Lawyer says George Zimmerman knew judge was misinformed about his finances
By Jamie Novogrod, NBC News
SANFORD, Fla. — George Zimmerman, the man charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, knew his finances had been misrepresented to the court when he sought to be freed on bond in April, his attorney said Monday.
In a statement posted to the official website for the Zimmerman legal case, Mark O'Mara said he would file a motion for a second bond hearing later Monday. (He had not done so by 5 p.m. ET, clerks told NBC News.)
In the statement, O'Mara said Zimmerman acknowledges that he "allowed his financial situation to be misstated in court."
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During the April 20 hearing, Shellie Zimmerman said the couple didn't have financial means on their own to support a bond. O'Mara said he didn't learn about the money until days later, when he informed the court and shuttered the account, moving the money to an official "legal defense fund" managed by a third party.
"The audio recordings of Mr. Zimmerman's phone conversations while in jail make it clear that Mr. Zimmerman knew a significant sum had been raised," O'Mara said Monday.
O'Mara said the failure to disclose the funds was motivated by fear and other pressures related to the case.
"Mr. Zimmerman understands that this mistake has undermined his credibility, which he will have to work to repair," O'Mara said.
The statement offers some new details on the fundraising picture:
•$37,000 has been donated by supporters since the independent fund was established in late April, O'Mara said.
•Of the $204,000 originally raised in Zimmerman's PayPal account, $30,000 was used to help him make the transition to "a life in hiding" after he was released from prison on April 23.
•An additional $20,000 was kept liquid to pay for legal expenses.
O'Mara also said he plans to emphasize in court that Zimmerman has been otherwise "forthright and cooperative" during investigations by law enforcement.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/04/12053718-lawyer-says-george-zimmerman-knew-judge-was-misinformed-about-his-finances?lite
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