"They never stop to think about the injuries a baby can inflict on a nanny while it's being shaken." -- Zimmerman Family Lawyer

SANFORD, Fla. (Bennington Vale Evening Transcript) -- A lawyer recently hired to defend George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot unarmed teen Trayvon Martin under the "Stand Your Ground Law," invoked Shaken Baby Syndrome to explain the injuries his client sustained during an alleged attack by Martin. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a form of child abuse caused by intentional shaking. It can lead to swelling, brain damage and death. In the majority of cases, no visible sign of external trauma exists, just as Zimmerman's broken nose and bleeding head were not apparent on police video taken about 30 minutes after the vicious attack. But supporters of the Martin family claim that regardless of who initiated the confrontation, Zimmerman's use of force was excessive. Zimmerman was armed. Trayvon Martin was carrying Skittles -- something Zimmerman has already described as threatening. Zimmerman is also much larger physically than Martin. Surprisingly, Zimmerman's attorney said those facts illustrate the point he's actually trying to make, pointing out that Shaken Baby Syndrome can also seriously damage or maim the person rattling the infant.

"When we think of Shaken Baby Syndrome, it's easy to fault the British nanny and weep over the loss of a seemingly innocent infant," Zimmerman's lawyer explained. "But we don't really know what the baby did to provoke the shaking. Maybe it was possessed. Maybe it had gotten hold of Skittles. People get caught up in the size difference between a baby and a curvy English lass. They never stop to think about the injuries a baby can inflict on a nanny while it's being shaken. Best case scenario, the nanny walks away with sprained wrists and bruising. But sharp fingernails and newly cut teeth can cause serious lacerations, which can become infected. If left untreated, gangrene and death are not far behind. That's a pretty scary thing to face, especially knowing that you're going to be deported to a country with a medieval socialized health care system."

Zimmerman's lawyer added that once the shaking becomes so intense that the shaker experiences pain or visible injury, a real sense of peril arises. Under Florida's open-for-interpretation"Stand Your Ground Law," he says enough latitude is permitted to justify killing that baby as a tangible threat to life and limb.

Zimmerman has not yet been arrested or formally charged with a crime. Zimmerman's lawyer says he's confident that with his Shaken Baby Syndrome and Skittles Defense arguments, federal investigators will soon drop the case.

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