Was not aware you could handcuffed, taken in, held for 5hrs and yet not officially “arrested”. Interesting.
Re: Handcuffs
Handcuffing, searching, and physically examining the survivor is standard police procedure until the details are sorted out.
Zimmerman always had the option to say nothing - which is always the best plan when you find yourself at the center of an intensely emotional, intensely dangerous legal situation.
It appears that Zimmerman thought that “voluntarily cooperating” with the police might bolster his credibility.
Horrendous mistake.
Zimmerman could also have politely and persistently requested that he be released or arrested.
Based on just the physical evidence, it’s hard to see what grounds existed for an arrest.
Lesson learned.....
Unless you’re terrified of spending a couple nights in jail, NEVER talk about what happened, even if you’re completely innocent.