The man who shot the unarmed 17-year-old must explain himself
George Zimmerman was taken back into custody Sunday after his wife lied to court officials, claiming the couple could not afford the $150,000 bond issued to Zimmerman. The court rescinded his bond upon learning that George Zimmerman had actually allegedly earned $135,000 from a website.
Zimmerman has been convicted of second degree murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, out of his proclaimed self-defense. George Zimmerman shot the 17-year-old after he allegedly bashed Zimmerman’s head into the ground and broke his nose.
George Zimmerman said he is shocked by his wife’s lie, and a judge will try Zimmerman in court again to hear what he has to say about her testimonial. Zimmerman went into hiding in April after the bond was issued, and police escorted him back to Sanford County jail in Florida Monday.
Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara said, “He has a real concern for his safety any time he has to come out of hiding,” and added that George Zimmerman’s self-submission “will help demonstrate to the court that he is not a flight risk.”
Zimmerman failed to present one of his two passports to the court, and he failed to inform court officials of monetary donations for his legal defense. His integrity is being tried, and Zimmerman’s wife, Shelly, did not disclose that the donations amounted to $200,000, which exceed the bond value. A scant amount of the Legal Defense Fund contribution was put toward Zimmerman’s bail. Instead, about $2,000 were used toward the Zimmermans’ household expenses and less than $300 to the bail, according to CNN.
O’Mara said, “It’s a question of credibility with Mr. Zimmerman and that credibility has been attacked or tarnished and, now that has to be rehabilitated,” in regard to Zimmerman’s understanding of the court’s concern.
According to Reuters, Zimmerman made phone calls to his wife in coded language, telling her to transfer the donation money into her own account.
“If attorney O’Mara files the motion, then the stage is set for George Zimmerman and his wife to have to take the witness stand and try to explain what the state attorney said were blatant lies to the court, thus exposing them further to credibility issues,” said Martin’s family attorney, Benjamin Crump.
Zimmerman’s defense team said, “While Mr. Zimmerman acknowledges that he allowed his financial situation to be misstated in court, the defense will emphasize that in all other regards, Mr. Zimmerman has been forthright and cooperative,”
George Zimmerman is expected to wait in jail until 2013 for a trial. In the meantime, a case will be prepared as a repercussion to withholding the passport and donation information.
