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Zimmerman’s lawyer: Donations to website totaled $200,000
miami herald ^ | 4-2012 | Moskovitz

Posted on 04/26/2012 8:58:43 PM PDT by doug from upland

Zimmerman’s lawyer: Donations to website totaled $200,000

By Diana Moskovitz dmoskovitz@MiamiHerald.com

The defense lawyer for George Zimmerman said Thursday night that his client had received about $200,000 through donations to his website.

Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, near Orlando, fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin of Miami Gardens on Feb. 26, after confronting the teen, whom he believed to be suspicious. Trayvon was not armed.

Sanford police cited Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense law in not initially charging Zimmerman with killing Trayvon. Angela Corey, a special prosecutor appointed by Gov. Rick Scott, earlier this month charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder.

Thursday night, Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that at first he had been told that Zimmerman had two accounts: one with $700, another with about $2,000.

But while trying to shut down all of Zimmerman’s Internet presence, his client asked him what to do with his PayPal accounts.

Days before Corey filed her charges, a website called TheRealGeorgeZimmerman.com sprang up. The website, since removed, said visitors could use a PayPal link to donate money to Zimmerman.

O’Mara told Cooper that the account contained $200,000 and $204,000.

Asked by Cooper whether a higher bond might have been set for Zimmerman if that amount had been known, O’Mara said “maybe.” He added that he would let the court know officially about the money.

But, O’Mara added, that he’s not sure that Zimmerman even realized the money was available to him. After Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester set bond at $150,000, it was Zimmerman’s family who cobbled together the money for his release.

O’Mara said he does intend to create a legal defense fund for Zimmerman, and has already received checks from people who want to help.

His client will need the money. O’Mara estimated his legal expenses could add up to $1 million.

“You can really go through a lot of money on a case like this,” he said.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/26/2770539/zimmermans-lawyer-donations-to.html#storylink=cpy


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: rushtojudgment; trayvon; trayvonmartin; zimmerman
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1 posted on 04/26/2012 8:58:51 PM PDT by doug from upland
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To: doug from upland
O’Mara estimated his legal expenses could add up to $1 million.

Somehow I think that estimate may have just been bumped up a tad once this revenue stream came to light.

Having said that, a real donation to help Zimmerman is a worthy cause, as few people have been as railroaded as this guy has.

2 posted on 04/26/2012 9:06:22 PM PDT by Michael.SF. (When you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras.)
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To: doug from upland

If this travesty is dismissed during the self-defense hearing, it won’t cost $1M in lawyer fees...


3 posted on 04/26/2012 9:12:26 PM PDT by piytar (The predator-class is furious that their prey are shooting back.)
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To: doug from upland

I’m still of the unpopular opinion that they were both wrong. It seems to me they both went out looking for a fight. They got one. Zimmerman was legal concerning stand your ground.


4 posted on 04/26/2012 9:19:31 PM PDT by allmost
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To: piytar
If this travesty is dismissed during the self-defense hearing,

Big IF.

5 posted on 04/26/2012 9:20:06 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: El Gato

We owe GZ thanks for eliminating a thug.


6 posted on 04/26/2012 9:30:30 PM PDT by bicyclerepair ( REPLACE D-W-S ! http://www.karenforcongress.com)
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To: allmost
It seems to me they both went out looking for a fight

Have you listened to Zimmerman's conversation with the Police dispatcher?

It seems to be the whole thing, I listened to the version directly from the Police Department. Zimmerman was still in his vehicle when he reported, "He's running", then he got got out and attempted to keep Martin in sight. The only time Zimmerman sounds at all "charged up" is right after that report, and before he got out of the car, or possibly as he was getting out, ".. the **** always get away". Then you can hear that Zimmerman is moving, and so can the dispatcher, who then asks, "are you following him?" Zimmerman says "yes", the dispatcher says "we don't need you to do that", Zimmerman says "OK, and pretty much right after that, you can tell that Zimmerman has slowed down (breathing mostly), but is still outside (wind noise). He then discusses with the dispatcher where he the police should meet him. Doesn't sound like someone "looking for a fight".

I don't know that Martin was looking for a fight either, but it certainly sounds like he circled back, completely possible given the layout of the buildings in the complex, and attacked Zimmerman. He could have just as easily, once he'd broken contact, have gone to his father's girlfriend's place, which was not all that far away, in the opposite direction from where Zimmerman had said his vehicle was parked.

7 posted on 04/26/2012 9:41:44 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: allmost
It seems to me they both went out looking for a fight

Have you listened to Zimmerman's conversation with the Police dispatcher?

It seems to be the whole thing, I listened to the version directly from the Police Department. Zimmerman was still in his vehicle when he reported, "He's running", then he got got out and attempted to keep Martin in sight. The only time Zimmerman sounds at all "charged up" is right after that report, and before he got out of the car, or possibly as he was getting out, ".. the **** always get away". Then you can hear that Zimmerman is moving, and so can the dispatcher, who then asks, "are you following him?" Zimmerman says "yes", the dispatcher says "we don't need you to do that", Zimmerman says "OK, and pretty much right after that, you can tell that Zimmerman has slowed down (breathing mostly), but is still outside (wind noise). He then discusses with the dispatcher where he the police should meet him. Doesn't sound like someone "looking for a fight".

I don't know that Martin was looking for a fight either, but it certainly sounds like he circled back, completely possible given the layout of the buildings in the complex, and attacked Zimmerman. He could have just as easily, once he'd broken contact, have gone to his father's girlfriend's place, which was not all that far away, in the opposite direction from where Zimmerman had said his vehicle was parked.

8 posted on 04/26/2012 9:42:09 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: allmost

You’re wrong, period.


9 posted on 04/26/2012 9:44:10 PM PDT by Gator113 (***YOU GAVE it to Obama. I would have voted for NEWT.~Just livin' life, my way~)
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To: Gator113

I’m sure most people think so. About what specifically would you consider me wrong about?


10 posted on 04/26/2012 9:46:13 PM PDT by allmost
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To: El Gato
It seems to be the whole thing, I listened to the version directly from the Police Department. Zimmerman was still in his vehicle when he reported, "He's running", then he got got out and attempted to keep Martin in sight.

I still think they were both wrong. Your last sentence is where the $tuff goes grey.
11 posted on 04/26/2012 9:50:56 PM PDT by allmost
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To: allmost
I still think they were both wrong.

Why do you think what Zimmerman did was wrong? There are neighborhood watches in almost every town in this country. Most are set up by the local municipalities, and even have official signs that are put up in neighborhoods where watches exist.

There had been a rash of burglaries in that apartment complex, and Zimmerman was just doing what any active neighborhood watch person is supposed to do. He saw someone he thought was acting suspiciously. Zimmerman called 911 to report it, and he was working out where to meet the patrol unit when the evidence seems to show Martin circled back and jumped him.

Unless there's something substantial about this case that has not been made public, Zimmerman did nothing wrong that night prior to the final altercation that result in the shooting. The public does not know what happened during that final altercation except that one man was injured and one was shot and killed. An eyewitness said at the time that he saw Martin on top of Zimmerman. Hopefully, the physical evidence, combined with eyewitness testimony and other facts, will make all that clear.

12 posted on 04/26/2012 10:19:32 PM PDT by Wolfstar
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: Wolfstar
I was never official but I did a good job in Downtown Baltimore being what this clown zimmerman wanted to be. They were both wrong.
14 posted on 04/26/2012 10:35:04 PM PDT by allmost
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To: allmost

“I know you feel strongly about this due to the lengthy response. Z got out, on foot, and followed him. Do you deny this? This is all there. Stalking someone is instigation. He should have just shot him imo. I think Z was right legally, but wrong in chasing him. I think they were both wrong.”

To be blunt - what an amazing amount of idiocy in so few words. On the one hand you claim that Zimmerman’s brief pursuit of Martin’s whereabouts was stalking and thus Martin had some perfect right to retaliate. Then you say Zimmerman should have just shot Martin, essentially no questions asked. Then again maybe you meant Martin should have shot Zimmerman. Whatever.

My guess is you don’t know jack squat about the case other than the most basic framework. Riddle me the answers to these simple questions:

1-How long was Zimmerman’s call to the police last?
2-Using the wind noise heard in the police recording, how long did Zimmerman continue to follow Martin after the dispatcher told Zimmerman he didn’t need him to do that?
3-What reason did Zimmerman give for cutting short the disclosure of his full address to the dispatcher?
4-How many seconds did we hear a voice screaming for help on the single 911 call before the fatal shot is heard?
5-How long after the shooting was Zimmerman brought to the police station?
6-How long was it before Tracy Martin called in a missing persons report?
7.What day of the week did the shooting occur?

I could go on and on and on and on because this is a complex case yet still a lot has gotten out into the public domain. And yet I bet you couldn’t answer most of those simple questions because you have, like so many on the left, simply come to, well, a simple conclusion without having gathered as many facts as possible to temper your opinion.

My verdict on your brief opinions offered: emotionally-charged and intellectually bankrupt.


15 posted on 04/26/2012 11:06:48 PM PDT by torchthemummy (Calvin Coolidge - "Patriotism is looking out for yourself by looking out for your Country.")
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To: torchthemummy
Using the wind noise heard in the police recording,

pretend something somewhere else.
16 posted on 04/26/2012 11:14:59 PM PDT by allmost
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To: allmost

You’ve got nothing. Nata. Zippo. You can’t even answer the most basic questions let alone some more intricate ones. Can anyone here look at your reply and say you made some salient point? Please.

PS: I will say no more since this obviously is an exercise in futility.


17 posted on 04/26/2012 11:47:19 PM PDT by torchthemummy (Calvin Coolidge - "Patriotism is looking out for yourself by looking out for your Country.")
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To: torchthemummy

I’m glad you are so full of yourself. Assasinate other ‘undesireables’ on sight as well. Your wisdom is of course ranked down near rotten...


18 posted on 04/26/2012 11:54:20 PM PDT by allmost
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To: allmost

What would you do?
You see a stranger on a private property.
You call the police.

Do you tell them “there’s a weird dude in our gated community” and just go on with your life?

or

Would you tell the police about the weird dude and give the police the exact located where the weird dude is? such as he’s walking towards building XXX?

I would think you would want the police to find the thug ASAP. it’s your tax dollars at work after all!

When I lived in NYC, I once called the police because of an unwelcome person on the street. I watched the dude fro the security of my home. When the police arrived to the location, they called me to find out if they were focusing on the correct dude.

Mr Zimmerman was only following trayvon to see where he went in case he was about to break into a home, and to give the police the exact location where they could find trayvon ASAP.

Seriously, would you leave the scene after reporting something to the police? or would you try to help them get the job done?

Mr Zimmerman did the community a great service.
“allmost”, may you meet a trayvon one night and see how you would act.


19 posted on 04/27/2012 12:44:56 AM PDT by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: Michael.SF.
I assume that a considerable amount of that money would go for other things vital to a good defense, besides more lawyers, e.g.: private investigators; expert analysis of audio evidence; etc. When you consider the resources that the prosecutor has at her disposal, Zimmerman needs all the help he can get.
20 posted on 04/27/2012 12:47:48 AM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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