George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting of an unarmed black teenager, was released on $1 million bond Friday.
It marked the second time Zimmerman was released from jail since his arrest in connection with the Feb. 26 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Zimmerman's previous $150,000 bond was revoked after prosecutors presented evidence that he had misled the court about his finances.
Judge Kenneth Lester set Zimmerman's bail on Thursday in a scathing order that restricted his travel to within Seminole County, subjected him to a curfew, barred him from the local airport and required him to wear an electronic monitoring device, according to a copy of the ruling obtained by The Times. He is also not allowed to apply for a passport or to drink alcohol.
In the order, the judge noted that he raised Zimmerman's bail due to overwhelming evidence that Zimmerman had intended to flee prosecution.
"It is entirely reasonable for this court to find that, but for the requirement that he be placed on electronic monitoring, the defendant and his wife would have fled the United States with at least $130,000 of other people's money," Lester wrote.
Zimmerman, 28, left Seminole County jail Friday wearing a white dress shirt and a jacket, according to the Associated Press.
His lawyers said that he was able to post bond with help from $20,000 in donations to their client's defense fund and that they've appealed for further support, according to Zimmerman's website.
"Mr. Zimmerman’s security team has established a safe house where he can stay until a more permanent secure location can be established," the defense team wrote, noting that after their client's release, "we will change our focus from securing bond to the defense of the charges against him."
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, saying that the shooting was self-defense under the state's "stand your ground" law.
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It marked the second time Zimmerman was released from jail since his arrest in connection with the Feb. 26 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Zimmerman's previous $150,000 bond was revoked after prosecutors presented evidence that he had misled the court about his finances.
Judge Kenneth Lester set Zimmerman's bail on Thursday in a scathing order that restricted his travel to within Seminole County, subjected him to a curfew, barred him from the local airport and required him to wear an electronic monitoring device, according to a copy of the ruling obtained by The Times. He is also not allowed to apply for a passport or to drink alcohol.
In the order, the judge noted that he raised Zimmerman's bail due to overwhelming evidence that Zimmerman had intended to flee prosecution.
"It is entirely reasonable for this court to find that, but for the requirement that he be placed on electronic monitoring, the defendant and his wife would have fled the United States with at least $130,000 of other people's money," Lester wrote.
Zimmerman, 28, left Seminole County jail Friday wearing a white dress shirt and a jacket, according to the Associated Press.
His lawyers said that he was able to post bond with help from $20,000 in donations to their client's defense fund and that they've appealed for further support, according to Zimmerman's website.
"Mr. Zimmerman’s security team has established a safe house where he can stay until a more permanent secure location can be established," the defense team wrote, noting that after their client's release, "we will change our focus from securing bond to the defense of the charges against him."
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, saying that the shooting was self-defense under the state's "stand your ground" law.
ALSO:
Summer danger: Bristles from grill-cleaning brushes
Naked carjacker tale: Crash car, strip, steal car, crash car ...
Lou Gehrig baseball is nice, student debt isn't: Start the auction
Join Molly on Google+ and Twitter @mollyhf. Email: [email protected]