What Zimmerman, Martin medical reports tell us and the media didn't :: 05/17/2012

The new medical reports on the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case tell us a lot. And it is not just for what they find, but also what they don't find.

First, the reports provide striking evidence that Zimmerman did not start the fight with Martin, and that Zimmerman shot Martin in self-defense. Martin's injuries were two-fold: broken skin on his knuckles and the fatal gunshot wound .

Zimmerman's injuries involved: a fractured nose, a pair of black eyes, two lacerations to the back of his head and a minor back injury .

It takes considerable force to break the skin on multiple knuckles. The large range of injuries on Zimmerman indicates that the Martin's attack was prolonged. But here is what is missing: where are the injuries to Zimmerman's hands? Where are the bruises on Martin's face or other parts of his body? The evidence paints a picture where Martin was the only person landing blows.

The broken skin on Martin's knuckles and Zimmerman's wounds obviously provide some justification for self-defense. But if Zimmerman is to have justifiably used self-defense, he can't have provoked Martin's attack.

The affidavit filed by the prosecutor against Zimmerman was extremely weak and had many glaring omissions . It does not answer the most crucial question: Who attacked whom? All it states is: "Zimmerman confronted Martin and a struggle ensued." "Confronted" does not mean "provoked" or "assaulted." It may mean that Zimmerman merely followed Martin and asked him what he was doing in the neighborhood.

By John Lott

Published May 16, 2012

FoxNews.com