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December 3, 2012 8:54 PM

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Zimmerman's lawyers release bloody nose photo

Topics: Photos

This photograph shows George Zimmerman, accused of killing unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, the night of their confrontation. It was made public by Zimmerman's lawyers on December 3, 2012.

/ GZlegalcase.com

(CBS) -- The defense team for George Zimmerman, charged with killing unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin in February, released a color photo of Zimmerman with a bloody nose.

Pictures: George Zimmerman charged with murder

Zimmerman's lawyers say the photo was taken by a police officer on February 26, the night 17-year-old Martin was shot and killed nearby his father's home in Sanford, Fla. The 29-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charges and was released from Seminole County Jail on $1 million bond in July.

The photo was published on GZlegalcase.com, a website created by Zimmerman and his defense attorneys. Although the same picture was made public earlier this year as black-and-white photocopy, this high-resolution version comes shortly after the same website announced a "thank you" card defense fund to raise money for Zimmerman.

Lawyers on both sides of the case disagree on the picture's significance.

"It's not a game changer," Zimmerman lawyer Mark O'Mara told Reuters, adding its only importance was how it vividly showed the injuries Zimmrman sustained during his confrontation with Martin.

"Does it really show what happened that night to George? Yes," O'Mara said.

An attorney who represents Martin's family, Ben Crump, told Reuters the photo adds nothing new to the case.

"Trayvon Martin was defending himself. He had every right to stand his ground to defend himself," Crump said.

12 Photos

George Zimmerman's injuries

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by mesopotamianmon March 27, 2013 1:17 PM EDT: There is something very wrong with this picture.; Reply to this comment


by ugacrew December 6, 2012 3:16 PM EST: Mr. Zimmerman, your photo haunts me. It is not what I see that bothers me, it is what I DON'T see.

I see in the photo that you are wearing a nice size ring. Did you punch Mr. Martin during your struggle to free yourself from his deathly grip sufficient enough to leave injuries cause by that ring or tissue residue on that ring? I don't even wear my ring when I am working around the house with tools because it scrapes and scratches everything. I imagine that in a struggle it could do considerable injury to one's skin, especially if it is being welded by someone your size and strength and anger, Mr. Zimmerman. But, what do I know, I am just a housewife and a mother. Its cases like this that make me wish I had gone to law school. I would love to meet you in a court of law Mr. Zimmerman.; Reply to this comment

by ugacrew December 6, 2012 2:58 PM EST

Zimmerman really looks nice and clean on the full size photo. No grass stains, no mud, no dirt. What KIND of STRUGGLE was it? Did he say a struggle for his LIFE?

Reply to this comment


by ugacrew December 6, 2012 3:08 PM EST: Mr. Zimmerman, I am bothered. If Mr. Martin was banging your head into the concrete, it suggests to me that you had both of your hands free to cut off his oxygen flow as in choking, to punch him severely in his face to make him lose his grip, to knock his teeth out, to punch him with your apparently big fists in his chest, etc.
Where were your hands, Mr. Zimmerman, while he had his hands on your head pounding it into the pavement?

Did you think to give him a KNEE to the groin? Did you claw or punch or cause any visible injuries to Mr. Martin's extremities that would evidence the life and death struggle that made you SHOOT him to death?

Mr. Zimmerman, when I look at those streaks of blood, I am also bothered by their clear pattern. I see no evidence of your head moving as if it is in any type of struggle, as it might appear if it were moving across a flat surface. In other words, Mr. Zimmerman, it does not appear SMEARED at all.

Do you know what? If I had small streams of blood flowing down my nearly ball head, my normal reaction would be to WIPE at them. Minutes later, or however long after you left the accident scene,
the streams are still visible. Did no one, including the officers on the scene or medical personnel offer you a tissue or bandaid?

Did none of the Police or ER personnel concern themselves with AIDS or any other blood borne infection? OR were these left IN TACT for photographic purposes?


by ugacrew December 6, 2012 3:22 PM EST: It is hard for me to imagine two men in a "confrontational" situation as Zimmerman suggests, and an ensuing "struggle," with one supposedly struggling for his life, and there be absolutely NO evidence of Zimmerman every having been "grabbed" by his collar, or any other part of his clothing. No tears, no stretching, nothing.

HOW DID HE END UP ON THE GROUND ON HIS BACK

as he alleges? Did he just gently lay down? Did he lay down after Mr. Martin said lay down? What kind of concrete was this that seemed only to leave "pit" marks? If it was flat, why not show scrapes that coincide with the movement of Mr. Zimmerman? I can't envision a flat surface only making clean cuts, and tiny vertical like incisions at that. Someone needs to patent this kind of concrete and use it for surgical procedures.

I believe poor Mr. Martin was face down and struggling to breathe and free himself from Zimmerman's grip. I can't imagine Mr. Martin, in truggling for his life, not kicking Mr. Zimmerman or kneeing Mr. Zimmerman in the groin, anything to free himself. Any groin injuries? No, why? Mr. Martin was face down and screaming for help out of panic. Why would Mr. Zimmerman scream when he is packing a gun? He is not the screaming type, he is all BULLY. If he had any fear, he would have waited for the police, but NO, he felt emboldened by his hate and their support. More than one individual hand a had in that young man's death.

For all of you calling him a thug because of his attire, if you believe that then arrest Eminem; Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Puff-Daddy, the wrestlers, and the list goes on and on. In this country,
dressing rogue does not equate to permission for some onelse to take your life.
Reply to this comment ..by ugacrew December 5, 2012 5:48 PM EST
It is plain and clear. Look at the path of the blood flow. The blood appears to be flowing toward Zimmerman's ears, not toward the back of his head as one would expect for someone laying on the ground. The one streak of blood flowing from the center of his head vertically towards the ground, must have flowed when Zimmerman stoop up. So, it appears to me that Mr. Zimmerman was "facing" the ground, as if on top of the victim, not "laying" on the ground as he would have us believe. Also, the injuries to his face occurred either by Mr. Martin trying to defend himself or when Zimmerman's cop friends did him a big favor and smashed it so as to give him a credible defense.

This is a no brainer. The trajectory of the bullet wound most likely reveals the path of the bullet, but I'm not sure if it can reveal if the victim was on his back or on his face. I venture to say the victim definitely did not have the upper hand because if he did, he would have inflicted far more injuries in order to save his life, as in gauging his face and eyes. Not the simple nicks you see in this photo.
...by ugacrew December 5, 2012 5:49 PM EST
I want to add to my comments that if someone was in the kind of fight Zimmerman alledges, with someone banging Zimmerman's head as he states, I would think that the individual would have an extremely strong grip around Zimmerman's head because I am certain there would be resistance on Zimmerman's part. That being the case, it amazes me that there are no apparent bruises or other marks to indicate where that grip might have been. Zimmerman's ears and the side of his face appear quite ok. The victim had to be in such a position as to not be able to gauge, choke, claw or do any more damage to Zimmerman's fee than what is shown on the picture.
I would also expect to see evidence of hickeys or some swelling around these cut marks to indicate "pounding" against a concrete pavement as suggested. I see clean nicks, no scraping or any evidence that Zimmerman may have been struggling to free himself from such a grip.

If I was in the position that Zimmerman alledges, I would not have been pounding his head, I would have been punching him in the face with every ounce of my strength. You would be able to see where I tried to rip his nose off. He would be blinded by swollen eyes shut tight from punches to his face. I see none of that. I see a liar who is a cold blooded murderer who still has no remorse.
.

by ugacrew December 5, 2012 5:44 PM EST

It is hard for me to imagine two men in a "confrontational" situation as Zimmerman suggests, and an ensuing "struggle," with one supposedly struggling for his life, and there be absolutely NO evidence of Zimmerman every having been "grabbed" by his collar, or any other part of his clothing. No tears, no stretching, nothing.

HOW DID HE END UP ON THE GROUND ON HIS BACK

as he alleges? Did he just gently lay down? Did he lay down after Mr. Martin said lay down? What kind of concrete was this that seemed only to leave "pit" marks? If it was flat, why not show scrapes that coincide with the movement of Mr. Zimmerman? I can't envision a flat surface only making clean cuts, and tiny vertical like incisions at that. Someone needs to patent this kind of concrete and use it for surgical procedures.

I believe poor Mr. Martin was face down and struggling to breathe and free himself from Zimmerman's grip. I can't imagine Mr. Martin, in truggling for his life, not kicking Mr. Zimmerman or kneeing Mr. Zimmerman in the groin, anything to free himself. Any groin injuries? No, why? Mr. Martin was face down and screaming for help out of panic. Why would Mr. Zimmerman scream when he is packing a gun? He is not the screaming type, he is all BULLY. If he had any fear, he would have waited for the police, but NO, he felt emboldened by his hate and their support. More than one individual hand a had in that young man's death.

For all of you calling him a thug because of his attire, if you believe that then arrest Eminem; Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Puff-Daddy, the wrestlers, and the list goes on and on. In this country,
dressing rogue does not equate to permission for some onelse to take your life.

Reply to this comment


by ugacrew December 5, 2012 5:48 PM EST: It is plain and clear. Look at the path of the blood flow. The blood appears to be flowing toward Zimmerman's ears, not toward the back of his head as one would expect for someone laying on the ground. The one streak of blood flowing from the center of his head vertically towards the ground, must have flowed when Zimmerman stoop up. So, it appears to me that Mr. Zimmerman was "facing" the ground, as if on top of the victim, not "laying" on the ground as he would have us believe. Also, the injuries to his face occurred either by Mr. Martin trying to defend himself or when Zimmerman's cop friends did him a big favor and smashed it so as to give him a credible defense.

This is a no brainer. The trajectory of the bullet wound most likely reveals the path of the bullet, but I'm not sure if it can reveal if the victim was on his back or on his face. I venture to say the victim definitely did not have the upper hand because if he did, he would have inflicted far more injuries in order to save his life, as in gauging his face and eyes. Not the simple nicks you see in this photo.


by ugacrew December 5, 2012 5:49 PM EST: I want to add to my comments that if someone was in the kind of fight Zimmerman alledges, with someone banging Zimmerman's head as he states, I would think that the individual would have an extremely strong grip around Zimmerman's head because I am certain there would be resistance on Zimmerman's part. That being the case, it amazes me that there are no apparent bruises or other marks to indicate where that grip might have been. Zimmerman's ears and the side of his face appear quite ok. The victim had to be in such a position as to not be able to gauge, choke, claw or do any more damage to Zimmerman's fee than what is shown on the picture.
I would also expect to see evidence of hickeys or some swelling around these cut marks to indicate "pounding" against a concrete pavement as suggested. I see clean nicks, no scraping or any evidence that Zimmerman may have been struggling to free himself from such a grip.

If I was in the position that Zimmerman alledges, I would not have been pounding his head, I would have been punching him in the face with every ounce of my strength. You would be able to see where I tried to rip his nose off. He would be blinded by swollen eyes shut tight from punches to his face. I see none of that. I see a liar who is a cold blooded murderer who still has no remorse.

by TimeToEvolve December 5, 2012 4:31 PM EST

You DO have a right to defend yourself against obviously wacko vigilante yahoos like Zimmerman however.

Reply to this comment


by SusanStoHelit December 5, 2012 5:40 PM EST: Only if they are attacking you. Not if they are following you, not if they are asking you questions. You don't get to attack someone to 'defend' yourself against being around someone you dislike.


by SusanStoHelit December 5, 2012 4:08 PM EST: This (quoted below) sounds right to me. You do NOT have a right to attack people just because they follow you, or ask you questions! People who think otherwise must be very used to vigilante justice and really crappy neighborhoods where the local thugs can assault anyone looking at them wrong.

You don't so much as have the right to hit them. Sorry, but your precious little feelings and macho ego and bad boy image are not reality. If someone is following you, or asking questions, you can call the cops - not hit them yourself just because you don't like it.

----------------

Zimmerman has a rock solid defense.

Just because someone is following you doesn't give you the right to turn and attack them, beat them senseless like these pictures clearly show.

"But the police told him to stop following him"

No they didn't. A 911 dispatcher (not the police) asked if he was following him and said simply, "we don't need you to do that" - a completely different universe. "I don't need you to do the dishes" vs. "I am ordering you to stop doing the dishes".

Oh, and guess what? Zimmerman's next line is "Ok" and states he was, in fact, walking back to his car when Martin confronted him. Martin approached him and said, "You got a problem? Well you do now".

EITHER WAY, we now have Zimmerman flat on his back. His head getting smashed in (as the bloody photos of the back of his prove). He is getting pummeled left and right (as the bloody photos of his nose prove). He is screaming for help (as the eyewitness proves).

What is he suppose to do at that point? Just lie there and hope Martin gets tired and stops the beating? His punishment for following Martin until the police arrive is to get beaten to death?

Oh and...

Fact: If Zimmerman were a black dude shooting another black guy, none of you would care in the slightest.; Reply to this comment


by ronjula-2012 December 5, 2012 3:57 PM EST: so this guy want some pity, martin knocked him for a loop, he fell back on his head, got a little blood in the process, got up and shot martin while he was trying to get away. and his sanford p.d. friends did the rest, to cover up a murder.; Reply to this comment


by SusanStoHelit December 5, 2012 3:47 PM EST: And the "Stand Your Ground" law applies to both of them - it makes Florida into a stupid street fighter zone for anyone who is looking for a fight and has enough ego that he can't just leave.; Reply to this comment

by SusanStoHelit December 5, 2012 3:42 PM EST

This is a question of self defense, and just walking towards someone, even following them, or asking obnoxious questions or being a jackass does not excuse physical assault.

If Zimmerman followed Martin, made an ass of himself, that would not excuse Martin assaulting him - not unless Zimmerman pulled the gun or tried to grab Martin (which could have happened - but unless you're biased and just want mob justice, you have to consider the possibility also that it could have not happened). There's no excuse for physical assault, NONE, other than defense, and not merely defense against words or someone following you.

Martin could not see the future - so preemptive self defense against a future that we know of but he did not is not acceptable. If he attacked Zimmerman, then even the most verbally obnoxious Zimmerman would have a perfect right of self defense.

There is no right of self defense against someone asking questions.

Reply to this comment


by SusanStoHelit December 5, 2012 3:44 PM EST: It seems quite easy to see this as being a perfect tragedy - Zimmerman following Martin, asking questions, Martin getting pissed, hitting him, Zimmerman (who is smaller than Martin), being afraid this guy pounding his face is going to go to far and kill him, pulls his gun and shoots.

There's several other scenarios - some where Zimmerman is the pure villian, some where Martin is - but they all must be looked at.


by ugacrew December 7, 2012 4:17 PM EST: You stated: "There's several other scenarios - some where Zimmerman is the pure villian, some where Martin is - but they all must be looked at.".........You should look at them because your logic is nonexistent and your comments so bias and skewered they are practically sliding off the page.

by dmrlex December 5, 2012 1:44 PM EST

the fact is trayvon martin was there and making contact with george zimmerman and not trying to get away shows alot

Reply to this comment


by lisachamp December 5, 2012 2:02 PM EST: Are you kidding me, Zimmerman caught up with Trayvon and Trayvon had every right to defend himself. If 'Stand your ground' pertains to anyone, it's Trayvon and not Zimmerman.


by canis-vulpes December 5, 2012 3:46 PM EST: @lisachimp

Everything you said is a lie. Keep drinking that MSM Kool-Aid. The truth is that Zimmerman broke off his pursuit and was returning to the complex mailboxes to meet with police. Martin felt "disrespected" by Zimmerman originally following him. Martin then chased Zimmerman down, tried to beat him to death, and was properly paid with a bullet.

Other than race-baiters like yourself and black lemmings who follow Sharpton and Jackson without the ability to think for themselves, no one will miss Lil Skittle.

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