The bond hearing for neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman is under way at this hour in Sanford, Florida.
A judge will decide if he should be freed on bond a 2nd time. Zimmerman is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin.
Zimmerman’s $150,000 bond was revoked earlier this month for not informing the judge about $205,000 in public donations collected by his personal website.
Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, called a forensic finance specialist Adam McGill to the stand to help explain why Zimmerman and his wife, Shellie, lied about the $205,000.
According to Migill, the reason Zimmerman transferred the cash into his bank account in $10,000 increments was because of “PayPal rules” — which doesn’t explain why Zimmerman’s wife transferred the money from Zimmerman’s bank account into hers in the same $10,000 increments.
In a bond hearing in April, Shellie told the judge she had no idea how much money had been collected. She was later arrested and charged with perjury.
O’Mara says Zimmerman has $11,000 in cash and goods to his name. The bulk of the donations is being held in a trust set up by O’Mara.
Update 6, 11:35 a.m. ET
O’Mara presents the 911 audio with screams heard in the background. O’Mara calls Robert Zimmerman, the defendant’s father, to the stand to testify that the voice heard on the audio is Zimmerman screaming.
Update 5, 11:25 a.m. ET
The court is in a brief 5 minutes recess. The defense has no other witnesses.
Update 4, 10:54 a.m. ET
The defense offered evidence of Zimmerman’s injuries. A paramedic testified that Zimmerman’s head was “45% covered in blood,” and he possibly had a fractured nose. The prosecution countered that the scalp is full of veins and bleeds profusely. The paramedic agreed. The prosecution added that Zimmerman went to work the next day and he only went to a doctor when his employer asked for a doctor’s note.
Update 3, 10:28 a.m. ET
Zimmerman’s expert witness says $24,386 was spent on Zimmerman’s living expenses and paying off debts (including American Express credit card).
Update II, 10:26 a.m. ET
O’Mara says $200,000 was donated in 11 days to defray living expenses, not to pay Zimmerman’s defense.
Update I, 10:18 a.m. ET
The financial expert said the money moved from Zimmerman’s account to his wife’s totaled about $132,000. The expert wasn’t able to explain why $43,000 ended up in the bank account of Zimmerman’s sister.
This story is developing…
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