Sarges up date: Zimmerman trial

ORLANDO, Fla. - The mother of George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer accused of fatally shooting teen Trayvon Martin during a confrontation in a gated community in Sanford, has released a letter criticizing the media and the justice system for their role in the case.

The two-page letter, written by Gladys Zimmerman, was made public through the Twitter account of her son, Robert Zimmerman Jr., on Thursday, the one year anniversary of George Zimmerman's arrest

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26, 2012 shooting death of the 17-year-old Martin. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge, claiming self-defense, and is scheduled to go on trial in June.

The Zimmerman family reportedly went into hiding after the case became public.

In the letter, Gladys Zimmerman writes, "April 11, 2012 will be forever remembered by the Zimmerman family as the day the justice system failed us as Americans, and as a consequence an innocent man was arrested for a crime he did not commit, solely to placate the masses."

She writes that a "false narrative" of the case has been widely publicized based on the "little evidence" made available to the public.

"It is astounding that despite the vast amount of information and evidence now available that support George's self-defense claim, the majority of the media avoids its publication," Gladys Zimmerman writes.

She said the media, along with social media, has "made it their prerogative" to judge and sentence her son ever since the case was made public.

Gladys ended the letter by thanking supporters and promising that her son's trial will not disappoint.

"The truth will finally be revealed to many, but to some who have always seen through the narrative - the truth George always told will [not] be 'revealed,' but rather 'confirmed,'" she wrote.

On Thursday afternoon, Trayvon Martin's family and their attorneys issued a statement in response to Gladys Zimmerman's letter.

"The facts of this case are simple and straightforward," the Martin family statement reads. "We are confident that a jury following the overwhelming evidence against George Zimmerman will hold him accountable for killing our son, Trayvon Martin."

The Martin's call Gladys Zimmerman's view of the justice system "disingenuous and disrespectful to the very system that is currently affording [George Zimmerman] every available opportunity to defend himself."

"The arrest of an admitted killer is not violation of due process, it is due process," the statement says.

The Martin family says they hope the death of their son will help to prevent "other senseless acts of gun violence" in the future.