The press loves a good story. Therefore, it is no wonder that they have been all over the shooting of Trayvon Martin and the fate of George Zimmerman as a criminal defendant. The tragic death of Trayvon Martin spiraled into a media circus with a rush to judgment. Special interests and the political sophists have hijacked the tragedy and twisted it to serve their own needs. The exploitation reached as high as the Presidency. Sadly, this is the course that takes place when emotions control the day and a rush to judgement dismisses the crucial component of investigation. This is a serious case involving life, death, freedom, and liberty. It is not a Shakespearean play written to tell a tale of good vs. evil.
I recall the days of my childhood when the press were proverbial gatekeepers of the facts and assumed the honorable and noble role of Truth Seeker. No more. The press has eroded at its core and become nothing more than another form of cheap entertainment. A "good story" is generally the product of creative writing and poetic license. The embellished and tainted product may entertain the masses but it will do nothing in the way of preserving or promoting the Truth.
Media frenzy aside, this is an important self-defense case and it should be studied carefully as it unfolds. Every criminal investigator should pay attention to the factual nuances and the questions that will be presented. The facts will reveal themselves but it is important to remember that as investigators we are seeking the Truth. Personally, I will pay attention with a scrutinizing eye but I will withhold judgement until this matter has run its course. The question has already been presented to me many times and my professional opinion remains mute on the point of guilt. My only opinion is that this matter demands the highest level of investigation possible. The pursuit of Truth and the cries for Justice demands no less on every case.
Unfortunately, I have absolutely no faith in the press and therefore cannot trust them as a purveyor of the facts and source of credible information. My faith will remain entrusted in the judicial process with the hope that the professionals will flush out the Truth and reveal what really happened on that fateful day.
