insist on sending funds, the best way is through my website.” He added that the site, , “accepts checks and credit card payments via PayPal.”

...

“Your Friend, George.”

Includes images of the 2 page letter that George wrote to the Ohio man.

Thursday May 17 2012

New evidence in George Zimmerman shooting of Trayvon Martin to be released

By Jeff Weiner and Rene Stutzman, Orlando Sentinel
4:21 p.m. EST, May 17, 2012

JACKSONVILLE - 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.

more...

Associated Press Article with frontal pictures of George Zimmerman taken 2/27/12:

www.news.yahoo.com/evidence-mixed-zimmermans-self-defense-claim-073928701.html

Trayvon Martin Autopsy — PDF

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2012/images/05/17/martin.autopsy.pdf?hpt=hp_t1

Photo Gallery — Evidence Photos — WFTV

http://www.wftv.com/gallery/news/lo...how-bloodied-zimmerman-gun-more/ggFb/#1538946

State vs Zimmerman Document:

Scribd:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/93951121/State-v-Zimmerman-Evidence-released-by-prosecutor

PDF:

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/Zimmerman_Discovery.pdf

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47476961/

----video---today show--may 18/2012---benjamin crump and omara--5:25--


New Trayvon Martin evidence: Does it help Zimmerman?

Newly released details about the night Florida teenager Trayvon Martin died at the hands of a volunteer watchman named George Zimmerman are largely consistent with Mr. Zimmerman’s self-defense claims, with one hitch: The shooter could have avoided the fight that led to the Feb. 26 killing in Sanford, Fla.

--more@link--