Trayvon Martin Texts, Photos Show Struggles With Drugs, Fighting

Texts and photos from Trayvon Martin show a young man troubled with drugs and fighting, ultimately leading to him being kicked out of his mother’s house.

The digital messages and photos were released by the defense for George Zimmerman, who fatally shot Martin last year after mistaking him for a burglar. Zimmerman has claimed that Martin attacked him, forcing the self-appointed neighborhood watch leader to shoot Martin in self-defense.

The Trayvon Martin texts and photos came from the 17-year-old’s cell phone. They show texts with a friend about fighting, smoking pot, and troubles at school that led to Martin being kicked out of his mother’s house.

Other photos show Martin extending his middle finger and blowing smoke to the camera.

Attorneys for the Martin family say the pictures are not relevant to the trial and just an attempt to sway the potential jury pool against the murdered young man.

“Is the defense trying to prove Trayvon deserved to be killed by George Zimmerman because (of) the way he looked?” they said. “If so, this stereotypical and closed-minded thinking is the same mindset that caused George Zimmerman to get out of his car and pursue Trayvon, an unarmed kid who he didn’t know.”

But the defense says the texts and photos from Trayvon Martin belie the image that he was a helpless victim of George Zimmerman.

“If they had suggested that Trayvon is nonviolent and that George is the aggressor, I think that makes evidence of the fighting he has been involved with in the past relevant,” said attorney Mark O’Mara.

O’Mara has made another motion to strike down a key piece of the prosecution’s case. He said that audio experts are using bad science to determine the voices heard on a 911 call during the shooting death. The tape reportedly shows Martin screaming for help, though Zimmerman’s defense team has argued that it is actually George who is shouting for help.

O’Mara wants Zimmerman’s 911 recording thrown out.

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. The trial starts next month.

A judge has still not decided if the Trayvon Martin texts and photos can be used in the trial. A hearing in being held next week that will decide if the defense can introduce it during trial.

[Trayvon Martin’s parents photo by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons]