Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, says Zimmerman’s shooting was ‘an accident’

Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, told the Today show Thursday morning that she believes her son's murder was an "accident," but later retracted her statement on MSNBC this afternoon. 

In an interview with the Today show's Ann Curry, Fulton had said, "I believe it was an accident. I believe that it just got out of control and (Zimmerman) couldn’t turn the clock back." 

A spokesman for the Martin family later e-mailed MSNBC-TV to say that Fulton's comments were "mischaracterized," and she appeared on MSNBC Thursday afternoon, where she said that "George Zimmerman stalked my son and murdered him in cold blood."

More from GlobalPost: George Zimmerman murder charge will pose hurdles to prosecutors

Some viewers interpreted Fulton's earlier remarks as referencing the shooting, but she says that isn't what she meant, and that the encounter between Martin and George Zimmerman was the accident, the Associated Press reported. 

On Wednesday, Special Prosecutor Angela Corey announced that Zimmerman would be charged with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The announcement came 44 days after Martin's death, according to MSNBC. 

"We did not come to this decision lightly," said Corey, who was appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to re-examine the case, MSNBC reported. “We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition.”

Zimmerman made his first court appearance since being charged with second-degree murder for shooting 17-year-old Martin on Thursday afternoon, Slate reported.

More from GlobalPost: George Zimmerman makes first court appearance

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy