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SANFORD From outward appearances George and Shellie Zimmerman were a close and loving couple.

During his second-degree murder trial in 2013, they held hands as they walked down the courthouse hallway.

But shortly after the trial ended, Zimmerman moved out and Shellie Zimmerman filed for divorce.

On Tuesday, a Seminole County judge signed an order, making their divorce final.

"I'm honestly thinking I'm happy," Zimmerman said. "The divorce is concluded, and I can start a new chapter in my life."

It was a long time coming.

She filed for divorce on Sept. 5, 2013, and the next week, Lake Mary police raced to their house after she called 911, saying he had threatened her and her father with a gun and punched her father in the nose.

There was no arrest, but George Zimmerman later counter-sued for divorce.

The legal fight dragged on because the couple could not decide how to split what they hoped would be millions from a defamation lawsuit against NBC Universal Media LLC, according to Howard Iken, George Zimmerman's attorney.

George Zimmerman, 32, sued the network in 2012, accusing it of defaming him by reporting he used a racial slur during a 911 call to Sanford police the night he killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old, and by airing an edited version of the recording.

Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon in 2013, and the following year a Sanford judge threw out the defamation lawsuit.

Zimmerman tried to revive it with an appeal but that failed, too.

A copy of the divorce settlement was filed this week.

Under its terms, George Zimmerman was to use any windfall from NBC to pay his $2.5 million bill to criminal defense attorney Mark O'Mara.

Zimmerman also was to pay Shellie Zimmerman $166,000.

The rest he would keep.

But there will be no NBC payout, so there were few assets to divide.

George Zimmerman will keep his 2008 Honda pickup and the family dog.

He's responsible for his debts.

Shellie Zimmerman, 28, is responsible for her nursing school loans and other debts.

If he ever gets money for his life story, he gets to keep the proceeds.

The same is true for Shellie Zimmerman.

"The Zimmerman affair has indeed ended in the proverbial whimper, not a bang," Kelly Sims, Shellie Zimmerman's attorney, wrote in an email.

They got married Nov. 17, 2007.

rstutzman@tribpub.com or 407-650-6394

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George and Shellie Zimmerman: Their divorce is final ...