George Zimmerman’s attorneys say current donations for their client’s defense only take care of the “bare minimum to keep the defense afloat.”
In a post on Zimmerman’s defense team website, Zimmerman's attorneys say they need $30,000 in donations to pay for the “significant expenses for experts and investigators.”
Zimmerman’s attorneys have not received any “fees” for their representation.
As of January 2, Zimmerman has raised $314,099.17 in donations.
An itemized list of how that money is provided on Zimmerman’s website:
The judge required Zimmerman to turn over 10% of the required $1 million bond to the bondsman for him to be released from custody. Zimmerman provided $5,000 of his own money.
This includes paying for hotels and other residences: Zimmerman’s housing costs spiked considerably when the previous judge revoked his bond and ordered him to live in Seminole County.
A company that provided security during the first three months of Zimmerman’s release on bond has filed a lawsuit seeking an additional $27,000 in payments. The fund paid the unnamed security company $40,000 in the three weeks following Zimmerman’s release on bond July 5, 2012.
The defense team includes co-counsel Don West, six interns and additional support staff who “work for free or at a deeply discounted rate.” Attorney Mark O’Mara says the additional staffers meant incurring expenses for additional office space, computers, phones and expanded IT infrastructure and support Zimmerman’s attorneys have not received compensation for their work on the case.
Items include “case management software, security for the law offices, website hosting, miscellaneous computer hardware and data storage, fees for obtaining documents and much, much more.” Funds also were used to pay court recorders and experts.
Paypal receives a fee for every online payment made to the defense fund. The independent fund manager bills monthly for services.
Includes postage, courier fees, GPS monitoring, office supplies and “every now and again a pizza for the interns, who work for free.”
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge for shooting Trayvon Martin on February 26. Martin was returning from a convenience store and was unarmed. Zimmerman told police he shot the teen in self-defense.
Read more: Now, Zimmerman's parents are asking for $$
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