( CNN ) -- For nearly two months , George Zimmerman has been largely a cipher , a riddle whose voice has been heard only in 911 calls reporting a young man acting `` real suspicious . '' On Friday , the world learned more about Zimmerman as he , his wife and parents testified during a hearing in Sanford , Florida , to decide whether he would be released on bond while awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge in the February 26 death of Trayvon Martin . Zimmerman 's wife depicted him as a man she has never seen angry . His father said he was a truthful man who had long been concerned with helping others . And his mother said he had organized a campaign to `` get justice '' for a homeless man who had been beaten in Sanford , as well as mentoring a 14-year-old African-American boy from a dangerous Orlando neighborhood . Zimmerman has acknowledged killing Martin during an encounter in his Sanford neighborhood , saying he shot in self-defense . Critics have depicted the Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer as a racist who profiled Martin because he was African-American . His family said nothing could be further from the truth . `` I know that he is very protective of people , very protective of homeless people and also of children '' -- regardless of their race , Gladys Zimmerman said in testimony meant to prove to Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. that Zimmerman would not be a threat to the community if allowed to leave jail while awaiting trial . She said he has been a mentoring the 14-year-old for three years even though the program he had joined shut down after only nine months because of the economy . She said she begged him not to go because of the danger . `` He said , 'Mom , if I do n't go , they do n't have nobody , ' '' Gladys Zimmerman said . She said her son also participated in a 2010 campaign to `` get justice '' for an African-American homeless man who was seen in a videotape taken by an onlooker being struck by a man who later turned out to be the son of a Sanford police lieutenant . `` He went to churches . He put fliers on cars '' and organized a meeting seeking help for the man , his mother testified . He was recognized by the city for his efforts , his mother said . CNN has not been able to confirm Zimmerman 's participation in the campaign . Zimmerman was studying criminal justice and wanted someday to be a judge or a magistrate , said his father , Robert Zimmerman Sr. -- who had also been a magistrate . `` He 's always been concerned about people in society , so he wanted to be able to help somehow , '' the elder Zimmerman said . Prosecutors sought to paint a darker picture of Zimmerman as a man with a violent past who could not be trusted to go free pending his trial . Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda cited two incidents -- a 2005 case in which a police officer accused Zimmerman of battery and another incident in which a woman filed a domestic violence injunction against Zimmerman after a scuffle . Zimmerman apologizes as judge sets $ 150,000 bond . In the 2005 case , Zimmerman was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and obstruction of justice after tussling with an alcoholic beverage control officer . The charges were later reduced to a misdemeanor after Zimmerman agreed to enter a diversion program and take an anger management class , according to testimony in Friday 's hearing . According to a police report of the incident , which de la Rionda read in court , Zimmerman refused a law enforcement officer 's orders to back off , saying , `` I do n't care who you are '' after the officer identified himself . After a brief scuffle , the officer arrested Zimmerman . But Zimmerman 's family said Zimmerman told them that the officer never identified himself , and he was only trying to come to the aid of a friend who he had seen being shoved against the wall by a man in plainclothes . `` He felt his friend was in danger and he was just trying to protect his friend , '' said Zimmerman 's wife , Shellie Nicole Zimmerman . In the other case , de la Rionda said a woman filed papers in which she said Zimmerman smacked her in the mouth and `` asked her how it felt , '' as well as grabbed her and threw her on a bed . Timeline of events in Trayvon Martin case . Shellie Zimmerman said her understanding was that Zimmerman was only acting to protect himself after the woman scratched him and drew blood . `` Absolutely he is not a violent person nor a threat to the community , '' she said . Zimmerman also took the stand , an unusual move in a bond hearing and a risky decision for any defendant in any criminal case , much less a one involving a murder charge , said his attorney Mark O'Mara . It was his first public statement since the shooting . `` I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son , '' Zimmerman told Martin 's parents Friday in what his attorney said was a risky and heartfelt apology from the witness stand . `` I did not know how old he was . I thought he was a little bit younger than I was , and I did not know if he was armed or not . ''
More details emerge about George being at the hearing . His lawyer says he is ` ` very protective of George '' But a prosecutor says he 's a violent danger to the community .