Police: Zimmerman says Trayvon decked him with one blow then began hammering his head

Orlando Sentinel ^ | March 26, 2012 | Rene Stutzman

[maggief]

With a single punch, Trayvon Martin decked the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who eventually shot and killed the unarmed 17-year-old, then Trayvon climbed on top of George Zimmerman and slammed his head into the sidewalk several times, leaving him bloody and battered, authorities have revealed to the Orlando Sentinel.

That is the account Zimmerman gave police, and much of it has been corroborated by witnesses, authorities say.

Zimmerman has not spoken publicly about what happened, but that night, Feb. 26, and in later meetings he described and re-enacted for police what he says happened.

In his version of events, he had turned around and was walking back to his SUV when Trayvon approached him from behind, the two exchanged words then Trayvon punched him in the nose, sending him to the ground, and began beating him.

[trappedincanuckistan]

“maybe Trayvon saw the gun”

Speculation.

[floriduh voter]

I’m not on the board right now but I’d bet my bottom dollar that if our HOA liability insurance company knew our crime watch volunteer was armed, our premium would go up or they would demand the volunteer not carry while performing duties as a volunteer. Our premiums at the HOA are high enogh as it is without having to cover a volunteer walking around armed.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

Yes. But all evidence needs to come out.

And the image of Trayvon the Happy Skippy Skittleboy crap has been shot to hell.

Truth is a tough thing to accept sometimes...

[dragnet2]

With a single punch, Trayvon Martin decked Zimmerman, then Trayvon climbed on top of George Zimmerman and slammed his head into the sidewalk several times, leaving him bloody and battered, authorities have revealed to the Orlando Sentinel.

Yeah, but Z followed Martin, and looked at him...Doesn't that justify beating someones face in?

[William Tell]

floriduh voter said: "You are comparing a young man to a dog. "

No, I was comparing an unruly guest creating a ruckus at a condominium swimming pool with an unruly guest allowing his dogs to run unleashed in a condominium common use area.

I was making the point that those who break condominium rules can be held accountable by the homeowner's association because unit owners are completely responsible for the behavior of their guests.

[austinaero]

The media has been so incredibly irresponsible in the way they have reported this entire thing!

[voteNRA]

"I’m not on the board right now but I’d bet my bottom dollar that if our HOA liability insurance company knew our crime watch volunteer was armed, our premium would go up or they would demand the volunteer not carry while performing duties as a volunteer. Our premiums at the HOA are high enogh as it is without having to cover a volunteer walking around armed."

I am on the board of our HOA and we get around this problem by just not having an official "watch group".

If anyone strange to the neighborhood comes around, I or one of several neighbors will be out at soon as we notice to greet them and welcome them to our neighborhood.

I'm sure this is done while being armed often. We are not in any way acting as part of an association, just men doing what men are supposed to do to keep neighborhoods safe.

[floriduh voter]

This is why Gov. Rick Scott picked a top notch DA from Jacksonville. There is a lot to sort out. Zimmerman’s gotten a pass so far. I wonder how Casey Anthony’s doing. Florida’s either tazing people to death and people who harm children get away with it. At least the theme parks and the beaches are just swell!

[trappedincanuckistan]

Norm, we don’t always agree but Zim was in pursuit and he did say on that one tape to police: “They always get away.”

Maybe he wanted to maintain visual contact?

I believe Zim was in a state of mind where he was tired of “them” getting away and this time, it wasn’t gonna happen on his watch.

Speculatiuon.

The intent was not initially to shoot Trayvon but if someone carries, they need to carry responsibly which Zim failed to do.

Does carrying your weapon responsibly include keeping it holstered while you’re being attacked?

Crime Watch volunteers are NOT supposed to carry a weapon.

So if you have a permit to carry you’re not allowed to be in the neighbourhood watch?

They are supposed to call the cops who have tazers which are killin’ their own share of Floridians I might add.

This speaks volumes about your views in general.

Do you have any proof Zimmerman acted criminally? Then shut yer yap.

[LonePalm]

You called?

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[dragnet2]

Sucker punched.

Can I be honest?

Blacks are known for this, and in fact they have it on multiple video, of blacks just brutally sucker punching innocent people, as they walk by. Seem it many times.

What some don't realize, but people die everyday, due to blows to the head.

[Reese Hamm]

Zimmerman is Hispanic/jewish and a democrat.

Zimmerman is Catholic. About George (new window)

[floriduh voter]

We have a Canadian who set up a motel in his townhome, expecting to have new motel guests every two weeks which is clearly in violation of our docs. Had my friend not chatted up his guests at the pool, we would not have discovered this scheme which was against our HOA rules, violated luxury tax rules and this is not a time share or a motel.

Talking and listening seems best. At night, there are some cops who live here. That helps somewhat. We have lots of residents who have firearms because they have murdered relatives or were almost shot themselves someplace else. I'm talking white and black who were victims before.

[Reese Hamm]

He told the 911 operator this and said he was headed back to his vehicle.

Corrections: Not 911 operator, dispatcher...and he never indicated to the dispatcher that he was returning to his truck. That part is supposedly in his statement to police after the shooting.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Santorum supporters?

[William Tell]

floriduh voter said: "Stand Your Ground defense does not apply."

Many posters are speaking as if "stand your ground" laws are essential to claims of self-defense. That is not true.

Self-defense laws, even if not explicitly passed by a legislature, are part of common law. Some states have enacted statutes which institute a "duty to retreat". I'm not sure whether there is a basis for such a thing in common law or not.

The description by Zimmerman includes his intention to retreat. It would be the prosecution's burden to prove that he did not retreat in order to rule out self-defense.

If Zimmerman did retreat, then there wouldn't be any aspect of "stand your ground" that is relevant. In retreating, Zimmerman is not standing his ground, but giving ground. If Martin closed with Zimmerman in order to fight him, then Martin is guilty of assault, even if Zimmerman had previously assaulted Martin.

It's conceivable that both parties committed felonious assault while still being consistent with a legitimate use of self-defense by Zimmerman.

[trappedincanuckistan]

I would like to know if the following also actually including a confrontation, a sharing of words.. stalking is a crime there,, I think.. This is maybe more overzealous policing perhaps.

There’s a lot more to stalking than what apparently happened. Everyone needs to stop the “stalking” baloney.

Overzealousness isn’t a crime.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I dunno. Maybe they were an assault hoodie and select-fire skittles.

[floriduh voter]

This is a FORUM. Shut your yap is kind of a personal attack but I won’t report abuse. Everyone here is speculating the hell out of this. If you are not in Florida, maybe you aren’t getting the full coverage I am. They have been reporting on what crime stoppers and crime watch groups do and don’t do. I’m glad I don’t live there. The HOA fees are going to go through the roof when the civil suit is settled. A killing for whatever reason by a volunteer who was authorized by the Board of Directors sounds like cha ching in a civil suit to me. They’ll settle out of court and there will be more empty units for Zim to peek into. Tampa Bay Times - Sunday edition Twin Retreats report.

[rurgan]

Zimmerman is a person of color, a Hispanic. The media lies. The media has everyone believing it is a white Rush listener.