Trayvon Martin family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said that Trayvon’s parents were “offended” Zimmerman did not tell the judge about the $204,000 he received in donations.
STORY: George Zimmerman Remains Free – For Now
Yesterday Florida Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said he wanted to know more about the money before he would decide whether or not to raise bail however George Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara doesn’t think the judge will change Zimmerman’s bond in light of the new information.
O’Mara said-
“Quite honestly, with everything he is going through over the past several weeks, if that is the only oversight committed, then we’ll deal with it,”
O’Mara claimed the Zimmerman family was not trying to be deceptive to the court by not mentioning the money
Zimmerman was released from jail earlier this week, and has gone into hiding ever since over concerns about his safety.
As for Crump he said that Trayvon’s parents were “offended” Zimmerman did not tell the judge about the money and that “This is a bombshell that was dropped,” .
O’Mara said he learned about the money this week, after Zimmerman’s release. The family used $US5000 from the website as well as a second mortgage on their home to bail out Zimmerman, O’Mara said. Zimmerman has also used some of the money for living expenses.
Zimmerman disclosed the $US200,000 when his defense attorney was closing down his social media accounts and the website earlier this week, O’Mara said.
“We just didn’t have a lot of conversations around money and the website,” O’Mara said.
The defense has started a Facebook page and Twitter account for Zimmerman, and another website under O’Mara’s control, http://www.gzlegalcase.com . It will allow supporters to donate to a legal defence fund.
“I don’t want my client to have any internet presence unless it is through my office,” O’Mara said.
“What I’m trying to do is limit the enormity of danger that comes into this case in places like Twitter and false Facebook accounts.”
Zimmerman’s lawyer said most donors had contributed in the range of several hundred dollars. He said he didn’t want their names publicized.
“My fear is they will be targeted for reprisals, animosities,” O’Mara said.
Lester refused the prosecution’s request to issue a gag order on those involved in the murder trial. He said he would not stop Zimmerman’s attorneys from talking to the media.
“This case is the most significant media event in the country, maybe in the world. We can’t be absolutely mute about these matters,” O’Mara said.
The hearing was called originally to decide whether Zimmerman’s court file should be opened to the public.
As for now, Zimmerman remains free on bond and another hearing is scheduled for next week.
