Zimmerman sorry for loss of Trayvon Martin, says he didn't know if he was armed

Tribune staff and wire reports

SANFORD, Fla.— Neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman has taken the witness stand during his bail hearing and apologized to the parents of Trayvon Martin for shooting their son.

Zimmerman made the brief statement during Friday's hearing over whether he should be released on bail while he awaits trial on second-degree murder charges.

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Zimmerman told Martin's parents that he was "sorry for the loss of your son." He said he didn't know that Martin was 17 and that he was unarmed during their altercation in a central Florida neighborhood.

The 28-year-old Zimmerman shot Martin the night of Feb. 26. He says Martin attacked him.

Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda argued that the court should consider that Trayvon Martin "was minding his own business. He was not committing a crime."

State Attorney's investigator Dale Gilbreath testified earleir. O'Mara questioned him about the probable cause affidavit he signed for the second-degree murder charge. Gilbreath said he did not expect to testify at the hearing.

O'Mara grilled Gilbreath on his use of the word "profiling" in describing Zimmerman's behavior that night, asking why he used the term. Gilbreath said the term indicates that Zimmerman saw the teen, then formed an opinion of him not based on any facts.
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