Curious new details in Trayvon Martin case

New details are emerging in the Trayvon Martin murder case. Prosecutors have released recorded testimony from Trayvon Martin's girlfriend who was with him on the phone when he was killed. Additional reports from the fire department and Martin's autopsy have also been released. 

MIAMI, FL (Catholic Online) - George Zimmerman is accused of murdering Trayvon Martin on February 26 as the young man walked through Zimmerman's neighborhood. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, said he thought Martin looked suspicious. 

Zimmerman is basing his defense on Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law, which allows a victim of a crime to kill an attacker if they feel their life is in danger. Zimmerman claims Martin assaulted him. 

Martin's Girlfriend - Martin's girlfriend was on the phone with him when Zimmerman confronted him. According to Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda, Martin's girlfriend said he got away from Zimmerman for some time, but Zimmerman pursued him. The story the girlfriend told also suggests that it was Martin who stood his ground against Zimmerman, not the other way around. 

She explained to the prosecutor that Martin was out of breath from running away and that he only stopped because he was close to home and felt safe. Martin then yelled at the pursuing Zimmerman, "Why are you following me for?" 

The girl said she heard Zimmerman reply, "What are you doing around here?" Followed by a scuffle and someone shouting "get off, get off." After that, the call ended.
Fire Department Report - A report from the fire department shows that Zimmerman sustained injuries to his head. Part of Zimmerman's defense is the claim that Martin was on top of him and hitting his head against the ground. It was after sustaining Martin's assault that Zimmerman drew his pistol and shot him. 

Trayvon's Autopsy - The autopsy report showed that Martin had traces of THC, the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana, in his bloodstream. However, it is also noted that THC does not typically make a person more aggressive. 

The presence of THC in Martin's blood does not justify Zimmerman's actions, however they do cast shadow on Martin's public portrayal. The public sees Martin as a teenage boy who went to the store for his little brother, and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

The reality however, is that Martin was a young adult and much older and larger than his publicly circulated image would suggest. Still, there is no evidence Martin did anything illegal and he appears to be the victim of circumstances and an overzealous neighborhood watch captain. If that holds true through the trial, Zimmerman can expect to see prison. 

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'