There are going to be a lot of people beclowning themselves in the rush to judgment to convict George Zimmerman before the facts are known.
With every new piece of information, proclamations are made that the information destroys Zimmerman’s claim of self defense, only to have to walk back those proclamations or reiterate them in the face of contrary information. Tom Maguire tracks down much of the walkback on a variety of fronts (h/t Instapundit).
I prefer and have preferred from the beginning to wait and see what all the evidence shows, including critical evidence that is not public (forensics, medical reports, autopsy reports, etc.).
Consider this one example among many, from someone who made a name for himself long ago based on photo analysis, but now is just rushing to embrace whatever narrative justifies a guilty verdict.
When ABC News released the first grainy video of Zimmerman at a police station, Charles Johnson was quick to embarce the images as proof positive that the police report of Zimmerman having a bloody nose and rear head wound was false. There was no caution at all, in fact, the video warranted an emphatic exclamation point:
Now ABC News has changed its tune, based upon an enhanced video technique which it says commonly is used by police, which clearly shows a head wound.
Now, no more exclamation points, just caution:
You see, it’s “irresponsible” of ABC to present the enhanced video as conclusive:
Is this an injury as ABC now claims, or a reflection from the overhead lights? And why are they only showing one frame of this “enhanced” video to back up their claim? There are many other views of Zimmerman’s head that do not show any apparent injury.
These are reasons to be skeptical. It’s far from settled, and it’s irresponsible for ABC to present the story as if it is settled; it raises the possibility that they’re simply trying to stoke the controversy to keep their ratings up.
I’ll go back to my position on the matter:
Unless and until there is clear evidence to the contrary, such as paramedic records, I’ll trust the NOT BREAKING NEWS, the initial police report filled out that night which reported Zimmerman bloodied.
And to think, I’m not a photo analyst, I just think.
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Now ABC News has changed its tune, based upon an enhanced video technique which it says commonly is used by police, which clearly shows a head wound.
Hah! And, as one wag had it earlier today:
“If the head is split, you must acquit.”
There are going to be a lot of people beclowning themselves in the rush to judgment to convict George Zimmerman before the facts are known.
Going to be? That horse left the barn weeks ago, Professor.
How long before more “forensic voice analysts” come forward to dispute the conclusions of the first two?
Forensic guy number one.
The guy had a history degree & a few technical certificates.
CSI – itus.
What’s HI-larry-ous is that none of these people has ever impeached an expert in trial.
I have some doubts…given Florida law…this will ever be tried.
You don’t impeach experts, you voir dire them.
None of these experts would pass the Daubert test.
It’s still Frye in Florida at the moment, i.e. junk science.
I thought voir dire was used to qualify experts. Once they’re accepted as experts, can’t they be impeached/self-impeach via their testimony like any other witness?
Well, I do beg your pardon, but you DO impeach experts. You may take them on voir dire, but that is usually out of the jury’s presences in my jurisdiction.
You impeach them severally, one way being with your expert’s testimony.
Golly, you mean maybe, just maybe, there’s a reason why Zimmerman has not been charged other than the Sanford cops being sheet-wearing KKK members?
Charles Johnson is the Sandy Duncan of bloggers.
“Do you mind if I just call you, ‘Chuck’?”
Sandy Duncan blogs?
I loved her as Peter Pan.
Charles Johnson’s Rathergate moment was like Sandy’s commercial for United California Bank, where, as a bank teller, she can’t pronounce customer Mr. Nicholas Janopoporopolus’s name … and after repeated attempts, finally smiles and asks, “Do you mind if I just call you ‘Nick’?”
It was a great moment in a commercial … but it did not portend great things to come.
I never saw that ad, but then again, it probably only showed in California.
A little too inside baseball for me, Luke! heh heh.
That’s how she got her start … that commercial. It created a lot of buzz. She was supposed to be the next big comedy actress … never panned out … just like Mr. Johnson’s blogging after his moment of fame.
Not for Greeks anyway.
Not to unnecessarily inflate your ego; but, I would add, with logic and discernment. Thanks for remaining an objective and impartial resource, Professor. You have been a valuable moderator when the judgment of others has been overwhelmed with emotion or selfish interests.
Requiring liberals who act on emotion to just think would be setting the bar too high…
Its probably racist as well.
When dealing with the serial liar Johnson there is only one key question: Schmuck or putz?
How do you say, “completely nuts” in Yiddish?
Meshuganah
Gor meschugas
That’s right. Now, how do you say “completely nuts with little green footballs in his head”?
“Charles Johnson”.
With spit…
Haha! Close enough!
Yes, Professor I agree that the paramedics report should be the document to set the record straight.
David Frum has more relevance than Mr. Jazzy McBikeshorts.
The Prof wrote: “Unless and until there is clear evidence to the contrary, such as paramedic records, I’ll trust the NOT BREAKING NEWS, the initial police report filled out that night which reported Zimmerman bloodied.”
And there lies the problem… Today’s left winged trained journalists are incapable of thinking objectively. It’s like they have been pre-programmed at state education camps.
I’m reasonable certain that most of the facts in this case will become public knowledge probably within the next month or two and I have an increasing feeling that those voicing the loudest will all be proven wrong…
Anyone have any idea why the paramedics report has not been presented? I would think Zimmerman would want to release it if it backed his story.
It is not Zimmerman’s to release, for one. For another, he is in seclusion someplace.
In honor of Trayvon:
“Just because I’ve got this hoodie on, do I really look suspicious?”
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/kkk_member.jpeg
…oh, wait…
.
.
.
BTW, can you imagine the hysterics that would follow that as one of those inspirational-type images done in “honor of” Trevon and the nasty “profiling” he faced?
Guess this is really just another in a long line of hypocritical “Do as we (Libs) say, and only as we say – and dont do the exact same thing but just ever so slightly different so that it points out how idiotic our position actually is” type moments…
UPDATE – FL State Attorney’s office speaks out – says Martin’s family lawyer sent letter full of lies (surprisingly strong words)
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/State-Attorney-Norm-Wolfinger-outraged-by-federal-review-request/-/1637132/10042672/-/tovmqt/-/index.html
Here’s the statement Wolfinger released. http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/news/documents/2012/04/02/Norm_Wolfinger_Statement_on_Letter_to_DOJ.pdf
We probably need another UPDATE:
http://www.daykeeperjournal.com/2012/04/the-trayvon-martin-killing/
“Several factors in Trayvon Martin’s astrological chart suggest an early, violent or ambiguous death. A triple conjunction of natal Neptune (confusion, martyrdom) at 23 Capricorn with Uranus (sudden, violent attack, shooting) at 27 Capricorn and asteroid Requiem (the funeral mass for the dead) at 28 Capricorn was exactly conjoined by transit asteroid Zimmerman at 28 Capricorn and opposed by transit asteroid Martina at 23 Cancer on the day of the shooting (with transit Zimmerman also conjunct transit Icarus—rash, reckless action—at 29 Capricorn and transit Neptune—confusion, misunderstanding—at 0 Pisces).
George Zimmerman’s potential for killing is also apparent in the natal astrological chart. Natal Mars at 3 Virgo squares Chiron (wounding) at 2 Gemini and more broadly squares Zimmerman’s natal asteroid Martina at 10 Gemini, with natal Mars also in square to Martin’s natal Pluto (death) at 0 Sagittarius. Mars is also exactly trined natal asteroid Icarus (rash, reckless action) at 3 Capricorn, providing a well-lubricated interchange (trine) of energies between Zimmerman’s aggressive tendencies (Mars) and propensity to act without due consideration of the potential consequences (Icarus).
Such specific contacts between personal-named asteroids in the nativities and the chart for the shooting, coupled with a preponderance of major configurations, indicates a high level of fated or karmic interaction in the tragedy. We can only mourn the loss of life, demand a thorough investigation, and hope for justice to be done.”
…or, on second thought, maybe this is more appropriate for Moonbattery.com?
Little Green Crazy Pills.
50 minutes ago
http://abcnews.go.com/US/trayvon-martin-case-doctor-sees-evidence-george-zimmerman/story?id=16055412
Now they’re walking back the head injury and claiming Zim shows no evidence of a broken nose…
-Brought in the Obamacare doc, no really you’re fine!
They found a doctor so good he can diagnosis a non-broken nose from a grainy video. Awesome.
No honest doctor would say what they wanted – “there is no evidence of a broken nose” without noting that frequently there is no visible evidence, not every nose fracture needs to be set or straightened, and often people have a broken nose without realizing it is broken because of that fact.
Just curious. The story is that Martin left his father’s girlfriend’s home to go to a convenience store to get iced tea and skittles at around 7 pm that Sunday night the NBA All Star game was played. It was raining.
How close is the nearest convenience store? Is it close? Because, if it isn’t, then Martin walked a while to get iced tea and skittles in the rain. Why would he do that? Also how do we know he went to get iced tea and skittles? I didn’t see anything the police released that mentioned that.
I’d like to see some maps, a weather report, a report on what Martin had on him at the time of the shooting, the paramedic report, fingerprints on the gun, possible footprints and interviews with every one of the neighbors. Also, I’d like to see police reports on criminal activity in the neighborhood. And the coroner’s report.
Then I’d have a solid idea of whose story fits better. So far, Zimmerman’s story seems to hold up under scrutiny.
Am I wrong?
If Mr. Martin made it to a convenience store, I would like to see the video from the store. When was the last time a convenience store didn’t have a video camera?
Was there a need for an active neighborhood watch?
Maybe only the store that sels MJ & brightly coloured pills.
Also Gateway Pundit has a story that George Zimmerman is actually 5’9″ and 170 pounds (not 240 pounds). Martin is 6’1″ and 150 pounds and a football player. It’s totally conceivable that Martin could beat up Zimmerman if this is true.
It is true. Zim’s true size came out about a week or more ago – about the same time current photos of Martin began circulating. A 6’1″ guy would have a longer reach to throw a punch than a 5’9″ guy. The weight of the two seem close enough that that wouldn’t be much of a factor in terms of advantage.
Have a look on Google Earth
Location of death scene is at:
28°47’34.79″N 81°19’46.78″W
Convenience store (7-11) is about 0.8m West of the complex. It doesn’t show up as a flagged location when you search for 7-11 or “convenience store” but you can see it on street view as the west end store in the shopping center across from the auto dealer.
The closest store was just over a mile away. There was no evidence at the scene of any bottle or candy wrapper, and none has been found that Martin ever visited a convenience store that night.
No witness or evidence suggests it. I presume it either came from his father’s girlfriend’s son, if Trayvon told him that was what he was leaving to do, or the girlfriend who alleged was talking to him on the phone, although some say her story didn’t add up with the timeline of events or cell records. I haven’t seen anything directly on that, though.
Sigh. Had gone 26 months and 8 days without reading the phrase “Little Green Footballs” and now you, LukeHandCool had to write it. Maledictions on you, sir! May your bicycle tires go flat! May your elevator break down between floors during your lunch hour! IMO it was most unkind of you to bring up indelicate websites best left unmentioned.
At least our dear professor had the moxie to only mention the sad fellow by name, though why he bothered quoting the babbling ravings of a lunatic are beyond me. Perhaps in a weak, nostalgic moment, he gave in to a wistful yearning for better times.
But please sir, next time have some consideration here for those of us with weaker constitutions. Either warn us in advance or eschew actually mentioning excreta. I would be forever grateful.
Good point. Polite society usually refrains from pointing out the peccadilloes of those falling under section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code.
How much is that doggie in the window? I don’t care how much. I gotta buy him for my buddy 49erDweet.
It’s disturbing to think that Charles Johnson never really believed anything he wrote. His blog used to be my morning paper…
Im sure alot of us used to read Charles. A shame to see a guy…good guy give up the Ralph Nader of news persona and trade it for a position on Obama’s Ministry of Information.
His case provides a sad but important warning to our young people of the dangers inherent in becoming addicted to sniffing your own bicycle seat. There ARE apparently serious long-term effects which resemble dementia.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say the Reverend Race Hustler and the Reverend Race Baiter are about to get Breitbarted!
Speaking of Breitbart … and Charles Johnson.
Let’s put some perspective on this case. Where was Obama? Where were Jackson and Sharpton? Where was the media?
http://www.chrisandchannon.com/index.html
I am not even convinced there was any reason beyond tactical politics to appoint a special prosecutor. Did the police fail to do their job, gather the evidence, obtain witness statements?
It is reported (FWIW) that the police requested a warrant from the state’s attorney, but if they had probable cause they could have arrested Zimmerman on the spot. So the request was more of a formality in a homicide case, with a little CYA on the side.
The prosecutor found no probable cause, either. Did he miss something? If so, what? Why is his judgement and discretion relied upon in every other case and not this one?
The system worked as it was supposed to. Bending it to appease race pimps like Ben Crump and Al Sharpton hurts the cause of justice, it does not advance it in any way.
Justice doesn’t owe the mob any special handling, especially at the expense of others’ rights.
Shows like “CSI” and “Law & Order” have trained us to expect all the evidence can be gathered, analyzed and a verdict rendered in 48 minutes. In the real world, it doesn’t work that way.