Zimmerman fund scrutinized

Murder defendant’s lawyer says silence on it just an error.

SANFORD, Fla. — Calling it an “oversight,” George Zimmerman’s attorney said Friday the neighborhood watch volunteer did not disclose that a website had raised more than $200,000 for his defense, even though his family told the judge they would have trouble coming up with his bail.

“Quite honestly, with everything he is going through over the past several weeks, if that is the only oversight committed, then we’ll deal with it,” said attorney Mark O’mara.

Judge Kenneth Lester rejected a prosecutor’s motion to increase bail but said he would revisit the issue if it became clear the family had control of the money at the time of Zimmerman’s bail hearing last week, when they said they could not afford the $1 million the prosecution requested.

Zimmerman was released from jail this week and has gone into hiding over concerns about his safety. He is accused of second-degree murder for fatally shooting 17year-old Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager whose death set off nationwide protests. He says it was self-defense.

O’mara said he learned about the money after Zimmerman’s release. He said it had been placed in a trust account that he would control until a decision is made about what to do with it. The family used $5,000 from the account and a second mortgage to bail Zimmerman out, O’mara said. Zimmerman has also used some of the money for liv- ing expenses.

Lester directed O’mara to submit documentation on who would ultimately control the website and its funds. Zimmerman disclosed the $200,000 when his defense attorney was closing down his social media accounts and the website earlier this week, O’mara said.

The defense has started a Facebook page and Twitter account for Zimmerman, and another website under O’mara’s control.

Prosecutors asked the judge Friday to bar lawyers from speaking publicly, saying comments to reporters in recent weeks had harmed Zimmerman’s chance of getting a fair trial. The judge declined, saying counsel had “conducted themselves appropriately.”