In yet another serious blow to the prosecutions case for second degree murder, forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent DiMaio testified on Tuesday that the evidence was “consistent” with George Zimmerman’s version of events that ended in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
When prompted by the defense to give his take on the medical evidence, DiMaio said the evidence available suggests Martin was leaning over Zimmerman when he was shot. The testimony seemingly provides even more credibility to the defense’s claim that Martin was on top of Zimmerman while punching him and slamming his head on the concrete before the defendant used his firearm in self-defense.
SANFORD, FL – JULY 9: Dr. Vincent DiMaio, a forensic pathologist and gunshot wound expert, describes the injuries of George Zimmerman while testifying for the defense in the trial in Seminole circuit court, July 9, 2013 in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder for the 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Credit: Getty Images
“The most important point is the nature of the defect in the clothing and the powder tattooing. That is, if you lean over somebody, you would notice that the clothing tends to fall away from the chest,” DiMaio testified. “If, instead, you’re lying on your back and somebody shoots you, the clothing is going to be against your chest. So the fact that we know the clothing was two to four inches away is consistent with somebody leaning over the person doing the shooting and that the clothing is two to four inches away from the person firing.”
The forensic expert also testified on the injuries Zimmerman sustained during his fight with Martin. While DiMaio said the quality of the photographs made it difficult to distinguish the marks perfectly, he said that he observed “punctate abrasions,” which are “little reddish markings, and that indicate that there was impact with a surface that was not really smooth.”
The defense then asked him if concrete found on “your everyday sidewalk” could have caused that type of injury.
“Yes,” DiMaio replied.
“Is this injury consistent with Mr. Zimmerman’s head having impacted a sidewalk?” the defense pressed.
“Yes,” he said again.
“The testimony, taken if full, would seem to support the defense’s case that Martin was attacking Zimmerman at the time of the gunshot that killed him,” Mediaite’s Evan McMurry notes.
