Dershowitz Questions Conduct, Ethics of Zimmerman Prosecutors

Professor Alan Dershowitz of Harvard Law School is already on the record opining that the arrest affidavit filed against George Zimmerman for the alleged second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin is “so thin that it won’t make it past a judge on a second-degree murder charge … everything in the affidavit is completely consistent with a defense of self-defense.”

Now that ABC News has released the sensational photo reputedly showing blood flowing from the back of Zimmerman’s head, Dershowitz has even more to say about the conduct of Angela Corey, the prosecutor in the case that has put Sanford, Fla., on the map, according to a report by Brietbart News.

The photo would clearly corroborate Zimmerman’s self-defense story that the young black male was slamming his head against the sidewalk pavement before he was driven to shoot him to safeguard of his own life.

According to media and police reports, Zimmerman while serving as a neighborhood watchman noticed the hooded teenager moving through a neighborhood where he knew there had been a history of break-ins. In fact, Martin was innocently making his way to his father’s house after visiting a nearby convenience store.

Zimmerman reported his sighting and suspicions to the police dispatcher who instructed him to let uniformed officers to confront the young man. He did not follow those instructions.

According to Dershowitz, having access to the photo before charging Zimmerman with second-degree murder might prove to be a sticky thing ethically for Corey.

The arrest affidavit does not address any such photograph or the bleeding cuts apparent on Zimmerman’s head. Dershowitz now reveals to Breitbart News that if the prosecutors had access to the photo and didn’t mention it in the affidavit, that could present a “grave ethical violation,” since affidavits are required to spell out “all relevant information.”

Dershowitz added, “An affidavit that willfully misstates undisputed evidence known to the prosecution is not only unethical but borders on perjury because an affiant swears to tell not only the truth, but the whole truth, and suppressing an important part of the whole truth is a lie.

“We do know that there were earlier photographs before the affidavit was done that strongly suggested blood on the back of the head, and we know the police had first access to him, so if there was blood they would know about it …,” the legal expert explained.

"I've had cases in Florida against prosecutors,” Dershowitz concluded, “and this is not the first time they have willfully omitted exculpatory evidence. It's a continuing problem. Here, it’s not only immoral, but stupid. The whole country is watching. What do they benefit from having half-truths in an affidavit?"