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The Big Lies › 2012 › File PF-0006
Debunked

ABC: Police Video Shows 'No Blood or Bruises' on Zimmerman

ABC News' exclusive police surveillance video was presented as showing George Zimmerman had no visible injuries after shooting Trayvon Martin, undercutting his claim he was attacked.

First reported Mar 28, 2012 · ABC News
Screenshot of the original report as published
Screenshot of the report as published: newsfeed.time.com (archived copy, Wayback Machine). Tap to open the source.
Who it helped: Democrats

The framing undercut Zimmerman's self-defense claim during a racially charged national debate.

What was reported

ABC News' exclusive police surveillance video was presented as showing George Zimmerman had no visible injuries after shooting Trayvon Martin, undercutting his claim he was attacked.

What actually happened

ABC's report, echoed widely, framed the grainy station video as casting doubt on Zimmerman's self-defense account. Days later ABC's own forensic enhancement of the same video showed a gash or mark on the back of his head, and in April ABC obtained a photo showing Zimmerman's head bloodied the night of the shooting. Zimmerman was acquitted in 2013.

The proof

ABC's own enhanced video (April 2) and the bloodied-head photo it published (April 20) contradicted the 'no injuries' framing.

The receipt. Copy this and paste it anywhere:

ABC: Police Video Shows 'No Blood or Bruises' on Zimmerman — Debunked. ABC's own enhanced video (April 2) and the bloodied-head photo it published (April 20) contradicted the 'no injuries' framing. Full file: https://www.thepropagandafiles.com/case/abc-zimmerman-no-injuries-video-2012/

Original reporting

Corrections, findings & records

Archived copies

Stories get edited after publication. These open the Internet Archive's earliest saved copy of each original.

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