Revised report given to Zimmerman defense

SANFORD, Fla., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- The Sanford, Fla., police detective who investigated the shooting death of an unarmed teen revised his final report four times, new evidence indicated.

The new list of evidence indicated Detective Chris Serino originally recommended that Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman be charged with second-degree murder, but later recommended a charge of manslaughter in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, 17, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Wednesday.

Serino made all the revisions to his report during a five-hour period March 13, the evidence list indicated.

Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda said Serino wrote in his first two drafts that he had probable cause to recommend a second-degree murder charge. But he changed the report two more times and ultimately wrote that the evidence supported the manslaughter charge.

Each version was turned over to defense attorneys Tuesday but none has been made public.

Zimmerman is free on $1 million bail pending trial on second-degree murder in the Martin shooting. The Hispanic-American said he acted in self-defense under Florida's stand your ground law when he shot and killed the unarmed black teen Feb. 26.

Prosecutors say Zimmerman profiled Martin, whom he assumed was about to commit a crime, following him and committing murder.

The case drew international outrage after police declined to arrest Zimmerman. He later was charged by Special Prosecutor Angela Corey, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott as criticism grew.

When de la Rionda turned over to the defense the Serino report, he said he received it recently from Serino's attorney.