Attorney: Zimmerman, Family Will Struggle to Secure Bond
A Florida judge on Thursday set a $1 million bond with new restrictions on George Zimmerman, saying he believes the suspect may have been planning to flee the country to avoid prosecution in the killing of Trayvon Martin.
Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. found that Zimmerman’s deceit over cash holdings at his first bond hearing in April was not enough to hold him without bail.
“This court has, thus far, declined to exercise its contempt powers and the state failed to prove that the defendant may be held without bond,” the order said.
Zimmerman will have to post 10% of the $1 million — or $100,000 — to meet the requirement for bail.
But an even bigger challenge is finding a bail bond company that will work with the family on the requirement of $1 million in collateral, defense attorney Mark O’Mara said later Thursday. The family does “not have anywhere near” the collateral amount, according to the attorney.
“We are encouraged we can work this out,” O’Mara said in a statement.
Donations to Zimmerman’s legal defense fund have dropped significantly while Zimmerman has been jailed, O’Mara said.