By Greg Halbleib
BLOOMINGTON – A McLean County jury on Monday found Kirk Zimmerman of Bloomington not guilty of first degree murder.
The jury returned its verdict around 2:30 p.m Monday after deliberating for a little more than seven hours.
Zimmerman was accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife Pamela in her Bloomington office in November 2014. The trial took more than five weeks.
The state’s case was largely circumstantial. Prosecutors presented evidence that Zimmerman was not at home as he claimed on the night Pamela died, and that he was motivated by financial struggles exacerbated by Pamela’s demand for nearly $4,000 in overdue child support.
Zimmerman’s lawyer, John Rogers, briefly spoke with reporters after the verdict.
“On behalf of Kirk and his entire family, we’d like to say thank you,” said Rogers. “It has been four long years of being accused of a crime Kirk didn’t commit, and today is a relief not only to Kirk, but for his family.”
Zimmerman did not speak publicly, but issued a statement criticizing prosecutors and the news media, particularly the Pantagraph.
McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp praised his prosecution team and police.
“Anybody who works in the court system understands that trial attorneys can do everything right in the court of law, and get an outcome that they’re upset with. That’s where we’re at right now,” said Knapp.
Zimmerman left the Law and Justice Center with family members.
Greg Halbleib can be reached at greg@wjbc.com
