Perhaps readers can help me with this. There are two points which have been universally accepted as true in the media, but I have not been able to find evidence in the police and other records released by the City of Sanford.
1. Skittles and Ice Tea. One key part of the narrative of the Martin shooting is that Skittles and Arizona Ice Tea were being carried by Martin. This ABC News report is typical: “He [Martin] has no weapons on him, only a pack of Skittles and a bottle of iced tea.” The Sanford Police incident report makes no mention of finding such items. What is the source of this fact that Skittles and a bottle of ice tea were found with Martin?
2. Hoody. The Hoody has become the symbol of protests, based on the assertion that Zimmerman found Martin suspicious because he was wearing a hoody. But the audio tape (language warning) in which Zimmerman mentions a hoody is clear that a hoody was mentioned only after Zimmerman had described why Martin was suspicious, and in response to a later question by the 911 operator as to what the suspicious person was wearing. What is the source of this fact that Zimmerman found the wearing of a hoody suspicious?
I would appreciate reader input on this, and if readers identify the sources of these facts, I’ll update this post.
Update: Several commenters have sourced No. 1 (Skittles and ice tea) to the Martin family attorneys. I have e-mailed to attorneys requesting the basis for the statement. I’ll let you know if I hear back.
Update 3-29-2012 5:30 p.m.: The Martins’ attorney never responded, but a reader forwarded an email exchange he had with a Miami Herald reporter, who said that the source of the information regarding Skittles and ice tea was the former Sanford Police Chief, although I don’t believe the Herald ever attributed the information to him in any of its articles.
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