Zimmerman: Forward Movement -

Benjamin Crump convened a press conference to say that George Zimmerman's medical records should be subpoenaed. I don't usually comment on Mr Crump, but since he inserted himself here, I shall comment this time.

From the beginning, Mr Crump and the Trayvonistas have tried to supply a series of malicious reasons that would explain why Zimmerman shot the Trayvon Martin. Trouble is, each of those explanations they have supplied has fallen apart under closer scrutiny when examined in full sunlight.

First, Zimmerman shot the teenager because it was implied that Zimmerman was a White Supremacist. But it turned out that Zimmerman does not look even remotely White or European. Next, they tried to supply the reason that Zimmerman is an overly gung-ho gun nut, but this claim had no foundation in demonstrable fact either. This press conference seemed to be Crump's latest attempt to attribute a malicious reason to Zimmerman; viz: he is a hopped-up speed freak nutjob.

# In my last entry I stated that there is a persistent mystery in this case which we need to get to the bottom of. In this entry I am going to present that mystery in a different way.

A visitor returns to a townhouse campus in which numerous blocks of attached townhouse rows look pretty much alike. For a moment he may be a bit confused or disoriented in trying to determine which townhouse is his proper destination.

Now, try to put yourself in his shoes. You spot a resident of the estate. What would be your first impulse or inclination? You would probably ask him to help you find your host's correct residence because "they all look alike to me." Why would a visitor to an unfamiliar complex become involved in a physical altercation with a resident?

There is no apparent reason for Trayvon Martin's combative struggle with the resident of the Retreat at Twin Lakes. The teenager's behavior does not make any sense whatsoever.

In all these months I could come up with only one possible reason for Trayvon Martin's inexplicable combative behavior: the youth guessed that Zimmerman might have a gun and went after it as a trophy or prize. Maybe you can come up with a better reason, but that's the best I could do.

# The judge will authorize the defense subpoenas for Trayvon Martin's school records and more.

Last evening, The Miami Herald's reporter Frances Robles, with all the charm of a cottonmouth moccasin which we have come to expect from her, may have given their readers the impression that a muzzle will be imposed on defense counsel Mark O'Mara, leaving only Benjamin Crump and his sock puppets to comment publicly on this case. I don't expect such a gag order to be issued. You can read lawyer Jeralyn Merritt's comments on this matter here.

# Websleuths is a very active and comprehensive True Crime message board. Although I don't link to them on my sidebar, they are often a pit stop for people who want to follow diverse cases. Apparently, they have shut down their threads on this case until the trial starts, except for the collection of Media updates. This may be a wise move on their part so that they can avoid becoming a toxic waste dump for the noisy crazies who are attracted to situations like this one. Their comment threads are usually very well moderated.
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A Definite Maybe Court Date -

A tentative trial date has been set
for George Zimmerman on June 10, 2013 . . .

Zimmerman, a mixed-race Latino with a distinctly Native American Indian appearance, has been charged with second-degree murder in the February shooting of African-American teenager Trayvon Martin from Miami Gardens when they had a fatal encounter within a gated community on a private estate in the vicinity of Sanford in Central Florida.

Trayvon Martin travelled there with his father who was visiting a resident of the community. After the adults departed for a social occasion, Trayvon was left behind to supervise a younger child but stepped out for refreshments purchased at a nearby convenience story.

The youth was far from home in an unfamiliar environment where blocks of townhouses often seem identical and he may have become momentarily disoriented in determining his correct destination.

A persistent mystery in this case is what happened when the two met. Some form of miscommunication may have led to a struggle between them with a tragic outcome for the teen. It is hoped that in the course of court proceedings some clarity about this will emerge.

Unfortunately, this case has been one of the most ineptly reported American news stories in recent memory.

:: Local 10 ::

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Apocrypha Slam (4#) -

almost all things considered except
- OMG! - this one: Sudden Indian Syndrome . . .

Over the weekend, the Orlando Sentinel published an article which they used as a pretext to gratuitously spread more inflammatory material against George Zimmerman.

The article discusses the diverse racial and ethnic mixtures of some Hispanic people, but, strangely, the newspaper omitted Native American Indians from the menu. Sometimes known as indigenous people or First Peoples, American Indian is a frequent ingredient in Latinos' mixed heritage or ancestry.

Don West from the George Zimmerman Defense Team has filed legal papers on two topics:

Topic #1) West is requesting that the State make an accurate inventory of the material they have as prospective evidence and share it with Defense. This is supposed to be standard protocol; it should not be an agonizing ordeal. Seems reasonable to me. Details here.

Topic #2) West proposes that a retired judge be appointed to manage the Discovery issue, due to its complexity in this case. Details here.

What could come out of all this? Upon closer scrutiny some prospective evidence might not survive the process. The TalkLeft Blog has an entry and comments posted about this.

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Weekend Browsing -

True Crime may be the redheaded stepchild in the Mystery stacks at some bookstores, but it can be quite illuminating when done well. Lost Girls by Caitlin Rother is about John Albert Gardner, who raped and murdered two teenage girls, and his mother's valiant efforts to help her son. Tony Perry gives the book an affirmative review at the LAT.

If fictional Mystery is your preference, Ruth Rendell's novel The St Zita Society is reviewed there as well.

# Margaret Cannon reviews Trust Your Eyes, a new mystery by Linwood Barclay, and a few other books at the G&M.

# What was the origin of Junot Diaz's recurring character Yunior? Jen Graves at the Slog shares the author's response.

# Clea Simon discusses Lena Dunham's $3.5 million book advance against royalties from the publisher Random House. Dunham is the creator of the HBO Cable TV hit Girls.

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