George Zimmerman released from Florida jail on $150,000 bail in Trayvon Martin murder case

George Zimmerman, left, walks out of the intake building at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility with an unidentified man on Sunday, April 22, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. / AP Photo

Updated at 3:11 a.m. ET

(AP) SANFORD, Fla. - In an unusually low-key turn to a high-profile case, George Zimmerman was released without incident around midnight Sunday from a Florida county jail on $150,000 bail as he awaits his second-degree murder trial for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin.

The neighborhood watch volunteer was wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans and carrying a paper bag. He walked out following another man and didn't look over at photographers gathered outside. He then followed the man into a white BMW vehicle and drove away.

Moments before, two Seminole County sheriff's vehicles blocked access to the intake building parking lot where Zimmerman was being released. Zimmerman emerged after two public information officers confirmed the credentials of the photographers outside.

No questions were shouted at Zimmerman, and he gave no statement.

His ultimate destination is being kept secret for his safety and it could be outside Florida.

Special Section: Trayvon Martin Shooting
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As with the July 2011 release of Casey Anthony, the Florida woman acquitted of murder in the death of her daughter, Zimmerman was released around midnight. But the similarities end there. Anthony was quickly whisked away by deputy sheriffs armed with semi-automatic rifles as angry protesters jeered her. While news helicopters briefly tracked her SUV through Orlando before she slipped from public view, there was no such pursuit of Zimmerman, who will have to return for trial.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said at a hearing Friday that Zimmerman cannot have any guns and must observe a 7 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew. Zimmerman also surrendered his passport.

Zimmerman had to put up 10 percent, or $15,000, to make bail. His father had indicated he might take out a second mortgage.

Zimmerman worked at a mortgage risk-management company at the time of the shooting and his wife is in nursing school. A website was set up to collect donations for Zimmerman's defense fund. It is unclear how much has been raised.

Bail is not unheard of in second-degree murder cases, and legal experts had predicted it would be granted for Zimmerman because of his ties to the community, because he turned himself in after he was charged last week, and because he has never been convicted of a serious crime.

Prosecutors had asked for $1 million bail, citing two previous scrapes Zimmerman had with the law, neither of which resulted in charges. In 2005, he had to take anger management courses after he was accused of attacking an undercover officer who was trying to arrest Zimmerman's friend. In another incident, a girlfriend accused him of attacking her.

Zimmerman, 28, fatally shot Martin, 17, Feb. 26 inside the gated community where Zimmerman lived during an altercation. Martin was unarmed and was walking back to the home of his father's fiancee when Zimmerman saw him, called 911 and began following him. A fight broke out — investigators say it is unknown who started it.

Zimmerman says Martin, who was visiting from Miami, attacked him. Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense, citing Florida's "stand your ground" law, which gives broad legal protection to anyone who says they used deadly force because they feared death or great bodily harm.

Zimmerman was not charged for over six weeks, sparking national protests led by Martin's parents, civil rights groups and the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Martin was black; Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is from Peru.

Earlier Sunday, Zimmerman's attorney was working to secure the money for bail and a safe place for Zimmerman to stay. But residents in Sanford, where Martin was killed, didn't expect a ruckus once Zimmerman was released.

City commissioners said they hadn't received calls from nervous residents. Protesters didn't show up outside the jail. And talk at one local coffee shop seldom focused on the case.

"It's just kind of a non-issue now," said Michele Church, a server at Mel's Family Diner. "That's pretty much all anybody in Sanford wanted, was an arrest, so it could be sorted out in the court system."

On Friday, a Florida judge agreed to let Zimmerman out on $150,000 bail. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara has said there are several options for where Zimmerman should go, but would not disclose any of them. Lester on Friday indicated Zimmerman would be allowed to leave the state if arrangements with law enforcement could be made for him to be monitored. He will be fitted with an electronic device.

About a half-dozen photographers and cameramen camped outside the Sanford jail Sunday, focused on the door marked "Bonds Rooms," where other people who had been arrested and released on bail exited. Zimmerman had entered the jail about a week earlier after more than a month of nationwide protests calling for his arrest.

"The mood in Sanford has calmed down tremendously," said Sanford Commissioner Patty Mahany, whose district includes the neighborhood where Martin was killed. "I think now that people are able to see the justice system taking place, even though they understand it's going to be quite slow, people are willing to just remain calm and really we're all getting back to our daily routines."

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[AOCGUY]

by train99 April 23, 2012 4:38 AM EDT
Now, when you first glanced at the picture for this story, how many of you thought Zimmerman was the burly guy in front? Then realized, right, he's the not-much-of-a fighter looking guy following behind.
I don't know, but it's not hard to imagine Trayvon Martin thinking he could beat the crap out of GZ. Just sayin'.

You know many years ago wrestling promoter Bobby Heenan moved into my neighborhood and I thought he was the biggest man I had ever seen until I saw him on TV with Hulk Hogan. My point being that seeing Zimmerman next to a very large policeman doesn't mean tha Zimmerman isnt a large man as well, he just isnt the largest man in the world.

[ugacrew]

You don't know how much weight he lost while he was in hiding.

[smittyc]

The bond hearing did not include Zimmerman's bloody head injuries being presented by special prosecutor Corey's assistants. That was a foolish move by the prosecutor. The justice systems job is to be just, not win a case. If there are truly xrays of Zimmerman with a broken nose, that information coupled with Z head injuries, and there being no marks on TM according to the funeral director indicates TM did attacked Z. What would Sharpton or Jackson or even TM dad have done under similar circumstances?

[reality_sanity]

The prosecutor is an advocate for the victim and the people of the community. George has his own defense attorneys. The judge is supposed to be neutral.

[reality_sanity]

Under your SYG law in Florida Trayvon already established George as a threatening pursuer and even retreated from George. George's continued pursuit cornering Trayvon left Trayvon with one option -- lethal violence against an armed threatening pursuer. George does not get to claim self-defense after provoking a confrontation multiple times.

[rockychance]

The TRUTH is now coming to light and people are starting to see that all the race baiters in politics, the media and self appointed, purveyors of snake oil religion have caused great harm to our nation.

[reality_sanity]

by boocbsboooooooooo April 23, 2012 4:36 AM EDT
Total silence from the race baiters when Marion Hedges had a shopping cart thrown on her. Silence.. Total silence..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP05ABs9QlY


---------


What need was there to protest the police investigated and acted in accordance to the law? Currently even Republicans in Florida agree Sanford DID NOT DO THE same in the Zimmerman-Martin case. The police Chief stepped down the Original Prosecutor recused himself after the authors of Florida's SYG statute chastised both of them for misinterpreting the law.

[smittyc]

The Chief and the first prosecutor stepped aside to let things cool down. Currently Gov Rick Scott is getting the heat over his handling of Z, he will not serve another term. Corey's political career is ending as well, the pic of Z bloody head not being provided to the judge by the prosecution, but rather through the news is evidence tampering. I personally don't have aproblem either way, if Z did something, get him, if he didn't, don't make things up. That is what has been going on from the start by the media, Sharpton and Jackson. There is no race card here, Z is clearly hispanic, not white and I was surprised when I saw his pic when this article first broke. Worse TM face book page broke in headlines in Europe and was not addressed by American media indicating sensationalism by our media. Overall it is political pressure brought by Jackson and Sharpton at the behest of the Martin family, not poor police work by Sanford. Gov Scott, the Sanford Mayor and the city managers jumped on the bandwagon due to politicl pressure to protect their voting base. They have showed themselves as a bunch of political prostitutes quite obviously due to discovery as the facts appear to dribble out.

[reality_sanity]

We get the point smitty -- you believe the elected Republicans in the State of Florida are ill suited to serve in their elected positions. Do you plan on electing Democrats to replace them?

[andie52]

George is an angry man who would have shot or maimed someone at some point in his so called "neighborhood watch patrol" it's too bad he couldn't have been stopped years ago.

[smittyc]

I honestly believe the next court appearance will result in the case being thrown out. The reason is obvious, it appears Z story was true, TM attacked him. Z could also walk away a rich man, the altering of the 911 tapes by the media was irresponsible.

[reality_sanity]

Smitty face facts even the defense attorneys did not believe they could win a motion to drop the charges; BECAUSE they never submitted one to the court. Even the defense knows they have problems to overcome in this case.

[mick7744]

I believe George Zimmerman has done all the jail time that he's ever gong to do...unless he makes another series of really bad decisions.

I believe that all questions regarding the outcome of this case and of Zimmerman's fate have already been decided...in private...and I very much doubt that they'll take the chance of a jury messing up their well-laid plans...so decision #1...NO TRIAL

What remains is for the fixers to figure out how best to implement those decisions with the least amount of fallout

That's why the money is so good for lawyers like Mr O'Mara (who really IS paying him, anyway?)

REALLY good attorneys spend very little of their time pleading their clients' cases in court...

REALLY good attorneys know that it's much better to avoid going to court altogether...by making deals.

[David_Tampa]

Hey this may work out well for Florida....or not. There is a little problem when one group is threatening another. Please all of you angry people do not confuse Florida with LA. Please do not start any crap here. WHY because you will lose terribly badly, and I don't want to be a part of cleaning up the mess. (See Homs, Syria)

[train99]

Now, when you first glanced at the picture for this story, how many of you thought Zimmerman was the burly guy in front? Then realized, right, he's the not-much-of-a fighter looking guy following behind.
I don't know, but it's not hard to imagine Trayvon Martin thinking he could beat the crap out of GZ. Just sayin'.

[yyytttttuu]

Because Zimmerman rather use a gun than to fight which ended Martins life

[skeezix06]

Think about the fact that Martin weighed 50 to 100 lbs. less than Zimmerman and you will understand that Martin was not the aggressor.

[JUSTICE4TRAYVON2]

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL. DO YOU THINK THAT HE WILL BE CONVICTED OF THE MURDER OF TRAYVON MARTIN?

JOIN JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON MARTIN GROUP
http://www.facebook.com/groups/TRAYVONMARTIN


VISIT THE JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON MARTIN PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/JUSTICEFORTRAVON2

[David_Tampa]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/28/justice/florida-tourists-murder-trial/index.html?iref=obinsite

[David_Tampa]

your caps lock is stuck

[tlando]

All of you jumping to conclusions before the trial is even held and already have him executed and on death row are acting exactly the way he did!! What a bunch of morons...oh we're going to riot blah blah blah...because what is that going to do but cause more violence what a bunch of idiots! Condoning violence while speaking about how cruel it is really??? No one was there that night, no one knows what happened so don't judge before you have all the facts. Everyone wanted to hunt him down just like he was told not to hunt this kid!!

[mdddi]

Exactly well said