George Zimmerman sues NBC
George Zimmerman, who has been charged with the second-degree murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, is suing NBC Universal for defamation. He claims the news broadcasting network, when it aired the 911 call Zimmerman made minutes before he fatally shot Martin, edited out parts of the call to willfully make Zimmerman appear racist. “NBC saw the death of Trayvon Martin not as a tragedy but as an opportunity to increase ratings, and so set about to create a myth that George [...]
George Zimmerman raised $200K in website donations
George Zimmerman’s attorney told CNN’s “AC 360” on Thursday night that a website created to raise money for his legal defense has raised $204,000. Attorney Mark O’Mara said he learned about the donations on Wednesday as they were trying to shut down Zimmerman’s Internet presence to avoid concerns about possible impersonators and problems with his Twitter and Facebook accounts.
“He asked me what to do with his PayPal accounts, and I asked him what he was talking about. He said [...]
Sanford commission rejects police chief’s resignation in Trayvon Martin case
City commissioners in Sanford, Florida voted on Monday to reject the proposed resignation of its embattled Police Chief, Bill Lee, who has been under scrutiny for the handling of the probe into Trayvon Martin’s death in February. Chief Lee has been on paid leave since March 22, a day after the commission expressed a lack of confidence in the chief because of the case. Chief Lee remains on paid leave after the commission’s decision, with Captain Darren Scott continuing to [...]
George Zimmerman gets $150,000 bond, apologizes to Trayvon Martin family
George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watchman charged with second-degree murder in the case of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was given a bond of $150,000 by Circuit Judge Kenneth M. Lester Jr. at the hearing on Friday. His attorney, Mark O’Mara, said he could be free in several days. Authorities and attorneys are expected to organize arrangements to permit Zimmerman to live outside of Florida as he awaits trial because of threats made against him. In the shooting case of Martin, Zimmerman [...]
Judge Kenneth M. Lester Jr. to preside over Trayvon Martin case
Florida Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, who presided over the Trayvon Martin shooting case, removed herself on Wednesday after the attorney for defendant George Zimmerman argued she had a possible conflict of interest relating to her husband. Judge Kenneth M. Lester Jr. will preside over the case, including the bail hearing on Friday for Zimmerman, according to a news release from the court. Lester, 58, is a Chicago native and graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1980, [...]
George Zimmerman’s lawyer requests new judge in Trayvon Martin case
The attorney for George Zimmerman, Mark O’Mara, says he is confident his motion to have a Florida judge removed from his client’s case will be granted. On Monday night, O’Mara said, “I think she’s going to go ahead and grant it and move the case on to another judge.” After the Florida judge, assigned to the Trayvon Martin case, revealed her husband works with a CNN legal analyst, Zimmerman’s defense team formally requested on Monday that Seminole Circuit Judge Jessica [...]
George Zimmerman’s attorneys quit the Florida shooting case
At a news conference on Tuesday, attorneys for the neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, who authorities say fatally shot an unarmed teenager in Florida, said they have lost contact with their client and no longer represent him. Legal advisor Craig Sonner said, “He has gone on his own. I’m not sure what he’s doing or who he’s talking to. If he wants us to come back as counsel, he will contact us.” Sonner, who spoke with reporters alongside attorney Hal [...]
Grand jury cancellation in Trayvon Martin case
The special prosecutor assigned to the Trayvon Martin case, State Attorney Angela Corey, announced on Monday that she would not present the highly controversial killing case to a grand jury. A grand jury was set to convene on Tuesday in the case before Corey cancelled saying “the decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case.” Last month, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Corey to take over the investigation after local state attorney, Norman Wolfinger, [...]
Police Chief of Sanford, Florida ‘no confidence’ in Trayvon Martin case
Police Chief Billy Lee, the man leading the investigation into the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin has been asked to step down. During an intense special meeting regarding the death of the unarmed teen, who was shot and killed by a self-appointed neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman, the Sanford city commissioners conducted a vote of “no confidence” against Lee. There was a three of five vote against the chief, who has been in office less than a year. The decision [...]
Department of Justice, FBI investigate black teen’s death in Florida
The Department of Justice and the FBI will begin investigating the death of an African-American teen, Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed last month by a white man, George Zimmerman, in Sanford, Florida. On Monday, Trayvon parents said they believed that race was a factor in their son’s death. The Congressional Black Caucus has called for a federal investigation, saying the local police in Sanford have shown “blatant disregard for justice.” The killing has sparked outrage across the country. [...]