George Zimmerman’s jailhouse telephone recordings released

George Zimmerman, center, in court with his attorney Mark O'Mara in April (Photo: AP/Pool)

Story by Reuters/Yahoo News

Audio recordings from phone calls Florida gunman George Zimmerman made while in jail in April were released Monday by Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey.

The six phone calls are part of the state's evidence alleging that Zimmerman and his wife, Shellie, misled the court during an April bond hearing.

A judge released Zimmerman, who is charged with killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February, on $150,000 bond after the Zimmermans testified they little money. But on the calls, George Zimmerman is heard coaching his wife and sister on how to move tens of thousands of dollars donated to his legal defense fund.

After getting his wife access to transfer the funds, Zimmerman instructs her to pay off nearly all the couple's bills and to purchase bulletproof vests for her, him and his attorney.

"We need to get on it ASAP, cause you know the, the personally I want you wearing one," Zimmerman says from the Seminole County jail.

"Okay," she replies.

"As uncomfortable as it is, I want you wearing one," he says.


Zimmerman was ordered back to jail earlier this month when the judge learned of the money from the defense fund. His wife was charged with perjury related to her testimony about the family's finances.

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Below are links Reuters posted to the jailhouse audio files and transcripts of those calls.

Audio recordings of George Zimmerman phone calls from jail
State of Florida v. George Zimmerman transcripts