ABC News has obtained a photo from the Trayvon Martin death scene, which apparently shows blood trickling from the back of George Zimmerman's head.
You can view the picture here. WARNING: NSFW/SOMEWHAT GORY.
Article here.
Analysis below the squig.
Examining the picture closely, we see apparently two sets of blood trickle coming from the back of Zimmerman's head. There may also be a contusion formed in the middle of the right-side trickle, though I have not seen any closeups of the back of his head to know whether that might just be a feature of his. I do not see any notable cuts, gashes, etc....and the human head is full of capillaries that can bleed profusely from what would otherwise be very minor lacerations.
What does this mean?
ASSUMING the pic is not a hoax, it does show some injury to Zimmerman that was not apparent in any previous photos. Clearly he was in some sort of a scuffle and received superficial wounds; the fact that there are two wounds on different sides of his head suggests that they did not occur from just one fall/slip/knock etc.
It also calls into question the Murder 2 charge; if Zimmerman intended to kill Trayvon when confronting him, why did he allow a scuffle to occur?
Florida Statute (Murder 2):
(2) The unlawful killing of a human being, when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual, is murder in the second degree and constitutes a felony of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life or as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
VS Manslaughter:
(4) The unlawful killing of a human being, when perpetrated without any design to effect death, by a person engaged in the perpetration of, or in the attempt to perpetrate, any felony other than any:
WHAT HASN'T CHANGED
1) Zimmerman wasn't being assaulted within fear of his life; Zimmerman was treated at the scene but was never taken to the hospital.
2) Zimmerman was culpable for the confrontation
3) Zimmerman was well-recovered enough from any "wounds" that he was able to coherently talk with officers in the station, carry himself, and that no injury was noticeable on the station cameras.
Many of us thought that the Murder 2 charge was intended so that it could be plead down to Manslaughter, vs starting with Manslaughter risked an acquittal or even lesser charge. While manslaughter seems very much still in sight, the threat of being convicted of Murder 2 if Zimmerman decides not to take a plea deal just got lessened considerably.
OPINION ADDENDUM:
A few people seem to be thinking that if that's legit blood on Zimmerman's head, that his story must've been true. It does not follow that just because there is blood and a possible contusion, his head was being bashed on the pavement as he claimed.