George Zimmerman

George Zimmerman has been granted bond a second time, but this time he must pay a much heftier sum than last time. Judge Kenneth Lester revoked Zimmerman’s $150,000 bond last month after learning that he had lied to the court about how much money he and his wife had. Zimmerman’s bond is now set at $1 million.

Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder in the slaying of Treyvon Martin.

Lester wrote that “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.”

By the time that Zimmerman appeared at his first bond hearing, the website he had created to raise money for his defense had raised some $135,000. It was not by Zimmerman nor his wife during the first hearing, and Shellie Zimmerman even stated that the couple had limited resources.

Judge Lester listened to attorneys and a forensic financial analyst last week before making his decision. He also wrote that “Under any definition, the defendant has flaunted the system. The defendant has tried to manipulate the system when he has been presented the opportunity to do so.”

Florida law states that defendants who are not a risk to the community must be granted bond, and that is why Lester granted Zimmerman bond; however, he did so under strict conditions. Zimmerman is to be electronically monitored, must reside in Seminole County, cannot open a bank account, obtain a passport and must maintain a 6am to 6pm curfew.