Originally Posted by cmac2012

His head didn't look badly abused in the jailhouse video. But apparently there was some damage. The officer had no basis not to accept Z's explanation of events. I suspect there was indeed a scuffle but none of the details are clear. I have no trouble accepting that TM was getting the better of him in a scuffle. He was a young athlete from a cultural group in which youth rough-housing and hard play produces capable fighters. By all accounts, Zimmerman was not. His MMA teacher could barely contain his contempt for him. No surprise. A man with solid martial arts skills would have been unlikely to end up in Z's predicament.

No bruises at the hands of TM clear Zimmeman for having provoked the event. Zimmerman was the first threat.