George Zimmerman's attorneys apologize for mischaracterizing evidence

[marble falls]

Source: NBC News

By Daniel Arkin, Staff Writer, NBC News

Attorneys for George Zimmerman apologized Sunday for mischaracterizing evidence they said boosted their theory that Trayvon Martin was the aggressor in his fatal meeting with their client last year.

Lawyer Mark O’Mara said during a hearing last Tuesday that the defense had obtained video footage of three fights, including one in which he said two of Martin’s friends "were beating up a homeless guy."

But Zimmerman's defense team corrected that statement on Sunday, saying O'Mara had unintentionally "misstated the nature" of the footage.

In a statement posted on Zimmerman’s website, the defense lawyers said the footage actually showed "two homeless guys fighting each other over a bike."


More at the link

Read more: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/02/18702011-george-zimmermans-attorneys-apologize-for-mischaracterizing-evidence?lite

---

I think all the games are winding down and nothing good for Zimmerman is going to come of it.

[MrScorpio]

1. You can just smell the desperation…

Even Zimmerman's own lawyers know that he's hosed.

[marble falls]

3. The news of the last couple of weeks make me hopefull.

[SkyDaddy7]

23. Hopeful? I'm more...

worried than I have been...Zimmerman's defense is playing dirty tricks by knowingly releasing inadmissible evidence to the media just to poison the jury in that part of Florida...This is bad bad news!!

[SkyDaddy7]

22. "Desperation"????

This is NOT "desperation" it is dirty tricks to poison the jury pool!!! Zimmerman's attorney's are knowingly releasing things to the media they know are inadmissible just so it poisons the jury there in Florida...Zimmerman may not get convicted due to these stunts.

I would not count on anything being a done deal...This is far from a done deal!!

[Drale]

30. That crap didn't work for Drew Petterson

or Rod Blagojevich and its not going to work for Zimmerman either.

[BVictor1]

43. Well, this is Florida so...

[SkyDaddy7]

63. Lets hope you are correct...

We will see.

[JI7]

2. is it over for him as far as his career in law goes ?

my guess is he might start working for Fox NEws as the legal expert who explains why all the racist andother bigoted crimes were really the fault of the victim.

[marble falls]

4. I think he'll become the forgotten man for the right. He single handedly stopped the march...

of the revised 'stand your ground' laws in this nation and it was rolling along pretty well, and it blunted the right wing agenda to rewrite laws all over the country.

[Boomerproud]

5. Have you read the comments for the article?

About 30% of them are just sickening.

[marble falls]

8. Oh jeez. You're not kidding are you? I'll check them out. Thanx.

[Thinkingabout]

6. If he is convicted he will be a felon and should never possess weapons again. For all who are so

Attached to their weapons should think twice about their actions. I sure hope the judge does not allow Trayvon's past history to be given in court unless they also present Zimmerman's past. Intact Trayvon should not be on trial.

[Major Nikon]

7. In other words...

Our pathetic attempt at poisoning a potential jury failed, and now we want to contain the pendulum which is swinging the other way on us.

[marble falls]

9. Ratting themselves out. Precious.

[Iliyah]

10. He did exactly what his purpose was and no apology

will change that. He meant to poison the well, and this shit is out there. Trayon can't defend himself, so why not make him look like a bad teenager. O'Mara is paid to get Zimmerman off any means necessary.

[dmr]

11. I agree, he meant to poison the well.

The damage is done.

I don't understand why there isn't a gag order.

[marble falls]

13. Ordering that no mention be made over alledged pot use, rough housing at school....

and texts on Trayvon's phone, and video tapes (which the lawyers admit were not what they had claimed earlier) in court is a sort of gag order. Its the best we can hope for right now. Also in that this crap has been bandied about from the second Zimmerman was taken in after the murder, a gag order would prevent the truth about the innuendo from being heard. Justice is slow and imperfect but I think Zimmerman is going to face substantial justice. He will be found guilty and he will go inside.

[marble falls]

12. Yeah well the truth came out before the trial. The truth is out. Racists won't be changed by ...

the apology either way. And they won't be on the jury.

[SCVDem]

14. Show the footage at trial

Then have O'Mara explain to the jury the whats and whys.

Explain yourself to the people that matter, all 12 of them!

[DallasNE]

15. Three Little Words

"Don't do that!"

It is on tape and that trap is the one Zimmerman can't get out of. It establishes stalking and it cooks Zimmerman's goose. And when the voice experts go over the screaming voice and determine that it is not Zimmerman screaming, game - set - match.

[marble falls]

17. Just one of many things that are going to fall all over Georgie Zimmerman.

[marew]

47. I SO hope you are right.

It has NEVER been the goal of any neighborhood watch group to be vigilantes.

[bvar22]

16. They should be "apologizing"....

...from a Jail Cell!

[heaven05]

18. I'm

going to go out on a limb here, it's pretty thick, and say he will be exonerated from all charges. I really do hope I'm wrong and the limb breaks, but I don't think so.

[marble falls]

19. I hope you're wrong, he may get a light sentence but he'll be found guilty of something...

the prosecuters seem fired up and so far as I know no deals been offered.

[tblue]

27. His life as he knew it is over.

He will get the Casey Anthony/OJ treatment for the rest of his life no matter the outcome of this case.

[brush]

62. If he's found not guilty, lookout!

It won't be pretty if that killer goes free.

[grok]

20. THIS is how you do it...

Do it right and never apologize...



O'Mara is getting soft..

[BigD_95]

21. I just havent followerd this story enough

Zimmerman called 911... was told not to follow him.... but it is Zimmerman's right to follow him. .... so I can not stand when people make the argument he was told not to follow.... so what... he had every right to follow Trayvon Martin by law.... so please drop this talk... it doesnt mean anything

Now lets say Zimmerman did even in fact become concern with Trayvon because he was black..... again not against the law.

So he follows him. Went to get back in his truck and then Martin jumps him. Beating him pretty bad. Slamming his head into the road. SO Zimmerman fearing for his life shoots him.

I just dont see how Zimmermen would be found guilty. I really must be missing something. This talk that if Zimmermen would have listen when calling 911 Martin would be alive.... It does not matter. He had a right to follow Martin. There is no law that says if you suspect someone you cant follow them. Is it smart no. But that does not give MArtin the right to jump Zimmermen. Martin should have called 911 and said some guy is following him if he felt unsafe. It never gave Martin the right to jump Zimmermen.

[Hoyt]

25. You are kidding? Martin had a right to stand his ground against the bully/bigot with a gun.

If Martin did hit him, it's a shame it wasn't hard enough to knock the murderous police wannabe out cold. Of course if he had, Martin would have been put in the slammer long ago, things being like they are in that locality.

[BigD_95]

26. how did he bully him?

Do you know that to be true? Did yell at him? call him names? Show his gun to Martin? You dont know any of this.

As a matter of fact. Zimmermen called the police. Followed him so he could tell the police where Martin was.... doesnt sound like a bully

[Hoyt]

31. Sounds like you've missed a few facts. If the bigot gun nuts that end up on jury,

Let Zimmerman go (even if by hung jury), you can throw a party.

[Bjorn Against]

36. And you have no evidence that Martin attacked first

The fact is however an unarmed boy is dead and Zimmerman killed him, we know that Zimmerman was following Trayvon before the incident. When a pursuer kills the unarmed person who he was following that does not appear to me to be self defense in any way.

[Pelican]

42. No one saw who struck first.

They just have Zimmerman's story, his wounds and the observations of people who came after the fight had started and saw Martin on top of Zimmerman. What happened before that is the crux of the case...

[naaman fletcher]

56. Who said they saw Martin on top of Zimmerman?

I hadn't heard that.

[Pelican]

64. Part of the initial reporting at least...

A quick google turns up...

http://abcnews.go.com/US/cops-witnesses-back-george-zimmermans-version/story?id=16371852

"The reports also note that two witness accounts appear to back up Zimmerman's version of what happened when they describe a man on his back with another person wearing a hoodie straddling him and throwing punches. "

[naaman fletcher]

65. thanks. nt

[samsingh]

40. your questions are utterly ridiculous. do you know that zimmerman did not pull his gun?

do you know that martin did not threaten to kill Martin?

[BigD_95]

45. Thats my point

we dont know. But no body knows if GZ did anything wrong either.


Witness say they saw Martin on top of Zimmerman. The wounds go with GZ story.


My point isnt if GZ is guilty. Its that nobody knows so there is no way to convict the guy

[Sheldon Cooper]

52. Wow, I hope you're never on a jury.

"nobody knows so there is no way to convict the guy"? Have you never heard of circumstantial evidence? It's used to convict a lot of people.

Your boy Zimmerman is going down, and not a minute too soon.

[BigD_95]

74. I hope you never are

its better 100 guilty people walk then one innocent person found guilty.

I dont know if Zimmerman is guilty and he sure as hell aint my boy. But from what I know it does not sound like he is guilty.

[Sheldon Cooper]

81. Familiarize yourself with the American legal system and then get back to me.

I am amazed at the number of people who don't understand circumstantial evidence and what a role it plays in our judicial system. It's practically unpatriotic to be so unaware.

[naaman fletcher]

57. Who saw Martin on top of zimmerman?

I didn't know that.

Anyway, I agree with you that Zimmerman will be exonerated (at least of the more serious charges). It's basically his word against a dead guys word, unfortunately.

[samsingh]

59. he killed an unarmed kid !!!!

[Isoldeblue]

29. The problem with what you say

about Trayvon jumping gz, is that the only evidence for it, is from George, only. Who would say that to make himself look more favorable. But, the thing is, GZ has lied more than once. He has changed parts of what happened that night more than once.

So everything you say, is an echo of gz; with no proof.

And I think that Trayvon asked DeeDee to call 911, because some guy was following him.

[tblue]

34. Only if you take the killer at his word.

I have followed this case closely. I kinda think the shooter might not be on the up & up. Doesn't matter what I think. But the facts are he shot an unarmed kid and there was no complete investigation at the time. Zimmerman has a history of violence and got caught lying to a judge in this case. I don't trust him; he has every reason to lie. And Trayvon is dead so he can't defend himself in court.

[BigD_95]

46. "unarmed kid"

nice way to make someone sound when they are a troubled teen who fights & does drugs. I understand none of that you should die for because I was that same teen when I was young. But you are not unarmed if you are beating someone with your fist and slamming their head into the ground. Your fist become a weapon. You never heard of people getting beat up to death before? With out weapons?

At the same time if Martin did attack GZ how can you fault him from fearing for his life? If I followed someone I had concerns about and they attacked me it would be scary. I dont carry a gun or own one .... nor do I believe in them. But if MArtin "did" attack GZ I think he has blame in this also.

Martin could have kept walking away. Once he attacked GZ (if he did first ) then what happen after is sad but not a crime.

Everyone says GZ shouldnt have followed him. Maybe but that isnt against the law. If Martin attacked GZ first. That is against the law.

[marble falls]

49. " If I followed someone I had concerns about and they attacked me it would be scary."....

Why did Zimmerman have concerns about Trayvon? He was a black kid in a hoodie. If you were "concerned" and you called the cops and the cops told you to back off and leave it to the 'professionals' why would you go confront the kid and shoot him?

Because you weren't concerned. Because you we called the cops to create a basis for "stand your ground" so if the kid did anything after you pulled your piece you could shoot him.

That's what you would do and that's what Zimmerman did. Unfortunately Trayvon didn't go without a fight and your .. I mean Zimmerman's .. little game went south.

I don't think you're as naive as you play.

[HangOnKids]

69. Your last sentence is very apt

The Zim defenders always act like they are "confubalated" over the facts of the case! This thread is bringing them out.

[jollyreaper2112]

68. Some idjit voted to censor this

While I disagree with winger talking points, I bloody well hate censorship.

[marble falls]

71. Censor what?

[jollyreaper2112]

76. Alert

They alerted on the message.

[marble falls]

77. which message?

[jollyreaper2112]

79. The one I replied to

One agreed to ban, the rest did not.

[csziggy]

70. You completely missed that GZ's attorney LIED about the fights

That is what O'Mara was apologizing about - LYING about the videos he had claimed showed Martin fighting.

You said "Martin could have kept walking away." Martin DID walk away - GZ kept following him. GZ saw Martin coming into the neighborhood, drove past, stopped, waited for Martin to pass him, then continued to follow Martin in his vehicle AND on foot.

I have little in common with Martin - wrong sex, wrong age, wrong race - but if someone had done with me as GZ did with Martin, I would have been in fear. And if that person had showed up, confronting me and blocking my way home, as seems to have been the case, I would have been ready to get physical to get away.

The Stand Your Ground law seems to work in Martin's favor except for one main factor - Martin is dead and George Zimmerman gets to tell the story any way he feels like. Since GZ's story has changed and does NOT match the facts as shown by his own call to the Sanford PD (it was not a 911 call, it was a non-emergency call), I refuse to believe him.

[undiegrinder]

35. You are 100% right, BigD_95 !

You "just havent followerd this story enough."

However, ignorance alone doesn't explain why you're so concerned about Zimmerman's "right to follow Trayvon Martin" (despite being told not to) and yet you're remarkably UNconcerned with Trayvon's right to walk home without being followed (and perhaps even possibly harrassed ?) by someone who had, minutes earlier, exclaimed during a 911 call, "F***ing c**ns !"

Maybe the "something" that you "must be missing" is an unbiased viewpoint ?

[telclaven]

50. Point of fact here.

by someone who had, minutes earlier, exclaimed during a 911 call, "F***ing c**ns !"

This was actually shown to be audio manipulation by the media and not actually what was said.

[jeff47]

39. So....you completely believe the shooter's story

Despite the lack of injuries on Martin's hands, indicating there was no beating.

Despite the lack of injuries on Zimmerman, indicating there was no beating.

But Zimmerman said Martin was a scary black man who attacked him for no reason, and you believe him. Despite the utter lack of corroborating physical evidence.

So, are you a massive racist, or is there some other reason you buy Zimmerman's story hook, line and sinker?

[BigD_95]

44. So I had a post removed before for name calling or some BS

yet here I am being called a massive racist ... in the form of a question ..... yet the post is allowed to stay?????

[marble falls]

51. Stop looking like a duck, quacking like a duck and swimming like a duck and no one will ....

assume that you are a duck.

[jeff47]

53. Yet you managed to not provide a non-racist reason for believing Zimmerman.

How odd for a non-racist to not be able to state his non-racist reason for completely believing the white guy's story in the face of contradictory physical evidence.

[marble falls]

58. Great point.

[frylock]

66. quack

[marew]

48. Zimmerman called 911... was told not to follow him.... but it is Zimmerman's right to follow him.

GZ disobeyed the police. We have that right to ignore police directions? Link? Maybe in your world! Neighborhood watch groups are based on NOT confronting anyone. GZ was functioning as a part of a neighbor hood watch! That is just one part you are missing!

GZ is someone who desperately wanted to be a cop but was never accepted for obvious reasons.

Some looney tunes follows me at night- I'd have a problem with that also.

The lead investigator wanted to arrest GZ that same night but daddy's a judge...

[BigD_95]

73. a 911 answering person is not the police

and yes you can disobey police if they are telling you something that is not against the law.

Also the 911 person did tell him not to follow as a firm legal act. He said it as more of a suggestion. Go back and listen

[Blue_Tires]

60. Already wrong and long since debunked

Zimmerman had no "right" or legal authority to follow him, Martin was not committing a crime...It's called racial profiling...I've enjoyed seeing so many supposed "liberals" on this site weave their pretzel logic to excuse this...

I'll be more than happy to guide you through the other finer points of the case you don't "get"...

[BigD_95]

72. Ha ha

debunked ??? what is there to debunk? Zimmerman is not a cop. There is no such thing as "racial profiling"

He could be a member of the clan. Its not against the law.

[Blue_Tires]

75. Stalking? Harassment? Violation of civil rights?

Thanks for telling me upfront you don't believe in such a thing as racial profiling...Lets me know exactly who I'm dealing with...

Either way, I'm dismayed you think this issue is something to laugh about...

[BigD_95]

78. ???

thanks for letting me know who Im dealing with???

I never said I didnt believe in racial profiling. I said he is not on the police force. racial profiling if for people of law.

[Hoyt]

24. IMO, Zimmerman is just another bully with a gun, but I'm betting there will be

at least one like him on the jury. That's all it takes to spring this jerk who never would have gotten out of his car without his gun.

[ZRT2209]

28. ass

[marshall]

32. It's called Bum Fights, not Beat Up a Bum Fights

Lots of young guys are into it. They pay homeless men to beat each other up, but they don't beat them up themselves. It's posted online, sort of an Internet fad.

[erpowers]

33. Unintentionally My Butt

Mark O' Mara did not in any way, shape, or form unintentionally "misrepresent the nature" of the videos. I think a regular person would be able to tell the difference between two people fighting over a bike and two young people beating up someone. O' Mara is a lawyer, so I would think he would be competent enough to know whether a video showed two young people beating up a homeless person or two homeless people fighting over a bike.

The real reason for putting out the information about the videos and misleading people is that O' Mara hoped he would not get caught. He probably also put the information out there for those who would not pay enough attention in order to later learn that he had misled people about the video contents. He may have also been going for the people who only get their information from anti-Trayvon Martin sources that would most likely never tell their viewers/listeners that O' Mara had misled people.

[Doctor_J]

37. is that anything like lying

[marble falls]

38. And here's the video:

#t=8s

[SoapBox]

41. Day late and a dollar short...

dickwad.

[Warpy]

54. Those lawyers should be disbarred

for trying a murder victim in the press and undercutting the ability of Zimmerman to get a fair trial anywhere.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

55. In the words of the great Steve Urkel......

"Did I do thatttttttt?"

Or....in the words of the great Texan Rick Perry,

"Opps!"

[pokerfan]

61. k&r

Poisoning the jury pool....

How do you watch a video and tell the Court and a national audience that Trayvon Martin filmed two of his friends beating up a homeless man when it actually showed two homeless men fighting over a bicycle?

http://frederickleatherman.com/2013/06/02/llmpapa-quashes-a-lying-lawyer/

[Spazito]

67. Mark O'Meara is scum, this just proves it...

He should be reported for a major ethics violation. He did this deliberately and it is not the first and, if he has his way, it won't be his last. He needs to be stopped, imo.

[bluedeathray]

80. Has the defense

Admitted facts in evidence? I've read lots of smoke and mirrors, but few factual admissions.

1. Did Z put a pistol in his pocket?
2. Did Z then get into his vehicle and drive in front of M's path?
3. Did Z get out of his vehicle and confront M?
4. Did this (supposed) confrontation conclude with Z shooting M in the chest?

F***ing tragedy.