George Zimmerman Apologizes for Trayvon Martin Killing, Says He Could Have Done Nothing Differently
George Zimmerman has publicly spoken out about his second-degree murder trial for the killing of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, apologizing to the family of the teenager but saying that there was nothing he could have done differently as he acted in self defense.
The 28-year-old sat down with Fox News' Sean Hannity alongside his defense attorney Mark O'Mara in Seminole County, Florida where he currently awaits trial.
Hannity asked Zimmerman whether there is anything that he may have done differently that night that he shot and killed Martin, to which he responded "No, sir."
Zimmerman was released from jail for a second time on $1 million bond in July after his initial bond was revoked because a Florida judge discovered that he and his wife Shellie had lied to a judge about their finances.
The volunteer neighborhood watchman, who describes himself as Hispanic, was charged with second-degree murder in April over the Feb. 26 shooting death of Martin, an African-American teenager.
Zimmerman claims that he shot Martin in self defense, but Martin's family maintain that their son was profiled and subsequently murdered by Zimmerman.
The case sparked national debates on race and various celebrities including Spike Lee and Al Sharpton called for nationwide rallies to protest after police failed to arrest Zimmerman immediately after the killing. He was eventually arrested two months after the killing when Special Prosecutor Angela Corey was able to review the case and establish the appropriate charges.
Zimmerman called on both Lee and Sharpton to apologize for what he described as "wrong" judgments he claims they both made about the case.
"I can't guess what their motives are. I would just ask for an apology. I mean, if I did something that was wrong, I would apologize," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman said that he prays for the Martin family "daily" and says that he is "sorry" for their loss.
"I do wish that there was something, anything I could have done that would have put me in the position that I wouldn't have to take his life. I'm sorry that this happened. I hate to think that because of this incident, because of my actions, that it's polarized and divided America," he said.