Judge delays ruling on Zimmerman bail

SANFORD, Fla., June 29 (UPI) -- After a 3-hour hearing Friday, a Florida judge postponed a decision on renewing bail for George Zimmerman, accused of killing an unarmed black teenager.

Zimmerman's attorneys argued for release on $150,000 bail, the Orlando Sentinel reported. That was the figure set before Judge Kenneth Lester revoked it after prosecutors argued Zimmerman and his wife had lied about money raised through an online appeal.

During the hearing, the defense acknowledged Zimmerman's wife lied about the money but argued Zimmerman, 28, is a good candidate for release. They also presented testimony to show Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder, acted in self-defense when he shot Trayvon Martin.

Martin, 17, was on his way to a relative's house in a gated community in Sanford when Zimmerman began following him. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, ignored a 911 dispatcher's urging to stop his pursuit.

Robert Zimmerman testified during the hearing that a voice calling for help on a 911 tape was his son's. A Sanford firefighter said Zimmerman had "blood on his face and the back of his head" and his nose showed signs of severe injuries.

Bernie De la Rionda, the prosecutor, said Martin could have perceived Zimmerman as a threat. He said Zimmerman had "profiled" the teenager.

"What you have here is basically a defendant who perceives himself as the police out there," De la Rionda said.

CNN reaction to Bail Hearing. They went ballistic: How dare a defense attorney defend his client. How dare he show the state’s case to be weak. How dare he present evidence at a bail bond hearing.

http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1206/29/ijvm.01.html

O`MARA: We`ve heard that Trayvon Martin was just minding his own business. And there doesn`t seem to be anything to contest that.

We also heard that Mr. Zimmerman was minding his own business, as well. And that, based upon his history and based upon knowing the neighborhood and a number of young black males who had, in fact, caused burglaries in the area, that he may have focused on him.

Does he say that in any of his statements? No. As a matter of fact, none of his statements suggest any type of racial profiling, any type of profiling whatsoever, except somebody he didn`t know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Natalie Jackson, the attorney for Trayvon Martin`s family, did Mark O`Mara cross a line with that comment referring to break-ins by African-American young males? He`s saying, well, it`s not racial profiling, but he seems to be bringing in those factors. Was he speaking in code?

N. JACKSON: He certainly was. You know, Mark needs to stay off the conservative laws and just try this case with the evidence that`s in front of him.

This — we — I was shocked when he brought that in. And I was even further shocked when he brought in a picture of Trayvon at the 7-Eleven buying candy. And he suggested that this shows how big and menacing Trayvon is.

Well, we have his measurements on the M.E. — the medical examiner`s report. He was 5`11” and 158 pounds. George Zimmerman was 5`9” and 185 pounds.

[Incidentally she is wrong. The ME listed him as 5’11 LONG not TALL. The body’s muscles contract after death. Which means that he was 6 feet tall and more in life. And police measured him at 5’7”-5’8”. They can’t get their lies straight]

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