Trayvon Martin case 911 call: Screams not George Zimmerman's, 2 experts say

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The voice heard crying for help on a 911 call just before Trayvon Martin was shot to death was not that of George Zimmerman, according to two forensic voice identification experts, one of whom told MSNBC on Sunday that he believes the evidence is strong enough to use in court.

"The tests concluded that it's not the voice of Mr. Zimmerman," Tom Owen, of Owen Forensic Services LLC and chair emeritus for the American Board of Recorded Evidence, told MSNBC.

Asked if he thought such tests would be admissible in court, Owen said "yes" and noted he had recently used similar testing in testimony at a Connecticut murder case that involved 911 call.

The conclusions of Owen and another audio expert were first reported by the Orlando Sentinel on Saturday.

Zimmerman told police that he screamed for help during his confrontation with Martin, 17. He claims the shooting was self-defense.

The 911 call, reposted in this YouTube clip, came on the night of Feb. 26 from a woman who reported someone crying out for help in a gated community in Sanford, Fla.

In the recording of her phone call, panicked cries and a gunshot are heard.

The Sentinel said it had contacted the two audio experts.

Owen told the newspaper he used software called Easy Voice Biometrics to compare Zimmerman's voice to the 911 call screams.

"I've run it against 300 voices and it was better than 99 percent in all cases," he told MSNBC when asked about its accuracy.

Owen told the newspaper that the software compared the screams to Zimmerman's voice and returned a 48 percent match. He said he would expect a match of higher than 90 percent, considering the quality of the audio.

"As a result of that, you can say with reasonable scientific certainty that it's not Zimmerman," Owen told the Sentinel.

But he also said he could not confirm the voice as Trayvon's, because he didn't have a sample of the teen's voice.

The Sentinel said that Ed Primeau, a Michigan-based audio engineer and forensics expert, used audio enhancement and human analysis and came to the same conclusion.

"I believe that's Trayvon Martin in the background, without a doubt," Primeau told the newspaper. "That's a young man screaming."

On Feb. 26, Zimmerman, a white Hispanic, had called 911 to report a "suspicious" person and followed Martin against the dispatcher's advice. Martin and Zimmerman grappled, and Martin was shot in the chest.

Zimmerman told police that he was walking back to his vehicle when Martin attacked him and slammed his head against the ground and that he shot in self defense. Police declined to arrest Zimmerman citing Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which gives wide latitude to use deadly force when a threat is perceived.

http://usnews.msnbc....ay?preview=true

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." -Sherlock Holmes

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

"The risk reasonably to be perceived defines the duty to be obeyed and risks imports relation; it is risk to another or to others within the range of apprehension." - Benjamin Cardozo

[Sayha or bust. 71]

Another thread that the VJ Conservative will attack!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Another thread that the VJ Conservative will attack!

Just the gun nuts and the racists.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

The voice heard crying for help on a 911 call just before Trayvon Martin was shot to death was not that of George Zimmerman, according to two forensic voice identification experts, one of whom told MSNBC on Sunday that he believes the evidence is strong enough to use in court.

"The tests concluded that it's not the voice of Mr. Zimmerman," Tom Owen, of Owen Forensic Services LLC and chair emeritus for the American Board of Recorded Evidence, told MSNBC.

Asked if he thought such tests would be admissible in court, Owen said "yes" and noted he had recently used similar testing in testimony at a Connecticut murder case that involved 911 call.

The conclusions of Owen and another audio expert were first reported by the Orlando Sentinel on Saturday.

Zimmerman told police that he screamed for help during his confrontation with Martin, 17. He claims the shooting was self-defense.

The 911 call, reposted in this YouTube clip, came on the night of Feb. 26 from a woman who reported someone crying out for help in a gated community in Sanford, Fla.

In the recording of her phone call, panicked cries and a gunshot are heard.

The Sentinel said it had contacted the two audio experts.

Owen told the newspaper he used software called Easy Voice Biometrics to compare Zimmerman's voice to the 911 call screams.

"I've run it against 300 voices and it was better than 99 percent in all cases," he told MSNBC when asked about its accuracy.

Owen told the newspaper that the software compared the screams to Zimmerman's voice and returned a 48 percent match. He said he would expect a match of higher than 90 percent, considering the quality of the audio.

"As a result of that, you can say with reasonable scientific certainty that it's not Zimmerman," Owen told the Sentinel.

But he also said he could not confirm the voice as Trayvon's, because he didn't have a sample of the teen's voice.

The Sentinel said that Ed Primeau, a Michigan-based audio engineer and forensics expert, used audio enhancement and human analysis and came to the same conclusion.

"I believe that's Trayvon Martin in the background, without a doubt," Primeau told the newspaper. "That's a young man screaming."

On Feb. 26, Zimmerman, a white Hispanic, had called 911 to report a "suspicious" person and followed Martin against the dispatcher's advice. Martin and Zimmerman grappled, and Martin was shot in the chest.

Zimmerman told police that he was walking back to his vehicle when Martin attacked him and slammed his head against the ground and that he shot in self defense. Police declined to arrest Zimmerman citing Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which gives wide latitude to use deadly force when a threat is perceived.

http://usnews.msnbc....ay?preview=true

Zimmerman sounded like he was on drugs when he talked to the police dispatcher.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Just the gun nuts and the racists.

This does muddy the waters a bit though. Perhaps if the Grand Jury is allowed to hear this, there may be a trial on the charges of manslaughter.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We will see if it is used in court. Any bets? Will it be "racist" if they don't? I mean it could save a lot of money to just have the trial on MSNBC, no indictment needed.

[mari&Ryan 93]

Exactly! what don't we better save the money for an eventual trial and take Zimmerman to the chamber gas, electric chair, put hit down or even better set him in fire in a local square. Trial? due process? hear the FACTS? wait to see what is going to be allow in court? a jury of his peers? Yikes! noo! let's skip all this stupids things! GUILTY and nothing but will be accepted!

Again, after all I seen and heard in some media especially MSNBC I won't be surprised if this guy is acquitted. Let's wait if some people will respect a verdict whatever it turns to be. Personally Don't care the verdict outcome as long as a fair trial is granted to this man as every body else living in this country deserves.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This does muddy the waters a bit though. Perhaps if the Grand Jury is allowed to hear this, there may be a trial on the charges of manslaughter.

So if "experts" from MSNBC are the prosecution, then FOX gets to be the defense? OMG I see a whole new genre of TV developing here!

I bet the liberals wish they could replace the SCOTUS with an episode of "Hardball" do determine the fate of Obamacare.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

So if "experts" from MSNBC are the prosecution, then FOX gets to be the defense? OMG I see a whole new genre of TV developing here!

I bet the liberals wish they could replace the SCOTUS with an episode of "Hardball" do determine the fate of Obamacare.

The article does not refer to experts fron MSNBC. The experts noted were also published at Fox.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/01/voice-heard-screaming-on-11-tape-is-not-trayvon-martin-shooter-george-zimmerman/

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The article does not refer to experts fron MSNBC. The experts noted were also published at Fox.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/01/voice-heard-screaming-on-11-tape-is-not-trayvon-martin-shooter-george-zimmerman/

There will be an indictment hearing on April 10. I presume this evidence will be used. If not then it is not qualified as evidence. I will support the decision of the Grand Jury. You? IF there is an indictment and trial, I will support the decision of the trial jury.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

There will be an indictment hearing on April 10. I presume this evidence will be used. If not then it is not qualified as evidence. I will support the decision of the Grand Jury. You? IF there is an indictment and trial, I will support the decision of the trial jury.

Yeah I will too.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So if "experts" from MSNBC are the prosecution, then FOX gets to be the defense? OMG I see a whole new genre of TV developing here!

I bet the liberals wish they could replace the SCOTUS with an episode of "Hardball" do determine the fate of Obamacare.

On show after show on FNC, with the exception of Hannity, they all are convinced he shot the kid, and lied about it.

Edited April 1, 2012 by ☼

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

There will be an indictment hearing on April 10. I presume this evidence will be used. If not then it is not qualified as evidence. I will support the decision of the Grand Jury. You? IF there is an indictment and trial, I will support the decision of the trial jury.

It's not going to the grand jury. The special prosecutor says she will make the decision whether or not to indict on her own.

Furthermore, 57-year-old Angela Corey has handled hundreds of homicide cases involving the justifiable use of deadly force — experience that could prove invaluable. It will be up to Corey whether to charge 28-year-old George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who says he was defending himself when he fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a scuffle.

Florida prosecutors are required to use grand juries only in first-degree murder cases.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/01/tp-florida-special-prosecutor-known-as-tough/

Edited April 2, 2012 by ☼