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.
Just send a message to the state of Florida to clean up their act. Avoid Florida this summer. There are many wonderful places to visit in this beautiful country so it is easy to do.
This is going on in our cities every night (black kids dying) but have you seen Al sharpton standing in garbage flapping his gums on the subject in the inner cities?Al's tv time now is to expensive to waste on anything but world wide news.I see another award coming, they can hang it by Obama's awards.
I guess all you GZ haters havent seen the new photos showing the back of his head all cut up. And where do you get that TM was shot in the back??? I guess when all else fails make sh!t up huh.
I saw the picture on the morning news. It looks like a cut. Not a head bashing by any stretch of the imagination. Wiped away the blood and it was fine to go to the police station in a half hour!
Why not present the obvious: If someone was following me, did not identify himself, approached me in a confrontational manner I would attack him in self defence. I believe that is what Trevon did and was murdered.
OK, but where are the pictures of this terrible injury?
To see a photo of the wounds on the back of Zimmerman's head shortly after he shot Martin, google:
ABC Zimmerman Wounds
You White folk are some ignorant asses!!!!! The day of judgement is coming and so many of you will have to answer to your ignorant ways. I do not care what race he was. He was wrong for not allowing the law to handle the matter. He has a dad who is a judge and a mother who worked in the court. He has gotten special treatment because of that. I believe he has anger issues and when you put that together with a gun this is the kind of result you will get no matter what race you are. I am certainly not surprised by all of the hate that is spewed by your fake names, id and avatars that you ignorant fools use to spew this kind of hate. I wish they would allow you dummies to use your real names and identies and then we will see you for the snakes that you really are. SMH
Cmon, gashes in back of the head....nose......
For a guy who has been in a few scraps myself, if true.....he was obviously pinned to the ground, getting his head pounded onto the ground. Also had obviously been punched in the face.
Neighborhood watch guys his size/vibe just don't strike me as the type to assault anyone. Be overly annoying? Question? Yes...but attack first no.
I think Zimmerman was in the right here. This was a situation gone wrong, and a teenager regardless of color thinking he could rough up a suburban guy and get away with it. Unfortunately for the kid, he probably though he wasn't packing. I've lived in Miami/Dade and the kid probably thought he was in Disneyland in Northern Florida and he was an alpha dog.
Pretty sad. But Zimmerman was smart to shoot the kid. I've been seriously injured in a few random scuffles, for blows that youw ould think do nothing. If his head was being pounded into the ground (typical thing for guys to do in a fight), yes shoot the kid.
"I think Zimmerman was in the right here." It's not about what we think.
Nice assessment.. except you missed the fact that it seems Zimmerman has a known history of aggression.. More like He felt like he could intimidate a teenager than a teenager, who wasnt even worried about Zimmerman in the first place, would try to be big and bad in the first place.. Now I could see if Martin was stalking Zim, but it was the other way around.. Martin reacted to a situation that Zimmmerman started.. Had Zimmerman just left it alone, martin would have eventually ended up at his father's fiance's house, which is where he was headed.. so please dont make it out to be like Martin was on the prowl.. because all evidence suggests that the only one on the prowl was Zim!!
except you're taking Zimmerman's word for the injuries. Where is the evidence of them?
"""Neighborhood watch guys his size/vibe just don't strike me as the type to assault anyone. Be overly annoying? Question? Yes...but attack first no."""
Your take is refreshingly arbitrary, unlike everything else being posted on here.
And yes, I'm kidding. You are attributing behaviors to a man you do not know. That's irrational.
Maybe if George is released from prison he can protect your neighborhood and shoot one of your kids or your neighbors kids or your neice or nephew who is on their way home from the store, school, minding their own buisiness and wind up dead for no reason.
Wow he was smart to shot a kid how would u feel if that was your child..smh
Zimmerman had no hair. So Trayvon Martin must be grabbing Zimmerman's head with both his hands and pounding the head to the ground. Seriously? The concrete was pretty far away from the SUV and sidewalk, and Trayvon was dead on the grass. Did Zimmerman feel his life was in danger getting his head pounded on the grass?
And what was the deal with Zimmerman getting blindsided and sucker punched? Didn't he claim he had a confrontational conversation like this: "Do you have a problem?" said Martin, Zimmerman answered "No". And Martin just wanted to keep his element of suprise by saying "You do now!". And what was Zimmerman doing? His back facing Martin? Seriously, these stories don't add up.
When you make up stories that don't add up with facts, you must be lying.
@ JC – you're right, it's about what Nancy Grace thinks, that's what's important!
Zimmerman just changed his story on the stand. In his 911 call when asked how old the person looked who he was following, he said "Late teens". Just now on the stand he said he felt that he thought Trayvon was much older, just "A few years younger than himself". Lies already starting. Im just sayin.
You can't draw conclusions from just hearing one side of the story (i.e., Zimmerman's side). You have to realize that the hearing today is producing statements and opinions that are also intended to influence a jury pool. The real trial hasn't started yet. There hasn't been any investigation, witnesses, experts, etc. at this point. The evidence and witnesses need to be examined and cross-examined.
All of this work is just for the criminal trail. There will likely be a civil case against Zimmerman too where there is a lower burden of proof than in the criminal case. Other facts may come out there. Hence, this thing is a long way from being decided. The hearing today is just a starting point. Keep an open mind. You haven't seen anything yet.
After viewing the bloody picture of Zimmerman's head taken 3 minutes after the shooting that proves he had his head injured, I have to say it backs up Zimmerman's assertion that he was afraid for his life. The young man WAS a full 6 foot 3 inches tall & also a football player. It is reasonable to believe a 5foot 6 inch man on his back having his head beaten on the sidewalk or curb could have been killed by his younger larger attacker.
very true how do they arrest this kid months later after a big uproar by people that were not there
I AGREE, MY POINT..SELF DEFENSE.
Plus, he was high on PCP and violently flailing about.
He's alive. Compare his picture to the unseen dead Trayvon with a hole in his chest. Remember Trayvon was minding his own business when Zimmerman stalked him. He had every right to fear this man stalking him in the dark on a rainy night. Zimmerman is responsible for this whole tragedy. He had no authority to act as a wanabee cop. Trayvon had a right to defend himself against this unknown stalker running after him.
Plus, he was high on PCP, violently flailing about and charging around the neighborhood.
Really? If Zimmerman was afraid for his life – why did he pursue an unarmed boy into the boy's neighborhood – not Zimmerman's own neighborhood – and continue pursuing him outside of his locked vehicle after police told him not to?
ZIMMERMAN WAS ARRESTED TO SHUT UP THE BLACK PEOPLE AND IT WORKED..
I noticed since this story started. Zimmerman has get shorter and Martin has got taller even after his death.
I hope Zim's brother goes back on Piers Morgan with this evidence and shuts that tea-drinker up.
I saw that; I felt sorry for him, but he dodged every question by answering with generalities. Very unconvincing and guilty.
People lie all the time in criminal cases - sometimes even because they've made deals with the police, This is one reason why we have trials.
Too bad no one ever told these guys it takes more courage to walk away from a fight than participate in one.
AVOICE--LET ME PUNCH YOUR FACE AND LET SEE IF YOU WALK AWAY.
Trayvon was high as a kite on PCP when this occurred. Why isn't that story out??
Hogwash.
No proof? Made-up stuff not admissible in court?
I'M SURE THAT WILL COME OUT ....ONLY A KID ON DRUGS WOULD ACT THAT STUPID...YOU DO NOT PUNCH–OR–ATTACK ANYONE UNLESS THEY PUNCH YOU FIRST......I REALLY BELIEVE THAT MARTIN WAS ON DRUGS, I BET YOU
Always take pictures of your injuries, always. Imagine how different this story could be if Zimmerman was able to provide pictures showing him bruised, bloody, and swollen?
POLICE TOOK PICTURES OF ZIMMERMAN INJURIES..
So Zimmerman attacked an undercover ATF agent and then took anger management classes. His excuse, he didn't know this was an agent "roughing" up his friend. Well, Zimmerman WASN'T a cop and stalked Trayvnon Matin who was doing nothing and had every right to defend himself. Zimmerman's failure to learn from his past actions and his posing as a wanabee cop brought about this tragedy.
Why didn't the prosecution ask Zimmerman if it was he or Martin that was screaming 'Help' right before Zimmerman shot Martin? Goes to intent.
obvious it was him if hes getting his ass whooped... He pulled the gun and blast one shot thats it... I could see if he unloaded the whole clip but one shot is self defense, when somone is attacking you in your own neighborhood and when your the vice pres of the neighborhood watch I would of done nothing different