Zimmerman apologises to family

A neighbourhood watch guard who killed an unarmed black teenager apologised to the teenager’s family today at a hearing where he sought release from jail ahead of his trial.

The case involving the killing of Trayvon Martin has become a national sensation because police waited 44 days before detaining the watch volunteer, George Zimmerman.

Civil rights leaders claimed if the black teenager had been white, Zimmerman would have been arrested and charged the night of the shooting. Zimmerman’s father is white, and his mother is Hispanic of Peruvian descent.

Zimmerman took the witness stand and told Trayvon Martin’s parents and a national TV audience “I am sorry for the loss of your son.”

They were his first public comments since fatally shooting the unarmed teenager.

A judge set Zimmerman’s bail at $150,000 (€113,462) and his lawyer said he could be free in several days.

Authorities and lawyers need to work out arrangements to allow Zimmerman to live outside Florida as he awaits trial on a second-degree murder charge because of threats made against him and his family.

Zimmerman claims Trayvon attacked him after he started following the teenager on February 26 because he thought the 17-year-old looked suspicious walking around the gated neighbourhood. Zimmerman has said he was punched in the nose and his head was slammed against the pavement.

Wearing a charcoal suit, white shirt and grey tie – but also shackled and appearing to have on a bulletproof vest – Zimmerman took the witness stand to deliver a short statement to Trayvon’s parents, who were in court.

“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 bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not,” Zimmerman said.

Lawyers for the teenager’s parents said the apology was disappointing.

“This was the most disingenuous and unfair thing I’ve seen,” said Natalie Jackson, one of the lawyers for Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton. “This was the most unmeaningful apology.”

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester set several conditions for Zimmerman’s release, which he said would not occur today. He did not say exactly when Zimmerman could go free.

Zimmerman cannot have any guns, drink alcohol or use illegal drugs and must observe a curfew between 7pm and 6am. Zimmerman surrendered his passport at the start of the hearing.

Earlier, Zimmerman’s parents and wife testified by phone at the hearing because of worries about their safety. They said he was not a flight risk or a threat to the community.

“He is absolutely not a violent person,” his wife, Shellie Zimmerman, testified.

Zimmerman’s father, Robert Zimmerman, said that even when confronted his son was likely to “turn the other cheek”. The father also described his son’s injuries the morning after Trayvon was shot.

“His face was swollen quite a bit. He had a protective cover over his nose. His lip was swollen and cut. And there were two vertical gashes on the back of his head,” Robert Zimmerman testified.

Prosecutor Bernardo de la Rionda asked the family members about two incidents. In 2005, George Zimmerman had to take anger management courses after an undercover law enforcement officer accused him of attacking him as he tried to arrest Zimmerman’s friend. In another incident, a girlfriend accused Zimmerman of attacking her. No charges were brought.

Zimmerman asked to meet Trayvon Martin’s parents before the hearing, but the family’s lawyers said this was not the time.

“We believe (the) Zimmerman request is very self-serving, considering the timing of it 50 days later, right before his bond hearing,” said Justin R Campbell – an assistant to attorney Benjamin Crump – in an email yesterday.

Kim Cannaday, a spokeswoman for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, said she could not comment on what security procedures would be in place for Zimmerman if he is released. The sheriff’s office does have the ability to monitor defendants outside the county if a judge requests a GPS monitor be used as a condition of release.