George Zimmerman arraignment set for May 29; Trayvon Martin’s mother says encounter ‘an accident’

The neighborhood watchman who shot and killed Miami Gardens teenager Trayvon Martin will remain in jail while awaiting a bond hearing and formal arraignment on a charge of second-degree murder, a Seminole County judge ordered Thursday afternoon.George Zimmerman, 28, appeared at the brief, first-appearance hearing handcuffed and dressed in a gray prison jumpsuit. He said little except to answer “Yes, sir,’’ twice to acknowledge he understood the charge against him and his representation by an attorney. Zimmerman did not enter a plea and no bail was set, but a formal arraignment was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 29 before Seminole County Circuit Judge Jessica J. Recksiedler. Zimmerman will enter a plea then.
At Thursday’s initial hearing, Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s defense attorney, asked the judge for a “complete sealing” of future records in the case, including witness statements and identifying information.
O’Mara later acknowledged that he did not request a bond hearing Thursday because that would require a presentation of additional evidence by prosecutors — something O’Mara said he wants to prevent in order to keep the case from being tried in the media.
“It’s really supposed to happen in the courtroom,’’ O’Mara said about the release of evidence.
O’Mara added that he may seek bond for his client at a future hearing before the arraignment.
Seminole County Judge Mark E. Herr, who presided over Thursday’s hearing via teleconference, concurred with O’Mara’s request to seal future records.
But Herr said he would make public a two-page affidavit that backs up the state’s second-degree murder charge. Herr also found probable cause to move ahead with the case.
Speaking with media after Thursday’s hearing, O’Mara said is not taking any legal fees for representing Zimmerman, whom O’Mara described as “indigent.’’
“He doesn’t have any money,’’ O’Mara said.
Earlier Thursday, Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, said on NBC’s Today show that she believed the encounter that led to the shooting death of her 17-year-old son was “an accident,’’ expressing her opinion in the case for the first time.
“I believe it was an accident,’’ Fulton said on Today. “I believe that it just got out of control, and he couldn’t turn the clock back.’’
Fulton later clarified her statement through the family’s attorney, Benjamin Crump, who posted her explanation on his Twitter account.
“Earlier today, I made a comment to the media that was later mischaracterized,’’ read Fulton’s statement. “When I referenced the word ‘accident’ today with regard to Trayvon’s death, in NO way did I mean the shooting was an accident. We believe that George Zimmerman stalked my son and murdered him in cold blood. The ‘accident’ I was referring to was the fact that George Zimmerman and my son ever crossed paths. It was an accidental encounter. If George Zimmerman hadn’t gotten out of his vehicle, this entire incident would have been avoided. My son was profiled, followed and murdered by George Zimmerman, and there was nothing accidental about that.’’

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