A new report shows that the day after killing Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman passed a police lie detector test. He registered truthful in stating that he was afraid for his life before shooting the teen. The report does not materially affect the trial since such tests are not admissible but may explain the the resistance of local officials to bring the case. It also further supports the view, again, that Angela Corey overcharged the case. She was no doubt aware of the test which, while not admissible as evidence because their reliability is questioned, can be considered by the prosecutors in determining the appropriate charge. UPDATE: A police report shows a critical view of Zimmerman’s account and says that he missed two opportunities to defuse the situation.
Zimmerman willingly submitted to a computer voice stress analyzer (CVSA) “truth verification” on February 27 and the test “was classified as No Deception Indicated (NDI).” This included the question of “Did you confront the guy you shot?’ He answered, “No.” He was rated as telling the truth in both saying that he did not confront Martin and that he was in fear of his life.
Also released recently are further details from Zimmerman to the police. Zimmerman insisted that the teen knocked him down and began to pound his head in the sidewalk while telling him “You’re going to die.” Zimmerman claims Trayvon reached for the gun and that he grabbed it to protect himself.
Both the question of fear and the party responsible for the confrontation could be distorted by Zimmerman’s perspective and not accepted objectively by third parties. Of the two questions, however, the confrontation question is the most interesting. It is rare for targeted suspects to agree to lie detectors, though I have agreed to such tests in past cases.
Once again, this evidence does not rule out the basis for a criminal charge, but in my view strongly militates against a charge greater than manslaughter. In fairness to the local officials, the evidence also offers support for their view that no charge was appropriate. One can disagree with that conclusion, but they may have had solid reasons for opposing a charge. That does not excuse sloppy police work and there was still a basis to detain Zimmerman at the scene. However, the case has become more muddled with such new evidence. As a criminal defense attorney, I have always viewed this case as one with strong defense arguments for trial. While the odds always favor the prosecution, the factual record has a number of elements that could create reasonable doubt. Obviously, the trial itself can present facts in different light and the prosecution has yet to be fully heard in the case.
Source: NY Daily News
MINI-DOSSIER (GEORGE M. ZIMMERMAN)
George Michael Zimmerman was born in 1983 to Robert Zimmerman Sr. & Gladys Mesa, the 3rd of 4 children. Robert Zimmerman Sr. was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1970, and was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, in 1975 with Gladys Mesa’s brother George Mesa. George Zimmerman Sr. also served two tours in Korea, and spent the final 10 years of his 22-year military career in the Pentagon, working for the DoD.
Robert and Gladys met in January 1975, when George Mesa brought along his army buddy to his sister’s birthday party. She was visiting from Peru, on vacation from her job there as a physical education teacher. Robert was a Baptist, Gladys was Catholic. They soon married, in a Catholic ceremony in Alexandria, and moved to nearby Manassas VA.
Gladys came to lead a small but growing Catholic Hispanic enclave within the All Saints Catholic Church parish in the late 1970s, where she was involved in the church’s outreach programs. Gladys would bring young George along with her on “home visits” to poor families.
“It was part of their upbringing to know that there are people in need, people more in need than themselves” said a Peruvian immigrant who lived with the Zimmermans for a time.
The friend recalls evening prayers before dinner in the ethnically diverse Zimmerman household, which included siblings Robert Jr., Grace, and Dawn. “It wasn’t only white or only Hispanic or only black – it was mixed,” she said.
Zimmerman’s maternal grandmother, Cristina, who had lived with the Zimmermans since 1978, worked as a babysitter for years during Zimmerman’s childhood. For several years she cared for two African-American girls who ate their meals at the Zimmerman house and went back and forth to school each day with the Zimmerman children.
“They were part of the household for years, until they were old enough to be on their own,” the friend said.
Zimmerman served as an altar boy at All Saints from age 7 to 17, church members said.
“He wasn’t the type where, you know, ‘I’m being forced to do this,’ and a dragging-his-feet Catholic,” said Sandra Vega, who went to high school with George and his siblings. “He was an altar boy for years, and then worked in the rectory too. He has a really good heart.”
George grew up bilingual, and by age 10 he was often called to the Haydon Elementary School principal’s office to act as a translator between administrators and immigrant parents. At 14 he became obsessed with becoming a Marine, a relative said, joining the after-school ROTC program at Grace E. Metz Middle School and polishing his boots by night. At 15, he worked three part-time jobs – in a Mexican restaurant, for the rectory, and washing cars – on nights and weekends, to save up for a car.
After graduating from Osbourn High School in 2001, Zimmerman moved to Lake Mary, Florida, a town neighboring Sanford. His parents purchased a retirement home there in 2002, in part to bring Cristina, who suffers from arthritis, to a warmer climate.
On his own at 18, GZ got a job at an insurance agency and began to take classes at night to earn a license to sell insurance. He grew friendly with a real estate agent named Lee Ann Benjamin, who shared office space in the building, and later her husband, John Donnelly, a Sanford attorney.
“George impressed me right off the bat as just a real go-getter,” Donnelly said. “He was working days and taking all these classes at night, passing all the insurance classes, not just for home insurance, but auto insurance and everything. He wanted to open his own office – and he did.”
In 2004, Zimmerman partnered with an African-American friend and opened up an Allstate insurance satellite office, Donnelly said.
Then came 2005, and a series of troubles. Zimmerman’s business failed, he was arrested, and he broke off an engagement with a woman who filed a restraining order against him.
That July, Zimmerman was charged with resisting arrest, violence, and battery of an officer after shoving an undercover alcohol-control agent who was arresting an under-age friend of Zimmerman’s at a bar. He avoided conviction by agreeing to participate in a pre-trial diversion program that included anger-management classes.
In August, Zimmerman’s fiancee at the time, Veronica Zuazo, filed a civil motion for a restraining order alleging domestic violence. Zimmerman reciprocated with his own order on the same grounds, and both orders were granted. The relationship ended.
In 2007 he married Shellie Dean, a licensed cosmetologist, and in 2009 the couple rented a townhouse in the Retreat at Twin Lakes. Zimmerman had bounced from job to job for a couple of years, working at a car dealership and a mortgage company. At times, according to testimony from Shellie at a bond hearing for Zimmerman, the couple filed for unemployment benefits.
Zimmerman enrolled in Seminole State College in 2009, and in December 2011 he was permitted to participate in a school graduation ceremony, despite being a course credit shy of his associate’s degree in criminal justice. Zimmerman was completing that course credit when the shooting occurred.
He purchased his Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm handgun due to a bad neighborhood pit bull dog named “Big Boi” recommended by a SPD officer. Mark Osterman helped him purchase it and helped with training and his CONCEALED permit.
Source: Chris Francescani (Reuters)
EOT
got it wrong
Zimmerman’s problem, now, is that anybody who sees him has every reason to be terrified for their life and therefore has reason to stand their ground. He’s a scary dude. He might think somebody was suspicious. He might do something he didn’t regret. He might think god had another plan, for Chrissake — anything could happen. Wow, scary. And if you look “boo” at him he gets scared and shoots you, while getting capillary lacerations.
:mrgreen”
He’s fluent in Spanish is his mother Peruvian, I think.
Bettykath – IMO “yes” he would have to. However, Judge Lester is so pissed off with GZ and O’Mara right now he would reject it in it’s entirety and press on if Angela presented it right now. I really think Malisha is right when she said a while back that GZ’s only self-preservation move is to try and escape and be an international fugitive (paraphrasing of course).
I think that breakdown of what he did with the PayPal money earlier leaves out the purchases he made (or will make) on the ‘black-market’ down in Miami. He would need to shake his knuckle-dragging baby-sitters (known and unknown ones), fool/remove the GPS device, and arrange exfiltration transportation (pilot, boat, or plane). With the narco-trade in South Florida and the “new mob”** (Russians and Japanese) hanging about… he has plenty of black-market options… He won’t need a passport for that just lotsa’ dinero (no problemo’ – (LOL))…
I think Raúl Castro (i.e. Cuba) would welcome GZ and Shellie. It seems that the FBI knows that Raúl is harboring many US fugitives at this time*. Why? Your guess is as good as mine.
Source: *John Miller – CBS News (ex ODNI and FBI)
** “new mob”: When John Gotti died in 2002 the old mob seemed to be replaced by new ones: Russians (ex-KGB) and Yakuza. Source: FBI(dot)gov
Malisha – OK I can see what your saying… FYI I got the SAFETY COUNSELOR (aka handler) thing from his first recorded conversation with Shellie in where he was talking about the SH suggesting that the safe house be a hotel at Sanford International Airport. Mark being an AIR MARSHAL would have not suggested that as it conflicts with Judge Lester’s order to stay away from SIA – or at least common sense by not having it appear that GZ, his best friend, was going to ‘bounce’. That would also get him in trouble with his bosses at TSA. Mark seems law-abiding because he did talk GZ into turning himself in. I don’t relegate Mark to the same level of creepiness that I do with Frank. So far I find no obvious criminality with Mark. Frank is a whole other kettle of fish…
For O’Mara to set up an “incompetence” future scenario would be a blemish on his professional track record and would not end in a mistrial but only a re-assignment of counsel.
In my opinion Angela can not benefit from considering a plea bargain as she sits in a position of strength right now. GZ running off at the mouth is only adding fodder for her prosecution strategy. Also USAG Eric Holder is waiting in the wings to drop the other shoe on GZ when Angela lays her cards on the table at trial.
IMO if GZ keeps this up Judge Lester may issue a gag order and this yada yada yada will stop PDQ. But that would impact BOTH sides which also may be O’Mara’s strategy too. I also think this yada stuff may also help O’Mara in some way on appeal… but that part is not extremely clear at this point.
Just my opinion…
Wouldn’t a plea involve an elocution? Wonder what Zimmerman would say.
SonofThunder, SH — as Safety Handler — could also be Mark Osterman. At this point, however, ANYBODY could be receiving money for “expenses” of George and O’Mara; they can be deferred payments, they can be laundered, any number of ways to handle the thing. Not to worry. Now he doesn’t need to use code any more.
BUT the interview was designed to get Zimmerman to give a non-cross-examinable story out to his “side” so they could do as much for him pending resolution as possible, both financially and otherwise.
The issue is how to get public opinion on his side enough to make it possible to plea bargain this out without the whole thing exploding again. Lester may want to do the whole trial thing and get a fully legal-litigated conclusion or he may just be doing his job and not care one way or the other, but I believe BOTH Corey AND O’Mara want a plea rather than a trial. More pro-Zim publicity that is information-free and skinhead-friendly will mean more possibility of a light-sentence plea bargain.
Frankly, I think a good prosecutor can make so much hay out of what Zimmerman did at the interview that if there were going to be a trial, one could easily say that O’Mara had provided ineffective assistance of counsel simply by allowing his client to open his damn fool mouth. But then again, “ineffective assistance of counsel” is a way out on a federal habeas corpus if all else is lost…I mean, do you think people would really be that devious as to plan to mess up so they could get the guy off on a constitutional case four years down the road? That would be pretty devious, wouldn’t it…hmmmmm, I wonder.
Shano, I suspect that Gretchen’s top is so tight because she has put on a few pounds and hasn’t had a chance to go shopping. She probably hopes to get the weight off without buying a new wardrobe. (I’ve been there). The dress looks to be a size too small.
Re: Zimmerman having to get a house number for the SPD dispatcher? First there are only THREE streets at RATL. GZ lived there for 3 years mostly as the self-appointed Neighborhood Watch captain (who should know the lay of the land like the back of his hand – right?). His sister-in-law lives on Twin Trees (same last name). Now here’s the BIGGIE… all RATL townhouses have reflective address labels on BOTH sides – front and back! He had a WORKING flashlight as a neighbor’s cell-phone video proves. He lied and said it was dead. Can you spell PATHOLOGICAL LIAR?
O’Mara is not grimacing every time his client’s open’s his mouth. Why? Because it’s part of his strategy IMO…
Shano – Watching the Youtube video you posted watch GZ’s “tells” (body language) at around 03:35 in the timestamp. He blinks too much, shakes his head NO when making an ‘affirmative’ statement (IOW “…even I don’t believe what I’m presently saying…”), and looks to his left (your right) – since GZ is left-handed this MAY mean he was constructing an auditory memory he NEVER heard.
Wow GZ and O’Mara are really lying to the wrong people huh?
Source: “Frogs into Princes: Neuro Linguistic Programming” – Richard Bandler and John Grinder.
(continuing)
All good contingency planners who are sneaky lawyers like O’Mara have already (or will when formed) planted a shill in the jury to manipulate the other jurors. I think its based on THE RUNAWAY JURY. Read this essay by John Grisham about how its done (by tobacco industry):
http://tinyurl.com/79znem4
O’Mara is not going anywhere just as long as he knows that the PayPal money gambit is guaranteed payment. It beats dunning the client for payment later. Also beats chasing ambulances too.
Why is O’Mara allowing his client to “testify” on Sean Hannity when he would not allow him to do so in open court? Because he is trying to tamper with the jury IMO. He also is, what is called in “pool”, setting up his next shot. He needs contingency plans. If he can’t get a judge recusal, change of venue, a hung jury, etc. he will go for diminished capacity based on his client’s insane comments on Sean Hannity.
(continued)
Re: Jose Baez (Attorney) – “SH” is NOT codeword for Sean Hannity. SH is GZ’s codeword for the “safety handler” or “safety counselor”. Who is that? Frank Taaffe. See http://www.facebook.com/InSession/posts/485441588151133 to support this indirect analysis.
Dumb ass Gretchen Carleson trying for emotions, this is the only way I could watch any of the Hannity interview. Could her top be any tighter? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=C-lxaUlFaFo
Zimmerman is positively Sandusky-esque in his dealings with the press and choice of counsel.
“So now here comes a scarily blank George Zimmerman telling Hannity no, sir, he doesn’t regret anything in the murder of Trayvon Martin – he wouldn’t do anything different and he didn’t follow him and he’s not a bad guy and hey it was just God’s plan that he shoot down an unarmed teenager. The Martin family’s lawyer had the second-best response to this display of unimaginable hubris, cluelessness, arrogance and lack of any whisper of moral accountability: “Just … unbelievable.” Trayvon’s father Tracy had the best: “We must worship a different God.”
Amy Zimet
Malisha,
George Zimmerman is a murderer, at least according to God’s plan!
If folks see what happened to $35,000 the first time around I have to wonder how many will be enthusiastic to continue to support him financially.
See my post here at 1, July 19, 2012 at 1:46 am
George Zimmerman relaunched his personal website on the same day that he gave his first media interview about his shooting of Trayvon Martin.
On the site, therealgeorgezimmerman.com, the second-degree murder defendant wrote a letter to his supporters and asked them to donate to his defense fund, which he said is nearly depleted.
“This has been the most difficult time of my life. I have been charged and arrested for murder, I have been accused of being a racist, and my family and I have to live in hiding because of threats against my life. I am not a murderer, and I am not a racist,” Zimmerman wrote.
Zimmerman, 28, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting of Martin, 17, of Miami Gardens. He claims self-defense.
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Zimmerman told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an interview that aired Wednesday night that he had never heard of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law before the Feb. 26 incident in Sanford. His attorney Mark O’Mara told Hannity that he plans to use Stand Your Ground in his defense of Zimmerman.
Zimmerman wrote that “Rumors and lies about the case and me are rampant on the Internet,” so he created his website to give him a place to set the record straight.
“This is not my website, this is our website,” he told supporters. “I am going to use this as a chance to communicate with you and listen to you, and as an opportunity to share important things about the case.”
A note at the top of the site also says “George Zimmerman and the case against him has been grossly misrepresented in the media.”
Zimmerman said his website is also a place where he can gather donations for his defense fund, which he said has the lowest amount of money in it since it was formed.
Zimmerman initially set up therealgeorgezimmerman.com in the days before his April 11 arrest, but it was disabled later in April.
A spokesman for the O’Mara Law Group told NBC 6 that Zimmerman asked to relaunch his website and O’Mara allowed it. It relaunched on Wednesday.
Zimmerman is responsible for the site, and the hope is it will raise awareness and help drive donations to the defense fund, according to the spokesman. Zimmerman will contribute to it infrequently, he said.
Zimmerman said in a video posted on his site later on Thursday, however, that “I’ll be frequently updating this website, so check back often, and spread the word to your family and friends.”
He reiterated his message in the video, thanking his supporters in English and Spanish.
O’Mara and his team already have a robust website, gzlegalcase.com, and associated social media accounts that advocate for Zimmerman online. Links on both gzlegalcase.com and therealgeorgezimmerman.com connect to gzdefensefund.com, the official site for Zimmerman’s legal defense fund.
Trayvon Martin’s Parents: Shooting Not God’s Plan
Zimmerman is living in hiding with his family after being released on bond for a second time recently.
He wrote that his family’s security needs have been extremely high, and that his defense fund has been devastated by almost $50,000 in security expenses and the $100,000 that was paid to a bondsman to release him from jail.
“The skyrocketing legal costs have gone unpaid,” he added.
He closed his letter to supporters by relaying his and his family’s gratitude.
“Thank you for your generosity and your support in the past. We need your help again. It is only through your support that we have come this far and I’m learning there is a long way to go,” Zimmerman concludes. “Once again, I humbly thank you.”