ZIMMERMAN’S WIFE GETS PROBATION IN PERJURY CASE

The wife of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer acquitted in the killing of Trayvon Martin, was sentenced Wednesday to one year’s probation and 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor perjury charge for lying at her husband’s bond hearing.

Shellie Zimmerman told a judge last year the couple had few funds, when her husband had collected more than $ 100,000 through Internet donations, court filings show.

George Zimmerman instructed his wife on how to transfer money from his bank account into hers and his sister’s while he was in jail in April 2012, according to recordings of jail calls released by the Florida State Attorney’s Office.

According to an affidavit, Shellie Zimmerman transferred more than $ 74,000 to her personal account days before the bond hearing. Nearly $ 50,000 was transferred to an account held by Zimmerman’s sister.

Shellie Zimmerman originally faced a third- degree felony perjury charge but it was reduced to a misdemeanor as part of a plea deal.