In an affidavit by state investigators, the government claimed that Zimmerman referred to Martin and alleged burglars in his community by several expletives, and called them “punks” while on the 911 call the day of the confrontation. At the bail hearing today, Zimmerman addressed the court, appearing in a suit, with his hands restrained by a waist-chain.
“I am sorry for the loss of your son,” Zimmerman said from the witness stand in a statement directed at Martin’s parents. “I did not know old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. And I thought he was armed.”
Police alleged that Zimmerman chased Martin, who was unarmed, against the warning of an emergency dispatcher and struggled with the teenager before shooting him once in the chest. Today, a police detective examined on the witness stand said he didn’t know who initiated the confrontation.
The Florida judge originally assigned to the case, Florida Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, of the 18th Judicial Circuit in Seminole County, disqualified herself earlier this week due to a conflict of interest. Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr., who presided over today’s almost two-hour hearing, has taken over the case.
The case is State of Florida v. Zimmerman, 1712FO4573, Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit (Seminole County). |
