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George Zimmerman's Attorney Calls Hidden Donations An "Oversight"

Rosa Trieu |
April 27, 2012 | 2:30 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

 

(Photo courtesy of Creative Commons).
(Photo courtesy of Creative Commons).

A Florida judge said Friday he has decided against raising George Zimmerman's bail up from $150,000 even though Zimmerman did not disclose he received over $200,000 in donations through a website.

Zimmerman's attorney called it an "oversight," and claimed the family was not trying to be deceptive, CNN reports.

  • [Mark] O'Mara could not explain why Zimmerman didn't disclose the funds, but said he didn't think his client had meant to deceive anyone.
  • "If that was an oversight by him, then it was. And quite honestly, with everything he's going through for the past several weeks, if that's the only oversight he's committed, we'll deal with it, Judge Lester will deal with it," he said.

Zimmerman was released Monday after paying $15,000 of his bail. His lawyer argued he was penniless, said BBC.

  • Judge Kenneth Lester said he needed more information about the fundraising before he could reconsider the bond.
  • Prosecutor Bernardo de la Rionda argued that the bail bond amount should be reconsidered because Mr Zimmerman's lawyer had disclosed on Thursday that his client had received some $200,000 in donations.
  • Benjamin Crump, lawyer for Trayvon Martin's family lawyer, agreed: "The court was led to believe that he [Zimmerman] had no money and was indigent.
  • "He either did not tell his lawyer or if he did tell his lawyer he did not discuss it with the judge."

Meanwhile, CBS News reports that an attorney for Trayvon Martin's family said his parents were "offended" Zimmerman did not tell the judge about the money.

  • "This is a bombshell that was dropped," Benjamin Crump said.
  • O'Mara said he learned about the money this week, after Zimmerman's release. The family used $5,000 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.

According to CNN, O'Mara said he charges $400 per hour for family law cases and estimated Zimmerman's defense costs could go up to $1 million.

Zimmerman maintains he shot and killed unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense.

 

Reach Executive Producer Rosa Trieu here; follow her on Twitter.



 

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