Fla. judge to decide if Zimmerman can leave jail (April 20)

[seafan]

Source: Tampa Bay Times (AP)

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) -- The neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Trayvon Martin is asking a Florida judge to let him out of jail while he awaits trial, and legal experts say he stands a good chance of being granted bail at the hearing Friday.

George Zimmerman's attorney will make the request at the hearing at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center. Two questions likely to be at the center of the proceeding are whether he would be allowed out of the country and how he would remain safe.

.....

Legal experts say factors in Zimmerman's favor include that he has ties to the local community and that he doesn't appear to be a flight risk since he turned in voluntarily after second-degree murder charges were filed against him last week. He also has never been convicted of a crime, which would indicate he doesn't pose a threat to society.

.....

Defense attorney Mark O'Mara indicated he would ask that Zimmerman be allowed to leave the area, if he is granted bond, because of concerns about his safety. .... "Normally, the conditions are that you stay local. I think that is going to be difficult," O'Mara said in an interview. "I think nobody would deny the fact that if George Zimmerman were walking down the street today, he would be at risk. That is a reality."

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NEIGHBORHOOD_WATCH?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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Where do you even start with "reasoning" like that in view of what has transpired in this case?


Allowed out of the country?? Not a flight risk? He moved out of his house and hid from police for weeks after the murder. What about the domestic violence petitions against him from 2005? Has his gun permit been revoked?

Nah. Not in the least a threat to society.


Forty-four days without his arrest has led to a flashpoint of public fury. Now, he may be walking free today.


Something is very, very wrong in Florida.





Rest in peace, Trayvon. We will not let your story fade away.

[seafan]

1. April 20: Bail set at $150,000 in Trayvon Martin shooting

Bail set at $150,000 in Trayvon Martin shooting

By CURT ANDERSON and MIKE SCHNEIDER
Associated Press
Apr 20, 1:20 PM EDT

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) --

.....

A judge set Zimmerman's bail at $150,000 and his attorney said he could be free in several days. Authorities and attorneys need to work out arrangements to allow Zimmerman to live outside Florida as he awaits trial on a second-degree murder charge because of threats made against him and his family.

.....

Wearing a charcoal suit, white shirt and gray tie - but also shackled and appearing to have on a bulletproof vest - Zimmerman took the witness stand to deliver a short statement to Martin's parents, who were in court.

"I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not," Zimmerman said.

.....

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester set several conditions for Zimmerman's release, which he said would not occur Friday. He did not say exactly when Zimmerman could go free.
Zimmerman cannot have any guns, drink alcohol or use illegal drugs and must observe a curfew between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Zimmerman surrendered his passport at the start of the hearing.

.....

Under any circumstances, after 44 days without his arrest since he murdered an unarmed black child, to allow this man to walk is a miscarriage of justice.

[dtexdem]

2. With an electronic monitor. If Zimmerman feels threatened by the monitor, can he shoot it?

Oh, right, he can have no access to firearms. But hey, maybe he can defend himself against the monitor using a hammer.

;-)

Just more Florida lynch-law justice.