Trayvon Martin #6

The Orlando Sentinel consulted two voice analysis experts to try to identify the person heard screaming on the 911 tapes.   Using different methods, each came to the conclusion that the voice could not be that of George Zimmerman.   They could not positively say that it was Trayvon Martin, because they did not have a recording of his voice for comparison;  but they were definite that it could not be Zimmerman.

Supposed witnesses who saw two figures on the ground have supplied conflicting stories -- one about seeing "the guy in the red shirt" (Zimmerman) lying on the ground and another person above him.

Clarity (if it ever is found) will have to wait for the thorough investigation by the state attorney, with sworn testimony from witnesses, and assistance from the Department of Justice.

But here's what we do know:   Trayvon Martin had every right to be where he was as a guest of a resident of the gated community.   There is no evidence that he was doing anything wrong or even suspicious, except for Zimmerman's saying that he "looked suspicious."  Zimmerman was patrolling his neighborhood because of several recent breakins.  Apparently to him, a black teen in a hoodie was enough to make him suspicious.   Oh, yes, he also said that Martin was "looking around at the houses."   

Zimmerman was told by the 911 operator not to pursue him and to wait for the police to arrive.   He also has a history of violent outbursts, trouble with the police, and of frequent calls to 911 to report suspicious characters.

The "stand your ground" law, that is being used in Zimmerman's defense, requires hardly more than a killer's word that he felt threatened.  That is almost a license to kill.  Zimmerman says only that Martin looked suspicious and that he jumped him from behind and was beating him.   But Zimmerman weighed about 100 pounds more than Martin, and he showed no obvious evidence of having been beaten, at least not seriously enough to warrant using a gun.  And if the voice analysis stands up in court, then his case becomes very very weak.

The truth is:  This same stand your ground law would apply even more so to Trayvon Martin.  

We know for a fact from the 911 tapes that Zimmerman was stalking Martin and that Zimmerman was armed and prepared to kill.    Of course Martin felt threatened.  And there is one witness who was on the phone with him who says he was trying to get away from this man who was following him.

So, if anyone had justification for using lethal force to defend himself, it was Trayvon Martin.

But he is the one who wound up dead.

Ralph