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August 24, 2012 12:34 PM

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George Zimmerman judge lets Trayvon Martin murder suspect leave county to meet with lawyers

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

George Zimmerman, left, and attorney Don West appear before Circuit Judge Kenneth R. Lester, Jr. Friday, June 29, 2012

/ AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Joe Burbank

(CBS/AP) SANFORD, Fla. - A judge ruled Friday that George Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer charged in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, can leave the county where he lives so he can meet with his attorneys.

Pictures: George Zimmerman faces murder charge

Judge Kenneth Lester adjusted George Zimmerman's bond terms so that he could have easier access to his lawyers. The terms of Zimmerman's $1 million bond had required him to stay within Seminole County, reports CBS Miami.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of the 17-year-old Martin on Feb. 26, 2012. He'll now be allowed to travel to nearby Orange County, where the offices of his attorneys are located. Any other movement will require he provide a detailed itinerary for continued GPS monitoring.

Lester also says he'll review Zimmerman's medical records to determine whether the defense must turn them over to prosecutors.

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty. He claims he acted in self-defense.

Complete coverage of the Trayvon Martin case on CBS News

26 Photos

George Zimmerman faces murder charges

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by planb4 August 29, 2012 9:18 PM EDT: hung jury....hung jury.....hung jury....any questions? 12 out of 12 will never happen; Reply to this comment


by DevoutPlayerhater August 29, 2012 7:53 PM EDT: Now that GZ got his wish for a New Judge; we don't want to hear him complain that the Judge was bias when his so-called 'self-defense' claim is denied and he is still convicted and sentenced to life in prison. At least he will NOT have an issue for trial on the account of complaining that the judge was bias. Now that there is a new judge being assigned the prosecutor can now FREELY charge him with perjury and everything else flowing from the fact that he committed a crime before Judge Lester.

Although the Petition for Recusal was granted; however, one Judge dissented meaning he disagreed with the grant of George Zimmerman's petition. Judge EVANDER, J., stated in a dissenting opinion, "I respectfully dissent. As the majority correctly observes, adverse rulings are not, in and of themselves, sufficient to require the granting of a motion to disqualify. Although the trial court's order clearly manifested an exceedingly strong belief by the trial judge that Zimmerman had "flouted" and "tried to manipulate" the system, I do not believe the order "crossed the line" so as to require the granting of his motion."

Bottom line is GZ can not ask for a THIRD judge when things are not going his way. The next Judge might be even harsher than Judge Lester.; Reply to this comment


by DenverBroncofan August 27, 2012 10:12 AM EDT: Thank you George for eliminating one more thug. You possibly just saved countless other lives from Travon's path of destruction.; Reply to this comment

by bmhay1 August 24, 2012 4:57 PM EDT

Geez Judge Lester, if a guys gotta work, he has gotta work! Let him move where he needs to move, just so you approve of the place and know where he is at. Not so sure Prisoner's Dilemma 2.0 is going to work for GZ, as planned. My pendulum says he will be found guilty of murder, but will not go to prison. Hmmm, should he flee, I'm sure the Black Panthers will go after him, or maybe Dog the Bounty Hunter is more to his liking, or America's Most Wanted, In any event, Justice for Trayvon!

Perhaps most recent medical records are most relevant to GZ's case, but I would want to see his records back to his childhood, because, "there IS something up with this guy!" LOL. Afterall, GZ's school records, work records, character references, both positive/negative, police records, his own actions all sum up to his present day character.

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by ReckonedTruth August 26, 2012 7:54 AM EDT: the perils of being accused and charged with 2nd degree murder..you SHOULD NOT have the FREEDOM..

..is it normal for those accused/charged with 2nd degree murder in america to go free and do whatever? Most accused of 2nd degree murder..are kept in jail until trial.

GZ is not to have freedom..as if he is not accused of 2nd degree murder..he lost his freedom when he was charged as such..

..this is another ploy of GZ doing what he wants..a manipulation of his bond release terms ..


by andie52 August 24, 2012 1:32 PM EDT: Apparently donations are coming in after all or is that dream team working pro bono?s So with all that expensive equipment he and his wife bought with the the money from his now defunct website can't they just Skype/teleconference instead?; Reply to this comment

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