But since he probably only has to put up 10% in cash, he should be walking free soon. (Order here and at bottom of post)

Via Orlando Sentinel:

A Sanford judge today ordered George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, released on $1 million bail. It was not immediately clear how long it would take the 28-year-old Zimmerman to arrange his release. Defense attorney Mark O’Mara said Friday that Zimmerman’s legal defense fund had a balance of $211,000, more than enough to cover the 10-percent non-refundable portion charged by most bonding companies.

More details to follow.

Updates: The evidence submitted by Zimmerman at the second bond hearing is posted at a special website set up by his attorney, Mark O’Mara.

Some key passages from the Order (full embed at bottom of post):

Under any definition, the Defendant has flaunted the system. Counsel has attempted to portray the Defendant as being a confused young man who was fearful and experienced a moment of weakness and who may also have acted out of a sense of”betrayal” by the system. Based upon all ofthe evidence presented, this Court finds the opposite. The Defendant has tried to manipulate the system when he has been presented the opportunity to do so…. Contrary to the image presented by the Defendant not by evidence but only by argument of counsel, it appears to this Court that the Defendant ill manipulating the system to his own benefit. The evidence is clear that the Defendant and his wife acted in concert, but primarily at the Defendant’s direction, to conc’eal their cash holdings…. The Defendant also neglected to disclose that he had n valid second pa5sport in his safe deposit box. Notably, together with the passport, the money only had to be hiddell for a· short time for him to leave the country if the Defendant made a quick decision to flee [fn] It is entirely reasonable for this Court to find that, but for the requirement that he be placed on electronic monitoring, the Defendant and his wife would have fled the United States with at least $130,000 of other people’s money…. His lack of candor was not limited to representations made to the Court. The Defendant is represented by Mark O’Mara, a very well-respected criminal defense attorney in the Central Florida area. At the initial bond hearing. Mr. O’Mara indicated that he would be representing the Defendant without taking a fee. Attorney O’Mara also indicated that he would be filing an affidavit of indigency for costs. The Defenqant did not correct his attorney’s representations to the court on these issues. The failure to correct these representations meant that for a considerable period of time the Defendant misled his attorney as to his ability to pay counsel. No member of the Defendant’s family who had knowledge of the Defendant hiding funds alerted the court.

Here’s the Bail Order:

George Zimmerman Bail Order July 5 2012



