Trayvon Martin Case: Zimmerman's Lawyer Did Not Know About $200K Raised By Website

SANFORD, Fla. -- The attorney for George Zimmerman said he didn't know his client had raised $200,000 before a bond hearing last week.

Mark O'Mara told the judge Friday that Zimmerman's family hadn't informed him about the money before his client was granted $150,000 bond.

Florida Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said he wanted to know more information about the money and what Zimmerman knew before deciding whether to revoke or raise his bond. He said he would to that at a hearing after O'Mara gathers the information.

Zimmerman is accused of second-degree murder for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The case has drawn national attention because Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch volunteer when he shot Martin, who was unarmed.

Zimmerman wasn't charged for more than six weeks because he claimed self-defense.

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Comments

[RTIII]

04:25 PM on 05/09/2012

"Zimmerman is accused of second-degree murder for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The case has drawn national attention because Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch volunteer when he shot Martin, who was unarmed."

This summary leaves out the VITAL point that Zimmerman stalked Martin immediately before the shooting.

[fredimessina]

04:12 AM on 05/01/2012

I'm really not at all surprised at this. If it turns out the money was there, it will further destroy his already shaky credibility.

[Ms. Lou]

07:50 PM on 04/30/2012

All crooked and the fix is in.

[pat511]

04:38 PM on 04/30/2012

What is "the supreme race"?

[justsome]

02:25 PM on 04/30/2012

From what i read, someone mention that in Fl, GZ did not have a Class G gun licensce, and said "That I'm sure Corey will be bringing that up."

[racerrodig]

05:20 PM on 04/30/2012

What is a Class G gun license?? I've never heard of that. Let me make a wild guess, it's something he must have to play with guns out in public????

[justsome]

07:49 PM on 04/30/2012

i don't know, i know, who was that post from fl? Heat2..oh darn i forgot his post name, but he knew the fl law, but the person who post that raised a good question.

[pat511]

11:41 AM on 04/30/2012

"Raising Funds

We do intend to raise funds on behalf of our client, and when we are approved to do so, we will accept funds online. We understand that this is controversial, but Mr. Zimmerman deserves a fair trial, and mounting a defense is an expensive proposition. Moreover, during the legal proceedings Mr. Zimmerman is unable to work, and it is inappropriate for him to raise funds on his own behalf. Funds raised by our firm will be placed in a trust fund, to which Mr. Zimmerman does not have access, and will be used to fund his defense and pay for reasonable living expenses.

Defense Fund

The website for George Zimmerman's Defense Fund will be up soon and available for donations."

[pat511]

11:33 AM on 04/30/2012

"George Zimmerman: Defense team launches new site

By Amy Pavuk, Orlando Sentinel

9:34 a.m. EST, April 30, 2012

George Zimmerman's defense attorney has established a new website, Facebook and Twitter accounts to provide details about the high-profile, controversial case.

On gzlegalcase.com, attorney Mark O'Mara acknowledges that it is "unusual for a legal defense to maintain a social media presence on behalf of a defendant, but we also acknowledge that this is a very unusual case."

[racerrodig]

02:33 PM on 04/30/2012

Wow !! You're the only Z boy left A hahahahahahahahahaha

[pat511]

03:29 PM on 04/30/2012

Kinda like a jury...takes only one :)

[nonethewyzzer]

06:55 AM on 04/30/2012

Tsk, tsk, tsk.... there are two people in your life to whom one should never, ever, under any circumstances... lie. Your lawyer is one of them.

HELLO! Zimmerman!!! That's why attorney/client privilege exists! So you can tell the guy the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! Otherwise, he can't help you.

[racerrodig]

03:42 PM on 04/30/2012

Good point. Every hardcore criminal knows that. Duhhhhh Z keeps thinking outside the box I guess.

[nonethewyzzer]

05:28 AM on 05/01/2012

Zimmerman thinking for himself and ignoring sound advice is what got him where he is right now, charged with second degree murder, wearing an ankle bracelet and hiding out in some undisclosed location while he awaits his trial. I'm thinking he's not the brightest crayon in that box.

[darlinsass]

03:18 PM on 05/09/2012

Hello friend, Do you know if O"mara still defending Z pro bono?

[nonethewyzzer]

10:57 PM on 05/12/2012

I seriously doubt it. The last I heard O'Mara was talking all about how Zimmerman's defense will likely cost in the million dollar range.... sounds like he'll be billing his client. =)

[justsome]

06:39 PM on 04/29/2012

Oh! you must live in Mississippi.

[racerrodig]

07:28 PM on 04/29/2012

"...basing their comments on nothing but speculation..." of course unlike this rocket scientist pat511. "...speculation and racist through and through." Duhhhhh "...racist..." what Sherlock?? Dude you will never escape having your hypocrisy found out here. Every comment you make is idiotic, repetitive, racist or repulsive. justsome has it partly right with
"Oh! you must live in Mississippi."............back in the 50's. You are aware that your boy Z has a case that hinges on his proving something he has no proof of. None. Just a claim and a claim, by the law you Z boys tout so highly, states he must prove he was attacked. Period, there is no other way out. So ...go polish you pistol in the dark and try to find something factual to post. The remark about "...who cleaned for me..." is probably a lie as anyone with enough money to have afford a cleaning service would have enough class that they would not make the racist dig you made.

[justsome]

07:58 PM on 04/29/2012

i hear crickets.

[pat511]

08:15 PM on 04/29/2012

"cleaning service" how little you know. a person who does domestic work isn't a "cleaning service.....LOL

[justsome]

03:54 PM on 04/29/2012

Thank Goodness NYC Mayor Bloomberg calls out the NRA "In reality the NRA's leaders weren't interested in public safety. They were interested in promoting a culture where people take the law into their own hands, and face no consequences for it. Let's call it by its real name, vigilatism" He said the NRA should be ashamed of themselves. This has nothing to do with gun owners rights. It has nothing to do with the 2nd Admenment". for once the man is right, and thank goodness NYC does not have this. the full site is "Bloomberg Blast NRA Over SYG Laws-ABC

[abbyj]

01:43 PM on 04/29/2012

I'm not someone who has unflinching faith in the honesty of defense lawyers (bless their hearts). When they do their jobs and represent their clients to the fullest extent of the law, they often get their clients acquitted or are able to have their clients' sentences lessened. It's a thankless job in a lot of ways, but they use the laws to defend their clients. Using the laws to exculpate their clients may or may not have any kinship with what we call "truth." This lawyer, O'Mara, looked stunned by the news that his "indigent" client (and dad from their 2 websites) had gathered up nearly a quarter of a million dollars. He didn't look pleased but rather blind sided--angry. I would not be surprised if O'Mara excuses himself from this case. It appeared to me that he saw, for the first time, how his client uses lies of omission to get what he wants, and O'Mara doesn't want any part of it. I could be wrong, but that was the look on O'Mara's face. So, here I am defending an attorney as an honest man. Funny.

[justsome]

02:11 PM on 04/29/2012

what you saw was right. i happened to catch cnn with anderson cooper & O'Mara, and you saw what i saw. that man looked like he slapped. can you imagine? i would've dropped him right after that interview.

[abbyj]

02:43 PM on 04/29/2012

justsome, thank you for the verification. O'Mara looked nothing short of dumbfounded. Also, the judge appears to have been blind sided, too. It's interesting that the judge is taking his time in rendering a decision about whether bail should be revoked for GZ. This has to be so it doesn't appear as a knee-jerk response that the gun-toters will freak out over. So I have two bets going here at home (and we all agree, haha): 1) that O'Mara will quit, and that 2) the judge will revoke GZ's bail for lying about being indigent. Thank you!!! F&F.

[Penelope Pappas Sells]

02:29 PM on 04/30/2012

1) O'Mera's client, any defendant, is entitled to the best of his attorney's skills and to a vigorous defense. that is NOT the same thing as being "entitled" to an acquittal. 2) If O'Mera DID know about the $$$$ collected & knowingly, intentionally, LIED to the court on his client's behalf, he would be in violation of the canons of ethics that govern all lawyers and subject to discipline by the court. ( I am sure the senior Zimmerman knows this as a magistrate & very possibly it was NOT disclosed for that reason. ) He is either truly shocked at being played by his clients or a very good actor.

[abbyj]

02:53 PM on 04/30/2012

Makes perfect sense, Penelope. It's a CYA mission from all angles. Thanks for your straightforward comment. F&F!

[Bonez1]

01:25 PM on 04/29/2012

Patt Rugar
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14 hours ago (11:28 PM)
Terry Owens bond was only $7500.. Maybe they will lower Zimmermans .. I mean come on .. this whole thing is just a show ..Hoping after spending $'s of tax payers cash the Tray heads will die down and act civilized and accept the REAL TRUTH Tray got out of hand and jumped a dude for no reason ...If he just acted civilized and said "excuse me sir .. why are you watching me"

are you serious?
you want Trayvon to be the one who would ask his stalker "sir" why are you following me?
It is z who should have asked, "sir, i am with the neighborhood watch and wondering if i can help you with anything?" or even "sin, i am with the neighborhood watch and wondering what you are doing here" instead of Trayvon having to say anything to this guy...
btw, according to the gf, who was listening on the phone, Trayvon did ask z why are you following me? which was the perfect opportunity for z to respond, but he did not!

give me a break, Trayvon did nothing wrong, this z and his whole family is trying to lie their way through this system and i hope the prosecutor won't let them~ z needs to pay for his crime~ just like the rest of us who does not have a dad with friends in high places~

[Robert SF]

10:19 PM on 04/30/2012

It wasn't that long ago in the South that blacks risked harassment and even physical attack if they did not address white people as "sir" and "ma'am." As you can see, there are still people with that mentality.

As for Zimmerman, the fact that he didn't identify himself and didn't tell Martin the police were on their way will count against him at trial. It goes to "reckless" behavior, which is what I believe brought about the 2nd degree murder charge.

[racerrodig]

05:53 PM on 05/01/2012

Could not agree more. I think he's burnt toast.

[Bonez1]

01:09 PM on 04/29/2012

this whole z family are full of liars, the mom and dad both testified how their son has never been violent, that he has no temper, never mind his past charges which were all dropped, involving violence, one against a cop.
these all were testimony in court, for the bond hearing which will all be, hopefully, be contested at the trial and the jury and the judge will see how their lying about their son has opened the door to z's past violence charges coming in for this trial.

then this zman lies under oath about how he thought Trayvon was his age when in the 911 call he stated Trayvon looked to be in late teens. then he lies about this money.
the 200k+ is a lot of money in some other country if he ever wants to sneak out to live in luxury elsewhere,,,,yea yea he surrendered his passport, blah blah, but he can use his brother's passport easily without questions.

this whole family lied for him and this will all come out in trial....why? they opened the door to contest it. about z having violent tendencies which they all denied~

[justsome]

01:49 PM on 04/29/2012

f & f & live long and prosper.

[Bonez1]

03:22 PM on 04/29/2012

you too my friend,

Live Long and Prosper~

[racerrodig]

04:40 PM on 04/29/2012

All true my man. But then again we all to soon forget that anything a Z says must be true. One of the Z boys posted a few weeks ago, and you may remember, "...he has no reason to lie..."
The reality is he has "Life with NO parole" reasons to lie. NO reason, yahhhh !

[Richbruin]

09:04 PM on 04/29/2012

As I've said for Zimmerman I can say for O'mara: you can tell he's lying if his lips are moving.....

[sagesister]

12:26 PM on 04/29/2012

Gotta know who your representing.
Gee they say he is an excellent attorney but yet he didn't know to look into something as basic as this?

[1 Voice of Reason]

07:03 AM on 04/29/2012

If, in fact, Zimmerman was given $200,000 then he should not be out of jail on a $15,000 bail. This is a mockery of the court and deception by Zimmerman because he is not indigent. Therefore, his bail should be revoked and raised in accordance to his charges and income.

[wkingsolomon77]

07:38 AM on 04/29/2012

U see how unfair this is,now u see why folks are angry

[sagesister]

12:27 PM on 04/29/2012

Excellent point!

[Bonez1]

01:13 PM on 04/29/2012

i am actually quite surprised how low the bail was since he is charged with murder.

i thought murder would be closer to at the least 500k not the low low price of 150k for killing another human being.

FLA is traditionally Repub state, the governor, the senates, the prosecutor.
not sure about this judge, but maybe the NRA told him to set this low bail...not sure but it sure is suspicious how the bail is set so low for killing an unarmed black kid~

[justsome]

01:56 PM on 04/29/2012

Bonez1, this syg is real scary. the fact that someone can shoot you for no apparent reason, is frightening. that could be my child or anyone on this post child for that fact. It also makes me think if this case did not come to light, GZ would have seen this as an opportunity to kill someone and get away with it.