Robert Zimmerman Jr., brother of recently acquitted George Zimmerman, had harsh words about the teenager his brother was accused of murdering on Saturday, speculating that Trayvon Martin was trying to grow marijuana and buy firearms.
Robert spoke with CNN's Piers Morgan and Don Lemon shortly after his brother was found not guilty of murdering Martin, the unarmed black teenager Zimmerman shot in what he claimed was self defense.
"I want to know what makes people angry enough to attack someone the way that Trayvon Martin did," Robert said. "I want to know if it is true — and I don't know if it's true — that Trayvon Martin was looking to procure firearms, was growing marijuana plants." Robert guessed that Martin was crying out for help and could have used a mentor, like George, who Robert said mentored two young black children whose father is serving a life sentence in prison, unlike George, who is a free man after Saturday's acquittal.
Also read: Zimmerman Lawyer: If He Were Black He Wouldn't Have Been Charged
Robert said his brother "has some decompression to do" and that it would take him and his family "some time to heal." He added that he was happy that George no longer faced a "mountain of misinformation" about the case and was exonerated.
Later in the program, Robert bristled when Morgan said we would never know what really happened the night George shot and killed Martin. Robert fired back: "In this country, we know when there's a verdict. In your country we may not know and we may be subject to continual speculation until the end of time."
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Morgan asked how Robert would feel if George and Martin's roles were reversed; Robert said he would have thought his brother had "the greater hand in his own demise" and accepted the jury's decision. He maintained that he truly believed that George killed Martin in self-defense, though acknowledged that Martin's death was "unfortunate."
When Morgan asked if George would fear for his safety, Robert responded that "he's going to be looking around his shoulder for the rest of his life," looking out for people who "take the law into their own hands."
Many have accused Zimmerman of practicing his own brand of vigilante justice.
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