George Zimmerman Makes His First Court Appearance

George Zimmerman made his first court appearance Thursday on the charge of second degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

During the appearance, Zimmerman dressed in a gray jail suit, said “Yes Sir” to basic questions in regards to the charge against him.

Judge Mark E. Herr said he found probable cause to move ahead with the case and that an arraignment would be held on May 29 before another judge. At a press conference following the court appearance, Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara said he will seek a bond hearing “in the next few weeks.” Zimmerman is expected to enter a not guilty plea.

The affidavit of probable cause, prepared by prosecutors gives some insight on why they chose to charge Zimmerman. In the affidavit it says Martin’s mother identifies the screams heard in the background of the 911 call as Trayvon.

Prosecutors also interviewed Martin’s girlfriend who was talking to him just before the shooting. The affidavit says Martin told the witness he was being followed and was scared.

Martin tried to run home, the affidavit says, but was followed by Zimmerman: “Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and followed Martin.”

The affidavit says that “Zimmerman disregarded the police dispatcher” who told him to stop, and “continued to follow Martin who was trying to return to his home.”

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Zimmerman’s attory Mark O’Mara said he was concerned that the case up to now has been handled in the public eye.

“It’s really supposed to happen in the courtroom,” O’Mara said, deflecting questions about evidence in the case and his client’s mental state.

“He’s tired,” O’Mara said when asked about Zimmerman’s condition. “He’s gone through some tribulations of his own, being the focus of the intensity of this event. … He’s facing second degree murder charges now. He’s frightened. That would frighten any one of us.”

The prosecution faces some steep hurdles to win a second-degree murder conviction against Zimmerman, some experts say.

George Zimmerman was charged after a public outcry to make an arrest in the shooting that stimulated the nation for weeks. Now prosecutor, Angela Corey, and her team will have to prove Zimmerman intentionally went after Martin instead of shooting him in self-defense, to refute arguments that a Florida law empowered him to use deadly force.