George Zimmerman Must Go Back to Jail

Judge revokes bond, says he misled court about finances
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 1, 2012 2:02 PM CDT
George Zimmerman Must Surrender in 48 Hours
In this April 20 photo, George Zimmerman answers a question in court.   (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Gary W. Green, Pool, File)

Big surprise in the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case: A judge revoked Zimmerman's bond today and ordered him back to jail within 48 hours. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said Zimmerman misled the court about how much money he had available when his bond was set for $150,000 in April. Prosecutors say Zimmerman had $135,000 that had been raised by a website he set up. They also say he failed to surrender a second passport.

Zimmerman's wife, Shellie, testified at the bond hearing that they had limited funds since she was a nursing student and Zimmerman wasn't working. "He can't sit back and obtain the benefit of a lower bond based upon those material falsehoods," said Lester. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara said the fact that Zimmerman and his wife never used the money for anything indicated "there was no deceit." Countered a prosecutor: "This court was led to believe they didn't have a single penny. It was misleading and I don't know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie." (More George Zimmerman stories.)

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