During an exclusive interview with George Zimmerman's father Robert Zimmerman, FOX 35's Valerie Boey asked him about other issues, such as his son making racial slurs and his own job as a judge.
"During those 911 calls, lots of the media were saying your son uttered a racial slur, did he say anything about that to you? I've never heard any of my children utter a racial slur. I've never heard him utter one," Zimmerman said. "I've listened to the tape and I can come up with any number of words that I could suggest be there."
When asked if he questioned his son about what he said on that call, Zimmerman replied, "I've never asked him. I knew that he wouldn't say that."
We also asked Robert Zimmerman about the surveillance video of his son while he was being questioned by officers. Some have argued that Zimmerman has no obvious injuries just hours after the shooting.
"I don't know what the video showed, I haven't seen it. I know his nose was broken, his scalp was cut in two different places," Zimmerman said. "They may have cleaned him up at the scene. I have no idea. Currently he's not dealing with it well. I don't know if his injuries are physical or mental but he's not in good shape."
Robert Zimmerman is a Vietnam vet, as well as a former judge from Fairfax, Virginia. We asked him if his past as a judge could have affected this case in anyway.
"No one knew that I was a retired magistrate judge," Zimmerman said. "I didn't mention it to the police. I didn't mention it to the State Attorney's office. Somehow the press picked up on it. But I've never mentioned it to anyone."
Zimmerman worked as a judge for eight years and is well-versed in the law. "It's hard because I know the facts and if a law enforcement officer brings any of those facts to me and requested a warrant, it would absolutely be denied."
Zimmerman says he asked the police department to release information, saying Trayvon Martin verbally threatened his son's life. But they denied that request. Asked how he thinks the Sanford Police Department has handled this case, Zimmerman said, "I don't know. I believe if they look back maybe they would have done things differently. I believe Chief Lee did an outstanding job. I don't know. I'm sure they would have done some things differently."
Zimmerman hopes people will give his son a chance.
"There are some people that no matter what happens, they'll portray George in a poor light. They'll be revengeful, hateful, that can't be changed," Zimmerman said. "But the majority of the people who have seen the picture of a little boy on TV and a terrible George Zimmerman at some point when all this is settled, they will say George Zimmerman is a pretty nice guy."
Zimmerman says his son doesn't plan to speak out until the case is closed.
