A judge in Sanford, Fla., ruled on Tuesday that the
wife of the neighborhood watch captain accused of second-degree murder
in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin one year ago can be tried for
perjury.
Shellie Zimmerman, who is married to George Zimmerman, was previously
charged with allegedly lying to the court about the couple’s finances
and Circuit Judge Marlene Alva refused to dismiss the perjury count.
Last April, Shellie Zimmerman said she and her spouse were destitute
although their financial records showed they had at least $130,000 on
hand for a defense fund made possible by outside contributors.
Phone records also revealed George Zimmerman telling his wife from his jail cell where to deposit the funds.
Shellie Zimmerman has been living in seclusion with her husband, who
is out on bail, because of death threats made against him. Her lawyer
predicted she would be acquitted of perjury.
Prosecutors maintain that George Zimmerman gunned down the unarmed
Martin during a scuffle while the defendant’s attorneys say he shot the
17-year-old in self-defense.
