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No Gag Order in George Zimmerman Case

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Tue Oct 30, 2012 at 07:34:13 PM EST
Tags: George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin (all tags)
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Judge Debra Nelson has rejected the state's second request for a gag order in the George Zimmerman case. The two page order is here.

By now, Martin family lawyer Benjamin Crump should have disclosed to the defense everyone who was present on March 19 when he recorded a telephone interview with Witness 8, referred to as "Dee Dee." ABC News reporter Matt Gutman has previously said he was there, as were the parents of Trayvon Martin, whom he described as "ashen-faced" while listening to the call. At the hearing on Friday, October 19, the Judge told Crump to disclose the names to Zimmerman's defense team within 10 days. Background here. [More...]

In the video accompanying the ABC article, Diane Sawyer reports George Zimmerman said he was acting as a "neighborhood watchdog." I wonder who wrote that description? Not only was it wrong -- Zimmerman said he was on his way to go grocery shopping, not patrolling the neighborhood or acting on behalf of the neighborhood watch that evening.

Could her first sentence be any more prejudicial?

The FBI has decided to take action in that case of the 17 year old gunned down by the man who said he was acting as a neighborhood watchdog.

The FBI decided to open an investigation and conduct interviews. That's not quite the ordinary meaning of the FBI "taking action." Second, her use of the term "gunned down" when Zimmerman has claimed self-defense. Third, her reference to Zimmerman not as neighborhood watch volunteer or member, but a "watchdog."

What a neutral and accurate report might have said:

The FBI has opened an investigation in the case of the fatal shooting of a 17 year old by a member of a Neighborbood Watch group who said he acted in self-defense.

Back to the present, in other news, the Judge refused to give the state all of Zimmerman's medical records. Her order is here.

The latest scheduling order is here.

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    No Gag Order in George Zimmerman Case | 2 comments (2 topical)

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    Also, (none / 0) (#1)
    by DebFrmHell on Tue Oct 30, 2012 at 10:13:33 PM EST
    From the printed 3/20/2012 ABC link:
    The line went dead. Besides screams heard on 911 calls that night as Martin and Zimmerman scuffled, those were the last words he said.

    There is the implication that Martin is the one doing the screaming.  Long before any of the 911 calls were made public and on the night of the shooting, Zimmerman was overheard telling EMTs (or Officer Smith) that he was yelling for help and no one would help him.  He  couldn't know at that time that anything was recorded.

    And from Tracy Martin:

    "He knew he was being followed and tried to get away from the guy, and the guy still caught up with him," Tracey Martin said. "And that's the most disturbing part. He thought he had got away from the guy, and the guy backtracked for him."

    Until someone can explain within reason, how it is that a young man, who was virtually out of the range of vision of Zimmerman for over four minutes, can still be at the same place from whence he vanished this will be a provable self-defense case.  He either had to of returned, laid in wait, or some combination thereof.

    I have run a thousand scenarios through my head that gets him back to that "T" intersection and I cannot come up with one viable explanation that works favorably towards Martin.

    It is a matter of intent.

    Zimmerman has documented injuries.  He has his DNA on Martin's clothing (Stain A on ME-8 and was not excluded from Stain D.)  And he has two adult witnesses prior that have Martin on top/mounted position over him before the shooting.

    please discuss specifics of the (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Oct 31, 2012 at 02:18:35 AM EST
    evidence on the forums. This is about the court orders and hearing.

    No Gag Order in George Zimmerman Case | 2 comments (2 topical)

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