Florida Judge Kenneth R. Lester on Thursday set a $1 million bond with new restrictions on George Zimmerman, the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman charged with murder in the second degree for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26, in Sanford, Florida. Judge Lester also believes Zimmerman may have been planning to flee the country to avoid prosecution in the death of Martin and that his deceit over cash holdings at his first bond hearing was not enough to hold him without bail.
The order said, “This court has, thus far, declined to exercise its contempt powers and the state failed to prove that the defendant may be held without bond.” In order for Zimmerman to meet the bail, he will have to post 10 percent of the million dollar bond, or $100,000. Donations to the 28-year-old’s legal defense fund have fallen significantly while Zimmerman has been jailed, according to his defense attorney Mark O’Mara. “Supporters have told us they were concerned that the court would set such a high bond that getting George out of jail could risk wiping out the entire defense account. It appears that they were right. However, George needs an aggressive defense and to help with that he also needs to be out of jail with his wife and family assisting his legal team,” O’Mara said.
