I think the reverse about the LA Times article. Contemporaneous reporting is way more compelling than revisionist history after the fact. The source for that information is the police chief himself, not some unnamed, random person in the department. Officer Wilson admitted that he heard the call about the robbery, but did not record the description of the suspects in the documents. Further, when he asked if the other officers needed help, they declined and said the suspects were, "in the woodwork."

The difference is that we actually know his account now.

We know his account now that he has had a chance to get his story straight. Jesus, the guy fucking bagged his own gun into evidence and washed his hands after the shooting. How do you explain that?

For example, you say that you think Wilson initiated the struggle by grabbing Brown

Dorian Johnson testified that Officer Wilson grabbed Brown first. Now that we know how the Ferguson Police Department treats the community in general, it is not outside the realm of possibility.

Brown didn't land any significant punches

We know this because Darren Wilson was not injured during this battle royale, wherein he thought, "one of those punches could have knocked me out, or worse."

Wilson was leaning back toward the passenger seat with his forearm up, in an effort to block the blows.

If that is the case, how in the hell does Mike Brown reach for his gun? Officer Wilson would have been practically laying his whole 6'4", 210 pound frame directly on his weapon. Does Mike Brown reach practically his whole body inside the SUV? Nobody ever testified to that.

Likewise, you say that you think Wilson fired at Brown six times when he was running away. What's your basis for that?

Here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Michael_Brown_shooting_scene_diagram.svg

Twelve shots were fired that day. Ten were captured in the audio recording. The casing closest to the vehicle is from the shot that was fired from inside the vehicle. I do not think that there were two fired in the SUV, nobody would stick around for a second shot, and if you were hit, you definitely wouldn't stick around. Upon firing the shot inside the vehicle that hit Mike Brown's thumb, Mike Brown took off running. Officer Wilson calls for backup, exits the vehicle, and fires once more (but misses) at Mike Brown as he is running away (which explains the shell casing near the sidewalk in the diagram). He gives chase, gains ground, and yells for Mike Brown to stop. When Mike Brown does not stop running, he fires six shots (as heard on the audio recording before the three second pause), hitting Mike Brown's right forearm and interior right bicep. That is the apex of Mike Brown's run, explaining the red stains in the diagram. Mike Brown, now bleeding and injured from three gunshot wounds turns to face Darren Wilson and staggers back towards him (this is the three second pause in the audio recording), probably clutching his sides and clenching his fists in pain. Darren Wilson then unleashes the last four shots (again, from the audio recording), which strike Mike Brown in the right shoulder, the right eye, and the top of the head, as he falls.

Brown's activity before the confrontation is directly relevant

And I would say that the Ferguson Police Department's activity in general is also directly relevant. It would explain why Dorian Johnson's statement that Officer Wilson grabbed Mike Brown first is plausible.

Here is the thing. I think that your reading of the evidence is plausible. It might very well have gone down just like that, but my reading of the evidence is also plausible (Dorian Johnson and the contractor and my explanation of the physical evidence). As a result, there is enough to at least indict (probable cause is a really, really low bar) and put it in front of a trial jury.