As George Zimmerman’s trial in the Trayvon Martin case moves forward, reports indicate that four witnesses have changed their stories about what happened the night the Black 17-year-old was fatally shot in February.
The new stories come as half of the evidence has been presented in the case against Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder.
One witness first told investigators that she saw two men running and a fistfight ensue. She now says that she saw only one person running and that she was unable to see who it was because she was not wearing her contact lenses.
Another witness now says that Zimmerman was on top of Martin during the fight that ensued in front of her townhouse. She initially did not know who was on top during the fight.
A male witness completely recanted his story, that Zimmerman told him that he had to shoot Martin because “he was beating up on me.” The male witness said that Zimmerman’s tone and demeanor about the situation was “like it was nothing.”
“[Zimmerman said] ‘Let her know what’s happening, I’ve been involved in a shooting and will be held for questioning,’” the witness reportedly told the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. “He was talking like he was having a hard time, looked like he just got his butt whipped…not like he was in shock, not like, ‘I can’t believe I just shot someone,’ but like, ‘Just tell my wife I just shot someone,’ like it was nothing.”
Finally, another male witness first told police that Martin was throwing punches at Zimmerman while he was on top of him “mixed martial arts style.” That witness now says he’s not sure who was on top or who was yelling for help in the chilling 911 recordings.
This development comes as medical evidence from Zimmerman’s family physician claims that he suffered a broken nose, black eyes, two head lacerations and a minor back injury during the confrontation. Zimmerman declined medical help and did not take advice from his doctor to see a specialist.
Zimmerman told officers on the night of the shooting that his head was pounded on the pavement by Martin. However, his injuries do not match up with the severity of his story.
Martin supporters say that the young boy was in a fight for his life and was simply defending himself before Zimmerman shot him in the chest at point-blank range.
An autopsy has revealed that Martin had traces of THC, the effective element in marijuana, in his system on the night he was shot. Prosecutors say that has nothing to do with the case.
After getting out of jail on bail in April, Zimmerman remains in hiding.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, made an appearance at the Empowerment Temple church in Baltimore. At the service, the Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant asked the parents of children who have been victims of senseless violence to come forward.
Fulton was in Baltimore to visit the megachurch to thank people who have supported her as she continues to seek justice for her son.
“It’s so easy for me to cry right now, but I can’t, because I have work to do,” she said at the church. “I was forced into this position, but I believe God is using me. My heart is filled right now just to see you all, just to see Baltimore and to know your pastor stands beside me.”