GEORGE Zimmerman, could soon be released from custody after a judge set a $150,000 bond for his release. Zimmerman’s family will need $15,000, 10 percent of the total bond amount, to have him let out.
A judge granted bail for Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said he would grant the motion to release Zimmerman, but would not allow his release today, given further discussions needed about the terms, including whether he would be allowed out of state.
He also said that Zimmerman would not be able to have any contact with the victim’s family, could not possess firearms; and order no consumption of alcohol or controlled substances. We’ve learned Martin’s family was outraged following the bond hearing, they wanted Zimmerman to remain in jail until the trial.
We have a new picture of Zimmerman just after he shot and killed Trayvon. ABC released this pic showing blood coming from the back of Zimmerman’s head. He told cops Trayvon slammed his head repeatedly into the sidewalk.
Taking the stand during the hearing at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, Zimmerman addressed the parents of Martin: “I wanted to say that I am sorry for the loss of your son. “I did not know how old he was,” he said. “I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. And I did not know whether he was armed or not.”
Zimmerman said he had made a similar statement to police. “I was told not to communicate with them,” he said. “I did ask [my attorneys] to express that to them.” Zimmerman has been behind bars since his arrest nine days ago, charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of the unarmed 17-year-old.
This is video of Zimmerman on the stand & his apology to the Martin family
His attorney asked the judge to let him out of jail while he awaits trial. His attorney also asked the judge to allows Zimmerman to leave the state (while wearing a GPS bracelet), and to keep his location confidential in order to help secure his safety.
Zimmerman has claimed self-defense in the deadly Feb. 26 encounter. Martin’s parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, believe their son was murdered in cold blood. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester was assigned the case Wednesday after a previous judge recused herself because of a potential conflict of interest.
Zimmerman surrendered his passport, according to his attorney, Mark O’Mara. The state’s attorney, arguing against bond, said Zimmerman showed “a lack of adhering to authority,” but also suggested not releasing Zimmerman was also for his own good. “Will he be a threat [to the community]? Quite frankly, some people will want to get to him.”
Testifying by phone link, Shelley Zimmerman said she did not believe her husband would be a threat to the community if he were released. “No concern whatsoever,” she said.
When asked by a prosecuting attorney, she said she was informed of the charges against him in the past of striking a police officer but said she did not agree that he has a history of violence.
She did express concern about his safety, and said if released the location where he stays would have to remain confidential.
Also testifying by phone, George’s father, retired magistrate Robert Zimmerman Sr., said he saw scars on his son’s head after the confrontation.
Zimmerman Sr. said his son has always been interested in criminal justice. He said George Zimmerman “has been honest his whole life,” and told him that some time in his life he’d like to become a magistrate or a judge.
His mother, Gladys Zimmerman, said that in 2010 he found out a homeless person had been beaten and sought justice for him.
“That was George, that was my son,” she said. “He’s very protective of people, very protective of homeless people, and also of children.”
Dale Gilbreith, an investigator working with the State Attorney’s Office, was questioned about whether Zimmerman “continued to follow” Martin after being instructed by the dispatcher not to, as written in the probable cause affidavit.
“He was told not to follow him, he continued on for a period of time – I would say less than a minute before he hung up, which is prior to the encounter between the two,” Gilbreith said.
Gilbreath was asked what further evidence he had about a confrontation apart from the phone call and witnesses’ statements: “We have Mr. Zimmerman’s statement, we have the shell casing, and we have the body,” he said.
When asked by the prosecuting attorney whether there was any evidence that suggests Zimmerman’s original statement to police was not true, Gilbreith replied, “Yes.”
Meanwhile, we toldya the New Black Panther leader who offered a $10,000 bounty for Zimmerman’s arrest is still in jail trying to get a hearing on a gun charge!
WARNING: This is graphic video of Zimmerman’s bloody head injury…
