Judge grants $150K bail for George Zimmerman

George Zimmerman appears before Circuit Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. Friday, April 20, 2012, during a bond hearing in Sanford, Fla. Lester says Zimmerman can be released on $150,000 bail as he awaits trial for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Martin. He claims self-defense. / AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Gary W. Green

Last Updated 11:45 a.m. ET

(CBS News) SANFORD, Fla. - A judge granted bail for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, but would not allow his release Friday, citing further discussions needed about the terms, including whether or not he would be allowed out of state.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester also said that Zimmerman must not have any contact with the victim's family; must wear an ankle monitoring bracelet; and adhere to a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. The judge's order also states that Zimmerman cannot be in possession of firearms and must not consume alcohol or controlled substances.

Taking the stand during the hearing at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, Zimmerman addressed the parents of Martin, who were seated in court: "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 to Martin's parents: "I'm sorry"

Zimmerman said he had made a similar statement to police. "I was told not to communicate with [Martin's parents]," he said. "I did ask [my attorneys] to express that to them."

Zimmerman, 28, has been behind bars since his arrest nine days ago. he is charged with second-degree murder.

His attorney, Mark O'Mara, asked the judge to let him out of jail while he awaits trial. His attorney also asked the judge to allow 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 regarding the fatal Feb. 26 encounter.

Martin's parents were in the courtroom, coming face-to-face with their son's killer for the first time. They wept at news of the bond.

After the hearing, Martin family attorney Ben Crump said Martin's parents were "very outraged" at the results of the hearing.

"It was devastating that [Zimmerman] got to give a self-serving apology to help get him a bond," Crump said. "Why is everybody protecting George Zimmerman?"

Zimmerman, Martin's parents to face off in court
Zimmerman's safety a concern if new judge grants bail
Strength of case against Zimmerman questioned

Zimmerman surrendered his passport, according to his attorney.

State prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda, 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, Shellie 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.

The mother of Trayvon Martin, Sybrina Fulton (left), and attorney Benjamin Crump arrive at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center for a bond hearing for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with murdering Trayvon Martin, Friday, April 20, 2012, in Sanford, Fla.

/ AP Photo/John Raoux

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 Gilbreath, 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.

Gilbreith 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."

[audemus]

Bail is our system. Being innocent until proven guilty is also our system. Being charged with a crime only because of a very loud and vocal public reaction should not be, but unfortunately in this case is, our system.

[ugacrew]

Circumventing the usual process because of a very few who seek to obstruct justice should not be a part of the process either, "but unfortunately in this case, it was."

[ugacrew]

Did you really expect me to list them all...here on one post? How logical is that?

I feel certain that of the few I listed, you may have had little or no knowledge of.

If you take time and read those, you may be guided to additional resources.

[occupy_cbs]

smittyc: "Z has a witness....That witnesses testimony is damning."




Are you 'trying' to say that the Special Prosecutor's investigation team did not interview this "secret" witness, before they had zimmerman arrested for 2nd degree murder?

More of your usual conjecture and speculation, like all your posts!

[occupy_cbs]

"The special prosecutor made it very clear, she does not recognize Florida's SYG law."



Not true at all, but what we've come to expect from the peanut gallery of fox/rush parrots.

The Special Prosecutor definitely recognizes all FL laws, but just didn't recognize the SYG defense from zimmerman in this case, since it was clear to her and to the homicide detectives, that zimmerman was clearly in pursuit of an innocent teenager after being told not to pursue him, only because he "looked suspicious" but hadn't committed any crimes at all. It's obvious that zimmerman has had a storied past with assaults and is the clear aggressor in this case -- making the FL SYG law a moot point!

Your conjecture and speculation is overwhelming your 'thinking'.

[occupy_cbs]

smittyc: "Jackson, Sharpton Obama seized on this situation because Z who is hispanic has a white name."



Don't you fox/rush parrots ever get tired of your history revision or your endless need for the same scapegoats?

Public outcry from coast to coast came from an innocent teenager being murdered, and the local authorities that have been battling corruption and racism for years, were caught with their pants down around their ankles, giving the governor no choice but to appoint an outside investigation and an examination of the FL SYG law.

[occupy_cbs]

smittyc: "Who does Sharpton, Jackson Obama and the national media"



There you go again....typical fox/rush parrot using 4 scapegoats in one short sentence, since had it not been for leaders like Sharpton, leading public outrage against this murder of an innocent teenager, the republican governor probably wouldn't have stepped in to appoint a tenacious republican Special Prosecutor in order to make a thorough investigation of the facts and evidence, nor appointed a 17-member task force to examine the NRA/ALEC's "stand your ground" license to murder!

I just love how the constipated conservatives have to continue to use so many scapegoats, just like they have in the southern states since the Civil WAR, in order to blame "someone" for all their problems!

[occupy_cbs]

The funniest part about your rant, is the need for the fox/rush parrots to blame President Obama for making an innocent remark about the murdered teenager, but this can be expected in an election year by highly-partisan republicans just needing to attack everything that our President says or does. I'm sure that frank luntz would be very proud of you and your ilk!

[occupy_cbs]

smittyc: "The U.S. was one of the first nations to do away with slavery."



Typical conservative missing the entire point of the original post, since it's not the point of slavery or ending slavery, but exactly what has happened since the Civil WAR and the ratification of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.

[occupy_cbs]

Throughout the late 19th century racial tension grew throughout the United States. More of this tension was noticeable in the Southern parts of the United States. In the south, people were blaming their financial problems on the newly freed slaves that lived around them. Lynchings were becoming a popular way of resolving some of the anger that whites had in relation to the free blacks.

From 1882-1968, 4,743 lynchings occurred in the United States. Of these people that were lynched 3,446 were black. The blacks lynched accounted for 72.7% of the people lynched. These numbers seem large, but it is known that not all of the lynchings were ever recorded. Out of the 4,743 people lynched only 1,297 white people were lynched. That is only 27.3%. Many of the whites lynched were lynched for helping the black or being anti lynching and even for domestic crimes.

[smittyc]

The era of reconstruction brought this about. The North placed blacks in the South in all political positions without the voting process. Further the hangings you speak of were global at that time in history and even today are quite common in South and Central America, Africa and the Middle East. Overall the West and the United States has been the first in modifying its behavior. Today, nothing has changed, the blacks that make up 13% of the U.S. population account for over 50% of the murders nationwide, however there is no public outcry because most of those murdered by them are other blacks. Jackson, Sharpton Obama seized on this situation because Z who is hispanic has a white name. There goal is to continue to martyr the blacks in a white society. It is rather unjust, after doing away with slavery, we gave them all welfare where they don't have to work for a living, get free housing, medical, food stamps and free college while everyone else has to hold a job. Furthermore as far as lynching, the blacks had it down to an art, when Haiti became independent every single white was hung from a tree and that was thousands more then you show in your whole history. There were four or five French whites hanging from every tree in Haiti from the capital to the ocean port where the French fled to escape. Haiti's history shows what can be expected for the whites in America if the blacks every take over.

[themancantalk]

living here in your country America i try to read your history to better get to know true America. history book after book i read.There was some nasty low down unthinkable things that white people done to the blacks in America. things that you couldn't be a human being and do. for that race to call their selves human is a disgrace to all other races on the earth. NO RACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD HIS STOOP LOWER THAN THIS IN AMERICA. AND READING YOU COMMENTS IN THIS ARTICLE THE APPLES DON'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE. oh you say this is 2012 things have change, WHERE AND HOW HAS IT? WHAT TIME SINCE YOU BEEN A NATION THAT BLACK PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO RIOT AND MARCH TO GET JUSTICE IN THE SAME COUNTRY AS WHITES. TELL ME AND I KNOW YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY BETTER THAN ME. I'm not on no sides,i am just here in your country but,don't get mad with me, this is the history you all made for your self. LIKE IT OR NOT IT IS YOUR HISTORY.

[smittyc]

The U.S. was one of the first nations to do away with slavery. Slavery existed in Africa before the U.S. existed and existed long after the white Americans freed the slaves. Further, the West stamped out slavery globally, not black Africa and that included stamping out slavery in Africa.

[occupy_cbs]

Yes, there have been some very bad incidents and continuing behavior by Americans more interested in greed and power than civil rights for all that was supposed to be guaranteed by Our Constitution, several Amendments and the 1965 Civil Rights Act, that southern conservatives are still fighting today!

[Onmyjobke]

So there is evidence that the statement Zimmerman gave police about that night was untrue. Interesting... Can't wait to find out what it is.

Zimmerman and his family have been giving lots of contradictory statements, which is an indication that everyone is getting a different story about that night. His family is in denial or trying to help him cover up.

His wife knows of his past assault cases, but she says he's never been a violent person. In one case Zimmerman said he was defending himself and in the other case he says he didn't know the guy was a police officer. Sounds similar to his excuses now. He was defending himself and didn't know how old Trayvon was.

[occupy_cbs]

Yes, according to the homicide detectives, the evidence from the scene completely contradicts zimmerman's story, and the fact remains that the BIG DOGS wouldn't allow Chris Servino to arrest him that night for manslaughter, nor test his BAC like they did to the victim.

[smittyc]

Z has a witness who corroborated that TM was beating him and that statement was taken before the Martins supposedly initiated a lawsuit against Z and the homeowners of the community. That witnesses testimony is damning. Overall the clincher for me was Z called the cops, if I had been TM and saw Z following me, I would have called the cops even though I felt I could have handled Z. Overall if they have "new' evidence and Z did something wrong, I don't have a problem but based on what is out there now, Corey and the cop have nothing but summary and conjecture and nothing to back it up with and my assessment is they are desperate. As far as Z previous history, everything was dismissed. I expect the same outcome here.

[occupy_cbs]

smittyc: "Those of us who believe Z are racist."



While zimmerman definitely profiled the innocent black teenager which led to his murder, it remains to be seen whether or not he or his followers like sean hannity, are indeed racist.

The fact still remains that Chris Serino, the lead homicide detective wanted to arrest georgie for manslaughter the night of the murder, and the testimony of the detective at the bail hearing, has indeed shown that the evidence contradicts zimmerman's story. Neither the Sanford police nor the state Special Prosecutor think that georgie has been telling the truth, but he does deserve his day in court.

Public opinion cannot convict nor exonerate zimmerman, and most of the posts here are pure conjecture and speculation, not based on any of the known facts or evidence in the case!

[smittyc]

The rest of the story. The prosecuting attorney said there was not enough evidence for an arrest and that was before he knew about the pictures of Z bloody head and the xrays that showed Z had a busted nose. Bottom line, they are getting a political trial and not even the judges want anything to do with it. Gov Scott chose Corey as prosecuting attorney because politically she has no risk of losing her job. Overall, a trial won't change anything, there is no one in the U.S. that has not had a confrontational experience with them. Who does Sharpton, Jackson Obama and the national media think they are kidding. In summary, the national media does not recognize the local news that comes out everyday or grasp the ridicule they receive with their headlines that are contradicted nationwide on a daily basis by the behaviors of them in the schools and on the streets.

[occupy_cbs]

Rest of the story.....the original state prosecutor did indeed make that wrong decision, and was forced to step down for his indiscretion, just like the Sanford Police Chief, only on the job for 10 months, in a city that's had a very bad reputation for racial problems and a corrupt police department!

You and your fox/rush parrots can call this political all you want, and most of your posts are nothing but continuous conjecture and speculation like your buddy sean hannity's need for emotional rants, but the fact still remains that it was a republican governor that appointed a republican Special Prosecutor to find the TRUTH, as well as a 17-member "Citizen Safety and Protection" task force to examine the Florida "Stand Your Ground" law by the NRA and ALEC!

[smittyc]

Well it has become a media circus that's for sure. Those of us who believe Z are racist. Meantime the NEW black panthers will probably kill Z for the ten thousand bounty. What all of this should tell everybody is stay away from them.