Zimmerman’s Wife, Shellie Zimmerman, Pleads Guilty To Perjury Charge
Shellie Zimmerman, the wife of George Zimmerman, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of perjury.
The Inquisitr previously reported that Shellie was arrested for perjury based on the testimony she gave in April, 2012.
Shellie said that the couple had limited funds for bail despite the fact that more than $135,000 had been raised in donations from a website dedicated to Zimmerman.
According to CNN, recorded jailhouse phone calls between the couple caught the two speaking in code about their finances.
The report continues on to say that by pleading guilty to the lesser charge of perjury not in an official proceeding, Shellie avoided the original third-degree felony offense, perjury during an official proceeding, that could have meant time in prison.
Shellie’s guilty plea comes only a day after her husband, George Zimmerman, attorney revealed plans to file a reimbursement request to the state of Florida for the expenses incurred during his trial.
The Inquisitr reported Tuesday that George Zimmerman will ask Florida to pay up to $300,000 of his legal costs stemming from the trial that eventually acquitted him of murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
CNN reported that, under Florida law, an acquitted defendant cannot be held liable for court costs or any charges while detained in custody, as long as a clerk or judge consents to the refund.
“The costs may include money spent for expert witnesses, travel expenses and fees for transcripts — but do not include any attorney’s fees.”
In the case of Shellie Zimmerman, after pleading guilty to perjury not in an official proceeding, she has been placed on probation for one year, and is required to perform 100 hours of community service.
She is also required to pay court costs and must file a letter of apology within 30 days to Judge Kenneth Lester, who presided over her husband’s case at the time the perjury was committed.
[Image via Shutterstock/ -Taurus- and Uptown Magazine]
