Court papers outline case against Zimmerman

BY TAMARA LUSH

AND GREG BLUESTEIN

The Associated Press

SANFORD, Fla. -- After weeks in hiding, George Zimmerman made his first courtroom appearance yesterday in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, and prosecutors outlined their murder case in court papers, saying the neighborhood watch volunteer followed and confronted the black teenager after police dispatchers told him to back off.

The brief outline, contained in an affidavit filed in support of the second-degree murder charges, appeared to contradict Zimmerman's claim that Martin, 17, attacked him after he had turned away and was returning to his vehicle.

In the affidavit, prosecutors also said Martin's mother identified cries for help heard in the background of a 911 call as her son's. There had been some question whether Martin or Zimmerman was the one calling out.

The account of the shooting was released as Zimmerman, 28, appeared at a four-minute hearing in a jailhouse courtroom, after which the judge found sufficient evidence to support the charges, clearing the way to send the case to a trial court.

Zimmerman did not enter a plea; that will happen at his arraignment, which was set for May 29.

Afterward, Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, 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 avoid to prevent 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. He said he would seek bond for his client at a future hearing, possibly next week.

To prove second-degree murder, prosecutors must show that Zimmerman committed an "imminently dangerous" act that showed a "depraved" lack of regard for human life. The charge carries a mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life.

In an affidavit filed with the court, prosecutors said that Zimmerman spotted Martin while patrolling his gated community, got out of his vehicle and followed the young man.

Prosecutors interviewed a friend of Martin's who was talking to him just before the shooting. His parents' lawyer has said that Martin was talking to his girlfriend back in Miami.

"During this time, Martin was on the phone with a friend and described to her what was happening," the affidavit said. "The witness advised that Martin was scared because he was being followed through the complex by an unknown male and didn't know why."

With the Miami Herald