Posted on 06/01/2012 11:50:10 AM PDT by Lurker
ORLANDO, Fla. (WLS) - Prosecutors asked a judge Friday to revoke the bond of the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Prosecutors said in a motion that 28-year-old George Zimmerman and his family misled them about his finances when testifying during a bail hearing that allowed him to be released from jail on a $150,000 bond. Prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda asked for the revocation during a hearing to help determine if prosecutors and the defense can stop the public release of certain documents in the case.
During the bond hearing in April, Zimmerman's relatives testified they had limited funds. Zimmerman's attorney said several days later that he had discovered his client had raised more than $200,000 from a website. At the time of the hearing, about $135,000 had been raised, and that money wasn't disclosed at the bond hearing.
"This court was led to believe they didn't have a single penny," said Prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda. "It was misleading and I don't know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie."
Defense attorney Mark O'Mara said it was an innocent misunderstanding and that Zimmerman wasn't using that money for his expenses and wasn't sure what he could use the money for. He said Zimmerman used the houses of his parents and grandmother as collateral for the bond.
Prosecutors also said in the motion that Zimmerman didn't disclose he had a second passport. Zimmerman turned his passport over to the court at the bond hearing as a measure that would prevent him from fleeing the country.
Zimmerman is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder and claims self-defense. Zimmerman shot Martin last February during a confrontation at a gated community of townhouses in Sanford, Fla., where Zimmerman lived and where Martin was visiting his father's fiancee.
The delay in an arrest for 44 days prompted protests nationwide and led to Sanford's police chief stepping aside so emotions could cool down.
At Friday's hearing, De la Rionda and O'Mara also asked a judge to stop the public release of witness names and statements made by Zimmerman to police officers. Those documents normally are part of the public record under Florida law.
"What's occurring, unfortunately, are cases are being tried in the public sector as opposed to in the courtroom," De La Rionda told Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester. "We are in a new age with Twitter, Facebook, and all these things I've never heard of before in my career.
Everybody gets to find out intimate details about witnesses that never occurred before. Witnesses are going to be reluctant to get involved."
A consortium of more than a dozen media groups, including The Associated Press, asked the judge to ignore the request, saying such records are presumed to be publicly available under Florida law.
Rachel Fugate, an attorney for the Orlando Sentinel, cited the Casey Anthony trial as an example of a highly publicized case in which a jury was able to be seated despite intense media coverage. The Florida mother was acquitted last year of killing her 2-year-old daughter.
"Discovery in Florida has traditionally been open ... and Florida hasn't encountered problems seating juries and giving defendants fair trials," Fugate said.
O'Mara said Friday on a website that he doesn't expect the case to be ready for trial until next year.
O'Mara said he expects to call on 50 witnesses who need to be deposed before he decides whether to file a "stand your ground" motion which would ask for a hearing before a judge without a jury. At the hearing, Zimmerman would argue self-defense under the Florida law which gives wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat in a fight if people believe they are in danger of being killed or seriously injured.
The Associated Press Contributed To This Report
You mean that one guy but was overruled by everyone else in the initial investigation.
With respect to the evidence supporting Zimmerman, not all of the evidence has been publicly released. Most importantly, Zimmerman's own statements to the police & prosecutors haven't been released. The prosecution claims he made inconsistent statements. His lawyer claims he did not. We don't know what he said. Considering that he was the only person there who is alive, it's hard to come to any definitive conclusion about exactly what happened without seeing those statements.
What has been made public clears him.
The prosecution claims he made inconsistent statements.
And did the prosecutor say what they were yet? Yeah, that's what I thought. ...Did he get the time of day wrong or something - off by a minute or two? Sounds like obfuscation to to keep the farce going. And what I've seen, this prosecutor, who looks like the female gym teacher in the original Porky's movie, she is not above playing games.
I’m not opposed to people being contrarian. In fact I prefer people to be free thinkers than marching in lockstep with the group. One thing I hate about the Democratic party is how regimented and marching in lockstep it has become.
Still, when I see someone claiming to be a conservative on what is obviously a right-leaning website, and opposing in near every post the general beliefs of the people who use the site, it raises a red flag for me. It smacks of gamesmanship, it smells of ‘the lie.’ It makes me think of Obama and his style.
I'm not so sure O'Mara has made such a statement. There are lots of inconsistent statements. I especially liked the one witness who saw the black man in handcuffs. It needs to be resolved whether Zimmerman made any materially relevant misleading statements. Try telling a story 5x over and getting all the details right.
Legal eagles: does this mean Zim has to go to jail, or will he just have to put up more bond money?
That's the usual defensive mechanism for libs when you make an observation about their behavior and sometimes it is over months and years of observation.
was the other passport expired?
he surrended his current passport. An expired passport hardly qualifies.
again the prosecution is playing childish games. The money has never been hidden.
it is unusual for a prosecutor to play this type of game. Particularly when the actual information is disclosed.
This prosecutor/msm wants the in custody visual for their story since the case is falling appart before their big lie driven eyes.
The guy called me an "Obama-whore" - sorry if I took that as a personal attack/.
What a fiasco. How did his lawyers not know about this website? *WE* knew about this website.
“You could also enter some info in your FR home page to tell us your location and a little about yourself.”
—
Why? I never have.
.
To the extent I come across as excessively contrarian, it’s because I frankly find it boring to essentially post “me too, I agree” type posts. So, I am more likely to post in a thread where I disagree with some or all of what is being said than a thread where I agree with what is being said. In the Zimmerman-Martin case, I tend not to agree with the “general beliefs of the people who use this site,” as you put it, in that the “general beliefs” appear to be that Zimmerman is 100% innocent, while I am hesitant to reach any conclusion before we see all of the facts and evidence.
I'm not sure that's clear. I haven't seen any information about whether Zimmerman surrendered the original (cancelled) passport, or the replacement (current) passport.
the day of the bond hearing, there was $150,000 in the account. “I am the real George Zimmerman,” a message on the site begins. / This website’s sole purpose is to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries.”
____________
I have created a Paypal account solely linked on this website as I would like to provide an avenue to thank my supporters personally and ensure that any funds provided are used only for living expenses and legal defense, in lieu of my forced inability to maintain employment. I will also personally, maintain accountability of all funds received. I reassure you, every donation is appreciated.
Sincerely,
George Zimmerman
__________________ At the time of the bond hearing, there was $150,000 in the account.
Then we are in some ways alike.
I’m pretty confident based on what I’ve read and seen, that Zimmerman is innocent on grounds of self defense. The burden of proof is on your side.
Before today I was doubtful that there would even be a trial. If what is in the public domain is any indicator, it is doubtful you could find a jury to convict. I don’t know if ‘over-charging’ is allowed as a tactic in FL. As a strategy it would seem very unethical in this case. That is what I consider the ‘conservative’ argument. I believe this because my conscience tells me.
Did his attorney acknowledge he lied, as you have here?
And how the hell would you know?
I just noticed your page says "Female" and "Old".
Since you're snipping at me I'll assume you're a young male.
Bite your tongue (fingers in this case). There has to be at least 13 honest people left in Florida. They can't all be corrupt.
Considering there was a bounty on Mr Zimmerman's head, it wasn't called off nor was he given any protection, I see no reason why he didn't reveal his second passport.
I'll play a democrat now: Did the judge ask for ALL passports or did he just ask for A passport.
Strangers were donating to Mr Zimmerman's account, not MRS Zimmerman's. Does she have access to that account? If not, then how would she know how much is in it? it's not hers so she can't be held accountable for it. Since when are donations considered income if he hasn't touched it or asked for it? Wasn't that money for Mr Zimmerman's legal defense anyway?
If it were me in his shoes, I don't know if I would reveal the paypal money till I spoke with an accountant to find out under what classification that money would fall into, or if I can use the money and for what.
It was $135,000.
“Since you’re snipping at me I’ll assume you’re a young male. “
—
I wish. :-)
Apparently, the prosecutor has tapes of Zimmerman’s phone conversations with his wife when he was in jail. They were speaking in code and discussing how to hide the money. This is very bad for Zimmerman.
I wonder if the reality is something like this - disclaimer - my thoughts only: "Yes, I have two passports. The shooting was February 26. I renewed my passport a few months ago as I knew it expired in May. Now I have my new one. It arrived a few weeks ago. Everything is the same on it." . . "The money thing, I told my attorney about the PayPal account. Everyone knew about it, it was no secret. I didn't know using $5000 (or whatever the exact amount was) for part of the bail money was breaking any rules."
Can't wait to hear his side of it.
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