Sybrina Fulton Addresses ‘Accident’ Remark in Reference to Son Trayvon Martin’s Death

As news came yesterday that George Zimmerman had finally been arrested and charged with second degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin on February 26th, it seemed everyone had an opinion on the decision to prosecute the case.

The parents of Trayvon Martin have been pushing for justice for their son, so it was somewhat surprising to some that his mom, Sybrina Fulton, said that she would give Zimmerman a chance to explain why he felt the need to shoot her son. Fulton also said she would allow him to apologize, and was interested in hearing what Zimmerman had to say about the night Trayvon died.

But on the Today show, Fulton’s description of the death of Trayvon as an “accident” gave a few people pause, as the shooting death certainly sounded like anything but to many who have followed the details of the case. Fulton said:

“I believe it was an accident, I believe that it just got out of control and he couldn’t turn the clock back. I would ask him, ‘Did he know that that was a minor, that that was a teenager and that he did not have a weapon?”

After her comments created some controversy, Fulton was forced to issue a statement through family attorney Benjamin Crump to clarify her feelings on the matter. She explained that she still feels Zimmerman is guilty of murdering Trayvon:

“Earlier today, I made a comment to the media that was later mischaracterized. When I referenced the word ‘accident’ today with regard to Trayvon’s death, in NO way did I mean the shooting was an accident. We believe that George Zimmerman stalked my son and murdered him in cold blood.

The ‘accident’ I was referring to was the fact that George Zimmerman and my son ever crossed paths. It was an accidental encounter.

If George Zimmerman hadn’t gotten out of his vehicle, this entire incident would have been avoided. My son was profiled, followed and murdered by George Zimmerman, and there was nothing accidental about that.”

One of the more recently filed affadavits in the Martin case contends that Zimmerman “confronted Martin and a struggle ensued” on the night the Florida teen was killed.