[I]Legal and forensic experts cautioned that none of the media-led investigations have been conclusive[/I]
[quote]MIAMI — The news media are taking on an increasingly police-like role in the Trayvon Martin slaying by using modern forensic techniques to analyze evidence, an approach some legal experts say can lead to a distorted view of the case because a lot of the key evidence is still under wraps.
The public has been whipsawed back and forth as new revelations emerge, appearing to support one version or the other.
Most recently, the Orlando Sentinel had a voice analysis expert examine a 911 call in which a person is heard screaming for help before the fatal gunshot. The shooter, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, told police he was yelling, but the expert told the newspaper the voice most likely was not Zimmerman.
"It would be nice to know who was doing the calling for help, but identifying the caller is not necessarily going to definitively identify the wrongdoer," said University of Florida law professor Bob Dekle, a former state prosecutor and public defender. "Situations sometimes arise where it is the wrongdoer calling for help."
ABC News on Monday aired what it said was an enhanced version of a police video taken the night of the shooting that appeared to show wounds or welts on the back of Zimmerman's head. The initial, grainier video aired last week seemed to show no wounds or blood, which led Martin's family and supporters to proclaim that it undercut Zimmerman's story.
Legal and forensic experts cautioned that none of the media-led investigations, which are done in many high-profile cases, has been conclusive.
"The public needs to know that this is a very complex case," said Ron Martinelli, a forensics consultant in Temecula, Calif. "There are many issues that come into play and sometimes come into conflict."
Zimmerman told police that he was attacked by Martin on Feb. 26 and believed he had no choice but to fire his gun at Martin in self-defense. The teenager's family believes Zimmerman, 28, singled Martin out as suspicious because he was black. Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is Hispanic.
The family also said Zimmerman should've listened to a police dispatcher who told him not to follow Martin.
The 911 call analysis compared the screams of "Help" to other recordings of Zimmerman's voice using a computerized matching technique. The consultant, Tom Owen, told the Sentinel that the comparison showed a 48 percent match between the two samples. A positive match should be above 90 percent, he said. Owen did not respond to an email Monday seeking additional comment.
If Zimmerman is charged and the case goes to court, the defense would likely hire experts to punch holes in any conclusions about the 911 tape or the police video.
"The other side will have experts saying `you can't make anything out of this, it's all garbled, look how much they had to enhance it,'" said Robert Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University. "What has been done with the tape? Has anybody tampered with it?"
News organizations also used audio technology to enhance a 911 call in which some reported that Zimmerman muttered a racial epithet under his breath. Other media organizations, including The Associated Press, said the raw recording was not clear enough to determine what Zimmerman actually said.
Experts have also said that photos initially released of Martin and Zimmerman could have skewed initial public perceptions.
Most of the photos of Martin show a baby-faced boy in a red T-shirt or football uniform, much younger than the tall teenager he was the night of the shooting. And Zimmerman no longer resembles the beefy-looking figure pictured in a mug shot from several years ago.
Special prosecutor Angela Corey has been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to lead the investigation after Sanford officials declined to make an arrest. The Justice Department and FBI are also investigating.
Much still is not known about the evidence being weighed by prosecutors, including:
• The autopsy on Martin's body, which could show signs of a fight and whether the bullet entry wound supports Zimmerman's claims.
• Medical records of treatment Zimmerman received on the scene that night by paramedics, which again could back up or disprove his self-defense assertion.
• Police photographs, notes and other physical evidence probably collected at the scene.
• Videotaped interviews police conducted with Zimmerman.
• Whether there is other surveillance video of Martin or Zimmerman at any point during the evening, including the youth's visit to a convenience store shortly before the confrontation.
• Whether any witnesses saw the actual shooting and the circumstances leading up to it, including the alleged fight.
Many of these unanswered questions, especially the forensic results, will provide a more complete picture of how Zimmerman came to shoot Martin that night, Martinelli said.
"The decedent gets to have a voice only through forensics," he said. "That's how people speak from the dead."[/quote]
[url=http://www.policeone.com/media-relations/articles/5361789-Media-take-on-police-like-role-in-Martin-case/]Source[/url]
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I honestly think that the media is making this way to big of a deal. I have faith in the law agencies down that they will get this right with due time. This article just goes to show that you cannot believe everything that you hear/see on TV. There is always another side to the story.
[QUOTE=areolop;35405395]
I honestly think that the media is making this way to big of a deal. I have faith in the law agencies down that they will get this right with due time.[/QUOTE]
uh... the media is investigating this because the police chose to let zimmerman go
[QUOTE=gra;35405422]uh... the media is investigating this because the police chose to let zimmerman go[/QUOTE]
Just because he isnt arrested now doesnt mean he wont be later. Currently, there is a lack of evidence by both sides which is why he is walking right now. In the article it says that there are still things that they need to know
[quote]Much still is not known about the evidence being weighed by prosecutors, including:
• The autopsy on Martin's body, which could show signs of a fight and whether the bullet entry wound supports Zimmerman's claims.
• Medical records of treatment Zimmerman received on the scene that night by paramedics, which again could back up or disprove his self-defense assertion.
• Police photographs, notes and other physical evidence probably collected at the scene.
• Videotaped interviews police conducted with Zimmerman.
• Whether there is other surveillance video of Martin or Zimmerman at any point during the evening, including the youth's visit to a convenience store shortly before the confrontation.
• Whether any witnesses saw the actual shooting and the circumstances leading up to it, including the alleged fight.[/quote]
American media is best at destroying cases by contaminating witness pools and forcing their own preconceived narrative into things.
[QUOTE=Ridge;35405538]American media is best at destroying cases by contaminating witness pools and forcing their own preconceived narrative into things.[/QUOTE]
Like the police are doing any different.
[QUOTE=asteroidrules;35405564]Like the police are doing any different.[/QUOTE]Which is why the Alphabet agencies have taken over the case.
I am sure the matter will be rightfully resolved in court under proper legal guidelines. Even if a proper investigation was not done (as the media says), there seems to be enough evidence flying around to prove Zimmerman's innocence or guilt.
The media shouldn't be taking on a police like role
I think Zimmerman was pretty much declared guilty by the media from day one. Plus, the [I]huge[/I] public response (i.e. Miami Heat in hoodies) has tainted this story to Casey Anthony proportions - if this man goes free, there will be a public outcry and/or a manhunt. [I]Two[/I] celebrities have attempted to tweet his address - if that's not a call for vigilante action I don't know what is.
[editline]2nd April 2012[/editline]
This is not a good thing
Normally, media weighs in on these cases but this is getting out of hand. CNN/Fox are portraying the victim as two different people. One, as a scholar, the other, as a trouble-maker in school with a lengthy criminal record.
They should just put a lid on this case and let the law agencies do their job.
There is a reason why I haven't truly taken sides yet. Due Process doesn't exist to the media, everyone is guilty until proven innocent.
[QUOTE=BANNED USER;35405812]There is a reason why I haven't truly taken sides yet. Due Process doesn't exist to the media, everyone is guilty until proven innocent.[/QUOTE]
And of course it ruins the reputation of those who may be innocent.
[QUOTE=BANNED USER;35405812]There is a reason why I haven't truly taken sides yet. Due Process doesn't exist to the media, everyone is guilty until proven innocent.[/QUOTE]
Exactly, that has been my stance from day one.
People are way to gullible and get worked up by the media. The media from day one made this about race, some news outlets are even being investigated because they edited audio to make Zimmerman sound racist. On top of that the news outlet before anyone even had a chance to come up with a logical explanation or theory the media made him out to be guilty.
We don't know what went on, every new article about this subject just makes me ignore any news related to this case because it continues to get misconstrued and they stretch the truth. The media no longer covers stories, they pollute them and create them.
The only reason media should be involved is to let people know what is going on, not what they think is happening.
God help this man if he goes to jury trial, the trial is going to be so unfair it is going to be insane.
Whatever the case is, Zimmerman already has their life ruined irregardless of whenever they were guilty or not.
Well, only because the police are clearly not taking a police-like role.
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;35406646]Well, only because the police are clearly not taking a police-like role.[/QUOTE]
And the media is a better choice?
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;35406646]Well, only because the police are clearly not taking a police-like role.[/QUOTE]
Cases like these take A LOT of time. There is so many gray areas with this case that it is hard to do anything official. Contrary to belief, the due process of the law can take months.
The police are doing their job just fine. Its just taking time.
I have a gut feeling that this will become a Cold Case soon, even with the Media lending assistance.
Still, the media is making this way too big of a deal, as many people said.
Well, it worked so well in the Joanna Yeates case!
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