George Zimmerman Medical Report Released, Faces Possible Hate Crime Charge

According to a medical report from George Zimmerman's family physician, the neighborhood watch volunteer was diagnosed with lacerations to the back of his head, a "closed fracture" of his nose, a pair of black eyes and a minor back injury the day after his fatal confrontation with Trayvon Martin, ABC News reports.

The three-page medical report is included in court documents that the state of Florida made public Monday, which also contained 911 calls, non-emergency calls, photos, video, medical records and a number of hardcopy documents. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the evidence also includes new video from the night of the shooting, both from the 7-Eleven store Trayvon visited before the confrontation and the clubhouse in the neighborhood where the teen was killed.

Law enforcement authorities said Zimmerman, who maintains he shot the teen in self-defense, told local police that Martin punched him in the face, climbed on top of him and slammed his head into the sidewalk. When the local police arrived at the scene, they found Zimmerman with a bloody nose, swollen lip and lacerations on the back of his head. Although paramedics gave him first aid, he said he did not need to go to the hospital and sought medical treatment the next day.

In addition to the second-degree murder charge he's facing for shooting 17-year-old Martin, Zimmerman could face federal hate crime charges, WFTV reports.

If convicted of second-degree murder, Zimmerman could serve a maximum sentence of life in prison. However, if he is found guilty of a federal hate crime charge, he could face the death penalty. Experts say that the latter will be a hard case to prove.

"What the government would have to prove is that Mr. Zimmerman acted out of hatred toward African Americans," said WFTV legal analyst, Bill Sheaffer. "That's why he came into contact with him. That's why he shot and killed him."

According to WFTV, FBI investigators are actively questioning witnesses in the neighborhood, but the bureau told ABC News that the "hammer won't be dropped" on Zimmerman anytime soon.

In April, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called the teen's killing a 'tragedy' and said that the Justice Department would act decisively if it finds evidence that Martin's civil rights were violated.

Zimmerman killed an unarmed Martin on Febuary 26 in the gated community where Martin's father's girlfriend lived in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman called 911 and told a police dispatcher that Martin, who was returning from a trip to a nearby convenience store, "looked suspicious." After an altercation, Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest, subsequently telling local police that it was an act of self-defense.

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Comments

[LetJusticePrevail]

08:25 PM on 01/30/2013

IF YOU WANT TO HELP AN INNOCENT MAN FIGHT THIS MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE,
CONTRIBUTE TO THE GEORGE ZIMMERMAN DEFENSE FUND AT GZ LEGAL CASE

[Fred Bronson]

06:58 AM on 07/15/2012

ENOUGH ALREADY

[cherokee1934]

11:59 PM on 07/14/2012

From reading all of these months since this happened I get the feeling that Zimmerman was on the way back to his truck when Martin came out of no where and either hit or pushed Zimmerman down onto the ground and was slamming his head against the concrete. At that point Martin became a criminal. I don't know if Zimmerman should have had a weapon him or not. BUT, think of this, what could have happened to Zimmerman had he not have had his weapon on his person. It has also been said that Martin tried to grab Zimmerman's weapon and at that point he shot Martin.

There are so many stories out there that there is no way to make much sense of the whole thing.
FOLKS.......we are going to have to wait for the trial and let a Judge and Jury try to get to the truth of this case.

[Madim]

07:54 PM on 08/09/2012

"BUT, think of this, what could have happened to Zimmerman had he not have had his weapon on his person."

BUT, think of this, what could have happened to Zimmerman had he listened to the dispatcher telling him not to follow Martin. Or had he waited for the police. Or had he given his location instead of expecting the officers to call him to find out (this in itself is suspicious). Or had he not gotten out of his car. Or had he followed the Neighborhood Watch policy which he himself made a presentation of. Or, or, or....

A lot of things have been said, mostly by Zimmerman who has every reason to modify the story according to what he sees as his best interest. Indeed, he has kept modifying the story since he told it the first time.
He has been proved a liar with no respect for justice, so why do people believe him in the first place ? Everything that comes out of his mouth is possibly a lie.

[Limitedgov]

09:56 PM on 07/14/2012

Good luck with the FBI saying no racism. More proof Liberals have no clue when confronted with facts.

[Phed Up]

02:53 PM on 06/01/2012

How on earth does one claim "self defense" when he ignored the police dispatcher who told him not to follow? Does not compute.

[One5thOfWhiskey]

05:38 PM on 07/01/2012

1) Was not a police dispatcher; 2) Did not tell him "not to follow", the individual stated "we don't need you to do that"; 3) He stopped following. Trayvon doubled back and confronted Zimmerman.

[racerrodig]

07:02 PM on 07/07/2012

You NutZZ he never stopped following.....he ignored that completely. Watch his re-enactment. He quotes the dispatcher verbatim then realizes what he did, actually didn't do.

The dispatcher has the authority....Now for the 1st time it's "Was not a dispatcher"

Put the Whiskey down.

Trayvon could have been our son.

[cherokee1934]

12:40 AM on 07/15/2012

Please read some of these so many stories that have been written about this whole case and try and come up with your own answer to what YOU think happened between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman on that dark rainy night. We all know that, right or wrong, Zimmerman got out of his truck, he had his weapon his belt. At some point in time the 911 operator told Zimmerman that they did not need for him to follow Trayvon. It seems that Martin did run away and lost Zimmerman and then came back to harm to harm Z... while he was headed towards his truck when Martin began to fight Zimmerman. Try to think of what went on then try to put your thoughts on paper then post them.

[Gary Glenn Upchurch]

08:41 AM on 05/31/2012

First Lady.. you tricked me into reading this because your teaser looked as though there was new info about this case.. you lost me!

[greeneink]

03:33 AM on 05/29/2012

Liar. He was never injured in the first place.

[nopohboy]

09:53 PM on 05/28/2012

I can pay my doctor and I am instantly a purple duck for a few days. If it don't violate their oath and the price is right, doctor agree with the highest payer just like the legal system.

[Dino Domingo]

11:01 PM on 05/29/2012

what color is your doctor?

[G Fawkes UK]

12:08 AM on 07/01/2012

From the sound of it, his doctor's color is **GREEN**

[DoylerDoyle JM]

07:25 PM on 05/02/2013

:)

[Wrongway62]

06:59 PM on 05/27/2012

Zimmerman caused the whole mess with his actions.

[Magiccupcakemaker]

09:48 AM on 05/23/2012

Perhaps the incidental injuries did't occur as a result of GZs claim of his head being pounded into the sidewalk. He was on the grass where small rocks and even glass maybe all injuries were simple abrasions, can happen in the grass. Black eyes vs darks circles around the eyes related to insommia and the meds he is on . Broken nose no xrays, but can happen with a surgical hammer & local numbing agent as with a nose job. Only saw Dr. next day for return to work permit. not injuries.

[jsgaetano]

01:57 PM on 05/24/2012

Or, more likely, Zimmerman's wounds were self-inflicted after the murder.

[Woden]

10:59 PM on 05/24/2012

So, first it was "He didn't have any wounds!"--despite the police report stating otherwise.

Now, it's "They were self-inflicted!"--despite there be absolutely no evidence that they were, and the sheer absurdity of any proposed situation in light of the facts (such as how police were on-scene within 40 seconds or so of the shooting, and how there were eyewitnesses even sooner than that)?

Can people just grow up and drop the conspiracy theories already?

[Razpooten]

01:21 AM on 05/27/2012

Yes, that is likely, the police video minutes after the incident shows Z unscathed, clean, coll and collected - a brokne now would give on "racoon eyes" for days.

[Foucek]

11:58 AM on 05/27/2012

Should have had an independent doc do the exam-you cannot diagnose a fracture without film to back it up-this exam is unprofessional and biased and shouldn't hold up in court.

[Nitae1952]

10:12 PM on 08/10/2012

I agree

[Magiccupcakemaker]

07:37 PM on 05/22/2012

soo staggering drunks with their clothes hanging off , should be followed , should they be considered suspicous, and should twarted in physical altercations,should they be killed because of the way the look or act ?

[Notviper]

07:13 PM on 05/29/2012

there is a problem with your logic here. the absence of it , when a thief is casing a house or business to rob. They don't wear uniforms they wear normal clothes that might hide their Identity without being obvious . Even the unibomber only used a hoody and sun glasses to hide his identity. Wear those items into a bank and see how quickly your noticed. better yet wear shorts and a trench coat to your local play ground or park and see how fast parents call the police.

[Magiccupcakemaker]

07:16 PM on 05/22/2012

Anyone from the woodstock period has smoked weed, if they say not they are lying. you may find someone you know in some of the videos.

[Magiccupcakemaker]

02:56 PM on 05/22/2012

Im waiting to see what's going to happen to all those new years shooters in FLA , for shooting in the air . after the woman in FL got the 20 years .

[Magiccupcakemaker]

02:54 PM on 05/22/2012

Cops have k9 units to sniff out suspects, they don't need human dogs to do their job, Gzs perception that he was getting away while on the 911 call showed he was trying to do a cops job that wasn't necessary. Cops with guns anounce who they are by saying police or something to the effect they don't approach knowing there is the potential need to use deadly force without the potential victim knowing who they are.If im driving a car and a pedestrian or driver comes in my path i have an obligation to brake or manuver to avoid hitting them as my auto is a deadly forced object, if i continue and run over the person or hit the other car im at fault, as the incident could've been avoided. GZ knew he had a deadly weapon on him and his potential for the use of it before hand., and a teen could be the victim.

[Weeweed Up]

10:59 PM on 05/23/2012

Good post.

[Razpooten]

01:22 AM on 05/27/2012

Well stated.

[tots24]

01:42 PM on 05/20/2012

A 50 year old white man with 5 teeth living in the woods in Mississippi?

[YouBoreMe]

02:13 PM on 05/20/2012

Guess again zero !!!!!! I will give you a hint he has many "baby mommas" .

[tots24]

01:44 PM on 05/20/2012

Is this an autobiographical story?

[YouBoreMe]

02:14 PM on 05/20/2012

No zero I am female and white ......