http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/abc-news-photo-taken-after-trayvon-martin-shooting/nMdbw/
Updated: 6:22 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2012 | Posted: 5:58 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2012
ABC News: Photo taken after Trayvon Martin shooting shows bloody George Zimmerman
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —
WFTV just learned Friday morning about a picture of gunman George Zimmerman, taken just three minutes after the shooting that left 17-year-old Trayvon Martin dead.
The picture reportedly shows cuts on the back of Zimmerman’s head, with blood trickling down.
Zimmerman, who shot and killed 17-year-old Martin on February 26 in a gated Sanford community, claimed he killed Martin in self-defense. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of Martin.
The picture would seem to back up Zimmerman’s claim that Martin slammed his head against the sidewalk.
That picture could be part of the evidence shown to the judge in court Friday morning during Zimmerman’s bond hearing.
ABC News is breaking more on this story on Good Morning America at 7 a.m. on Channel 9. We’ll have more on Central Florida’s TV 27 at 7 a.m.
Meanwhile, Trayvon Martin’s parents will come face to face for the first time with Zimmerman on Friday.
Zimmerman is due in a Seminole County courtroom for a bond hearing at 9 a.m.
After a week and a half behind bars, Zimmerman may be walking out of jail to await trial on a second-degree murder charge.
The parents of 17-year-old Martin are expected in the courtroom during the bond hearing.
Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara will likely argue to Judge Kenneth Lester that Zimmerman is not a flight risk, pointing to fact that Zimmerman turned himself in immediately when charges were filed.
Judge Lester must decide if Zimmerman will be offered bond.
“He’s evidenced his willingness to stay involved in the process. I think that works to his credit,” said O’Mara.
Zimmerman made his first appearance in court eight days ago. O’Mara said Zimmerman was hiding out in another state while the outrage built in the case because he was not arrested for well over a month after the shooting.
“He’s tired. It’s been a long period of time here. He’s gone through some tribulations of his own,” said O’Mara.
WFTV learned that as the process for Zimmerman’s trial ramps up, taxpayers will likely foot the bill for his defense.
“He is indigent for cost. He doesn’t have any money and there’s a process in place that allows the state to assist in paying costs, not attorney’s fees,” said O’Mara.
Meanwhile, WFTV found out Zimmerman has asked to meet with Martin’s parents.
This comes just as Zimmerman may be let out of jail, causing Martin’s parents and their lawyers to question his motive.
“He never once apologized on his website, on any of the voicemails he left his friends, and never expressed any remorse during police interviews,” said Martin’s family attorney Ben Crump.
Crump said Friday is also expected to be an emotional day for Zimmerman’s parents.
It’s the first time they’ll be in the same room as Zimmerman since Martin’s death. Crump also told CNN Thursday night that the timing of Zimmerman’s request is “self-serving.”
The hearing begins at 9 a.m. and WFTV will be in the courtroom and will have live coverage on Channel 9 WFTV and WFTV.com
The city has security plans in place if Zimmerman does bond out of jail, but no one would go into any details.
Former WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer will return to his role to provide in-depth analysis of the Zimmerman bond hearing.
Sheaffer recently left WFTV to run for judge, but he later decided against running for family reasons.
Stay with WFTV for the very latest on Zimmerman’s bond hearing and what will happen if he gets out of jail.
UPDATED VERSION:
http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/abc-news-photo-taken-after-trayvon-martin-shooting/nMdbw/
Updated: 7:32 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2012 | Posted: 5:58 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2012
ABC News: Photo taken after Trayvon Martin shooting shows bloody George Zimmerman
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —
ABC News exclusively obtained a graphic photograph of George Zimmerman’s head covered in blood that was taken just three minutes after the shooting that left 17-year-old Trayvon Martin dead. This news comes as Zimmerman is set to go before a judge in a bond hearing on Friday.
The picture shows two cuts on the back of Zimmerman’s head with blood trickling down.
Click here to see the photo (WARNING GRAPHIC)
Zimmerman, who shot and killed 17-year-old Martin on February 26 in a gated Sanford community, claimed he killed Martin in self-defense. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of Martin.
The photograph appears to be the first publicly disclosed piece of evidence that could help support Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense. Sources tell ABC News that investigators have seen the photograph and are aware of the photographer’s story.
The person who took the photograph told ABC News he heard Martin and Zimmerman fighting before the shooting and that after Martin was killed, Zimmerman asked the photographer to call Zimmerman’s wife, allegedly blurting out, “Man, just tell her I shot someone.”
GPS and other data embedded in the photo shows it was taken at the scene with an iPhone just three minutes after the shooting, according to ABC News.
ABC News said the photographer said gunpowder marks were clearly visible on Martin’s hooded sweatshirt.
Zimmerman was treated at the scene, then transferred to the police station, where his wounds appear to be less visible in surveillance video.
That picture could be part of the evidence shown to the judge in court Friday morning during Zimmerman’s bond hearing.
Meanwhile, Trayvon Martin’s parents will come face to face for the first time with Zimmerman on Friday.
Zimmerman is due in a Seminole County courtroom for a bond hearing at 9 a.m.
After a week and a half behind bars, Zimmerman may be walking out of jail to await trial on a second-degree murder charge.
The parents of 17-year-old Martin are expected in the courtroom during the bond hearing.
Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara will likely argue to Judge Kenneth Lester that Zimmerman is not a flight risk, pointing to fact that Zimmerman turned himself in immediately when charges were filed.
Judge Lester must decide if Zimmerman will be offered bond.
“He’s evidenced his willingness to stay involved in the process. I think that works to his credit,” said O’Mara.
Zimmerman made his first appearance in court eight days ago. O’Mara said Zimmerman was hiding out in another state while the outrage built in the case because he was not arrested for well over a month after the shooting.
“He’s tired. It’s been a long period of time here. He’s gone through some tribulations of his own,” said O’Mara.
WFTV learned that as the process for Zimmerman’s trial ramps up, taxpayers will likely foot the bill for his defense.
“He is indigent for cost. He doesn’t have any money and there’s a process in place that allows the state to assist in paying costs, not attorney’s fees,” said O’Mara.
Meanwhile, WFTV found out Zimmerman has asked to meet with Martin’s parents.
This comes just as Zimmerman may be let out of jail, causing Martin’s parents and their lawyers to question his motive.
“He never once apologized on his website, on any of the voicemails he left his friends, and never expressed any remorse during police interviews,” said Martin’s family attorney Ben Crump.
Crump said Friday is also expected to be an emotional day for Zimmerman’s parents.
It’s the first time they’ll be in the same room as Zimmerman since Martin’s death. Crump also told CNN Thursday night that the timing of Zimmerman’s request is “self-serving.”
The hearing begins at 9 a.m. and WFTV will be in the courtroom and will have live coverage on Channel 9 WFTV and WFTV.com
The city has security plans in place if Zimmerman does bond out of jail, but no one would go into any details.
Former WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer will return to his role to provide in-depth analysis of the Zimmerman bond hearing.
Sheaffer recently left WFTV to run for judge, but he later decided against running for family reasons.
Stay with WFTV for the very latest on Zimmerman’s bond hearing and what will happen if he gets out of jail.