Robert Zimmerman, brother of George Zimmerman who is being charged with second degree murder of 17-year-old Travyon Martin, released a statement Tuesday expressing sympathy over the untimely death of the teenager.
"If there had been an opportunity immediately following Trayvon's passing for his family to hear from the members of the Zimmerman family...we would have expressed our condolences on the loss of their son and brother...The truth is that we would never take comfort in the knowledge that any human being had passed away no matter what the circumstances surrounding their death may be. From the moment we knew what had transpired we were deeply aggrieved and in keeping with the teachings of our faith we prayed for the departed...Our family values compel us to seek peace and reconciliation within ourselves and to extend these virtues to others," Robert Zimmerman's statement said. "As Trayvon's family remembers him, I would want them to know that at that time each of us prayed for him and each of us in our own way remembered him as well," as reported by BET.com
The lawyers of Martin's family, Benjamin Crump told BET.com, "The family is grieving the death of their son at the hands of George Zimmerman... And while they will gladly respond to any questions about the Trayvon Martin Foundation, they will not be responding publicly to questions about this very personal matter," thus dismissing to comment on the statement.
Zimmerman is currently released from jail on bail. Zimmerman was arrested in February for the killing of the 17-year-old, Zimmerman who was armed shot Martin after claiming that he was attacked by the teenager and fired in an act of self-defense. 28-year-old Zimmerman has maintained the claim to self-defense from the beginning of the case.
Zimmerman at the time of the fatal incident was a volunteer watch-guard of a gated community, when he approached 17-year-old Martin after observing some suspicious behavior. Zimmerman claims that the encounter soon turned into a violent affront. In an act to protect himself, Zimmerman fatally fired at the teenager. When he was arrested in February and charged with the second degree murder of Martin, Zimmerman has maintained his defense of self-protection.
Earlier this month, Florida Department of Law Enforcement released information that revealed Zimmerman's DNA on the gun, however there was no trace of Martin's DNA on the weapon.
While the Associated Press' Mike Schneider thinks this new evidence might prove beneficial to the prosecutor, this notion might seem a tad bit misleading. Although the evidence will do them no harm, it might not weigh as heavily as one might expect. Zimmerman and his lawyer Mark O'mara have always claimed self-defense. Zimmerman has never explicitly mentioned that Martin ever touched the gun. He did confess that the teenager smashed his head on the road and reached for the holster, but department says that it has not determined if Martin's DNA can be found on the holster.
Never the less, the DNA information is sure to be present as crucial evidence during the trial, which is likely to take place in 2013.
RELATED ARTICLES:
George Zimmerman Update: Travyon Martin's DNA Not Found on Gun, Crucial Evidence for Prosecutors?
George Zimmerman Attorney Mark O'Mara to Panel Gun Rights Policy Conference
George Zimmerman Trial Update: Travyon Martin Shooter to Plead Not Guilty to Second Degree Murder Based on State's 'Stand Your Ground' Laws (View Slideshow)
