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Zimmerman to Martin's parents: "I am sorry"
(CBS/AP) SANFORD, Fla. - George Zimmerman took the stand at a bail hearing Friday, apologizing to the parents of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, who he fatally shot in February.
"I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not," Zimmerman said in his first public comments about the shooting.
Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, were in the courtroom as a judge heard testimony before deciding to grant Zimmerman's request for bond, which was set at $150,000. Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 shooting of the unarmed 17-year-old. He has claimed self-defense.
Zimmerman was wearing a suit but was in shackles as he took the stand.
Special Section: Trayvon Martin Shooting
Judge grants $150K bail for George Zimmerman
Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester granted the bond motion, but said Zimmerman would not be released Friday, pending a further hearing on whether Zimmerman will be allowed to leave the state, as his attorney, Mark O'Mara, has requested, citing safety concerns.
Once freed, Zimmerman will be required to wear an ankle monitor and must check in with authorities every three days. He will not be allowed to possess firearms, consume alcohol or other controlled substances and he will have to abide by a curfew.
After the hearing, Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said Martin's parents were "very outraged" at the results of the hearing.
"It was devastating that [Zimmerman] got to give a self-serving apology to help get him a bond," Crump said. "Why is everybody protecting George Zimmerman?"
Zimmerman' parents and wife testified by phone earlier 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.
"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.
"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.
The hearing provided a few glimpses into the evidence amassed by investigators, and in some cases evidence they do not have.
Dale Gilbreath, an investigator for the state attorney's office, testified that he does not know whether Martin or Zimmerman threw the first punch and that there is no evidence to disprove Zimmerman's contention that he was walking back to his vehicle when confronted by Martin.
Gilbreath also said evidence does not back up parts of Zimmerman's story, such as his claim that Martin was slamming his head against a sidewalk just before he pulled out his handgun and shot the teenager.
"That is not consistent with the evidence we found," said Gilbreath, who did not provide details.
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.
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Those 3-guys who were told by 911 to not follow my son and his friend, jumped out and used a Ball Bat on my son who had just had a Back Surgery 5-weeks before that. When the first COP got there, my son laid down in his belly with his arms out. The COP Jumped on his Back with a knee and cuffed him. Then the Cop slammed my son's face into the pavement and then smacked him in the head with his fist.
My son was changed with No Ins. Hit and Run, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, and Theft over $1,500.00 dollars. The guy with me son was never charged. My son just had to have another Back Surgery this past Monday and they had to put Rods and Screws in his Back. Maybe because of the Cop's knee or maybe because of the Ball Bat (?)
Anyway, the No Ins. was Dropped and my son received a $300.00 Fine for the Hit and Run he didn't do, and he had to pay $50.00 Court Cost and received 2-yrs. Probation. The other two (2) Felony Charges are still pending. Oh, and they got him because there was a Bowl (he called it) of those Bath Salts in that Truck.
My son started going to Church right after that and said he is deserving of what happened and what he will receive from the Courts. Now if my son was Black, I guess he could Press Charges against the Officer, file suit against the County, Press Charges against those 3-guys who chased them down, etc. and used a Ball Bat on him.
On CBS last evening, they were calling a Lady a Hero because a man had robbed her store with a Knife he put to her throat. When the man left her store, she chased him for 6-miles while talking to 911 before the Law pulled the man over and arrested him.
Did you get what I said in both of these cases, "CHASED while talking to 911". Amazing how it works most of the time. In Zimmerman's Case, we have NO IDEA what he did after being told by 911 not to follow Martin. According to the Video on Front-Sight, there was more to the 911 Call than the Media is playing. Like the 911 Person told Zimmerman to get the Address for them; Martin was walking in the alley way at the REAR of those Apartments, not out front of them, etc. etc.
Today as when I was 16 and younger (went into Service at 17), I went toe to toe with Boys and older young Men and even COPS in Fights and Gang Fights. Being 17 DOES NOT make you a nice young sweet kid. One 8-yr' old is being tried as an Adult, one 11-yr. old just received Life for beating his little brother to death.
I say 17-yr. old Man, because we have many 17-yr. old's in US Military Uniforms fighting and killing for us so we can set around here playing with our Cell Phones and Keyboards.
There are different kinds of wounds. An abrasion is a slight wound,a scrape, is only in the first layer of skin, and bleeds litle or none.
A laceration, on the other hand, requires more force, goes deeper, into the 2nd layer of tissue, and can bleed alot.
The wound is not caused by an abrasion but lacerations. This is not a minute amount of bleeding and is consistent with lacerations. His head hit something hard & sharp enough to cause these wounds.
It would be just about impossible to do this to himself.
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/04/good-grief-after-weeks-of-misreporting-media-releases-bloody-george-zimmerman-photo/
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Wow ... I'm trying to keep an objective head about this case, but gosh I don't know if I'm succeeding to be honest.
I start of with the thought that some kid went to the store to get a bag of skittles, and wound up getting shot and dying because of this guy.
It's just so unexplainably tragic.
But then the more I see of this guy, I mean like wow, he just seems like a complete disaster of a guy. Overzealous cop-wannabe with no clue, seeing the danger in an innocent kid ... possibly just because he was black. Stalking him, and making him scared!
And then something happened, and the innocent unarmed kid winds up dead, and the disaster guy winds up getting charged with murder. And even if he got roughed up, didn't he maybe cause it by stalking the kid and making him scared?
Like that doesn't seem right that he should be able to claim self-defense, when he was the one who instigated the stalking that started the chain of events spiraling out of control.
On the other hand ... here comes this apology. And from a defendant, that's EXTREMELY rare!!
I just wish this whole thing hadn't happened, and that Trayvon hadn't been thought of as anything other than he was - a nice kid, and that he was still alive. I think Zimmerman's got to be held accountable for something ... I'm not sure murder 2 is right, maybe manslaughter?
No No No!!! Why can't you people stop speculating wildly based on false or no facts!
There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that indicates possible racial profiling or stalking.
"No No No!!! Why can't you people stop speculating wildly based on false or no facts!There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that indicates possible racial profiling or stalking."
Except for the comment Zimmerman made to the dispatcher: "...these @!@ guys always get away..it looks like he's on drugs or something." Zimmerman made an assumption, several actually. He followed Martin (who was on foot) in his vehicle. What precisely is that? Would it be ok with you if I followed you in my vehicle and you were on foot? That's stalking. Zimmerman could have reported his suspicions and let the police respond--period. He escalated by following Martin, who btw, the DA (who's pretty law-and-order) said wasn't doing anything wrong, unless someone walking has become against the law.
GZ's family and parents testifying? About what??? Zimmerman's father, George Zimmerman Sr., said that even when confronted his son was likely to "turn the other cheek." OHHHH YEAH, that is why GZ shot Trayvon dead!!!! Father Zimmerman has told so many lies on TV, someone finally told him to shut up as he was doing GZ more harm than good! Mother Zimmerman thinks GZ use to be in "dangerous neighborhoods" and Judge Lester sets a curfew...lol...YIKES! GZ better NOT be seen on the streets, at all! His life IS in danger. Perphaps all are hoping for a quick resolve????
"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." I hope they are "cleaning house!"
Watch the News or check on the Black on White thing, it's become sickening. I'm sick of hearing it's because they haven't had a chance or all the other excuses there are out there. Look at the Indian on White, or the Mexican on White or Asian on White and see what figures you come up with. The Latino (Mexican) race is the second largest in these United States and the Indians are the only ones still held as Prisoners in a manor of speaking since WW II. Yet who holds the most rooms and beds in our Jails throughout this country for WHAT resaos, Fore CRIMES.