Trayvon Martin attorney: George Zimmerman's apology 'disingenuous'

George Zimmerman makes statement on stand at bond hearing

SANFORD, Fla. – Attorneys for Trayvon Martin's parents say the apology George Zimmerman made on the witness stand during his bail hearing was disingenuous.
Natalie Jackson and Benjamin Crump, attorneys for Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, made the comments Friday after Zimmerman was granted $150,000 bail.

"They don't agree with the courts decision today," Crump said. "They are devastated."

In an extraordinary move, Zimmerman took the witness stand during his bond hearing, telling Martin's parents:

"I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was.
"I thought he was a little younger than I am and I did not know if he was armed or not."

Attorneys for the Martin family said they are too upset to talk. They said Tracy Martin cried during the entire hearing.

"This was the most disingenuous insincere thing that I have ever seen it was insulting to the family, who is sitting there grieving," Jackson said.

The attorneys for the Martin family said Zimmerman was playing for the cameras and only apologizing in court to get sympathy for a bond.

"It was devastating that he had to give a self-serving apology to help him get a bond," Crump said. "They were very outraged at that."

Prosecutors also questioned Zimmerman's timing, but Zimmerman testified in one of his three statements to police shortly after the shooting that he already said he was sorry for the family's loss.

"The real George Zimmerman based on his website had every opportunity to put anything he thought was important in his heart on that website," Crump said. "Did he ever put that he was sorry for killing Trayvon Martin?"

The Martin family's attorney said the family isn't buying it.

"When you give an apology the time and the place is to do it face-to-face, sincerely and you make it meaningful," Jackson said.
Zimmerman could be free in several days. Authorities and attorneys need to work out arrangements to allow Zimmerman to live outside Florida because of threats made against him and his family. He is charged with second-degree murder and claims self-defense.
Zimmerman told police Martin attacked him after he started following the teenager Feb. 26. Zimmerman says he thought the 17-year-old Martin looked suspicious walking around the gated neighborhood.


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