Police judged that Trayvon Martin’s death was “avoidable” if George Zimmerman had stayed in his car, according to documents released in connection with Zimmerman’s trial.
“The encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin was ultimately avoidable by Zimmerman, if Zimmerman had remained in his vehicle and awaited the arrival of law enforcement, or conversely, if he had identified himself to Martin as a concerned citizen and initiated dialog in an effort to dispel each party’s concern,” the document reads.
Zimmerman was charged last month — after a national outcry — with second-degree murder for the fatal February shooting of Martin, an unarmed 17-year old, in Sanford, Fla. Police had initially declined to press charges, citing Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense, and a Florida gun-rights law, known as Stand Your Ground, that law enforcement leaders have said can make it harder to prosecute shooting deaths.
The newly released documents also reveal that Martin had marijuana in his system and that he was killed by one bullet to the heart, fired at intermediate range. We also learned this week that Zimmerman had a broken nose and two black eyes when he saw a doctor the day following the incident.
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