George Zimmerman's wife testifies at bond hearing: "He is absolutely not a violent person"

George Zimmerman appears in court at a bond hearing, April 20, 2012. / CBS

(AP) SANFORD, Fla. - The family of a neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Trayvon Martin asked a Florida judge Friday to let him out of jail while he awaits trial, and legal experts said he stands a good chance of being granted bail.

George Zimmerman's parents and wife testified by phone in the hearing at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, saying he is not a flight risk nor a threat to the community. Zimmerman's family members were testifying by phone because they say they have been threatened.

Zimmerman was at the hearing wearing a suit but in shackles. Martin's parents are also present.

"He is absolutely not a violent person," his wife, Shellie Zimmerman, testified.

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Zimmerman's father, George Zimmerman Sr., said that even when confronted his son was likely to "turn the other cheek." The father also described what he said were his son's injuries Feb. 27, the morning after Martin was shot and killed.

"His face was swollen quite a bit. He had a protective cover over his nose. His lip was swollen and cut. And there were two vertical gashes on the back of his head," the elder Zimmerman testified.

Zimmerman's mother, Gladys, said her son was "very protective" of vulnerable people such as the homeless and children. She described how he got involved in a mentoring program for children in Orlando, noting that both of the children he mentored were African-American like Martin.

Mrs. Zimmerman said she was concerned about her son's safety in that program because he traveled twice a month to a dangerous neighborhood.

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"He said, 'Mom, if I don't go, they don't have nobody,"' Mrs. Zimmerman said.

But assistant prosecutor Bernardo de la Rionda asked the family members about two incidents. In 2005, George Zimmerman had to take anger management courses after an undercover law enforcement officer accused him of attacking him as he tried to arrest Zimmerman's friend. In another incident, a girlfriend accused Zimmerman of attacking her. No charges were filed.

Zimmerman asked to meet with Trayvon Martin's parents before the hearing, but the family's lawyers said this was not the time.

"We believe (the) Zimmerman request is very self-serving, considering the timing of it 50 days later, right before his bond hearing," said Justin R. Campbell — an assistant to attorney Benjamin Crump — in an emailed statement late Thursday.

Legal experts say factors that favor Zimmerman getting bail include his ties to the local community and that he doesn't appear to be a flight risk since he turned himself in voluntarily after second-degree murder charges were filed against him last week. He also has never been convicted of a crime, which would indicate he doesn't pose a threat to society.

"Although it's not routine for people charged with murder to get bond, they do get bond, and I think there is an excellent argument to be made in his specific case for him to be released on bond," said defense attorney Randy McClean, who practices in Seminole County, about 15 miles northeast of Orlando.

Defense attorney Mark O'Mara indicated before the hearing he would ask that Zimmerman be allowed to leave the area, if he is granted bond, because of concerns about his safety. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester was assigned the case Wednesday after a previous judge recused herself because of a potential conflict of interest.

"Normally, the conditions are that you stay local. I think that is going to be difficult," O'Mara said in an interview. "I think nobody would deny the fact that if George Zimmerman were walking down the street today, he would be at risk. That is a reality."

O'Mara has said he would prefer that Zimmerman be released so he can assist in building a defense case.

The judge would have discretion to allow Zimmerman to live elsewhere along with a number of restrictions such as a curfew, regular reporting requirements and possibly an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet, said Florida International University law professor Joelle Moreno.

O'Mara said he would ask for assistance from law enforcement. Kim Cannaday, a spokeswoman for the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, said she couldn't comment on what security procedures would be in place for Zimmerman if he is released. The sheriff's office does have the ability to monitor defendants outside the county if a judge requests a GPS monitor be used as a condition of release.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the 17-year-old Martin's death during a Feb. 26 confrontation in a Sanford, Fla., gated community. Martin was walking home from a convenience store when Zimmerman spotted him from his truck and called police to report him as suspicious. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense under Florida's "stand your ground" law, which eliminates a person's duty to retreat under threat of death or serious injury.

The lack of an arrest for 44 days spurred protests nationwide, several in Seminole County, in which participants chanted and held signs that said, "Arrest Zimmerman Now!" Anger over a delay in Zimmerman's arrest led to the Sanford police chief stepping down temporarily and the recusal of the prosecutor who normally handles cases out of Sanford.

[Potential_Juror]

"He is absolutely not a violent person," his wife, Shellie Zimmerman, testified.

She obviously failed to listen to her husband's attorney when she was advised of her right to remain silent. Now the prosecutor will be able to ask George Zimmerman when he stopped beating his wife.

[cfholdren]

Its also been told that Zimmerman has in the past "held" other people untill the cops could come to arrest them , a shopelifter, a reckless driver ,How did he hold them there , by telling them to sit and stay or by pointing his gun at them ? I wish some reporter would look into that!

[surelyridiculous]

yes, lets crucify the man what he has allegedly done. i dont believe his intentions were to be violent against martin. the media found a way to gain more viewers through exploiting this as they did with the tawana case. no one REALLY knows what happened in that 1 to 2 minute gap of the altercation between zimmerman and martin, but still there's people out there who jump to conclusions from what there getting of tv or AL SHARPTON who i dont need to remind anyone about the tawana case he represented to which they later found out she was lying all along. So, lets not jump to conclusions and learn all the facts of the case during trial.

[TimeToEvolve]

He's not violent at this moment. But he was before. Many times.

[jayb1956]

GZ said he thought Trayvon was close to his age and that he did not know wheatear the kid had a gun or not . He said on tape Trayvon was a teen that night. Did he shoot just in case Trayvon had a gun. ?

[bwlewis1964]

This man was allowed to carry a gun after he assaulted a
police officer and assaulting his girlfriend? He was not
authorized to carry a gun while working as a neiborhood
watchman? The 911 operator told him not to appproach Trayvon?
George are you listening know?

[rightontarget]

by TheWizard_ April 20, 2012 11:42 AM EDT
@Rafterman, Martin had no idea that Zimmerman had a gun. So the fact that he was armed was irrelevant at that point. Why would he need to defend himself if he hadn't been attacked?
*************************************************

Duh, maybe because Zimmerman appeared to be stalking him???? Ya think? And you don't really KNOW that Martin had no idea Zimmerman had a gun now do ya? You talk like you know all about it but in reality you just want to defend Zimmerman no matter what. Get a clue!

[ordgal]

Not violent??? He shot a child with a gun. What could be more violent than that?

[USSAmerikan]

Zimmerman shot an athletic person who towered 5 inches over him and was beating him to a pulp. In another possible ending to the events that unfolded, we may have just read about one more incident where a teenager, in a fit of rage, killed an adult because the cops got there too late, as they often do (15-minute rule??). I think we all need to wait until all the facts come out and analyze them with a cool head, as the responsible adults most of us are.

[Lindag10]

by TheWizard_ April 20, 2012 12:19 PM EDT
Well, USA, it is what 50% of what the eye witnesses say happened.


-----------------------

ONE eye witness tells a story and the OTHER eye witness is dead, so of course you believe the eye witness that's still alive because 50% of the witnesses say that's what happened. Incredible!!!

[PDO999]

How the hell does a murderer get released on bail?

[rightontarget]

by TheWizard_ April 20, 2012 12:11 PM EDT
@USA, Martin made the first physical contact making Zimmerman the victim and justifying his act of self defense!
***************************************************

That's such B.S.!!!! You really don't KNOW who made the first contact. Even so, if some strange man was following me and I felt threatened, I would certainally want to do a pre-emptive strike, knock him out just so I could get away. If ANYBODY was using "self defense" it was Martin. Cowboy wannabe Zimmerman SHOULD have just stayed put and done what the COPS TOLD HIM TO! Zimmerman probably didn't mean to kill Martin but he is STILL RESPONSIBLE for his death and should have some kind of accountability for that!!!!!!!!!!!