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Live blog: Zimmerman 'sorry' for loss of Martins' son; bond set at $150,000
After George Zimmerman took the stand during his bond hearing and told Trayvon Martin's parents that he was sorry for the loss of their son, a Florida judge Friday set Zimmerman's bond at $150,000.
The judge set a number of conditions, including GPS monitoring. The judge said Zimmerman wouldn't have the opportunity to be released Friday, because his attorney and state authorities needed to hammer out the monitoring and other logistics.
Friday's bond hearing also included testimony from one of the state's main investigators in the case, with Zimmerman attorney Mark O'Mara challenging the state's assertions. Under questioning, the investigator said the state didn't have evidence to contradict Zimmerman's account that Martin started the fight that led to the shooting, but he did say evidence did call into question other parts of Zimmerman's account.
Zimmerman, 28, was charged on April 11 with second-degree murder in the February death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, after the case sparked a heated, national debate over racial profiling and saw thousands of protesters demand Zimmerman's arrest. Martin's family contends Zimmerman racially profiled their son, who was black, and was walking back from a convenience store in Sanford, Florida.
Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who is Hispanic, maintains he acted in self-defense. His family says he did not profile Martin. (Timeline of case)
The following is a running account of the bond hearing:
[Updated at 12:14 p.m. ET] The state's attorney in today's bond hearing, reacting to reporters' questions about O'Mara's assault on the prosecution's case, said that not all evidence has been publicly revealed.
"We did not put our entire case on today. Let's leave it at that," he told reporters outside the courthouse.
[Updated at 11:55 a.m. ET] Mark NeJame, an Orlando lawyer and CNN legal analyst, said O'Mara's move to put Zimmerman on the stand during the bond hearing "was a calculated risk to humanize George Zimmerman."
"We've heard a lot of negative things for weeks now, and we've now heard a living breathing person" make an apology, NeJame said.
[Updated at 11:15 a.m. ET] The hearing is over. Zimmerman stood up and shook hands with his attorney, Mark O'Mara, before sitting down again to wait to be taken from the courtroom.
[Updated at 11:10 a.m. ET] The judge has set a bond of $150,000, with conditions.
The conditions include:
- GPS monitoring
- Zimmerman would have to contact authorities every three days
- No contact with the victim's family
- No possession of firearms
- No use of controlled substances, other than those prescribed by a physician.
As for O'Mara's request that Zimmerman be allowed to reside away from Florida, the judge said O'Mara and the state should get together and determine whether that can be accomplished.
Because O'Mara and the state need to meet about the arrangements for monitoring, Zimmerman will not have an opportunity to be freed today. the judge said.
[Updated at 11:07 a.m. ET] The state's attorney is now making a case against leniency when it comes to the bond decision, and has asked for no bond, or a bond of $1 million.
The state's attorney argued that Zimmerman is a danger to the public, citing not only the second-degree murder charge, but a previous charge of battery against a law enforcement officer, which was discussed at length earlier in the hearing.
[Updated at 11:02 a.m. ET] The hearing is now turning back to the issue of bond. O'Mara is asking the judge for:
- $15,000 bond.
- The ability of Zimmerman to leave the state
- Secrecy over Zimmerman's whereabouts
O'Mara, speaking to Zimmerman's ability to pay bond, noted that Zimmerman cannot work in public because of the case's publicity, and that his wife is not working because she is in school.
[Updated at 10:58 a.m. ET] The prosecuting attorney is now questioning Zimmerman. He asked whether Zimmerman had ever said he was sorry when he spoke to police. Zimmerman responded that he had told one of the investigators that "I felt sorry for the family."
The prosecutor told Zimmerman that if that's true, it must have been recorded. He asked Zimmerman if he was sure, and Zimmerman said he was "fairly certain."
[Updated at 10:55 a.m. ET] "I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son," Zimmerman said on the stand, apparently addressing Martin's parents, who are in the room. (Watch video of apology)
Zimmerman also said he thought Martin was older, and that he "didn't know if (Martin) was armed or not."
[Updated at 10:54 a.m. ET] Zimmerman is about the address the court. His attorney has called him to the stand.
[Updated at 10:53 a.m. ET] The prosecuting attorney, after saying "I didn't know we were going to be trying the case today," is back to ask questions of state attorney's investigator Dale Gilbreath, after O'Mara asked questions challenging the state's assertions.
The prosecutor asked Gilbreath whether there was any evidence indicating that Zimmerman's account that Martin bashed his head against a sidewalk wasn't true. Gilbreath said yes.
[Updated at 10:47 a.m. ET] O'Mara is back to questioning state attorney's investigator Dale Gilbreath, one of the investigators in the case.
O'Mara asked whether Gilbreath knows who started the fight between Zimmerman and Martin, or had any evidence as to who started the fight. Gilbreath said no.
O'Mara asked whether Gilbreath had any evidence contradicting Zimmerman's statement to Sanford police on the night of the incident that Zimmerman: 1) turned toward his car after losing sight of Martin; and 2) that Martin started the fight that led to the shooting. Gilbreath said no.
[Updated at 10:36 a.m. ET] A prosecuting attorney is now questioning state attorney's investigator Dale Gilbreath, after Zimmerman's attorney took issue with wording in a probable cause affidavit that Gilbreath had signed. Gilbreath is one of the investigators in the Martin shooting case.
Like O'Mara, the prosecuting attorney is asking Gilbreath about the affidavit, and about evidence that Gilbreath collected. The general thrust of the questioning is designed to bolster the affidavit's credibility, after O'Mara questioned word choices in the affidavit.
Gilbreath testified he has reviewed other evidence documents other than what has been discussed in the hearing. The prosecutor asked Gilbreath whether Martin had a right to be in the neighborhood - Gilbreath said yes. Gilbreath also was asked if there was no evidence that Martin was committing any crime, and again Gilbreath said yes.
[Updated at 10:28 a.m. ET] O'Mara still is questioning state attorney's investigator Dale Gilbreath about the way that the probable cause affidavit - which supported the second-degree murder charge - was written.
O'Mara is now taking issue with a line that says Zimmerman "disregarded" a police dispatcher. On the tape that has been released to the public, Zimmerman indicated that he was following Martin, and the dispatcher said that authorities didn't need Zimmerman to do that.
O'Mara, through his questioning of Gilbreath, is basically suggesting that "disregarded" was the wrong word, because Zimmerman did not hang up with the dispatcher, and therefore did not disregard him.
O'Mara also is taking issue with the affidavit saying that Zimmerman "confronted" Martin. O'Mara is contending that Gilbreath has offered no evidence that Zimmerman confronted Martin, and that other, less antagonistic words, should have been used since Gilbreath had no evidence that Zimmerman confronted him. Such words, O'Mara said, would be "came up to," or "spoke with."
[Updated at 10:19 a.m. ET] O'Mara, while questioning state attorney's investigator Dale Gilbreath, is now taking issue with other language choices in the probable cause affidavit.
O'Mara has noted that the only two quotes in the affidavit from Zimmerman - taken from a police call that Zimmerman made to notify police that he had seen a suspicious person - are of Zimmerman using expletives. O'Mara asked why - out of everything Zimmerman said - only those two quotes were included in the affidavit.
Gilbreath responded that he didn't type the affidavit. O'Mara pointed out that Gilbreath swore to it, and Gilbreath agreed that he had.
[Updated at 10:14 a.m. ET] O'Mara, while questioning state attorney's investigator Dale Gilbreath, has taken issue with the word "profiled" in the probable cause affidavit supporting the second-degree murder charge.
The affidavit, which Gilbreath had signed, says that Zimmerman profiled Martin. O'Mara asked why the affidavit says profiled, rather than "noticed" or "saw." Gilbreath said he couldn't remember who wrote the word, saying it was a collaborative document.
[Updated at 10:09 a.m. ET] O'Mara has called Dale Gilbreath, an investigator with the state attorney's office, to the stand. Gilbreath is one of the investigators in the Martin shooting case.
Gilbreath has indicated that he didn't expect to testify today.
[Updated at 10:05 a.m. ET] O'Mara asked Zimmerman's mother whether she has come to know her son as someone who comes to the defense of people. She said yes.
She said he has stood up for children and homeless people in and around his community. She also testified that he had been a mentor for two African American children.
[Updated at 10:04 a.m. ET] O'Mara asked Zimmerman's mother about Zimmerman's previous charge of battery against a law enforcement officer. She said that Zimmerman was involved in an altercation with a plainclothes ATF agent because he was coming to the defense of a friend, who was being roughed up. The officer didn't identify himself as a law enforcement officer, she said.
[Updated at 10:02 a.m. ET] Zimmerman's mother, like his father and wife earlier this morning, said that if Zimmerman is released on bond, his location and the places where he would be allowed to go should be kept secret, because he and the family have received threats.
[Updated at 9:53 a.m. ET] O'Mara has now called Zimmerman's mother to the phone.
[Updated at 9:51 a.m. ET] Now being questioned by O'Mara, Zimmerman's father testified about Zimmerman's appearance after the February 26 shooting. The father said Zimmerman's face was swollen "quite a bit," had a protective cover over his nose, and had two vertical gashes on the back of his head.
According to an Orlando Sentinel story later confirmed by Sanford police, Zimmerman told authorities that after he called 911 about a suspicious person (later identified as Martin), and after he briefly lost track of Martin, the teen approached him. After the two exchange words, Zimmerman said, he reached for his cell phone, and then Martin punched him in the nose. Zimmerman said Martin pinned him to the ground and began slamming his head into the sidewalk.
[Updated at 9:47 a.m. ET] The prosecution is asking Zimmerman's father about Zimmerman's previous charge of battery against a law enforcement officer, basically having the father acknowledge that he knows Zimmerman faced that charge. Like the exchange that the prosecution had with Zimmerman's wife a few minutes ago, they went over the fact that Zimmerman took anger management classes as a result of that charge, which was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.
[Updated at 9:41 a.m. ET] O'Mara is asking Zimmerman's father about his financial ability to help post bond. The father, who said he was retired, said he and his wife have some savings, but very little. He said he had a mortgaged home, and that he was willing to secure the home as part of a bond arrangement.
[Updated at 9:39 a.m. ET] O'Mara is now questioning Zimmerman's father, Robert Zimmerman Sr., who, like Zimmerman's wife, is testifying by phone. A notary public has sworn Robert Zimmerman in.
[Updated at 9:36 a.m. ET] O'Mara questioned Zimmerman's wife about the previous allegations against Zimmerman - including a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer and an altercation with a woman - that the prosecuting attorney brought up. Through questioning, Zimmerman's wife testified that the battery charge was reduced to a misdemeanor through a pretrial diversion program in which he took anger management classes, and that she believes he completed those classes. She also testified that in the altercation with the woman, Zimmerman was not arrested, and that the woman attacked Zimmerman and drew blood, and that as a result, Zimmerman got an injunction against that woman.
[Updated at 9:30 a.m. ET] The prosecuting attorney summed up the previous allegations - including the charge of battery on a law enforcement officer - and then asked Zimmerman's wife whether she still believes Zimmerman isn't a danger to the community. "Absolutely he is not a violent person,” nor is he a threat to the community, she responded.
[Updated at 9:24 a.m. ET] The prosecution is now questioning Zimmerman's wife about her assertion that Zimmerman poses no danger to the community. The prosecuting attorney is pointing out that Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder, and that Zimmerman is accused of a violent act.
The prosecuting attorney also is asking Zimmerman's wife about his previous brushes with the law, including a charge of battery of a law enforcement officer. He also brought up a woman's previous allegations that the woman and Zimmerman were in an altercation - Zimmerman's wife answered that she is aware that Zimmerman needed to defend himself from an attack by the woman, that the woman drew blood, and that Zimmerman filed for a protective order because of the incident. The prosecutor is asking her whether she is aware of those charges and allegations in the past, and she said she is.
[Updated at 9:20 a.m. ET] Zimmerman's wife said she fears for Zimmeran's safety and the safety of their family, and that is part of the reason why she is testifying by phone.
Asked if she believes Zimmerman is a danger to society, she said no. She said she has "no concerns whatsoever" about him.
[Updated at 9:18 a.m. ET] O'Mara is asking Zimmerman's wife about the family's financial ability to post bond. O'Mara is saying that Zimmerman is indigent; Zimmerman's wife said that she has talked to other family members about scraping up everything they could in anticipation of posting bond.
[Updated at 9:15 a.m. ET] With Zimmerman's wife on speakerphone, O'Mara has begun asking her questions. Asked if she would do everything in her power to ensure that Zimmerman - should he be granted bail - return to court when he is required to do so, she said yes. And she said she would contact the court if she lost contact with him.
[Updated at 9:11 a.m. ET] The court has called Zimmerman's wife on the phone. A notary public is with Mrs. Zimmerman and is swearing her in.
[Updated at 9:08 a.m. ET] Lester has begun the proceeding. After the attorneys identified themselves to the judge, O'Mara kicked off the bond request and told the judge that witnesses are available by phone. The court is calling those witnesses now. As we noted earlier, Zimmerman's family has offered to give testimony by phone.
[Updated at 9:04 a.m. ET] Zimmerman, wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt and light gray tie, has entered the courtroom and has seated himself next to O'Mara.
[Updated at 9:00 a.m. ET] Martin's parents are, indeed, in the courtroom, and they've taken their seats. O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, also is standing the courtroom, waiting for the proceeding to begin.
[Updated at 8:59 a.m. ET] Check out this piece on why evidence in the case may come up in the bond hearing. The prosecutor, Corey, has the burden of showing why bond should not be set or that it should be high. The burden is referred to as "proof of guilt is evident or presumption of guilt is great." Corey would have to convince Lester that a jury would convict Zimmerman.
[Updated at 8:55 a.m. ET] The bond hearing is expected to begin in minutes. Martin's parents are expected to be at the hearing, and this would be the first time that they and Zimmerman are in the same room, CNN's Martin Savidge tells us from the site.
O'Mara filed a motion that asks the court to allow Zimmerman's family members to provide testimony at the bond hearing by telephone. The state attorney's office did not object.
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I look forward to seeing the big smile on George's face when he hears the words "not guilty." Then a book deal, movie deal, and a quiet peaceful like on a tropical island. Hang in there George, the truth will set you free.
I think we should all start having Marches across the country!
It would surely help our health until we learn to can all the bullcrap on tv make it an exercise.
And what would we be marching for????????????????????????????????? This case is in the legal system, should you not give it time to play out before marching or are you hyped up on the excitement?
March of Dimes.
Good less do. Some people wouldn't have the balls. Get some
Agreed. FREE ZIMMERMAN for lack of evidence and prosecute the race baiter lynch mob. STOP WASTING TAX PAYER MONEY TO APPEASE THE DESPOTS RIOTERS WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE FACTS.
despots rioters? Where?
We already do! It falls between February and April!
If you do organize a march(es) can you please make sure it's after 5pm? I have a job, thanks in advance.
So your on your computer at work?
It looks like Zimmermans's defense counsel should go practice his opening statement. When lawyers are acting for camera they tend to lose focus. This is a bond hearing not an acting gig for the next upcoming episode of law and order. In the 8th judicial circuit this BS will have ended 30 minutes ago.
face was beat up. that proves zimm started fight and was getting azzkicked, so the c_unt shot and killed TM. he better get some tats for prison
I feel Trayvon went to protect himself from GZ, as he was being followed, if GZ did have real wounds and there was
a fight between them it was Trayvon trying to protect himself from GZ its obvious – The fact is GZ SHOULD NOT BE CARRYING A GUN he is NOT experienced enough as an Officer would be trained. He was told to LEAVE the scene he chose NOT to, and took everything into his own hands, and took out an innocent life!
Try and justify it all you want. Thug Trayvon is dead because of his own stupidity..
Are you going to testify at the trial? You seem to know exactly what happened.
LIN
your american i think. the police suck sometimes.it would be called a police state. leave asia where it is
All I'm going to say is...If Zimmerman went reaching for his cell phone, maybe Martin saw his gun, or thought he could be reaching for a weapon and thats why he hit him...Just a thought...But this is the 1st time I'm hearing this information
When the 911 operator tells you to do something and you don't do it, your not braking any law. He was totally in his right to inquire the stranger inside the gated community.
Trayvon is dead. He was a thug. Get over it. His parents should be ashamed that they are racists.
I guess you know the Martin family very well...
I am so glad Trayvon has strong BLACK parents because this would have been swept under the carpet of the law as just another dead black teen whom they could label as a thug to hide the fact of killing an innocent kid. See how I am laughing at all of you who was hoping he was a thug and was hoping he had disfunctional black parents. laughing at you!
I am so glad Trayvon has strong BLACK parents because this would have been swept under the carpet of the law as just another dead black teen whom they could label as a thug to hide the fact of killing an innocent kid. See how I am laughing at all of you who was hoping he was a thug and was hoping he had dysfunctional BLACK parents. laughing at you!
Free Zimmerman on his own recoginance. Zimmerman is a hero. Anyone who can erase drug dealers, drug users, thieves, thugs, common criminals, is a hero to me. We need more Zimmermans in this country. We in Floridda are not going to put up with these type of punks any longer. We , for the most part are locked and laoaded and waiting for this type of trash to come into our neighborhoods. Our governor said yesterday, that CRIME in general is down forty percent since our Law was enacted.
If I lived in a gated community with a watchman, I would expect my watchman to do exactly what GZ did. Had TM gone unaprehended and committed a crime, THEN, what would we all be saying? GZ did not do his job??????? NO, he did what his community appointed him to do. Someone should call up the HOA to the witness stand.
I thought killing people was a crime?
I love it, the black community is always saying how horrible the police are and how they have a right to question their authority. But Zimmerman didn't listen to the person on the other end of a 911 call so he should go straight to jail! It's pathetic.
This case should be thrown out.
The way I see it is under the Florida law the poor kid who was tracked and threatened with his life (the attacker having a gun seems to qualify as believing one's life is threatened) had a legal right to do anything to defend himself even going as far as killing. So what a few cuts and a swollen lip mean is he tried to defend himself but failed.
I agree. I haven't heard anything that would lead me to believe Mr. Zimmerman did any of this intentionally. Once this hit the national news, he didn't try to run. He went into hiding for his own safety. When the issued a warrant for his arrest, he turned himself in. His injuries seem to match his story. Even if there are things that don't match up, put yourself in his position with this incident happening quickly and see how much you remember correctly.
Yes, Cocao. TM was trespassing through yards in a gated community. Did his father's "girlfriend" live in that community? Did TM LIVE in that community? If so, TM should have been aware of a watchman on duty especially with previous crimes committed therein. I live in a building with cameras and KNOW full well that anything I do will be exposed. TM was not where he should have been. Does the gated community have cameras?
How interesting that Zimmerman was involved in an altercation with a plainclothes ATF agent who hadn't identified himself as a law enforcement officer.
Martin had no idea who Zimmerman was, either. Hmmmmmm.
Lucky for him, that law enforcement officer didn't shoot him in self defense.
Zimmerman has all these altercations with all kinds of people, and it is always the other people's fault. Hm.
Exactly, his own actions in that case shows his thinking is in reverse. Now he has to defend that same thing.
right after we deport all whites back to Europe!!
I'm ready. You pay the one way ticket and we will all go back. Can't wait to see what happens with the end of the era of the freebies.
it was occupied by Muslims already ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Im not from Europe you idiot
II'll go! This place is starting to turn into a dumpster.. How can one get deported back to Europe? Any suggestions?
I'd gladly go back to Europe. I'll start packing tonight. Bye!
I tried to emigrate back to Europe, but they don't take back Americans.
That is a good one and true. Whites back to Europe and Blacks back to Africa would solve all the problems with this mess of a country or just interbreed quicky like in South America.
Fine with me I will be first in line. The other side can have this stinking nation.
PLEASE DO!! Monaco and the South of France sound luscious. So does Tuscany! I sure wouldn't argue with Tina Turner. She moved there to get away from this nonsense. I'd gladly join her!
Has the black woman been arrested or not? I bet she was arrested immediately so POINT????????????
She was arrested, but she fled the scene of the crime. Zimmerman stayed, and called 911...
you don't care,,,,you even did not check it ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I think you are missing the point of this case its not the fact that the two parties that are involved are from two different races its more relates to a person was shot and killed and the police did not even fully investigate the sequence of events by analyzing the evidence that was present that day, interviewing potential witnesses, or at least trying to corroborate Zimmerman's story. Police officers allowed Zimmerman to say "I killed Trayvon in self defense can i go home now". I dont think the police force did their due dillgence and thats why there was a media outcry
S. positive.... Yes She Was Arrested Immediatly!!!!
S. positive.... Yes She Was !!!!
Yea and given a three million dollar bond!
If you are talking about the crazy woman that killed the mother and took the baby,her and GZ should be in the same cell I bet he won't hit her. Two of a kind. Both mentally sick.And neither deserve to see the light of day again.
@CindyinFL
The reason a gated community is gated is to keep people who don't live there OUT. I don't understand the logic of "he had a right to be there"... I live in a gated community and I can recognize the people around me. I may not KNOW them, but I recognize them. Had Trayvon not have run and just stopped and explained that he wasn't causing trouble, just passing through, it probably wouldve ended differently.Why did he run if he wasn't doing anything wrong? Most people see running away as a sign of being guilty. But like I said, I need more facts. I'm not saying he's innocent, I'm not saying he's guilty.
People can run in their neighborhood if it is raining and/or they feal stalked. The point is exactly that Zimmerman had no right to judge Trayvon.
Running away can also be the result of someone following you in the dark and fearing for your life.
Martin was visiting his father's fiance, who lived in the gated community, so as a guest, he DID belong there.
The FACT is we have all heard the 911 dispatch tape where Zimmerman says about Martin, they "always get away" and how Zimmerman ignored the 911 dispatcher telling him to NOT follow Martin, even after he acknowledged he heard the dispatcher and agreed to not follow Martin by saying, "OK."
And what if Martin had stopped, and in the process got mugged or 'killed' by some hood? Would that help?
Your logic is totally flawed.
Martin probably had no idea whether the stranger was a 'self-appointed' big shot or some one else.
So, why don't you try this out in your gated community, and accost people you don't know. See what happens – you might shoot someone, or you may get shot in the process,.
I live in a gated community too, and we have real cops patrolling our neighborhood. We just pay for the extra service to get the real deal.
It is night and a man is following you. I would not teach my kids to stop and just talk to some man, especially someone they did not know. My son would have been shot too because I teach him to defend himself if someone tries to stop him. Sorry, but Z-man should have let the cops handle it and keep his I am neighborhood watch guy with a gun police wanna be out.
Well put.
Because he was being FOLLOWED. What is so hard to understand about that? I would be scared, would you not?