George Zimmerman Bail Set at $1 Million

George Zimmerman, the Florida man accused of killing teenager Trayvon Martin, had his bond set at $1 million by court order on Thursday.
George Zimmerman Bail Set at $1 Million
7/5/2012
Updated:
7/9/2012

George Zimmerman, the Florida man accused of killing teenager Trayvon Martin, had his bond set at $1 million by court order on Thursday.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Martin, 17, in February, but he claims it was in self-defense.

The judge said Zimmerman, 28, manipulated the system when he was first released on a $150,000 bail. At the time, Zimmerman and his wife said they had no money, but the prosecution found they had $130,000, raised through donations, that they did not disclose to the court. Zimmerman has since been put back in jail.

“By any definition, the defendant has flouted the system,” Judge Kenneth Lester wrote, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “It appears to this court that the defendant is manipulating the system for his own benefit.”

He added, “Counsel has attempted to portray the defendant as being a confused young man who was fearful and experienced a moment of weakness,” according to the Florida-based Sanford Herald newspaper.

Lester said that Zimmerman may have been planning to flee the country after new evidence was found, including a second undisclosed passport.