Latest Disturbing Trayvon Story Not Actually True

Martin did not film friends beating up a homeless guy
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 3, 2013 8:34 AM CDT
Latest Disturbing Trayvon Story Not Actually True
This undated file family photo shows Trayvon Martin.   (AP Photo/Martin Family, File)

George Zimmerman's legal team has been digging up some less-than-flattering background information about Trayvon Martin—but one story that made the rounds Friday, involving Martin allegedly recording his friends while they attacked a homeless man, turns out not to be true. Daily Intel explains what happened:

  • Zimmerman's defense initially thought it had a video of Trayvon doing just that, but it had not released the video yet. The Orlando Sentinel, anticipating the video's release, prepared a story describing the video. Then that story was accidentally posted Friday, before the video had been released.

  • The Sentinel story was quickly removed when the error was realized, but a cached version started getting attention.
  • Zimmerman's defense team then released a statement explaining what the video actually shows: "Trayvon Martin, along with a buddy, was videotaping two homeless guys fighting each other over a bike."
  • The Sentinel then published a story explaining the correct sequence of events, noting that Trayvon simply happened upon the two homeless men.
Seeing as the judge ruled evidence like this video will only be allowed at trial if the defense can authenticate it, Adam Martin writes, "They'll have to do a better job with that than they have so far." (More George Zimmerman stories.)

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