Report: Case Against George Zimmerman Was Hampered by Police Missteps
Some issues remain unresolved in the criminal case against George Zimmerman because of missteps by the Sanford Police Department.
The New York Times says its examination of the case found missteps and sloppy work. “The killing of Trayvon Martin here two and a half months ago has been cast as the latest test of race relations and equal justice in America,” the story says. “But it was also a test of a small city police department that does not even have a homicide unit and typically deals with three or four murder cases a year.”
Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder. Among the problems identified by the Times:
• Police took only one photo of Zimmerman’s injuries at the scene, which showed his bloody nose. The photo, taken on a department cellphone, was not downloaded for a few days.
• Police were not able to cover the crime scene to shield it from rain, which could have washed away any blood from Zimmerman.
• Police did not secure Zimmerman’s vehicle at the crime scene.
• Police did not test Zimmerman for blood or alcohol on the night of the slaying.
The prosecutor assigned to the case, Angela Corey, has said Sanford police conducted a “thorough and intensive” investigation. The police chief at the time, Bill Lee Jr., defended his department’s work in an interview with the Times. “There was no bias in the investigation,” he said. “We did not lean one way or another. We were looking for the truth.”
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