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- You would be scared too if you were a 17 year old boy being chased by a huge man waving a gun. You would be screaming for help, too.
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- This is sickening. I just posted this to the front page of my site http://fortrayvon.com/ .
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- This is a big deal. Because the whole story from George Zimmerman is that he was "under attack" from Trayvon Martin. So he shot Trayvon in self defense. But if the voice heard on the 911 call was NOT George Zimmerman, but in fact from Trayvon Martin yelling for help, this makes Zimmerman's "self defense" testimony seem very weak and questionable. Come on now, lets use common sense here.
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- Hard to believe that an uninjured Trayvon was screaming for his life for 20 seconds.
Let's look closely at both examples of forensic audio evidence offered by the Orlando Sentinel. When analyzed closely, it appears to be dubious science at best, and badly misinterpreted by the so-called experts who were used.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-31/news/os-trayvon-martin-george-zimmerman-911-20120331_1_voice-identification-expert-reasonable-scientific-certainty
1. Tom Owen: His audio analysis technique is touted as "biometric", and compared to fingerprinting biometrics.
"Though the term "biometric analysis" may sound futuristic, it basically just means using personal characteristics for identification. A fingerprint scanner is an example of a biometric device.
Much as the ridges of a human hand produce a fingerprint, each human voice has unique, distinguishable traits, Owen says. "They're all particular to the individual."
- (Note here the journalist quotes Owen's statement that voices are "particular to an individual", to equate voice to a fingerprint.)
"Another benefit of modern biometric analysis, Owen said, is it doesn't require an "in context" comparison. In other words, Owen didn't need a sample of Zimmerman screaming in order to compare his voice to the call."
- (Here, Owen makes a general statement that a comparison does not require voice audio from a similar context. The journalist then logically concludes that this axiom would extend even to the extreme difference in context between a scream and what we can safely assume was the context of George's normal speaking voice extracted from the publicly available 911 recording.
But, according to the fingerprint analogy, how do we rectify the following "results" with logic?
"The software compared that audio to Zimmerman's voice. It returned a 48 percent match. Owen said to reach a positive match with audio of this quality, he'd expect higher than 90 percent."
- Now we know that occasionally partial fingerprint matches are able to identify suspects. Sometimes they are not. There is a subtle science of analyzing the derivatives.
- We have a 50% match here! That means 50% of the unique characteristics of George's speaking voice were present during those anguished screams (and they were screams) for help.
- We are given no control group of cases where screams are matched to speaking voice. How many times if ever has this "science" been used to successfully match in this way? And how did the signals generated differ if any in those cases?
- Furthermore, this pseudo scientist was not rigorous enough to wait until he had Trayvon's voice to compare as well.
2. Ed Primeau: This audio expert shuns the dubious pseudo science of voice biometrics, yet his opinion appears stunningly biased by any standard.
* Not all experts rely on biometrics. Ed Primeau, a Michigan-based audio engineer and forensics expert, is not a believer in the technology's use in courtroom settings.
He relies instead on audio enhancement and human analysis based on forensic experience. After listening closely to the 911 tape on which the screams are heard, Primeau also has a strong opinion.
"I believe that's Trayvon Martin in the background, without a doubt," Primeau says, stressing that the tone of the voice is a giveaway. "That's a young man screaming."
- It seems obvious Primeau thinly veils a "strong opinion" about the case as well.
First, it is doubtful Primeau has EVER heard Trayvon's speaking voice. There is no indication. If the Orlando sentinel had a recording of Trayvon, the "biometric expert" could have used it. And if they DID have access to such, yet selectively provided it to Primeau , then it reveals the charade.
Second, unless you live under a rock, you know a 6'2 17 year old's voice has likely deepened considerably, and would not differ significantly from a 28 year old.
Third, Zimmerman's voice is on record to be more Alto then anything lower on the scale. Furthermore everyone knows Blacks tend to have deeper voices. One listen to Trayvon's father's voice in his interviews can give ample indication of this.
Yet despite all the above Mr. Primeau feels comfortable saying that he has "no doubt" it is Trayvon? His "opinon" reeks of bias.
The Orlando Sentinel must be owned and operated by NBC.
This evidence is no evidence at all. - Reply to this comment
- This crime was an incredible cover up that goes right to the top of the corrupt corporate bribed Florida government. THAT is what we should be investigating.
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- This guy is bald? How did Trayvon smash his head into the sidewalk without being able to get a grip on his hair...and this new video is bogus. At first the police were saying nothing was there because they performed first aid? Now they are saying something was there, we just couldn't see it?? lol COVER UP
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- Obviously it's a child screaming in the tapes. This just confirms it. It's funny how people make excuses and love to be in denial. I guess Ignorance is bliss for some folks. Sad...
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- So what if Trayvon had killed Zimmerman instead?? I talked to a University of Florida law professor who said Trayvon may have had the right to do so. Here's his full explanation: http://yhoo.it/whatifTrayvonkilledZimmerman
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- The people in my area whom are republican's think the zimmerman did nothing wrong but i KNOW FOR A FACT THEY HATE BLACKS!
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- by democracy8 April 2, 2012 2:13 PM EDT
Nothing would convince you anyway.
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Who said I needed convincing? Unlike you I truly do believe innocent until proven guilty. And that is guilty in a court of law not public opinion.
There has been a lot of bias and mistruths spread around in this case so I am just asking why not compare the screams to Martins voice and give a definitive answer as to whiter it is Martin or not?
I find it really hard to believe they haven't done the voice comparison of the scream to Martins. And by not releasing or hiding those results it calls into question their objectivity.
There were two people involved in this incident so it is extremely simple to test two voice samples against a scream. Why have they not compared the scream to Martins voice?
This evidence would not hold in court because the very first question the defense will ask is. "Can state for a fact the scream is Trevon Martins" and as soon as the "expert" says "NO" the defense will pounce on the 48% probability that it is Zimmerman. - Reply to this comment
