News

Actions

Judge revokes Zimmerman’s bail due to false testimony

Posted at 9:00 PM, Jun 02, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-03 10:48:50-04

SANFORD, Fl. (CBS) - George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who admits he shot and killed a Florida teenager, will return to the Seminole County Jail after a judge retracted his bail for giving a false testimony at a court hearing in April.

Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda said that Zimmerman misrepresented, mislead and deceived this court to his family's financial circumstance.

On Friday, prosecutors argued that he and his wife did not disclose the amount of money he raised online, which was over $100,000.  They also said he lied to the court about it in order to get a low bail.  The judge rejected an explanation from Zimmerman's defense attorney.

Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's lawyer, claims he did not know about the amount of money raised before the hearing.  The judge replied, "That is not the issue.  The issue is does your client get to sit here like a palm plant and let you lead this court down a primrose path."

Once the case goes to trial, Zimmerman's attorney will try to argue that the controversy over his bail hearing should not have a bearing on whether he is guilty of murdering Trayvon Martin.

Zimmerman is accused of second degree murder in the death of Martin but claimed he acted in self defense.  

Many Sanford residents said they wouldn't trust anything Zimmerman says.  Gewndolyn Lawrence said, "It's hard to put trust in them now.  A lie is a lie.  You're under oath, and you're still going to lie about what you've got.  You can't believe a word he says."

Once Zimmerman is back in jail, his lawyer wants the judge to give Zimmerman a chance to explain himself.