George Zimmerman Out of Jail on $1 Million Bond

[maddezmom]

Source: ABC

George Zimmerman walked out of jail on $1 million bond today to await his trial on charges of killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Zimmerman, who is accused of second degree murder in the shooting death of the unarmed teen, used money donated by supporters to pay a portion of the bond.


Florida Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Lester raised Zimmerman's bond Thursday from $150,000 to $1 million after prosecutors proved that Zimmerman had misled the court about how much money he had raised from supporters and stashed in bank accounts. Lester wrote that it was reasonable to assume that since Zimmerman had more than $130,000 in cash and a second passport, he might try to flee the U.S. to avoid prosecution.


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-released-florida-jail/story?id=16727196

[onehandle]

1. Gun culture helping out one of their own. nt

[BlueCaliDem]

51. Yep. The NRA and ALEC must be popping open a bottle of bubbly. eom

[Lint Head]

2. Getting away with murder seems to be the new reality.

Politicians do it and private citizens do it. All you need is money.

[naaman fletcher]

4. how is he getting away with murder?

The trial hasn't happened yet.

[naaman fletcher]

16. I understand and agree

that it was outrageous he wasn't charged right away.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Those fucking goons ALWAYS get away.

Zimmerman was right. Who would have guessed?

[sinkingfeeling]

5. So if he does run to avoid the trial, only those anonymous donors will

get stung. Wonder where the rest of the collateral came from?

[slackmaster]

8. Bail bond companies assume a share of the risk. That's what they are paid to do.

Typically about 90%. The bailee pays a non-refundable fee up front, either cash or a lien on property.

[magical thyme]

17. from what I read it will be a lot harder for him to run this time

The judge said outright that he believes Zimmie was planning to run.

He now is under curfew, is wearing a monitoring device, has to report into the court every 48 hours, can't open a bank account, can't leave the state, etc. And of course he no longer has his passport.

It's too bad they let him out on any bail, but at least now the bail is more appropriate and the judge has a good idea of what he's dealing with. And, of course, his credibility is shot to hell and his SYG defense is based entirely on his credibility.

So I'm hopeful he'll get a fair trial and certain that he'll get some form of justice. Time will tell whether it's court justice or street justice....

[jody]

18. "no longer has his passport"! We have perhaps 15 million who came in without visa and passport and

you really believe taking his passport will prevent him from leaving?

[Travis_0004]

53. I do

Zimmerman wasn't arrested for a few months after the shooting. He didn't run in that time. He was out on the first bail for a while and didn't run then. I would say its reasonable to expect that he will show up to trial.

Also, people are entitled to bail, and a fair trial. Without specific evidence that he is a flight risk, he should have the opportunity to get out on bail.

[magical thyme]

55. there is specific evidence that he is a flight risk

not only in lying about the money and hiding the passport, but certain details of the conversation with Mrs. Zimmy pointed that way.

However, he no longer has the money or passport, is wearing a monitor, has to report in, etc. So running is a lot harder now than it was then. And he has proven himself stupid enough that if he does try to run, he'll likely get caught.

[IamK]

6. Probably some of those "innocent until proven guilty" bastards helping him out... n/t

[jeepnstein]

11. Yeah, and what's up with him getting a trial?

Sounds like some kind of conspiracy to me.

[IamK]

21. guess you think Hispanics don't get a trial in the US? n/t

[Scootaloo]

26. After Zimmerman defied police orders. After Zimmerman got out of his car

After Zimmerman chased down Trayvon while armed.

Some people will spare no expense to justify the murder of a black child, it seems.

[cstanleytech]

28. Partly true, Zimmerman did go out armed against the orders of the police.

As for the rest? *shrug* I wasnt there nor as far as I can tell was anyone else here in this thread so its a bit presumptuous to be making the call on if this is a case of self defense or murder though it certainly doesnt help Zimmermans case that he is a known liar now as well as the fact that he didnt obey the police and he followed Martin.

[Scootaloo]

29. I wasn't on the Titanic, but I have a pretty good idea what happened. n/t

[cstanleytech]

31. Yes, it sunk. nt

[Suji to Seoul]

33. We weren't there when most murders occur. What's your point?

But when the evidence points toward one person being ultimately responsible, the rest really becomes moot and irrelevant.

[cstanleytech]

39. The point is thats what a jury is for, to listen to the evidence and decide if it was self defense

or if it was murder.

[Suji to Seoul]

45. a fist fight is grounds to us lethal force? could i have shot my bullies who beat me up in middle

school? i would be tried for murder.

this is not self-defense grounds for lethal force, especially when the opponent is armed and dangerous with skittles and iced tea

[cstanleytech]

56. True, he did go against what the police told him to do

and thats going to be hard for him to explain to a jury imo.

[cstanleytech]

57. Yes, it can be grounds if you believe your life to be in danger though the jury might not agree

with you but in this specific case its not looking good as a defense for Zimmerman in light of the fact that he went out armed to follow the kid after the police told him to stay put.

[cstanleytech]

61. Point you and others are missing still bupkus is

thats why we have things called trials with juries.
I am not arguing against your belief, I share it in fact but I am arguing for our legal system which is setup the way it is to prevent and or atleast reduce the chances of someone innocent being convicted for a crime.

[cstanleytech]

63. No, he isnt guilty

of anything until the jury in a court decides he is.
As for the smokescreen you tried there with your 2nd question, the system is the system, if your unhappy with then change it to one that would make you happier say....................guilty until proven innocent?

[Suji to Seoul]

66. Yes it does include making excuses. You don't see the important variable.

Remember, the murdered kid was black. He was in a suburban neighbor. He was wearing a hoodie. He was obvious up to no good. CASE CLOSED. NOT GUILTY!!!

The only reason Zimmerman gets any of this defense from people is because Trayvon was black. Switch the races and NO ONE WOULD CARE except to crucify the "gangsta rap listening, drug dealing ghetto thug."

(massive sarcasm)

[cstanleytech]

67. Thats what its sounding like you want.

And a trial before a jury incase you were unaware isnt about justice solely for zimmerman but for both the person who was hurt and the person that hurt them as well.
Maybe they will not find Zimmerman guilty, maybe they will but we will have to wait and see and as for the delay in arresting zimmerman that has zero to do with the trial or zimmermans guilt or innocence but rather the police force.

[cstanleytech]

71. I am not spreading any lies I am pointing out a fact which is zimmerman

like everyone else is entitled to a trial before a jury, thats a fact.
Now personally I think he is guilty of manslaughter at the very least because he disobeyed the police and decided to go out armed and because he then lied to the judge about how much money he had at his first bond hearing but then thats my opinion and its why I would make a poor juror as I would probably vote to convict.

[PavePusher]

44. No such order was given.

There's plenty here to be upset about, you don't need to make stuff up.

[FarPoint]

52. Well said....excellent, simple and factual.

Damn.. You sure get straight to the point. Thank You!

[Suji to Seoul]

32. Do you have evidence of that other than Zimmerman's self serving words that have been

proven to be lies by the tangible evidence collected?

Way to smear the victim of murder. Next time a rapist rapes some girl, be sure to blame the short skirt. . .like Bill O'Reilly did a few years ago!

Disgusting.

[permatex]

58. Let me see if I understand what your saying

and if I'm wrong, please correct, are you saying that he doesn't deserve a fair trial because he killed Trayvon Martin?

[awoke_in_2003]

20. well, in the US...

you are assumed innocent until proven guilty. He has a right to a trial, even though he is a fuck head.

[awoke_in_2003]

27. well, then...

let us just start stringing every mother fucker we think is guilty at the nearest tree. Fuck it, it ain't worth the hassle.

[awoke_in_2003]

46. "I don't see Zimmerman swinging from a tree"...

no, it isn't. I was just taking what you said a bit further. Whether you like it or not, the man must face a trial and convicted before we can start talking about executing him (I am anti-death penalty, by the way). Yes, a teenage boy is dead for doing nothing. If a jury says Zimmerman did it, then he will be punished. We can not forego the law in certain situations.

[cstanleytech]

64. Actually there isnt any doubt that Zimmerman did it.

Zimmerman is going to have to prove to the jury though that he had a good reason for it such as self defense which is going to be hard for him to do if he doesnt testify and if he testifies then the prosecution will I assume ask him why he disobeyed the police and followed Martin and they may also ask him why did he lie under oath during his bond hearing about the money in that bank account he had and why did he also try to hide said money by transferring it.
When its all said and done I dont envy his lawyer one bit.

[awoke_in_2003]

68. Yeah, I was just getting frustrated...

Like it or not, the jackass gets a trial. The person I was responding to wasn't getting that.

[cstanleytech]

69. Same issue here up the thread a bit. nt

[Sirveri]

34. Your rant would make more sense if Zimmerman was a law enforcement officer.

He wasn't, just another sociopath who thinks it's OK to screw with other people and assault them, like hundreds of other folks have done and gone to jail for.

[LittleGirl]

7. This! Really...

ticks me off. Who paid his bond?

[slackmaster]

9. Probably a bail bond company.

HTH

[lobodons]

10. Zimmermaqn is now handicapped?

So now Zimmerman is claiming to be handicapped too? (watch entire video to the end)

[amuse bouche]

12. Handicapped?

I bet he tries to get on disability. That would be a travesty

[SoFlaJet]

40. He better hope he doesn't end up behind bars

Because the brothers WILL fuck him up bigtime, and if he isn't handicapped already he most certainly will be after he hits the general population-IF he even survives...that's just the fact of the matter folks

[Ian David]

15. I'll bet you a dollar he does something stupid while he's out on bond and gets in more trouble. n/t

[beac]

19. That's one bet you are guaranteed to win. n/t

[joshcryer]

25. Agree with beac, easy money.

[cstanleytech]

30. I wouldnt take you up on that bet because I think you may well be right.

After all he has proven himself to be stupid when he lied about that money and tried to hide it from the court as well as the 2nd passport.

[primavera]

38. He'd better be careful while out on bail

He's got an awful lot of people pissed off at him. I can't help but wonder at the kind of pressure the DA's office must be under to convict Zimmerman. If they fail to hold him accountable for his crime, the public will not be pleased and some may even wish to seek justice through more direct means.

[tawadi]

41. Wonder if he'll try to run

Seems like the type who wouldn't stick around for a trial.

[slackmaster]

42. With that much money at risk, the bail bond company will make sure he doesn't miss any court dates

You can be sure they have a couple of bounty hunters watching his every move.

[flamingdem]

43. It's unacceptable that he's made money off of this tragedy

He shouldn't be allowed to keep money made off of the death of a teenager

[Bo]

47. Where is this poor bastard fleeing to? same place Scott Peterson was? lolololol

....and justice for all

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

50. Yeah, right. Who fucking paid it??!?! My guess: It begins with an "N" and ends with an "A"

[TBF]

60. Yup, he's their new poster boy. nt

[2Design]

54. danger to society - stalked someone and murdered them - does not belong on the street