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'They didn't raise their son right and tried to capitalize on his death': Remorseless George Zimmerman lashes out at Trayvon Martin's parents in brutal interview

Zimmerman shot dead Trayvon Martin in 2012, acquitted of murder in 2013
The 32-year-old is now trying to auction off the gun he used to kill Martin
And he has given an interview lambasting the dead boy's parents
Former neighborhood watchman said they 'should have done better'

Published: 05:18 GMT, 18 May 2016 | Updated: 05:41 GMT, 18 May 2016

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George Zimmerman has hit out at Trayvon Martin's parents in a remorseless interview about the 17-year-old black boy he killed.

His words come just days after the former neighborhood watch caption tried to auction off the gun he used to take Martin's life in 2012.

'They didn't raise their son right,' Zimmerman told the Daily Beast. 'He attacked a complete stranger and attempted to kill him.'

He continued: 'Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin did everything they could to capitalize on her son's death.

Brutal: George Zimmerman (left) has blamed the parents of Trayvon Martin (right) for the 17-year-old's death in February 2012. Martin was shot dead by Zimmerman as he walked home from buying a drink at the store

Tracy Martin (left) and Sybrina Fulton (right) in court days before Zimmerman was acquitted of killing their son

'She was never a mother figure to him. Tracy Martin couldn't have cared less about their son. He treated him like a dog without a leash.'

Zimmerman was controversially acquitted of murder charges in 2013.

He shot Martin on February 26, 2012, after calling police because he thought the hooded teenager looked suspicious.

Before police arrived, Zimmerman had followed Martin and shot him dead.

Reflecting on the case, which sent shockwaves through the nation, Zimmerman told the Daily Beast on Thursday: 'Sure I'm sorry for any parent that has lost a child.'

But he added: 'That being said, I also believe it's their duty to have an internal dialogue to see what they should have done better and what they should have done appropriately.'

Zimmerman made two attempts to sell his Kel-Tec PF9 9mm handgun online last week.

The listing, which described the gun as 'an American firearm icon', first appeared on UnitedGunGroup.com last week with a starting price of $5,000.

Zimmerman said he planned to lock it in a safe to give to his grandchildren if the Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm didn't sell

Zimmerman had sparked outrage on social media last week when he offered to sell the Kel-Tec PF9 9mm handgun, which he described 'an American firearm icon' that he had used to defend his life against Martin

Early Friday, the bidding surpassed $65 million with the leading bidder using the screen name 'Racist McShootFace' before a person named Craig Bryant overtook the bidding on UnitedGunGroup.com (above)

It was soon removed after the auction was hijacked by trolls using the names 'Racist McShootFace', 'Donald Trump,' and 'shaniqua bonifa', who pushed the bidding to $65 million.

He then re-listed the item on the same website with a starting price of $100,000 to run from 9am ET on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday.

Buyers will also have the option to 'buy it now' for $500,000.

United Gun Group owner Todd Underwood told CNN on Monday that the website would continue to facilitate lawful sales despite the criticism it has faced for allowing Zimmerman to list his gun.

In the listing, Zimmerman wrote: 'Prospective bidders, I am honored and humbled to announce the sale of an American Firearm Icon.

'The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012.'

Critics called the auction an insensitive move to profit from the slaying.

Zimmerman told the Daily Beast he cherishes the item.

'It is what was used to save my life from a near-death brutal attack by Trayvon Martin,' Zimmerman said of the gun. 'If it was a stick or mace, it's the one tool I had that prevented Trayvon from killing me.'

A lawyer for the Martin family denounced Zimmerman's effort to sell the gun, and another auction site, GunBroker.com, rejected the listing.

Amy Siewert, from FDLE, showed the jury how George Zimmerman's gun can be fired during his trial in Seminole circuit court, in Sanford, Florida in July 2013

Two of America's leading auctioneers of guns said they also had refused on ethical grounds to handle the sale after Zimmerman called their establishments recently hoping to consign the gun with them.

Zimmerman said the pistol was returned to him by the US Justice Department, which took it after he was acquitted in Martin's 2012 shooting death.

His listing said a portion of the proceeds would go toward fighting what Zimmerman calls violence by the Black Lives Matter movement against law enforcement officers, combating anti-gun rhetoric of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and ending the career of state attorney Angela Corey, who led Zimmerman's prosecution.

The listing ended with a Latin phrase that translates as 'if you want peace, prepare for war.'

In both listings of the weapon, he has claimed that the 'many have expressed interest in owning and displaying the firearm including The Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.'

However, the museum said in a statement it had not done so and had no plans to display it.

TRIAL OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: TIMELINE OF CASE THAT DIVIDED A NATION

February 26th, 2012 - George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida, calls 911 to make a report of 'a suspicious person'.

He is told by officers not to leave his vehicle but disregards this. Moments later residents report hearing a gunshot and police arrive to find Trayvon Martin dead.

Zimmerman tells police that he shot Martin in self-defense - is not arrested - and this noted in the police report.

February 27th, 2012 - Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy Martin, files a missing persons report when his son fails to return home.
Officers with the Sanford Police Department go to the Martin household and inform Tracy that his son is believed dead - Martin identifies Trayvon Martin's body.

March 8th, 2012 - Police investigators receive a fax from the Altamonte Family Pratice that contains medical records identifying George Zimmerman's injuries sustained on the evening of the shooting.

They acknowledge a scalp wound, a nasal wound and describe 'assault by other means'.

March 12th, 2012 - Sanford Police Chieg Bill Lee explains that Zimmerman has not been charged because to date no evidence has been provided to prove his claims contrary.

March 13th, 2012 - Sanford Police Department's homicide detective Christopher Serino says that he recommends that Zimmerman be charged with manslaughter. He says that Zimmerman 'failed to identify himself' as a neighborhood watch member on two occasions that night.

He says he believed Zimmerman's injuries to be 'marginally consistent with a life-threatening episode, as described by him, during which neither a deadly weapon nor deadly force were deployed by Trayvon Martin.'

March 14th, 2012 - The case is turned over to Florida State Attorney Norm Wilfinger

March 15th, 2012 - George Zimmerman's fahter, Robert Zimmerman, writes a letter to the Orlando Sentinel in which he explains that his son is Hispanic and is being erroneously portrayed as a racist.

March 19th, 2012 - The Justice Department and the FBI announce they have launched an investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin

March 22nd, 2012 - A petition calling for the arrest of Zimmerman, created by Trayvon Martin's parents, garners more than 1.3 million online signatures.

March 22nd, 2012 - Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee says he is to stand down 'temporarily' as head of the department.

March 23rd, 2012 - President Barack Obama makes a public announcement on the death to say that the incident requires 'soul searching'

March 24th, 2012 - Some members of the New Black Panther Party, offer a $10,000 reward for the 'capture' of George Zimmerman

March 28th, 2012 - Zimmerman's father appears on television to say that his son was forced to shoot Martin after being badly beaten by the teen

April 11th, 2012 - Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder and his new lawyer, Mark O'Mara announces that Zimmerman has handed himself over to the authorities

April 20th, 2012 - During his bond hearing, Zimmerman apologizes to Trayvon Martin's family for the loss of their son and his bail is set at $150,000

June 1st, 2012 - Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. orders Zimmerman to surrender after his bail is revoked after the prosecution shows that Zimmerman and his wife Shellie misrepresented their finances when the bond was originally set in April

June 3rd, 2012 - George Zimmerman is taken into custody at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole County

June 12, 2012 - George Zimmerman's wife Shellie is arrested and charged with perjury

July 5th, 2012 - Zimmerman's bond is set at $1 million and the next day he is released after posting 10 percent of the bond

July 18th, 2012 - George Zimmerman appears on Sean Hannity's Fox News program to deny any wrong doing

March 18th, 2013 - Mark O'Mara opts not to seek a pretrial Stand your Ground immunity hearing for George Zimmerman

April 30th, 2013 - Zimmerman decides to waive his right to a Stand your Ground hearing and opts to go for a self-defense trial

June 20th, 2013 - An all-female jury is selected

June 24th, 2013 - The trial begins

July 11th and 12th, 2013 - The State and Defense give their closing arguments

July 13th, 2013 - A not-guilty verdict for George Zimmerman is announced. Protests break out across United States as people demonstrate their anger at the verdict