George Zimmerman is asking Florida to pay him 200K-300K for court costs

[Vash01]

I think George Zimmerman is a scumbag who got off easy, after killing an innocent teenager. Now he is asking the state of Florida to 'reimburse' him for court costs, since he got a 'Not guilty' verdict.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/26/justice/george-zimmerman-court-costs/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

For those who know about law- is this quite normal for an acquitted person to ask for money to pay for the costs incurred in the trial? In the past he had lied about his finances, which makes it difficult for me to trust that he is giving a close to accurate estimate.

As a side note, recently he was stopped in Texas for speeding, but got off with just a verbal warning.

The guy is extremely lucky, I must say. He never has to pay for his mistakes.

 

[Buzz]

As distasteful as I find his request, according to CNN it is allowed under Florida law for the acquitted to apply to be reimbursed of their costs.

 

[zaphyre14]

It's not like he's doing something that no one else can do. There's nothing unfair about asking.

 

[genevieve]

Zimmerman definitely does not subscribe to the notion of "quit while you're ahead".

 

[BigB08822]

If it is allowed then it is allowed and he has the right to ask. However, he did shoot the guy so I hope he is not reimbursed. Maybe that's not the law but I think he should have to pay.

Wait a minute! Didn't he get tons of money donated to him to pay court costs!?! Why should the state pay for something tons of people have already chipped in and paid for? He shouldn't be able to ask for reimbursement for money he never spent.

 

[Artemis@BC]

... Wait a minute! Didn't he get tons of money donated to him to pay court costs!?! Why should the state pay for something tons of people have already chipped in and paid for? He shouldn't be able to ask for reimbursement for money he never spent.

That should factor in to the decisions of ... whoever is making the decision to reimburse or not. But considering this is Florida and what "should" happen rarely seems to ... I wouldn't be at all surprised if he gets reimbursed two or three times over. Plus the inevitable book deal and multi-$$ speaking engagements.

This sickens me, but compared to how sickened I was by Trayvon Martin's death and the not-guilty verdict, this is pretty minor by comparison. Insult to injury for Florida taxpayers, to be sure, but hey they're the ones with the power to make changes to the Stand Your Ground defence.

 

[Vash01]

If it is allowed then it is allowed and he has the right to ask. However, he did shoot the guy so I hope he is not reimbursed. Maybe that's not the law but I think he should have to pay.

Wait a minute! Didn't he get tons of money donated to him to pay court costs!?! Why should the state pay for something tons of people have already chipped in and paid for? He shouldn't be able to ask for reimbursement for money he never spent.

I wonder if he is asking for the difference? He had some very high power attorneys working for him, so the donated money may not have been enough (or did Mark O'Mara take the case pro bono?)

I am still hoping that the Martin family sues him in Civil Court, so GZ does not benefit monetarily from book deals, etc.

However, as Artemis said- this is Florida.

 

[skatesindreams]

Nothing that happens in this case/with GZ surprises me anymore.

Legal, yes.
Ethical, no.

 

[MacMadame]

I wonder if any of the people who donated to his defense are starting to feel ripped off yet.

 

[Whitneyskates]

I read about this yesterday. I find it distasteful, but he's allowed to do it, just like he was allowed to murder an unarmed teenager.

 

[Vash01]

Zimmerman's wife pleaded guilty for perjury (charges filed April 12). She lied about how much money Zim had in their bank account, which set a lower bail for him initially. What she got as punishment is not even a slap on the hand.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/justice/florida-zimmerman-wife/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

[Artemis@BC]

Her punishment is actually more severe than what her husband got. (I know I know, he was found not guilty. Just sayin' ...)

 

[Vash01]

Zimmerman is auctioning his murder weapon (gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin in 2012) on line.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/12/us/george-zimmerman-gun-auction/index.html

He is even offering it to a museum as 'a piece of American history'

Some auction sites and some museums have rejected the gun, but I am sure someone will accept it (one auction site already has).

It makes me sick to see how he is trying to milk money out of a murder he committed (I know the court acquitted him but in my eyes he will always be a murderer).

 

[skatesindreams]

I know the court acquitted him but in my eyes he will always be a murderer

You aren't alone in your opinion.

The more GZ does, the more appalled I am.
He views himself as a "heroic" figure.