SANFORD, Fla. — The man accused of shooting at George Zimmerman will use a “stand your ground” defense in an attempt to clear himself, his lawyer said Friday. “That’s a good look into the future,” said Michael Lafay moments after a bond hearing for his client, Matthew Apperson, a 36-year-old Winter Springs man accused of firing into Zimmerman’s pickup May 11 as they two traveled in separate vehicles down West Lake Mary Boulevard.

“And, of course, as you know,” Lafay said, “Mr. Zimmerman is no stranger to a ‘stand your ground’ situation.”

Apperson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and firing a deadly missile into an occupied conveyance after an altercation with Zimmerman.

Zimmerman is the former Neighborhood Watch volunteer acquitted of second-degree murder for killing Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old, in Sanford in 2012. He says he acted in self-defense.

For months, his lawyers claimed that he should be cleared under Florida’s much-criticized “stand your ground” law, which provides immunity to anyone who uses deadly force if he has a reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily injury.

However, they opted to go straight to trial and forego a “stand your ground” hearing.

Apperson and Zimmerman exchanged words on May 11. There was a confrontation, then Apperson opened fire, claiming Zimmerman was about to kill him. Each man says the other was the aggressor.

Apperson told Lake Mary police he fired one round from a .357-caliber handgun after Zimmerman pointed a gun at him and said, “I’m going to kill you.”

But Zimmerman’s attorney, Don West, told reporters that Apperson was the aggressor. Zimmerman had a weapon in his pickup, West said, but did not brandish it.


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