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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

George Zimmerman’s|Wife Arrested

SANFORD, Fla. (CN) - George Zimmerman's wife was arrested Tuesday on a perjury charge, after a judge concluded she lied about how much money the couple had during her husband's April bond hearing.

Zimmerman, 28, is the Neighborhood Watch volunteer accused of shooting to death 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February.

The arrest of his wife, Shellie, came two weeks after Zimmerman's bond was revoked and he was sent back to jail for misleading the court about how much money he had.

Shellie Zimmerman, 25, was booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility and was released on a $1,000 bail, according to local news reports.

She is to be arraigned on July 31.

Shellie Zimmerman was asked at the bond hearing if she and her husband had enough money to pay the bond, and was recorded as saying, "Um, not that I'm aware of."

But prosecutors say the couple had more than $135,000 in donations on George Zimmerman's website. Shellie allegedly transferred $74,000 just days before the hearing and put $85,000 back after his bond was set.

Phone conversations between the two prove the Zimmermans knew how much money they had, prosecutors said.

State prosecutors charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder in April, more than a month after he shot Trayvon Martin, in what Zimmerman claims was self-defense.

Zimmerman surrendered and was released on $150,000 bond. His bond was revoked June 1 and he was ordered back to jail.

After Zimmerman surrendered to police on June 3, his attorney Mark O'Mara requested another bond hearing, which has been set for June 29.

O'Mara said his client was not sure how he could use the money he had raised and that his failure to disclose it was caused by fear, mistrust and confusion.

"Mr. Zimmerman understands the mistake has undermined his credibility, which he will have to work hard to repair," O'Mara said.

The killing put in a national spotlight Florida's so-called Stand Your Ground law, which allows use of deadly force outside the home.

A special task force met Tuesday in Seminole County at a public hearing to discuss possible changes to the law.

Osceola County resident Charles Grapski sued the City of Sanford in May for its failure to release public information in Trayvon Martin's killing.

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