Estranged wife of George Zimmerman says she’s doubtfulof husband’s innocence in Trayvon Martin killing
Shellie Zimmerman, 26, told NBC's 'Today' she is conflicted about what happened the night her controversial husband fatally shot the unarmed 17-year-old. Her doubts surfaced after an explosive domestic violence incident at a family home in Florida, she said. But she stopped short of claiming Martin was a victim of racial profiling.
By Joe Kemp / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, September 26, 2013, 8:45 AM
Today
Shellie Zimmerman, 26, told NBC’s TODAY that she is conflicted about what happened the night 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed.
The estranged wife of George Zimmerman said that since the couple’s spat at a family home in Florida she now has doubts about her husband’s innocence for killing Trayvon Martin.
Shellie Zimmerman, speaking publicly for the first time since she told cops her husband threatened her with a gun on Sept. 9, told NBC’s 'Today'that the man she loved changed dramatically after he was acquitted for the murder of the unarmed 17-year-old.
“This person that I’m married to, that I’m divorcing, I’ve kind of realized now that I don’t know him,” she told Matt Lauer on Thursday. “And I really don’t know what he’s capable of.”
Today
Shellie Zimmerman said her marriage with George Zimmerman spiraled out of control soon after he was acquitted for the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
The 26-year-old said that since the explosive domestic violence incident, she’s dealt with an internal struggle about what happened the night the former neighborhood watchman fatally shot the unarmed teen.
“I’m conflicted on that,” she said. “I believe the evidence, but this revelation in my life has really helped me to take the blinders off.”
John Raoux/AP
Shellie Zimmerman claimed her husband threatened her with a gun and punched her father in the nose during the spat at a family home on Sept. 9.
However, she stopped short of claiming Martin, who was black, was racially profiled.
“I have doubts, but I also believe the evidence,” she said. “I respect the jury’s decision ... He did not profile Trayvon Martin.”
AP
A dash cam video shows George Zimmerman cuffed after officers respond to a domestic violence incident at a family home in Florida on Sept. 9
Shellie Zimmerman — who never referred to her husband by name during the five-minute interview — said that her marriage spiraled out of control soon after the trial was over.
“(George) just kind of treated me like I was disposable,” she said. “After standing by him, he kind of left. And I guess he kind of went on a victory tour without me.
Joe Burbank/AP
Shellie Zimmerman (r) stands next to her husband, George Zimmerman, during his trial for the killing of Trayvon Martin.
“And I thought I was living a life with him and that we were going to kind of rebuild after all of this — and he had other plans for me.”
Cops descended on the family home near Orlando a few weeks ago after a frantic Shellie Zimmerman called 911 and reported her husband threatened her with a gun and punched her father in the nose.
Shellie Zimmerman claimed her husband was the aggressor and smashed her iPad, which had video of the alleged assault. However, her 29-year-old husband told cops that his father-in-law started the spat.
AP
Trayvon Martin, 17, was fatally shot during a confrontation with Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman.
No charges were filed, but Shellie Zimmerman said that was a mistake. She said she declined to press charges because she was on probation for a misdemeanor perjury charge after admitting to lying at her husband’s bail hearing.
“I think I do have credibility issues,” she told the morning show. “And I own that. I’m a grown woman and I made a mistake.”
Gary W. Green/AP
Shellie Zimmerman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor perjury charge for lying during a bail hearing after her husband’s arrest.
Although cops reported that no gun was found after they responded to the dispute, she still believes her husband was packing.
“I absolutely stand by my story,” she said. “I did not see a gun. But ... I know my husband. I saw him in a stance and a look in his eyes that I’ve never seen before.”
Her lawyer said they have filed divorce papers, which have not yet been served because George Zimmerman’s whereabouts were unknown.
@joekemp
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