George Zimmerman Jailhouse Calls Released, Speaks in Code to Deceive Court
Angela Corey, the Special Prosecutor who charged George Zimmerman with second-degree murder in the Trayvon Martin killing, has released six recorded jailhouse phone calls between Zimmerman and his wife, Shellie – the same evidence used to have his bond revoked.
In the intimate phone calls, which took place shortly after Zimmerman's initial arrest on April 11, the Zimmermans are heard speaking in code in an attempt to conceal more than $130,000 of donated money, according to CBS News.
During one phone call, Zimmerman, 28, instructs Shellie, 25, to "pay off all the bills," and explains how to move money from one account to another in what prosecutors say was a blatant attempt to deceive the court.
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The couple also used the term "Peter Pan" – allegedly a code for Pay Pal – during their attempts to convince the court that they were poor in order to get a low bail figure.
"This court was led to believe they didn't have a single penny," prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda said during a June 1 hearing where Zimmerman's bond was revoked. "It was misleading, and I don't know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie."
Bank statements used as additional evidence were obtained by prosecutors, and showed that between April 16 and April 19, just days before Zimmerman's first bond hearing, Shellie Zimmerman had transferred more than $74,000 from her husband's account to her own.
The couple also gloated about their donations in a separate call and Zimmerman is heard saying that he is "excited" about their future.
He also asks his wife to arrange a vest for him, her and his attorney Mark O'Mara, which experts believe is a reference to bullet-proof vests.
While the pair discussed Zimmerman getting out of jail safely, he appeared to take a jab at 17-year-old Martin, the slain teen who he admitted to killing.
"Well, I have my hoodie," Zimmerman says, which critics suspect is supposed to be a joke referring to the hooded sweatshirt that Martin wore on the night that Zimmerman fatally shot him in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26.
Seminole County Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Lester Jr., who was visibly upset, ordered Zimmerman to surrender to authorities within 48 hours on June 1st after it was discovered that he misrepresented his finances and lied about his possession of a second passport during his initial bond hearing, according to CNN.
Shellie was also eventually arrested on a perjury charge last week, and posted a $1,000 bond before being released.
O'Mara criticized the release of Zimmerman and Shellie's private phone calls, suggesting that it could impose safety concerns.
"It is our contention that the calls are not only irrelevant to the charges against Mr. Zimmerman, but they could jeopardize friends and family of Mr. Zimmerman who are unrelated to the case," O'Mara wrote on Zimmerman's website.
To listen to the recorded phone calls please click here.
