Zimmerman Statements To Cops In Trayvon Shooting To Be Made Public
ORLANDO (AP) – We'll soon learn just what George Zimmerman told Sanford police after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin last February.
On Wednesday, Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester ruled that statements the former neighborhood watch leader made to detectives after he fatally shot the 17-year-od Martin can be released to the public. Lester's ruling was in response to a challenge by media groups against efforts to seal some records.
Lester also ruled that the identities of witnesses who observed the fatal confrontation between Martin and Zimmerman can stay private.
Prosecutors and Zimmerman's defense attorney had wanted to keep private Zimmerman's statements to police as well as the identities of witnesses. They had argued that their public release would jeopardize Zimmerman's chance of getting a fair hearing when he is tried for second-degree murder.
Zimmerman has pled not guilty, claiming self-defense.
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