Bond Revoked: Trayvon Martin Killer Back in Jail

By Trice Edney Staff

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged in the Florida killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, was remanded back to jail Sunday after the judge in the case revoked his bond saying he misled the court about his finances.

Zimmerman, who had been free on a $150,000 bond returned to custody in Sanford, Fla. less than an hour short of the 48-hour deadline given by Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. on Friday. Television video showed the 28-year-old back in handcuffs, dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt.

His attorney, Mark O'Mara, is expected to ask the judge for another bail hearing this week so that Zimmerman can explain to the court why he and his wife said they had little money to make bail when they in fact had approximately $155,000 in a Paypal account. A recording of a telephone coversation between them allegedly revealed that he and his wife discussed the exact amount of the money in code before testifying that they did not know how much was in the account.

Because of their apparent indigent status, Lester gave him a low bail of $150,000 of which he only had to pay a small portion.

He also allegedly turned in only one of two passports after the court requested his passports as a condition of his bail. That was to lessen his risk of fleeing the country.

O'Mara reportedly told reporters that Zimmerman was concerned "for his safety any time he has to come out of hiding."

The latest is an unexpected twist in the case in which Zimmerman, who is White and Hispanic, is charged with shooting 17-year-old Martin in the chest on Feb 26. The unarmed teenager was walking to his father’s residence from a store where he had bought Skittles and ice tea. 

Protests broke out in Sanford and around the country when Zimmerman remained free based on police contentions that a so-called “Stand Your Ground” law appeared to apply. But after six weeks of freedom, a special prosecutor charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder. Zimmerman claims he fired the gun in self-defense during a physical altercation with Martin.

Lawyers for Martin’s family say the youth was racially profiled by Zimmerman who called the police for no reason and then followed Martin against the advice of a 911 operator. As Martin walked, he talked on the phone with his girlfriend who has said he told her he was being followed.

Though the judge could very well post a higher bond and free Zimmerman again, his re-incarceration was met with applause from Rev. Al Sharpton, a chief advocate for justice in the case.

"National Action Network and I requested that the Judge review the bail bond after it became very clear that George Zimmerman had raised money online,” he said in a statement. “We joined with the family and others concerned about the fairness of proceedings in asking for a review and we take note that based upon the evidence, the Judge has made a fair-minded decision based upon the evidence."