Prosecutors Release Zimmerman's Jailhouse Calls To Wife
SANFORD (CBSMiami) – Prosecutors have released jailhouse phone calls related to their case against George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
The phone calls are between Zimmerman and his wife Shellie and were made just days before she told a court she and her husband were broke, but the state said recorded jail house phone calls prove the couple transferred thousands of dollars from one account to another.
By that time, Zimmerman had raised 135 thousand dollars through his personal web site.
Prosecutors said the calls show how the former neighborhood watch leader instructed his wife to transfer money from bank accounts. Prosecutors also said they discussed their finances in code during the recorded conversations.
This is what Shellie said while speaking to a bank official.
SHELLIE: We need to figure out um, how to reset his password, so that I can log into his account for him.
ZIMMERMAN: And you need to reset it to your email address. Shellie?
SHELLIE: Okay
ZIMMERMAN: And all the questions, look for something you'll remember for sure and write them down please.
In another phone call, four days before the bond hearing, the state said Zimmerman and his wife spoke in code about the money in their accounts.
ZIMMERMAN: If the bond is 50, pay the 15. If it's more than 15, just pay 10% to a bondsman.
SHELLIE: You don't want me to pay $100?
ZIMMERMAN: I don't know (Hell no)
SHELLIE: All right, well just think about it.
ZIMMERMAN: I will
SHELLIE: That's what it's for.
ZIMMERMAN: I know.
In one of the calls, you can also hear Zimmerman telling Shellie to pay off all of the bills using the money raised through the website.
The calls could play a crucial role in George Zimmerman's second bond hearing on June 29th.
- Zimmerman Call 3 (Audio)
- Zimmerman Call 3 (Transcript)
- Zimmerman Call 4 (Audio)
- Zimmerman Call 4 (Transcript)
- Zimmerman Call 5 (Audio)
- Zimmerman Call 5 (Transcript)
- Zimmerman Call 6 (Audio)
- Zimmerman Call 6 (Transcript)
Zimmerman was released on $150,000 bond in April; several days after the calls took place. At his bond hearing, his wife testified that she didn't know how much money had been raised from the website created for his legal defense.
Prosecutors said the calls show George and Shellie knew that roughly $135,000 had been raised by the site.
Shellie Zimmerman was arrested last week on a charge of making a false statement.
In one of the calls, Zimmerman is heard telling his wife to buy bulletproof vests for them and for his attorney.
ZIMMERMAN: Have you looked into the vest anymore?
SHELLIE: Yeah
ZIMMERMAN: You're gonna get three, right?
SHELLIE: Three? Yeah.
ZIMMERMAN: One for me, one for you and one for Mark O'Mara.
He goes on to say:
ZIMMERMAN: We need to get on it ASAP, cause you know the, the personally I want you wearing one.
SHELLIE: Okay
ZIMMERMAN: As uncomfortable as it is, I want you wearing one.
Zimmerman was wearing a bulletproof vest when he left jail after posting bond. His attorney, Mark O'Mara, has reported receiving threats.
Prosecutors also released the Zimmerman's bank records Monday as part of the discovery release.
Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder, said he shot Trayvon in self-defense after being attacked.
Last month, investigators released a stack of evidence including bloody pictures of Zimmerman, who claimed he shot Martin in self defense. Prosecutors also released police interviews with a witness who saw the scuffle.
On Saturday Tracy Martin, Trayvon's father, said he wondered how he would make it through Father's Day weekend without his son by his side.
"It's tough standing up here, anything I talk about, my son, it's tough. It's just hard to imagine tomorrow without him," said Martin.
On Sunday supporters of Martin took part in a silent march in New York to stop racial profiling.
