George Zimmerman Sues NBC for Defamation
Remember George Zimmerman, the former block watch leader who is facing second degree murder charges in one of the most racially charged cases in recent time? The murder took on additional controversy when President Obama appeared to sympathize with the black teenager who was killed during an altercation.
Newly released photos of Zimmerman with a bloodied face are now being used by his lawyers as evidence that the prosecution was slow in revealing the true nature of his injuries and corroboration of his account of the events. In addition, today Zimmerman’s attorneys announced he is now suing NBC for damages that portrayed him as a “racist and predatory villain” through editing of the 911 tape.
From ABC News: The suit, filed this afternoon, claims, “NBC saw the death of Trayvon Martin not as a tragedy, but as an opportunity to increase ratings.”
An NBC News spokeswoman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The suit claims the network pounced on the story in large part to help aid the ailing ratings of its morning program, “The Today Show.” It centers around “manipulated” exchanges between George Zimmerman and a non-emergency dispatcher shortly before unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed. The audio aired a few times on several NBC platforms beginning March 19.
The suit blames NBC in large part for the media frenzy surrounding the case and hostilities against Zimmerman.
Read the rest at ABC News.